November 2008

The MININGThe MINING

Supporting mining and industry in northern AustraliaSupporting mining and industry in northern Australia

November 2008 $2.75 inc GST where sold Monthly

ISSN 1833-3125

Miners’ footy Miners’ footy bash in Cloncurry

THIS MONTH

• Companies tighten their belts

• NT facing uranium competition

• Big rig in Darwin harbour

• Engaging indigenous communities

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NPS Corporatetel: (07) 4779 4711fax: (07) 4775 2995

1The Mining Advocate | November 2008 NEWS

The MININGThe MINING

All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced in part or in full by any means without written permission of the managing editor. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.

CONTACTS

p. (07) 4755 0336 f. (07) 4755 0338

Email: ...........................................................info@industryadvocate.com.au

Address: ..................................2/20 Keane Street, Garbutt, Q, 4812

Postal: ...................................................... PO Box 945, Townsville, Q, 4810

2 Big spending on the way out Th e global fi nancial crisis has been a hot topic of conversation over the last couple of months as the implications

for the mining industry have slowly emerged.

Common among most companies is a realisation that they need to keep a close watch over cash in order to

ride out tough times ahead.

In this edition, Th e Mining Advocate gauges the reaction of companies operating in North Queensland and the

Northern Territory.

4 Pressure on NT uranium interestsTh e recently elected West Australian Government has thrown a cat among the Northern Territory’s pigeons by

overturning a ban on uranium mining in the state.

Th e Northern Territory Government acknowledges it will now face more competition from WA in attracting

uranium exploration dollars, but believes the region’s prospects remain the best in Australia.

5 Looking for further rig work A Northern Territory labour supply company is hoping that successful completion of a refi t of a 100m-tall drill

rig in Darwin harbour will lead to repeat business.

8 Agents for change in indigenous Australia Delegates to the North Australia Economic Development Forum in Cairns have highlighted opportunities

for the mining industry to bring about change for the better in indigenous communities.

24 Cloncurry’s greatest hits (COVER STORY) Nine north-west Queensland teams lined up for this year’s Battle of the Mines rugby league competition.

Th e Mining Advocate camped on the sidelines of the Cloncurry Showground to witness the thrills, spills and

lighter moments of this much-anticipated event.

November 2008

FEATURES11 People

12 Industry UpdateA comprehensive wrap of exploration and operations in North Queensland and the Northern Territory.

16 Between Shifts

20 Travel Feature

22 Lifestyle

23 Bigger, Tougher, Better

24 Battle Of Th e Mines

Managing editor: .........................Robert Dark m. 0417 623 156

Journalist: ....................................Michael Stevens m. 0432 279 684

Sales manager: .......................Michele Adams m. 0419 719 519

Advertising booking deadlineDecember edition: November 25

ABOVE: Chariots player Glendon Connolly is wrestled to the ground

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2 November 2008 | The Mining AdvocateNEWS

KAGARAExecutive director Joe Treacy

said the company would save $70 million in 2008/09, mainly by deferring full construction of a base-metal treatment plant at its Mungana project near Chillagoe.

Exploration in North Queensland will also be cut back as the company seeks an equity or joint venture partner.

Mr Treacy said Kagara was examining the potential to fast-track the Mungana high-grade gold project as an adjunct to its base-metal development.

ENERGY METALSExecutive director Lindsay

Dudfi eld said the uranium spot price had dropped but most of the world’s supply was sold on long-term contracts, which had remained relatively stable during the fi nancial crisis.

Th e company will continue to advance the Bigrlyi joint venture uranium project in the Northern Territory.

VITAL METALSTh e company has reduced the

pace of work being undertaken

by external contractors on the tailings dam, plant and pit of the Watershed tungsten project, currently undergoing a feasibility study in far north Queensland.

Managing director Andy Haslam said Vital Metals would conserve cash and concentrate on refi ning the current resource model for Watershed.

COPPER STRIKEManaging director Tom Eadie

said copper production at the company’s Einasleigh project in North Queensland could be delayed past 2010 by likely diffi culties in securing fi nance during the current economic climate.

He said the company was committed to developing the project as soon as possible, whether the market improved in three months or one year’s time.

PERILYADue to the economic

downturn, Perilya and Chalice Gold Mines have mutually terminated an agreement whereby Chalice was to acquire 100 per cent of Perilya’s Mount

The Advocate takes a look at how companies

operating in North Queensland and the NT are

reacting to the global fi nancial crisis:

Oxide copper and cobalt project

in the Mount Isa region.

METALLICA MINERALS

Managing director Andrew

Gillies said it was “probably

lucky” that a failed sulphuric

acid supply contract led to the

suspension of the Lucky Break

nickel project near Townsville before the fi nancial meltdown.

He said Lucky Break required a higher nickel price than is currently the case to justify its development, but the company’s larger NORNICO nickel project remained on track because of its simple processing techniques and

close proximity to markets, fresh water, infrastructure, and port facilities.

COPPERCOManaging director Brian Rear

said the company had recently completed an expansion of its Lady Annie mine near Mount Isa and was now interested in higher effi ciency rather than further expansion.

OZ MINERALSTh e company is considering

scaling back production at its Century mine and delaying its planned Dugald River project until zinc prices recover.

MINEMAKERSManaging director Andrew

Drummond said the company’s phosphate interests in the Northern Territory meant it was in a good position because fertiliser would remain in high demand for food production regardless of the fi nancial crisis.

MATRIX METALSOperations general manager

Bob Dennis said the company, which is exploring copper tenements in north-west Queensland, could still make money from the commodity despite low prices because the fallen Australian dollar had lowered costs.

Tactics to tackle tough times

The economic

downturn was a hot

topic at the Mining

2008 conference in

Brisbane recently.

Photo: Fiona Harding

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North-west Queensland mining companies and suppliers should keep a tight grip on spending during the global fi nancial crisis, according to Mount Isa Chamber of Commerce president Brett Peterson.

Mr Peterson – who owns Mount Isa Mining Supplies – said that although the full implications of the crisis were unclear, it was likely that all companies would have to tighten their belts.

He said he had been in the mining industry for 25 years and the importance of an easy-does-it approach was learnt from previous fl uctuations in the industry’s fortunes.

“We saw bad times up until 2003. You’re always cautious, and I’d say that most people in business today would remember

fi ve years ago - they might not have been self-employed or had a business up and running, but they could still see what was around then and the way it was before that,” he said.

Mr Peterson’s comments on caution were echoed by fi nancial experts at the recent Mining 2008 conference in Brisbane.

Patersons Securities head of research Mark Simpson said exploration and production would be wound back at uneconomic projects.

“Capital preservation is the key,” he said.

Westpac senior economist Justin Smirk predicted tough times until mid 2009 but believes China will have surprised economists with its healthy rate of growth by then and that the developing nation will continue

Peak industry bodies are intensifying calls to introduce a fl ow-through shares scheme, which would stimulate mining industry investment by enabling transfer of the tax deductions of exploration companies to individual investors.

Among the voices is the Minerals Council of Australia, which advocated development of such a scheme in a pre-budget submission released in

January and now believes the fi nancial crisis adds weight to the imperative for its immediate development.

Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson said it was important to design a scheme that was economically responsible in the current fi nancial climate. He said his department was working on a design to be properly considered in the 2009/10 budget process.

to drive the Australian resources

industry.

CRU Australasia regional

director Allan Trench released

his “what’s hot and what’s not”

outlook for commodities in 2009,

including the following minerals

mined in North Queensland and

the Northern Territory:

• Take sunscreen: manganese,

molybdenum, bauxite,

• Sunny spells: gold, phosphate,

• Mild conditions: copper, tin,

nickel, iron ore,

• Scattered showers: lead,

• Cold snap: zinc and cobalt.

The economic meltdown has blown a cool

wind of caution across the Australian mining

industry, writes Michael Stevens.

Firms reinin spending

Capital preservation is the key in uncertain economic times, Mining 2008 delegates were told. Photo: Stewart McLean

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Th e Northern Territory Government believes uranium explorers will maintain their focus on the Territory despite Western Australia overturning a ban on uranium mining in that state.

Geological Survey director Ian Scrimgeour said he was aware that a lot more money would now be spent on exploration in the neighbouring state.

Dr Scrimgeour said the NT Government needed to ensure the Territory did not suff er in the process.

“It just means the government has to work harder to provide the information that uranium explorers need to convince them to come to the Territory rather than elsewhere and we’re working on a whole range of programs to do that,” he said.

Two companies with exploration tenements in both

jurisdictions have expressed pleasure with the West Australian Government’s decision but have indicated that their renewed interest in the state would not distract them from exploring their Territory prospects as well.

Th undelarra Exploration managing director Brett Lambert said the company would re-assess its priorities with regard to its West Australian uranium tenements.

But he said the company’s Ngalia project - 300km north-west of Alice Springs -remained a long-term strategic holding for the company, which is also exploring uranium tenements near Pine Creek in the Territory.

Energy Metals executive director Lindsay Dudfi eld said that company would explore with increased intensity in Western Australia, but its focus remained

on the Bigrlyi joint venture

uranium project, 390km north-

west of Alice Springs.

Dr Scrimgeour said he believed

the Northern Territory’s uranium

prospectivity was the best in

Australia and he was confi dent

it would be able to maintain

a strong uranium exploration

industry.

Applications for new uranium

mine developments in the

Territory are subject to approval

by the Federal Resources and

Energy Minister - a position

currently held by Labor’s Martin

Ferguson.

Last year’s Labor Party

national conference adopted

a policy change to allow new

uranium mines.

Geological Survey director Ian Scrimgeour says the Northern Territory Government will have to work harder to woo

uranium explorers in the face of fresh competition from the west. Photo: Christopher Knight

Uranium rivalryThe Territory is preparing to meet new

interstate competition for the exploration

dollar head-on, writes Michael Stevens.

