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The Western Australian Museum?s Earth and Planetary Sciences Department is responsible for combined fossil, mineral, rock, gem and meteorites and is proud to house some of the most unique collections in Australia. The Department has one of the largest and most important fossil collections in the Southern Hemisphere, with over 1.5 million specimens. The material, combined with curatorial and technical expertise, provides an important research and education resource in Western Australia. The specimen on display here, together with the other megafauna material collected at the same time, constitutes some of the most significant additions to this collection and will hopefully help resolve important scientific questions about our extinct megafauna.
The Rio Tinto WA Future Fund is partnering the Western Australian Museum in the Operation Leo project. The Rio Tinto WA Future Fund was launched in August 2001 to support community, environment, social and economic programs that can contribute to the future development of Western Australia ? the welfare of its people and overall economic prosperity. The Fund is focused on finding the best ways to utilise resources such as people, money and ideas in order to help Western Australia to grow and prosper. Rio Tinto provides $2 million per year for distribution by the Fund. A core objective is to work in partnership with stakeholders to develop joint venture projects and community actions that help various communities respond to challenges and take advantage of emerging opportunities. Partnerships are made with State and Federal Government departments and agencies, non-government organisations, community groups and other corporations to achieve this aim. The Fund takes a committed long-term view to the development of Western Australia ? an approach shared by Rio Tinto.
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