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Extraman Darwin branch manager Ray Johns hopes the city can attract more large-scale rig maintenance work after the labour supply company recently contributed workers to a major project.

Th e 100m tall, Transocean-owned Sedco 703 rig made a pitstop for refi tting in Darwin harbour before continuing through to Woodside’s Greater Sunrise development, 450km north-west of the city in the Timor Sea.

Extraman supplied 17 workers as safety offi cers, boilermakers, welders, industrial painters and trade assistants.

Th ey were mainly involved in the construction of new metal decking for the rig, as well as other repair jobs.

Mr Johns said the close

proximity of Darwin harbour to off shore gas and oil fi elds meant it was well placed to attract similar projects, but negative publicity surrounding Transocean’s importation of overseas workers for the refi t did not help the city’s case.

He said Transocean wanted workers with marine experience and Extraman had some suitable workers on its books.

“Th is refi t was the fi rst one we have been involved in and we’re hoping to get repeat business – the client was very happy,” Mr Johns said.

Th e Sedco 703 is a semi-submersible drilling unit capable of operating in water depths up to 2000 feet (610m).

It was built in 1973 in the Avondale shipyards in New Orleans.

The recent refi t of the Sedco 703 in Darwin

demonstrated the city’s capacity for such

maintenance projects, writes Michael Stevens.

NT pitstop

for big rig Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) has reported increased production from its Ranger uranium mine, east of Darwin, in an operations review for the September quarter.

Uranium oxide production rose 31 per cent in the quarter to 1349 tonnes due to the re-establishment of access to higher grade ore at the bottom of the pit, ERA said.

A bigger mining fl eet meant the amount of ore mined was 80 per cent greater than both the corresponding quarter in 2007 and the June quarter of 2008.

However, the amount of ore milled was 14 per cent lower than the June 2008 quarter because of a planned one week maintenance event in the plant.

Outputrises atRangermine

The Sedco 703 drill rig visits Darwin harbour for maintenance.

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Outstanding Growth forWorleyParsons The WorleyParsons North Queensland office has experienced unprecedented growth during the lastyear. From a small team focussed on services to one customer, the office has grown to 40 peopleproviding a range of services to the resources and infrastructure markets throughout the north.

The recruiting strategy has been to build a highly experienced, diverse and capable team. The focushas been on recruiting strong local talent and people who are aware of the benefits of living inTownsville, but want to experience the excitement of working for a global organisation with over100 offices in 34 countries and over 32,000 employees. The North Queensland team is truly a multi-disciplined office ranging from mechanical, electrical, civil, structural and process engineering. It alsooffers a full suite of delivery capability from feasibility studies to full EPCM delivery.

Significant time has gone in to setting up the latest project delivery systems and processes. Thesesystems combined with technical expertise and strong customer alignment, result in realimprovements to our customer's profitability.

WorleyParsons is highly experienced in sharing workload across Australia and the globe, whichallows it to ramp up quickly when there are high levels of work, but also to sustain lean periods bybringing work in from other locations.

Of course there are also many interesting projects being executed around North Queensland.Projects for Townsville City Council, OZ Minerals, Xstrata Zinc, BHP Billiton Cannington and Yabuluand others have been successfully completed during the last year. The variety of jobs is just one ofthe exciting aspects of working for WorleyParsons.

WorleyParsons Location Manager, Peter Grunke grew up in North Queensland having gone to schoolin Cloncurry, Julia Creek and Mackay. His time as a Design Engineer at Queensland Nickel andMaintenance and Engineering Manager at WMC Fertilizers has re-enforced the importance ofstriving to understand customer's businesses and tailoring a great product to deliver real value tothem.

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“We have strong industry-specific knowledge and a track record of success using our performance-based, relationship contracting model. The trust that this generates enables WorleyParsons todeliver maximum value to customers using local teams, supported both regionally and globally.WorleyParsons' Improve delivers value, year on year, for our long term customers. SuccessfulImprove contracts are based on strong long term relationships. WorleyParsons' culture is, andalways has been, one of open communication, informal yet professional, with a company-widefocus on excellence and the efficient delivery of superior outcomes.

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WorleyParsons Improve utilises EcoNomics™ to identify anddeliver more sustainable projects, helping our customersmanage the risk and respond to their rapidly changing businessenvironment

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Th e CSIRO is partnering with Australian and European interests to improve global positioning system (GPS) technology for regional mine sites.

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology will be developed for better tracking of equipment in open-cut operations.

CSIRO Minerals Down Under National Research Flagship marketing and communication manager Bob Chamberlain said GPS tracking currently used in open-cut mines was often unreliable when equipment descended the drive, because the visible sky narrowed and fewer satellites were available for tracking.

He said GPS signals were relatively weak and were easily restricted by obstructions such as buildings and trees.

Th e new GNSS technology will embrace the Galileo global navigation satellite system being built by the European Union and European Space Agency,

which aims to be more precise than GPS. An integrated GNSS receiver will be developed that accepts signals from several satellite constellations - including Galileo - as well as input from other sources.

Mr Chamberlain said the GNSS technology would be another step towards automation in the mining industry, helping to increase productivity and further improve safety.

Th e Queensland Government is supporting the project through a $333,000 grant.

Th e CSIRO is working with Australia’s Automated Positioning Systems and Italy’s Istituto Superiore Mario Boella on the project.

Mr Chamberlain said a target date of March 2010 had been set for the demonstration and commercialisation of the new GNSS technology.

Th e Galileo system, scheduled to be operational in 2013, will consist of 30 dedicated navigation satellites and ground infrastructure in Europe.

Space technology to aid minesAn advanced satellite system is expected

to deliver improved tracking for open-cut

operations, writes Michael Stevens.

An artist’s impression of the European Space Agency’s fi rst Galileo In-Orbit Validation Experiment (GIOVE-A) navigation

satellite, which has been transmitting signals since 2006. Image: from the European Space Agency

Th e Mining Industry Skills Centre (MISC) recently launched a games-based simulation training tool.

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Th e mining industry has been identifi ed as a key player in bringing about a change for the better in Aboriginal communities across northern Australia.

Speakers addressing indigenous business opportunities at the North Australia Economic Development Forum in Cairns, October 27 to 29, praised innovative mining companies across the north that were successfully engaging communities and transforming regional economies.

Th e forum was hosted by six northern Area Consultative Committees to “highlight the signifi cance of north Australia and the immense opportunities it presents for the country as a whole”.

Delegates brainstormed such issues as a sustainable economic

development environment for northern Australia, new industries for the far north, carbon trading and energy conservation in business, and indigenous business enterprises.

Welcoming delegates to the conference, Yirriganydji elder Jeanette Singleton challenged forum participants to help tackle the big issues facing Aboriginal people across the north.

“Th is conference is important for open debate for our people’s future,” she said.

“We’ve still got a big battle ahead of us trying to come on board with mainstream issues. Everything has been Band-Aid stuff -up to now. Th e real issues have been ignored.”

Th e chair of Desert Knowledge Australia, former politician Fred Chaney, said the importance

A recent forum highlighted the positive ways

in which mining companies are engaging

indigenous communities, writes Lesley Watson.

of engaging the indigenous community had been frequently shown across northern Australia.

“If you look at the example of the Argyle diamond mine in the Kimberley, you see the potential for transformation of a regional economy when there is a focus both on local and indigenous employment and on local procurement,” he said.

Mining companies in the Pilbara, where 10 per cent of the workforce is Aboriginal, also showed the extraordinary impact and shared benefi ts of inclusive policies, Mr Chaney said.

John Moriarty, chairman of the Jumbana Group from Borroloola in the Gulf of Carpentaria, elaborated on the opportunities presented by the mining industry.

“Th ere are Aboriginal companies developing ventures that are profi ting from mining, such as West Australian-based Ngarda Civil and Mining,” Mr Moriarty said.

“Th ey are now expanding into housing on Aboriginal communities. Other Aboriginal people are working in contract mining in places like Borroloola and Tennant Creek.

“Aboriginal people want to be part of the mining situation; they want to reap the benefi ts of the harvest of all that Australian wealth. It doesn’t take much for mining companies to sub-contract jobs like laundry services and lawn mowing to local Aboriginal people.”

He called upon state, federal and territory governments to advance business programs to Aboriginal people in remote communities.

Professor Rolf Gerristen of the School of Social Policy Research in Darwin cautioned that there was a growing divide in northern Australia between “relatively wealthy expatriates

and mostly permanently resident, impoverished Aboriginal people”.

Professor Gerristen attributed this to a raft of factors from high birth rates among Aboriginal people to urban drift, poor distribution of funding and expansion of Aboriginal settlements. But he also warned of the decline of inland service centres – “places like Tennant Creek, Meekatharra and Croydon” – as a result of mining companies increasingly providing their own infrastructure under a fl y in-fl y out policy.

“Th is creates local tensions and, while it may be an economically rational decision for mining companies, it is having deleterious eff ects on the ground,” he said.

However, he warned the issue was complex and that “bagging fl y in-fl y out policies doesn’t necessarily make sense”. Regional centres such as Cairns were developing a strong economic base of skilled services for the Territory mining industry, for example.

A workshop of forum delegates produced a raft of recommendations – forwarded to Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia, Gary Gray - to aid the growth of indigenous business enterprise in the region.

Inclusive policies yield benefi ts

Jeanette SingletonYirriganydji elder

Universal Resources remains confi dent that it will be producing copper from its Roseby project north-west of Cloncurry in 2010.

Universal chairman and managing director Peter Ingram said the company was making a case for $16 million in funding for a new mill, as part of a total $213 million capital expenditure for the project, in the face of the credit squeeze.

Mr Ingram said the current stock market situation meant that funding was now more likely to be achieved in 2009 rather than this year.

Th e new mill would give the company the capacity to process around fi ve millions tonnes per annum in a blend of hard and soft ores.

Th at, in turn, increases forecast production to 26,000 tonnes of

copper a year, up from 21,000 tonnes, and 7000 ounces of gold, up from an initial forecast of 4500 ounces a year.

Meanwhile, Mr Ingram said the long-term fundamentals for the resources industry remained strong in the face of the credit crunch.

“(My opinion) is that this is the worst fi nancial crisis since the 1929-1932 depression,” Mr Ingram said.

“(But) governments are now much better positioned to take mitigating action.

“We may see a recessionary environment for the short to medium term (one to two years). It is hard to know if the recent fall in metal prices is caused by supply and demand or the unwinding of hedge book positions or, more likely, both.

“Certainly the impact is being felt in metals prices.”

But he said the fundamental demand for metals in the Asian region was not going to stop.

“Th e long-term view is buoyant,” he said.

Mr Ingram said the mining industry had a lot of catch-up to do to meet projected demand.

“In terms of copper exploration, in particular, the mining industry did very little exploration in the ‘90s,” he said.

“Th e Commodities Research Unit of London has reported that if all known deposits were brought into production, there would still be an estimated shortfall of 12 million tonnes per annum by 2030.”

The Rizal province, south-east of the Philippines

capital Manila, was formed in 1901 when parts of

the old Manila district and the district of Morong

united.

The mountainous portion of Rizal has evenly

distributed rainfall throughout the year, while the

lakeshore area is wet from June to October and dry

the rest of the year.

According to the Philippine Information Agency,

the province is rich in non-metallic deposits such

as rock aggregates, sand and gravel, limestone,

marble and guano.

Ceramics, copper ore and red clay are also

emerging or potential industries in the province.

Last year, TKC Steel Corporation formed a joint

venture with a mining co-operative in Rizal to

secure supply for its operations.

The co-operative owns several mining

tenements containing iron reserves.

Mary Christine Villanueva captured this photo of

a miner at Morong in Rizal, gathering his thoughts

at the end of the day.

The shot took out the People’s Choice award in

this year’s Snowden Photo Competition.

For more information on the competition, visit

www.snowdengroup.com.

MINING AROUND THE WORLD

Mary Christine Villanueva’s My Equipment and Me, Rizal, Philippines. Photo: courtesy of Snowden.

Roseby’s position remains strong

Peter IngramUniversal Resources

managing director


Melbourne-based civil engineer Peter Godfrey takes the helm this month as the new national president of Engineers Australia.

Mr Godfrey plans to follow a theme of “Looking Forward, Looking Back” throughout 2009.

“Engineers Australia will be looking forward through our 2010-2015 strategic planning exercise as well as through our marketing campaign to promote engineering to potential future engineers,” he said.

“But it is also Engineers Australia’s 90th anniversary and we will be looking back and celebrating our proud history of support for the engineering profession, which has already made such a signifi cant contribution to Australian society.”

Mr Godfrey, 52, has served as Engineers Australia’s national

deputy president throughout 2008.

His election to that role means he will take over from electronics engineer Julie Hammer as national president for the coming year.

“My roles as a past Tasmania division president, former civil college board chair and councillor (equivalent to being a director of Engineers Australia) - and father of a new engineering graduate (Philippa) - have greatly assisted in preparing me for my role as national president,” Mr Godfrey said.

“Th ese roles also provided insights into the important activities of Engineers Australia and provided the enthusiasm for doing even more.

“It is exhilarating to be part of a large team of extraordinary

As Engineers Australia prepares to mark its 90th

anniversary, the new president has a fi rm focus

on the future as well as the group’s proud past.

Info session in the TowersRegional employer-sponsored migration program

information session - Excelsior Library, Charters Towers,

November 24. For more information email [email protected].

NT gala dinnerNorthern Territory Chamber of Commerce Gala Dinner -

Skycity Darwin Grand Ballroom, November 15. For more

information visit www.chambernt.com.au.

Mining the Isa conferenceIIR’s Mining the Isa conference - Mount Isa Civic Centre,

November 17-18. For more information visit

www.iir.com.au/isa.

NQ Energy Forum 2008North Queensland Energy Forum 2008 - Mercure Inn

Townsville, November 17-18. For more information visit

www.townsvilleonline.com.au/energyforum.

Cairns chamber lunchCairns Chamber of Commerce Christmas lunch,

featuring Bill Cummings and Rick Carr - Sofi tel Reef

Casino, November 25. For more information visit www.

cairnschamber.com.au.

people doing fantastic things.”Mr Godfrey runs his own

consultancy practice, BAS Consulting, and his 30-year engineering career has included extensive management experience.

DATE CLAIMERS

Peter GodfreyEngineers Australia

national president

Looking forward,looking back

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10 November 2008 | The Mining AdvocateADVERTISEMENT

TORGAS diesel fi tting engine specialist apprentice Georgina Brown (25) loved the idea of doing something engineering or mechanical related ever since she was a small child ‘helping’ her father repair the family car.

So when the opportunity to do her apprenticeship with host business Cummins (Brisbane) came up, she didn’t hesitate.

Before embarking on her current training, Georgina had done part of an engineering degree (which she deferred in favour of more hands-on challenges) and also did a few odd jobs for a local car mechanic – something she really enjoyed.

Georgina decided that this was the industry she wanted to focus on and so the next step was to undertake the proper training and education to achieve that goal.

“A fi tter and turner I worked with was great and he suggested - because of my age, gender and limited experience – I enroll in a pre-vocational course at TAFE as the starting point,” she said.

“I wanted to be a fi tter and turner at the time but he also suggested I might fi nd diesel fi tting more interesting. I looked into it, it sounded good, so that’s what I went ahead with.”

Georgina loved the course, the highlight of which was two weeks’ work experience at Cummins, which was recommended as an excellent international company with lots of career options.

“It was a great opportunity and everyone I met there and worked with was friendly, helpful and

easy to talk to. There was never even a hint of discrimination or any suggestion that, as a female, I couldn’t do the job,” she said.

“Then I approached the people at TORGAS who arranged for me to complete my apprenticeship at Cummins, where I’ve always been treated equally and given every opportunity. It couldn’t have worked out better.”

While Georgina is the only female apprentice at Cummins Brisbane, she is the eighth in Australia and the third in Queensland to take on the role of diesel fi tting engine specialist (with Cummins).

Georgina, who began the third year of her four-year apprenticeship in October, is still as enthusiastic about her career choice as she was in the beginning.

“It’s great to be able to take apart something that isn’t working and fi x it. I enjoy the challenge of problem solving and the combination of mental and physical energy it requires,” she said.

“Some of the heavy work was hard initially because I’m not the biggest person, but as I got stronger I also learned little tricks, so now I can turn engines over and tension head bolts to 300 foot pound. The tradesmen I worked with taught me that it’s all about working smarter, not harder.”

In addition to being delighted with her placement, Georgina has the highest praise for TORGAS and the role it plays in allowing her to get on with learning and doing her job.

“By looking after all the paperwork

and administrative aspects, they

make it very easy,” she said.

That assistance is particularly

appreciated because Georgina’s

days are always busy and the work

constantly varying.

“For instance, I could be doing

an oil consumption rebuild -

that takes the best part of a

week – then there’ll be other

smaller fi nicky jobs such as wiring

problems, for example, which

have to be fi tted in as well,” she

said.

“However, at the moment, I’m

spending most of my time in truck

bay, problem solving and trouble

shooting, which I love doing. I

come home covered in grease

and oil every day. It’s great fun!”

Cummins Apprentice Master

Edwin Crisp described his role

as “looking after the day to day

stuff ”, checking competencies,

evaluating and ensuring the

readiness of apprentices’ work

for signature by the Department

of Education, Training and the

Arts assessor and liaising with

local TORGAS manager, Nichole

Gillespie.

“While we do employ some

apprentices directly ourselves, we

fi nd those who come through

TORGAS are very good and

the arrangement we have with

them has defi nite benefi ts for

us as a host business and the

apprentices,” he said.

“In fact, the process works very

well.”

To fi nd out more about

taking on apprentices or

trainees, contact the nearest

TORGAS offi ce on free call

1300 655 199 or email

[email protected]

Georgina’s diesel fi tting dreams close to reality

Georgina Brown at Cummins

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11The Mining Advocate | November 2008 PEOPLE

middle of the desert and Cloncurry is actually quite a step up from that.

It’s a quick trip to Mount Isa and from there you can get plenty of fl ights. I’d say Cloncurry has been a pleasant surprise for my family.

I tried to explain to them about Cloncurry’s population and size, and I know they had a pre-conceived idea of what it would be like, and the feedback I’m getting from them is really positive – better than expected.

Q: Apart from its size,

what else has impressed you

about the town?

CT: A lot of times, a village that close to a mine is generally a mining town – it is populated primarily by miners and there is not a diversity of culture or population. But I noticed that Cloncurry had a pre-established sustainable development foundation that wasn’t based on mining, but on pastoral stations – there was an agricultural base to the economy.

In a sense we (miners)

Clay Taylor is

enjoying the bright

lights of Cloncurry

after travelling from

the United States to

take up a position

as technical services

manager at Ernest

Henry mine.

Mr Taylor – who hails

from Denver, Colarado - is

responsible for providing

technical support to

the environmental,

geotechnical, geological,

engineering and survey

departments at the mine.

He recently worked

in a remote American

mining operation that

made Cloncurry look like

the Big Apple and says his

wife and three children are

pleased with the change

so far.

Q: What are your

impressions of Cloncurry?

CT: It’s great. I’m not

used to living in such

a large town. Prior to

Denver, I lived in a really

remote town out in the

Clay warms to the ‘CurryErnest Henry mine

technical services manager

Clay Taylor

“I’d say Cloncurry has been a pleasant surprise

for my family.”

came on initially as guests and now we’re kind of joint venture partners living in the town.

I like that. Living in a mining town is diff erent to living in Cloncurry.

Q: Have you noticed

any diff erences between the

Australian and American

mining industries?

CT: Mining has a

higher profi le and is much

more visible in Australia -

the general population is

more accepting of it.

Back in the States, if

someone asks you about

your profession and you

say you’re in the mining

industry, they say ‘well,

that’s unusual, what’s that

like?’. So it’s a lot more

commonplace over here.

Q: What types of

operations have you been

involved with during your

career?

CT: I’ve mined a

little bit of copper-gold

in Indonesia and I was

involved with a weird

mineral called gilsonite.

It’s only mined in one

place in the world, in

one corner of the state

of Utah, and it’s used for

black ink in newspapers

- it’s pretty much oil that

was squeezed up through

cracks and petrifi ed over

millions of years.

Th en I’ve mined

trona, which is basically

laundry detergent – like

a sodium bicarbonate.

I’ve been a mine manager,

a superintendent of

engineering, a planning

engineer, a project

engineer and I worked for

a while as a consultant for

a global company that has

offi ces here (in Australia).

I’ve also done a stint as

a tunnelling engineer for

civil projects.

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12 November 2008 | The Mining AdvocateINDUSTRY UPDATE

Independent Aviation has opened a new offi ce in Cairns.

Managing director Ian Urquhart said the company had grown over 16 years

and needed a new offi ce for its eight aviation specialists, operating 24/7 with

large-screen Apple computers.

He said the specialists were able to confi dently check all aircraft available and

present the best options to their many customers in the mining and resources

sector.

Mr Urquhart said Independent Aviation specialised in fl ying people and

cargo to destinations not usually serviced by airlines.

Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle - the

State Member for Cairns - spoke at an offi cial opening ceremony for the offi ce.

Fresh uranium fi nd for Deep Yellow

Deep Yellow has announced the

exposure of “signifi cant” greenfi elds

uranium mineralisation from drilling

at the Isa West project, 5km west of

Mount Isa.

Th e company is in a joint venture with

Xstrata at the project, where Deep

Yellow can earn 100 per cent of its

uranium rights.

Meanwhile, Matrix Metals and Deep

Yellow have agreed to amend the terms

of their joint venture, in which Deep

Yellow has been granted access to

explore for uranium on Matrix Metals’

tenement holdings in the Mount Isa

region.

Cairns MP Desley Boyle with Independent Aviation’s Jill Urquhart

Deep Yellow will now be able to achieve 100 per cent ownership of the uranium rights without proceeding through the original ownership path.

CuDECO expands its interests

CuDECO recently became the largest shareholder in Queensland Mining Corporation.

CuDECO chairman Wayne McCrae said Queensland Mining Corporation held 51 granted mining leases and a large acreage of exploration permits within the Cloncurry copper belt.

He said Queensland Mining Corporation also owned the Morris Creek exploration permit - which adjoins the south-west boundary of

CuDECO’s Rocklands Group copper project - and CuDECO intended to pursue an exploration joint venture with Queensland Mining Corporation on the tenement.

Krucible happy with progress

Krucible Metals has received positive phosphate results from recent drilling at its Phosphate Hill Mine South prospect, 5km from Incitec Pivot’s Phosphate Hill mine in north-west Queensland.

Managing director Tony Alston said these early results – from holes drilled in a wide spacing - indicated the potential for the company to defi ne a commercially viable deposit.

He said drill spacing needed to be tightened up before a joint ore reserve committee-compliant resource could be calculated.

Good results at Golden 40

Emmerson Resources has received pleasing assay results from phase-two drilling at its Golden 40 project, in the Northern Territory’s Tennant Creek minerals fi eld.

Managing director and chief executive offi cer Rob Bills said the results validated the company’s belief that gold mineralisation continued along strike at the historic Golden 40 mine in an area previously untested by explorers.

Th e Golden 40 mine operated as a high-grade underground mine between 1969 and 1983.

‘Deep hole’ on target for Citigold

Citigold Corporation has announced that its Charters Towers “deep hole” has hit the fi rst main target.

Managing director Mark Lynch said signifi cant gold mineralisation was encountered close to the down dip projection of the Brilliant West structure, which supported the geological basis for the current inferred resource in the area.

Drilling is continuing.

Kagara pursues copper focus

Kagara has reported record copper

production of 9472 tonnes from its North Queensland operations for the September quarter.

Executive chairman Kim Robinson said the company was continuing its shift towards copper production at its Th alanga and Mount Garnet plants, but it had also maintained low-cost zinc production.

Einasleigh feasibility study due

Copper Strike says the feasibility study for its Einasleigh project - 300km north-west of Townsville - is scheduled for completion this month.

Managing director Tom Eadie said excellent drill intersections had recently been received from several diff erent prospects within the project.

He also reported that holes completed at the company’s Kamarga prospect in the lower Gulf had intercepted thick zinc-lead mineralisation.

Matilda Minerals in administration

Matilda Minerals – owner of the Tiwi Islands mineral sands operation - has appointed voluntary administrators.

Administrator Martin Jones said options for restructuring of the company would be examined.

Th e move comes after the company recently announced it was suspending its Tiwi Islands production because operating margins were unfavourable.

Increased production at Pajingo

North Queensland Metals says the Pajingo gold mine near Charters Towers entered a more productive phase during the September quarter, with improved operational performance.

Gold production for the quarter was 13,671 ounces at a cash cost of $677 per ounce, compared to 9791 ounces at a cash cost of $733 per ounce in the previous quarter.

Chief executive offi cer John McKinstry said management had prepared plans to meet the objective of sustainable production of 70-80,000oz per annum.

North Queensland Metals operates the Pajingo mine on behalf of its joint venture with Heemskirk Consolidated.

Air fi rm opens Cairns offi ce

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13The Mining Advocate | November 2008 INDUSTRY UPDATE

Latin America is a fertile ground for exporting Queensland mining expertise and technology, according to trade commissioner for the Americas, Peter Beattie.

Th e former Queensland premier spoke at a recent Next Generation Mining Technology seminar in Townsville.

He said Chile was planning to invest about $US22 billion in new mining projects over the next fi ve years, Brazil would invest $US38 billion and Peru $US10 billion, while Columbia was expected to emerge as an economic powerhouse.

Mr Beattie said opportunities existed for Queensland companies in the provision of mining services, clean coal technology and mining-related infrastructure.

Chief Minister’s Northern Territory Export and Industry Awards.

OM Holdings chief executive offi cer Peter Toth said the award capped off a highly successful period for OM (Manganese), which had established itself as a major strategic player in the global manganese industry.

“Our Bootu Creek manganese mine near Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory is now delivering 700,000 tonnes a year of high-grade manganese ore into the world’s fastest growing commodity market – an outstanding achievement which is a credit to all stakeholders involved with the project,” he said.

Among other recipients, Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) took out

Queensland’s Trade and Investment Commissioner for the Americas, Peter Beattie, during

his presentation at the mining technology seminar. Photo: Stewart McLean

exporter of the year and the mining and

energy awards.

Better testing for safety offi cers

Th e Queensland Government is

improving its testing systems for

mining health and safety offi cers.

Queensland Mines and Energy

Minister Geoff Wilson said the

State’s Board of Examiners was

being revamped with new senior

appointments and the streamlining of

administrative processes to deliver more

fl exible and effi cient arrangements for

applicants to safety positions.

Oil and gas company for saleOil and gas explorer and producer Coogee Resources has initiated a sale process for the company.

Coogee Resources chief executive offi cer Gordon Martin said the decision to sell followed unsolicited interest for the entire company arising from the decision of its second-largest shareholder - interests associated with Babcock & Brown - to sell its 35 per cent stake.

He said an outright sale process was the most practicable outcome for all shareholders in the prevailing market conditions.

Th e company is developing the Montara project in the Timor Sea off northern Australia.

New prospects in the north-westResults of a deep seismic survey conducted in the Cloncurry-Croydon region of North Queensland have indicated the potential for new mineral, petroleum, gas and geothermal energy resources.

Geoscience Australia mineral deposit geologist David Huston said the presence of major faults in the crust surrounding the Millungera Basin - about 100km east of Cloncurry and up to 15,000sq km in size - was signifi cant.

“While the region between the faults is a previously unknown geologic province, with undefi ned mineral and energy potential, these structural features show similarities to the geological setting of the world-class Olympic Dam copper-gold-uranium deposit in South Australia,” Dr Huston said.

Unprecedented exploration spendMineral exploration expenditure in the Northern Territory and Queensland reached record levels during 2007/08.

Northern Territory Resources Minister

Kon Vatskalis said the latest fi gures published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed a 44 per cent increase in expenditure in the Territory to $132.7 million. Queensland Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said $563.3 million had been invested in the State’s mining and petroleum industries.

Sunrise Commission meetsTh e inaugural meeting of the Sunrise Commission was held recently to discuss gas-fi eld development in the Timor Sea.

Th e commission was established in accordance with the International Unitisation Agreement

between Australia and East Timor to facilitate the development of the Greater Sunrise fi elds as a single entity.

Its role will include advising the Australian and Joint Petroleum Development Area regulators in their assessment of a development plan for the project.

Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson said the formation of the commission was an important step in co-ordinating the two regulatory frameworks that would govern development.

NT agreement with Chinese bankTh e Northern Territory Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the China Development Bank in Beijing.

Resources Minister Kon Vatskalis said the MOU would promote co-operation in the facilitation of major project developments in mineral exploration and processing and allow the Territory leverage to new connections with the Chinese fi nancial community.

Export and industry awardsOM (Manganese) has won recognition as an emerging exporter at the 2008

American opportunities

14 November 2008 | The Mining AdvocateINDUSTRY UPDATE

Exhibition Sites are now on sale for the

2009 Xstrata Mount Isa Mining Expo

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Mithril extends its interests

Mithril Resources has entered into a heads of agreement with Sammy Resources (a wholly owned subsidiary of Cazaly Resources) to earn an 80 per cent interest in two Northern Territory nickel and copper exploration licences.

Th e tenements are contiguous with Mithril Resources’ existing Huckitta project to the north and Casey project to the south.

First Browns oxide export

Th e fi rst copper produced at the newly commissioned Compass Resources mine near Batchelor has been trucked into Darwin for export.

Compass Resources has a contract with Sempra Metals Concentrates Corporation (a large USA metal trader) to buy and distribute the copper cathodes.

Th e Browns oxide project will process 1.3 million tonnes of ore a year from an open-cut mine to produce 10,000 tonnes of copper cathode, 1000 tonnes of cobalt and 700 tonnes of nickel.

NT supplying uranium to China

Th e fi rst shipment of Northern Territory uranium to China will be sent before Christmas, coming from Energy Resources of Australia’s Ranger mine at Jabiru, 260km east of Darwin.

Th e Northern Territory Government said China’s plan to build 40 nuclear power plants by 2020 could off er more opportunities for Territory exporters.

Ivanhoe discovers further sulphide

Ivanhoe Australia says it has discovered a signifi cant extension of the sulphide zone of the Mt Dore copper deposit near Cloncurry in north-west Queensland.

Chief executive offi cer Peter Reeve also said an extremely high-grade intersection of molybdenum had been returned from recent drilling on the northern fl ank of the Mt Dore system.

He said an aggressive drilling program consisting of 37 holes for a total of almost 23,000m was planned at the deposit over the next six to nine

months, which would step out from the currently encountered mineralisation by about 600m to the north-east.

Mr Reeve said that if the step-out program was successful it would add signifi cant tonnage to the sulphide zone and present a distinct and separate development opportunity for the company in the Cloncurry region.

Resource calculation for BarbaraSyndicated Metals has calculated a maiden resource estimate for its Barbara deposit, 50km north-east of Mount Isa.

Th e combined indicated and inferred mineral resource is 2.4 million tonnes of ore containing 38,000 tonnes of copper.

Managing director Russell Davis said there was excellent potential to expand the Barbara resource along strike and at depth, as well as potential for gold credits.

He said Syndicated Metals would initially assess the potential of mining the Barbara lode via an open-pit operation.

Th e deposit lies within the company’s Mt Remarkable project.

Phosphate joint venture Legend International Holdings and Mount Isa Metals have entered into a heads of agreement for the formation of a joint venture over each party’s respective interest in tenements overlying the D-Tree phosphate deposit, near Mount Isa.

Legend will manage and hold an 80 per cent interest in the joint venture, which will also have access to plant and infrastructure at Legend’s proposed Lady Annie phosphate development, 15km to the east of D-Tree.

An early focus at D-Tree will be the identifi cation of high-grade mineralisation suitable for potential direct shipment via the Mount Isa

railhead (about 140km by road from the project), which will generate near-term cashfl ow.

Gong for Alcan tyre teamRio Tinto Alcan’s tyre support team at Weipa has won the company’s most prestigious employee honour – the Nathaniel V Davis Award – for helping the bauxite operation turn around its mine tyre performance.

Th e team - led by Rick Crawford, Scott Whyte and Jane Edward - has driven a comprehensive tyre improvement program at Weipa, targeting the safest and longest life possible for every tyre.

During the fi rst six months of 2008,

Rio Tinto Alcan Weipa’s average tyre life increased by about 32 per cent - or 34,000km - compared to 2007.

Strong tin and iron potential Consolidated Tin Mines has announced that results from an airborne geophysical survey over three key projects near Mount Garnet in North Queensland have confi rmed the strong tin and iron potential of the project area.

Managing director Ralph De Lacey said the survey had provided good support to the current understanding of mineralisation and confi rmed where additional work should continue.

Department leaving DarwinTh e Northern Territory Resources Council has questioned the rationale behind plans to shift the management team of the Department of Regional Development, Primary Industries, Fisheries and Resources to Alice Springs following the resignation of chief executive John Carroll.

Resources council chief executive offi cer Scott Perkins said the decision would remove an important offi ce from Darwin and potentially dilute services

at a time when the resources industry

was responding to rapidly slumping

commodity prices and the world

fi nancial crisis.

Th e Northern Territory Government

stated that Richard Galton would act

as chief executive of the department

until the position was advertised and

permanently fi lled in Alice Springs.

Th e government announced at its re-

election that it would “reach out” to the

whole of the Territory in its new term.

Drilling at Roper Bar

Western Desert Resources has begun a

reverse circulation drilling campaign on

the Roper Bar iron ore project in the

Northern Territory.

Th e program is estimated to last for

about six to eight weeks, or until the

beginning of the tropical wet season,

and is expected to comprise up to 200

holes with an average depth of 50m.

Managing director Norm Gardner said

the program would be varied to include

several diamond drill holes to extract

core suitable for benefi ciation testwork

if drilling and access conditions were

favourable.

Training award for Bootu Creek

OM (Manganese) was recently named

employer of the year in the Northern

Land Council’s Employer Excellence

Awards in Darwin.

Th e award recognised the indigenous

employment rate at Bootu Creek mine,

which general manager Mark Laing

said resulted from strong partnerships

between OM (Manganese), the

Northern Land Council and traditional

owners.

About 25 per cent of the mine’s

construction workforce and 15 per cent

of the mine’s 200 operational workers

are indigenous.

A work-readiness training project

based on the requirements of the Bootu

Creek mine has also been developed

by the Northern Land Council and

Industries Services Training.


WaterTrucks

15The Mining Advocate | November 2008 INDUSTRY UPDATE

Inpex legislation introduced

Another step has been taken towards construction of an Inpex LNG plant in Darwin with the introduction of legislation to provide certainty for the project.

Chief Minister Paul Henderson said the LNG Project Bill gave Inpex a guarantee that the project would be able to be built at Blaydin Point if the site was given the go-ahead in the company’s fi nal investment decision.

Mr Henderson said the legislation would support the legal framework established earlier this year between the NT Government and Inpex and Total.

“Th is project’s magnitude and importance mean we need certainty for both the private investors and the government,” he said.

Indigenous trainees graduate

Sixteen students have fi nished the gas and oil industry’s fi rst indigenous pre-employment program, with half having already been off ered full-time jobs.

Th e Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association delivered the eight-week program at Winnellie, Darwin.

Th e training included fi rst aid, occupational health and safety, fatigue management, operating forklifts and driving heavy vehicles.

Help for explorers

Queensland explorers are urged to apply for a share in $2.5 million in State Government grants to give them a leg up.

Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said three types of grants were available under the government’s Smart Mining - Future Prosperity program:

• Collaborative drilling grants that fast-track drill testing of geological targets in under-explored parts of Queensland,

• Industry network grants for junior mineral exploration companies to access industry think-tanks and other specialist services,

• Cluster formation grants that allow explorers to share drilling and geophysical resources.

Applications for collaborative drilling grants close on December 5 and those for industry network and cluster formation close on March 13, 2009.

More work at ElizabethSuperior Resources will undertake a gravity survey of its Elizabeth prospect, part of the Dajarra copper project south of Mount Isa.

Managing director Ken Harvey said preliminary modelling indicated this means should be able to detect a sulphide-rich body down to a depth of about 250m and would provide a method of determining new drill targets within a 5km-long anomaly.

Environmental guidelinesNorthern Territory Environment Minister Alison Anderson has released draft guidelines for the environmental impact statement (EIS) relating to Arafura Resources’ Nolan’s Bore rare earths project.

Th e government determined that the proposal to develop a new mine, build workers’ accommodation, transport ore and transfer processing residues from the railhead back to the mine site for storage was environmentally signifi cant.

Meanwhile, Ms Anderson has also determined that BHP Billiton’s proposal to transport copper concentrate and uranium oxide through the Northern Territory and export it via the Port of Darwin requires an EIS.

Th e company plans to expand its Olympic Dam mine in South Australia and will transport the commodities to port via the Adelaide-to-Darwin rail line.

Both EIS guidelines are available for public comment at www.nt.gov.au/envirocomment.

New targets for BondiBondi Mining recently identifi ed three

new uranium drill targets at its Murphy project in the Northern Territory.

Managing director Rick Valenta said the company had also been awarded a grant of $100,000 through the Northern Territory Government’s geophysics and drilling collaborations program.

He said drilling under the program would begin at the Murphy project in the fi rst quarter of next year.

Bondi Mining is a Brisbane-based exploration company with a uranium portfolio of 20 granted tenements and three applications totalling 15,085sq km in three major uranium provinces in the NT and Queensland.

Th e company is also actively advancing the phosphate potential of its Murphy tenements.

Engineering salary survey

Independent research company

New Focus is conducting Engineers

Australia’s sixth annual online salary

survey.

Th e survey targets public and private

sector employers and is seeking

information on engineers’ salaries,

conditions and benefi ts. It should be

fi lled out by human resources offi cers

and managers, as it gathers information

across a variety of grades and types of

engineers.

Engineers Australia stated that last year

143 employers completed the online

survey and their responses refl ected the

salary, benefi ts and working conditions

of about 13,000 employees.

For more information visit www.

engineersaustralia.org.au.

Westmoreland looking goodLaramide Resources says drilling results at its Westmoreland project continue to meet or exceed the company’s expectations.

President and chief executive offi cer Marc Henderson said more than 100 holes had been drilled at the project and the company could demonstrate that Westmoreland was one of the most robust and technically straight-forward uranium deposits in Australia.

Th e project is located in north-west Queensland near the Northern Territory border.

Looking overseas for inspectorsTh e Queensland Government is embarking on an international recruitment drive to attract skilled mines inspectors to the state.

Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said 12 new mines inspectors would join the inspectorate, bringing the total number of inspectors to 46.

He said the international recruitment campaign would focus on coal and metalliferous inspectors in the United Kingdom and India.

Mr Wilson said the government would also continue to recruit within Australia for mines inspectors.

All newly-appointed mines inspectors will be located in regional Queensland.

Incentive to relocate industryTh e Townsville region will receive funding from a program aimed at boosting Queensland’s high-growth regions.

Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said the new Regional Queensland Investment Incentives Scheme (RQIIS) would off er up to 100 per cent payroll tax rebates and potential cash grants to fi rms relocating to the region from outside the state.

Call for tenders on port workTh e Port of Townsville is inviting tender submissions for construction work at Berths 8 and 9 to repair a number of reinforced concrete piles.

Sealed tenders are to be lodged in the Tender Box at the Port of Townsville administration building no later than 3pm on November 28.

For more information call Robert Henaway on (07) 4781 1604.

MOVING FORWARD.

A solid partner in the North Queensland andNorthern Territory quarry industry.

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Mt Isa

Townsville467-481 W

Cairns

Darwin

CALL 131 228www.hastingsdeering.com.au

16 November 2008 | The Mining AdvocateBETWEEN SHIFTS

Jupiters, Townsville

PHOTOS: Stewart McLean

Jeff Innes (Conquest Mining),

Sandra Harding (Port of

Townsville), Elle Hilton

(Port of Townsville) and

Tim Bastian (Department

of Tourism, Regional

Development and Industry).

David Sibley and Matthew O’Halloran (both Port of Townsville).

Tony Manning (Maritime Museum of Townsville), Warren Cooper

(Department of Mines and Energy) and Martin Gledhill (Port of

Townsville).

Renee Crosby (Port of Townsville), John Preston (Maritime Safety Council) and Tracey Lines (Port of

Townsville).

Terry Dodd (Pacifi c Marine Group) with David Ede and Richard Boulton (Coast Guard Townsville).

Ross Dunning, Clair Ryan and Barry Holden (all Port of Townsville). Dolan Hayes and Mayor Les Tyrell (both Townsville City Council).

Port of Townsville stakeholders briefing

17The Mining Advocate | November 2008 BETWEEN SHIFTS

Safety Performance and Peace of Mind Bulk Dangerous Goods Bulk Commodities Storage National Footprint Compliance Experience Road, Rail and Sea

Contact Mark Pope - 07 4779 0699 www.scottcorp.com.au

Genalysis Laboratory Services opening

North Australia Economic Development Forum

Townsville

Shangri-La Hotel, Cairns

Mike Nowak (BHP Billiton Yabulu) and Doug Jones (Liontown

Resources).

Scott McInerney (Haden), Jeff Turner (BM Webb) and Stav Bogiatzis (Haden).

David Hinchley (Terrain) and Don Pollock (North Queensland

Area Consultative Committee).

Ross Contarino (Advance Cairns), Michael Tomkinson (Cook Shire

Council) and Brian Prove (Department of Tourism, Regional

Development and Industry).

Robert Pace (Pace Farming) and Tony O’Connor (Kookaburra Tours).

Frederick Marchant (Far North Queensland Area Consultative

Committee) and Chris Robertson (Queensland Department of

Primary Industries and Fisheries).

Tom Gilmore (Tablelands Regional Council Mayor) and Peter

Radke (Tableland Futures Forum).

Mark Skoroszewski and Brad Dunn (both from Genalysis).

Peter Mellor (Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry), John Fowler (Intertek

Minerals Services), Les Norton (Genalysis), Gary Wheeler (Genalysis) and David Crisafulli (Townsville

City Council).

Julia Leu (Cairns Regional Council) and Sherry Kaurila

(Hinchinbrook Shire Council).

Trevor Brook, Michelle Cochrane and Erik Oates (all from

Indigenous Business Australia).

PHOTOS: Stewart McLean

18 November 2008 | The Mining AdvocateBETWEEN SHIFTS

...MINING...MARINE...POWER...SUGAR...• Heavy Engineering

• Maintenance

• Labour Hire

Serving the mining industry of North Queensland for over 20 years.

www.dawsonseng.com.au

Cairns 07 4055 1900

Townsville 07 4759 0100

• Cairns

• Townsville

• Charters Towers

Northern Australia Safety Centre, Darwin

PHOTOS: Christopher Knight

Des Carolin, Colin Snowden,

Drew Innes and Ben Johnston

(all Northern Territory Fire

and Rescue Service).

Scott Perkins (Northern Territory Resources Council) and Stuart

Sterritcoles (CDE Capital).

Robert Cresswell (RAN) with Julie Smith.

Ross Bradford (Northern Command), Greg Pobar (IFAP) and Anne Bradford (Department of Justice). Chris Tresider, Andy Tresider, Debra Tresider and Bruce Tresider.

Ben Surawski (Airborne Solutions), Ross Coburn (St John

Ambulance) and David Paech (Airborne Solutions).

John Roil (Chemtrans) and Billy Smith (Safety Coaching and

Training).

IFAP Darwin centre 20th anniversary

19The Mining Advocate | November 2008 BETWEEN SHIFTS

Cloncurry Showgrounds

PHOTOS: Roslyn Budd

Milda Staugas, Netta

McInnerney, Annette Reilly

and Pat Pratt cater for the

footy crowd.

Shane Peterson cooks steaks for the RFDS fundraising eff ort.

Quinn Smith, Angela O’Rourke and Bruce Whittacker (Oz

Minerals, Dugald River).

Ed Bird, Natasha Young and Annabelle Heggaton from Jessievale station. Ernest Henry supporters Holly Turner, Symantha Turner, Matthew Twomey and Kimberly Twomey.

Kevin Lu and Adeola Sopade (Xstrata Copper). Samantha Haack and Danielle Taylor (Xstrata Zinc supporters).

Battle of the Mines

Queensland’s leading Regional Airline

Townsville Mount Isa -17 returns weeklyCairns Mount Isa - 6 returns weekly

Book online w w w. m a c a i r. c o m . a u

Taking care of Queensland

20 November 2008 | The Mining AdvocateTRAVEL FEATURE

Brisbane off ers an unprecedented calendar of major events this summer – providing an added element of top-notch entertainment for those considering a break in the Queensland capital.

An Emirates All*Star Twenty20 cricket match – featuring Australia and the

Johnnie Walker All Stars - kicks off the sporting smorgasbord on November 14.

Th ree international cricket matches follow, including Brisbane playing host to the fi rst Test of the summer cricket series against New Zealand at Th e Gabba (November 20-24).

Th e Rugby League World

Cup semi-fi nal (November 15) and fi nal (November 22) are both being played at Suncorp Stadium, in a fi tting end to rugby league’s centenary celebrations Down Under.

A spot of tennis follows from January 4 to 11. Marcos Baghdatis, Novak Djokovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Ana Ivanovic are just a few of the heavy hitters competing at the inaugural Brisbane International tennis tournament being played at the brand new Queensland Tennis Centre.

Brisbane is also hosting a solid line-up of cultural exhibitions and music concerts in the next few months.

Th e Gallery of Modern Art’s summer exhibition is Contemporary Australia: Optimism (November 15 to February 22). Th e State Library of Queensland is showing Game ON - an international blockbuster looking at the history of videogames culture.

At the same time performers including Noiseworks, Def Leppard, Bernard Fanning, Xavier Rudd, John Mellencamp and Billy Joel are bound for Brisbane.

For further information visit www.brisbaneinsummer.com.au.

Sizzling summer attractionsA strong line-up of premier sporting events

and the arts over the next few months should

boost Brisbane’s appeal to holidaymakers.

A variety of cricket clashes is among the summer sports line-up. Brisbane hosts two major Rugby League World Cup showdowns this month.

New Specials - call todayPh 07 4066 2000

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Book 4 nights or more$50 Gift VoucherFuel/Food (ends 31 March 09)

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21The Mining Advocate | November 2008 TRAVEL FEATURE

Whether your idea of a perfect holiday is soaking up the sun on a golden beach, snorkelling or diving on the Great Barrier Reef, or perhaps experiencing the magic of the Daintree rainforest, the Melaleuca Resort at Palm Cove provides an ideal base.

Set amongst tropical gardens and magnifi cent melaleuca trees, the beachfront resort off ers stylish apartments with private balconies and all the mod cons.

Guests looking to indulge in excellent food and wine will fi nd award-winning restaurants just a short stroll away from the resort.

Th ere is also the option of staying in and taking advantage of the Melaleuca Resort

apartments’ convenient kitchen

facilities to prepare a meal.

Rejuvenate with a spa

treatment, walk the beach

barefoot on the warm sand,

have a swim in the cool pool,

take a tour or reef trip, or treat

yourself to excellent resort retail

therapy.

Palm Cove visitors have

the choice of a wide range of

activities at their doorstep, or

the option of simply sitting

back and unwinding in a relaxed

trocial setting.

Melaleuca Resort is a

20-minute drive north of

Cairns city and airport in far

north Queensland.

For further information call

1800 629 698 or visit www.

melaleucaresort.com.au.

201 Lake Street is a modern apartment hotel situated just off the Cairns Esplanade and a short stroll away from the hubbub of the city centre. Suited to business travellers, couples, independent travellers and families alike, this property is still somewhat of a secret. Its spacious one and two-

bedroom apartments feature high ceilings, fresh colours, sleek fi nishes and stylish fi ttings.

Guests at 201 Lake Street can relax in air-conditioned comfort and enjoy viewing on their own 42-inch plasma screen, entertain on their apartment’s spacious private balcony, or take a dip in

the beautifully designed swimming pool.

Th e apartments also feature fully self-contained kitchens as well as laundry facilities.

For bookings or enquiries about 201 Lake Street accommodation phone (07) 4053 0100 or visit www.201lakestreet.com.

A stay at Melaleuca Resort in Palm Cove, north

of Cairns, places visitors within easy striking

range of a wide variety of attractions.

Beachfront

sanctuary

Palm Cove in far north Queensland off ers holidaymakers a taste of tropical paradise.

A polished Cairns gem

22 November 2008 | The Mining AdvocateLIFESTYLE

Th e recent Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic has been hailed a success despite some confusion about the use of boats.

Mount Isa Fish Stocking Group secretary George Fortune said nominations for this year’s event were down because of conjecture that the low water level of the lake would lead to boats being banned. But in the end they were allowed to take to the water and anglers enjoyed the full experience of the annual three-day event.

Mr Fortune said 12 barramundi were weighed in, with the biggest 77cm long and 5kg in weight.

He said a run of cool nights and persistent north-easterly winds had lowered the water temperature and aff ected the barra fi shing (barras generally only feed in warm conditions).

It is closed season for barramundi in the Gulf of Carpentaria and surrounds, but anglers were able to acquire permits for Lake Moondarra that allowed them to catch three barras each and keep one.

s

ed

n

e

akeree

About 600 of the industry’s brightest - and, on the night, most beautiful - came together for the fourth successive year at the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy’s (AusIMM) Mining Ball in Brisbane.

Th is year’s event was held in conjunction with the Mining 2008 conference so that AusIMM members who had travelled from North Queensland and interstate could attend.

Th e evening also acted as a fundraiser for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and a silent auction of winning entries in the Snowden Photo Competition and other donated prizes contributed to a donation of almost $40,000.

Sponsorship from Xstrata Copper also allowed a number of students to attend the event.

Above all, the AusIMM Mining Ball was an opportunity for those in a geographically dispersed industry to catch up, renew

old acquaintances and celebrate the contribution that mining makes as the backbone of the Australian economy.

It was held under the auspices of the Southern Queensland branch of AusIMM.

Fishing classic creates a splash

Above: Robert Whitney

(George Fisher Mine)

helps son Dusty, 4, in a

casting competition.

Right: Bob Forth receives

fi rst prize for the senior

secret weight competition

from presenter Russell

Corrigan.

Left: Allan Hirst (Ace

Scaff olding) releases a

sleepy cod.

Mining ballin Brisbane

Entertainers “Johno and

Nolan” with winner of the

heads and tails competition,

Isabel Owen.

Photos: Fiona Harding

The AusIMM Mining Ball at the Brisbane

Convention Centre included an auction

of winning Snowden Photo Competition

entries as a fundraiser for the Royal

Flying Doctor Service.

23The Mining Advocate | November 2008 BIGGER, TOUGHER, BETTER

Alminco Scorpion crawler rig

The Scorpion is a new air-over-hydraulic, track-mounted drill rig designed

to install secondary roof and wall support in underground roadways.

Capable of bolting in roof heights of 1.4m and above, the machine’s narrow

width allows it to work next to a belt or in limited space. And there is plenty

of power for the hydraulic drill and mast, with the machine boasting a

radial piston air motor capable of producing more than 14 kW (18.8 hp) and

supplying hydraulic pressure of up to 207 Bar (3000 psi).

MDL Australia VS150 void scanner

A tough and easily portable fi eld instrument, the VS150 is designed to

produce fast and accurate 3D laser scans of underground voids where

access is limited, dangerous or prohibited. Manufacturer MDL Australia says

the device uses the pulse “time of fl ight” technique to measure ranges to

rock faces and other objects without the need to place refl ectors on the

target. It makes 200 such measurements every second, up to a range of

150m and to an accuracy of 5cm.

ACME infl atable fresh air bay

For a fast response to protect workers from harmful gases

and smoke, ACME off ers its infl atable fresh air bay. The device

is designed to provide a safe enclosed environment in an

area where contaminated air or poor ventilation poses a

threat to human life. ACME says the lightweight device can

easily be deployed by one person and it infl ates in about 60

seconds. The infl atable fresh air bay is made of strong, fl ame-

retardant fabric, with refl ective strips on all sides to ensure

high visibility.

Schneider Electric OsiSense

ultrasonic sensor

The OsiSense sensor is billed as being able to detect

anything from the position of machine parts to the diff erent

levels of paints in pots without contact. The device produces

pulsed ultrasonic waves to detect objects up to 8m away -

regardless of the material involved. Schneider Electric says

the sensor is the smallest of its kind on the market, making

it ideal for places where mounting space is restricted. It is

highly resistant to chemical agents, making it suitable for use

in industrial environments including mining applications.

Quest Technologies Edge

noise dosimeter

Quest Technologies off ers workers a micro-sized,

cable-free device to measure personal noise

exposure with its newly released dosimeter, The

Edge. The contoured shoulder-mount instrument

is designed for comfortable use while maintaining

an upward orientation for the microphone.

Quest Technologies says its new rechargeable

lithium polymer battery gives The Edge the

longest battery life in the industry for cable-free

dosimeters. Datalogging and time history are

available with instant data review via an LCD

viewing screen.

Terex MT6300AC haul truck

Terex Mining recently launched what it describes as the only truck in its industry

completely designed from the ground up as a true 400-ton haul truck. The new

MT6300AC boasts high ground clearance and is powered by an MTU/Detroit Diesel C

Series 20V4000 engine, off ering up to 3750 hp. Terex says the truck’s drive system and

wheel design enable it to pull away easily from the shovel, while the new MT Series cab

gives operators more leg room and plenty of storage.

Schmidt fl ow

sensor SS 20.260

The Schmidt SS 20.260 fl ow sensor, designed for use in

process technology, off ers crucial upgrades over its forerunner. With

an expanded measuring range of 0 … 50 m/s, the sensor can be applied

for fl ow-rate control in a wide range of systems. It can operate in temperatures

of up to 120C, depending on the confi guration. Schmidt Technology says the latest

version of the unit is more robust due to a chamber in which the sensing element is

protected against impacts.

24 November 2008 | The Mining AdvocateBATTLE OF THE MINES

North West Crane Hire has thefollowing equipment andcranes on offer:

18-220t Cranes34ft – 85ft EWP’s3 x 10m TippersSemi’s, Flat top and Step DeckTrailersIT Loader3t-7t Forklifts

Tilt TraysCrane Operators, Riggers,Labourers, Tradespeople andSupervisors available

The company, directed by Mark andLeanne Bellamy, commenced in 2004with one 50t Crane and now the fleethas expanded to 78 various units withmore cranes, semi’s and equipmenton order and due to arrive in 2008.

Mark Bellamy: 0407 620 868Kelvin Ryan: 0422 124 083

Bobby Werman crosses the line for the winning team, the Xstrata Mount Isa

Copper Operations Devils, with Julian Nardoo and Rob Herbert in support.

Photos for the feature: Roslyn Budd

BHP Billiton Cannington Cougars

Oz Minerals CenturyChariots

Barminco EloiseBulls

Xstrata Copper Mount Isa Mines Young Guns

Xstrata Zinc Mount Isa Mines Zinc Power Maroon

Xstrata Zinc Mount Isa Mines Zinc Power Silver

Xstrata Copper Smelter Mongrels

Xstrata Mount Isa Copper Operations Devils

Xstrata Copper Ernest Henry Dingos

2008 competitors

25The Mining Advocate | November 2008 BATTLE OF THE MINES

Deja vu reigned at this year’s Battle of the Mines rugby league competition, with the Devils winning the grand fi nal against the Chariots by a margin of two points for the second year running.

And once again, the result was something of a surprise, with the smart money being on the fl eet- footed Century side.

Th e Chariots were resplendent in canary yellow jerseys this year, in line with the new OZ Minerals branding.

For most of the competition the team’s razzle-dazzle footy matched their incandescent garb as they tore holes through opposition defensive lines like excavators through waste rock.

Th e Devils were the quiet achievers – they had crept up to fourth place by the end of the second round and somehow ended up qualifying fi rst for the fi nals.

In the fi rst semi-fi nal, the Chariots raced to a 16-0 half-time lead against the Eloise

Bulls, keeping tempo with a techno version of Popcorn emanating from a “blue light” disco next to the ground.

Th e second half saw a continuation of the playful theme, with the Chariots eventually winning 26-4.

Th e second semi-fi nal – between the Devils and Zinc Power Maroon – began bizarrely when the Devils’ kick-off bounced back into the arms of one of their players running through, who then barged over to score in the corner without a tackle having been made.

In the end, the Devils won 18-4, with the only Maroon try coming right on the stroke of fulltime.

Th e Chariots and the Devils were then left to face off against each other in the grand fi nal – one team aiming to erase an agonising 2-0 defeat in the corresponding game last year and the other wanting to prove that their success in 2007 was no fl uke.

Devils make it two in a row

Both sides were scrappy in the

fi rst half of the fi nal – probably

due to tiredness – and the half-

time score was locked up at 4-4.

Th e Chariots revived their

brilliance at the start of the

second half with a try that

passed through many hands and

Booming ground announcer Keith Douglas Jr has a somewhat

manic manner of calling the action. Some of his more poetic

constructs this year included:

• “I don’t know what’s in the water up at Century, but they’re

growing some big boys up there.” (After a Chariot forward

bowled over a Mongrels player)

• “If you want the ball over the line, give it to the ‘C’ and the

‘C’ will be there.” (Referring to the nickname of the Maroons

fullback who had scored)

• “A Mongrel hits a Cougar!” (Bastard!)

• “Everyone wants a taste of the try line – they’re hungry,

hungry, hungry.” (Inspired by the wafting smells of the burger

stand)

• “Th ey’ve just woken up – they’ve just realised they’re playing

footy.” (players and fans alike struggle through 11 hours of

competition)

• “Th e Cougars can smell the taste of victory, not far away.”

(Huh?)

Th e eff ort put in by all the Battle

of the Mines teams this year

was immense, given the diffi cult

conditions for football.

Th e Cloncurry Showground

was a shimmering heat haze

when the day’s proceedings

kicked off at 11.30am on

October 18.

Feathered kites rode a stiff

breeze above the fi eld, seeming

to suggest that the bomb would

be an eff ective attacking weapon

(but it was ultimately used few

times).

A rectangular patch of dirt in

the middle of the fi eld became

increasingly scuff ed as the

afternoon progressed, throwing

up a cloud of rich red dust.

Th ankfully, the Queensland

Fire and Rescue Service was on

hand, with fi ve fi ries driving a

tanker out and hosing down the

dirt patch for 10 minutes.

A highlight of this year’s

competition was the toughness

and close scorelines of the early

games, in contrast to the blow-

outs at the start of last year’s

event.

Rather than fi rst-up rustiness,

fatigue dealt a harder blow to

many teams as they struggled

at 10-4 after the conversion it

seemed as though they would

go on with the task and win

comfortably.

But poor discipline set in

and the Chariots conceded a

spate of consecutive penalties

to open the door for the Devils,

who nonetheless struggled to

capitalise through their poor

handling.

Th e Devils did manage to

cross the line out wide with just

over eight minutes remaining

to bring the defi cit back to two

points.

Both sides had near misses as

the clock wound down, until the

Devils scored an unconverted try

to hit the lead at 12-10.

With 30 seconds remaining in

the match, the Chariots attacked

furiously from the re-start, but

to no avail.

Devils captain Reggie Nardoo

was emotional as he huddled

with his team after the fulltime

siren, telling them that he was

proud to be part of something

special.

Th e bemused Chariots were

once again left shaking their

heads, but with the explosive

talent that the side possesses,

they can look forward to another

red-hot shot at the title next

year.

Ground announcer Keith

Douglas Jr had the fi nal word:

“You’d go a million miles and not

see another game like that one.”

A hard-fought grand fi nal saw the much-

fancied Century Chariots pipped at the post

again this year, writes Michael Stevens.

Devils captain Reggie Nardoo lines up for the posts through Copper Smelter

Mongrels defence.

to maintain intensity and

concentration later in the

afternoon and evening.

Eloise led after the fi rst round,

thanks to some bruising defence

and quick-fi re attack, and made

it into the semi-fi nals.

Zinc Power Maroon also

looked promising, especially

after beating the Bulls 10-4 in

the second round.

Th e Young Guns – a team

made up of apprentices – largely

avoided the scourge of serious

injuries that plagued them

last year, with head coach Ron

Eastburn saying that more

intense training sessions and

a closer relationship with

physiotherapists had helped

them cope this year.

Th e Cougars were

disappointing in the end, having

been in third position after half

their games but missing out on

the fi nals. However, they were

dark horses the previous two

years and there’s no telling what

they’ll do next year – though

they have some work to do to

match up with the Devils and

the Chariots.

Meanwhile, the Mongrels

ensured their team stayed true to

the goals of the day by passing

around their tent an orange

hardhat and ear muffl er combo,

with a mantra written in black

marker pen: “I will not talk

about work”.

Players show true grit

Th e world according to Keith

Darren McNamara from the Dingos runs the ball up against the Century Chariots.

Eloise charges into the fray


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Remember Jon and Rion?Th e Mining Advocate spoke to

them in the last edition about what they expected from this year’s Battle of the Mines.

We caught up with the two players mid-afternoon on the big day and both were pleased with the run of play.

Jon Almond – from the BHP Billiton Cannington Cougars – said the team’s fi rst game was tough, but they managed to notch up a 4-0 win over the Xstrata Mount Isa Copper Operations Devils and they backed it up with a victory over the Mount Isa Mines Young Guns in their second match.

“Our defence is probably the best bit of our game,” he said.

Mr Almond said he was pleased with his own form despite dropping the ball in the match against the Young Guns.

Rion Burgess – from the Xstrata Copper Ernest Henry Dingos – said the competition was more relaxed than last year but was still strong.

“It has been pretty physical

Reporting on the run

- we’ve got a few injuries, but I think every team has got them,” he said. Mr Burgess said he was focused on simply surviving the competition, but still harboured slight hopes that the Dingos could make the semis.

Rion BurgessDingos player

Th e surprise packet at this year’s Battle of the Mines was the Barminco Eloise Bulls, making their fi rst appearance in the competition since 2003.

Bull Simon Boyes - who was named player of the tournament – said the small mine of just over 100 workers had put in a big eff ort to raise

a team of 20 players for the event.

Although their fi rst run as a full team only occurred on the day before the competition, Mr Boyes said individual players had put a fair amount of eff ort into training before the event.

“We didn’t come here to get

fl ogged, obviously,” he said.He said a few of the Bulls

players would hang up their boots after this year’s competition, but he was confi dent that the younger players showed enough interest to allow Eloise to fi eld a side in next year’s competition.

Eloise Bulls player Sean Burge

helps Zinc Power Silver’s John

Saunders to a little sit-down.

27The Mining Advocate | November 2008 BATTLE OF THE MINES

Th e Battle of the Mines is about more than just a bunch of blokes having a hit-up and giggle on the fi eld once a year.

It’s about mates with wide grins who’ve driven across from the Isa to see Robbo gingerly position himself on the wing in the hope that a big forward won’t run at him.

It’s about kids running around in circles in the long afternoon shadows of the grandstands, playing a mixed game of tag, wrestling and footy.

It’s about Rotary Club volunteers heaping barbecued onion on beef patties behind a canteen counter to raise money for charity.

Th e Battle of the Mines is a bastion of the traditional role of sports in society, where a much-anticipated event can bring a small community together in pride and celebration.

It’s a far cry from sport at a national level, where competiveness frequently gives way to ruthlessness, and where publicity surrounding sex and drug abuse scandals have eroded so much of the pure enjoyment of watching a game being played.

Camped on the sideline this year at the 12th Battle of the Mines competition was the man who began the concept, John Green.

He said the idea occurred to him as a way of overcoming the obstacles to playing sport caused by irregular work times.

“I was doing shiftwork at a mine as a boilermaker and I found that I couldn’t get a game,” Mr Green said.

“A lot of country teams had trouble fi elding sides because everyone in the mines was working shiftwork and the mines didn’t allow you to go to training.

“So I thought, what’s a way

we can keep a bit of rugby league

alive?”

Th e fi rst Battle was played

between three teams - Ernest

Henry, Cannington and Eloise.

It has grown to be a nine-team

event this year.

Also watching on the sidelines

was former North Queensland

Cowboys coach Graham Murray,

visiting the Battle of the Mines

competition for the third time.

He said the Cowboys – who

send players out each year to

act as offi cials and run junior

coaching clinics – appreciated

Cloncurry’s support and

enjoyed giving time back to the

community.

Th e Battle of the Mines encouraged camaraderie among the miners, Mr Murray said.

“Th ey can talk about it for the next 12 months - it’s always played in a good spirit,” he said.

Mr Murray’s comments came only a couple of hours before a heavy brawl involving numerous players from Zinc Power Silver and the Mongrels led to their match being abandoned.

But the players readily shook hands afterwards and it appeared that no bad blood remained.

All money raised from team registrations was donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Th e competition was organised by the Rotary Club of Cloncurry.

The Battle of the Mines bash shows how a

sporting event can become a true celebration

of community spirit, writes Michael Stevens.

More than a footy match

Battle of the Mines pioneer John Green, left, with former North Queensland

Cowboys coach Graham Murray at this year’s competition.

Kids play touch in the shadows of

the grandstand.

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Former State of Origin greats

(FOGs) Gene Miles, Mick

Hancock and Tonie Carroll

pitched in at this year’s Battle of

the Mines, running the sidelines

as touch judges and serving

drinks for half an hour.

When Th e Mining Advocate visited the bar, it looked as if

they were enjoying their work –

the customers were content with

their beers and the FOGS were

studying a crumpled racing form

guide, with Tonie Carroll calling

in the bets on his mobile phone.

A few minutes later, more

patrons arrived and the FOGs

happily posed for photos and

signed autographs in between

dipping into the Eskies for ice-

cold tinnies to serve.

Mr Hancock said the FOGs

were frequent visitors to the

Battle of the Mines and liked to

A trio of rugby league legends provided some

star power on the sidelines at this year’s mine

clash in Cloncurry, writes Michael Stevens.

‘FOGs’ roll in to lend a handhelp where they could.

“We’ve been here and in the

Isa since Wednesday. It’s all

about community – we’ve been

going to schools and radio

stations and visiting mines,” he

said.

Mr Hancock said the passion

displayed by Battle of the Mines

players was admirable and made

up for certain lapses in fi nesse.

“Th ey come out here and they

probably haven’t played since

they were kids - you never lose

it in the mind, it’s just that the

body doesn’t get where you want

it to get,” he said. Melanie Gosbee is served by rugby league great Tonie Carroll.

Dylan Reid keeps his eye on the ball.

Zinc Power Maroon players John Venz (left), Hese Tupou (low) and Daniel

Rhodes (behind) wrap up a Zinc Power Silver attack.

Devils player Ben Watt breaks through the defence of Copper Smelter

Mongrels Gavin Bunny (left) and Scott Hendry (right).

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November 2008