SM137_Shift Miner Magazine by Shift Miner

SHIFT MINER The Queensland mining communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best source of local news

Locally Owned and Operated - www.shiftminer.com

Monday 21st May 137th Edition 2012

M A G A Z I N E

OPPORTUNITIES Report questions MISSED employee base THE structure of the resources workforce is not allowing Queensland to take full advantage of the boom. That was a key finding in a major industry report into employment and workers that provides an annual snapshot of the sector. The just-released Kinetic Group Heartbeat Report 2012 found workforce growth, a high turnover rate, and a large non-resident, ageing workforce were factors compromising the resources sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to capitalise demand for coal. The report provides a detailed overview of turnover and recruitment trends in the industry, as well as an in-depth analysis of 21 identified industry job roles. Nine major industry organisations provided data for the survey which covered 30,500 workers. Most alarming was a high turnover rate is contributing significantly to industry costs. The report found the annual turnover in the sector, including contractors, is 24.4%. Of all separating employees, 18.4% left within the first 12 months of employment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The turnover burden to industry is conservatively estimated at $140 million annually for direct costs of recruitment, induction and training; and the turnover rate for non-resident employees was more than double that of other employees during the 12 month sample,â&#x20AC;? Kinetic Group CEO, Derek Hunter said.

MAY DAY FUN

m WIN $500Â in custeo13 tattooing - pag News BMA ballots lost Âť page 4 News Sex worker appeals ruling Âť page 5 News FIFO doctor for Moranbah Âť page 6 Around Town Bulls trample Dogs Âť page 14

Blackwater buzzes over long weekend Âť Â Â More pictures page 15

Âť continued page 10

PERSONAL INJURY EXPERTS All accidents and personal injury claims: s -OTOR 6EHICLE !CCIDENTS s 7ORKERS )NJURY #LAIMS s 0UBLIC ,IABILITY #LAIMS s -INING !CCIDENT #LAIMS s 4OTAL AND 0ERMANENT $ISABILITY )NSURANCE #LAIMS s "OATING AND (OLIDAY !CCIDENT #LAIMS $ARREN 3EKAC IS AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATIONS AT THE 7HITSUNDAY AND 0ROSERPINE OFlCES ON 4HURSDAY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Darren Sekac*

*Personal Injuries Law Accredited Specialist (MACKAY)

Call 4944 2000

www.macamiet.com.au

MACKAY

Off Shift Fine fillies trackside Âť page 21

9 CONTENTS NEWS 4 BMA ballots lost

5 What sex boom? 7 Contractors cautious 9 Pipe activity increases

6 7

Numbers You Numbers Numbers Regulars Can CountYou On** You *

Can CountCan OnCount On 16 Stuff to the Editor

*When audited by the CAB Numbers You

Can Count On

* by the CAB *When audited by the *When CAB audited *When audited by the CAB

M A G A Z I N E

www.shiftminer.com M AE G A www.shiftminer.com I N E M AMGA AG ZA I Z N I N E Z www.shiftminer.com

Queensland mining community's best source of local news

SHIFT MINER

Proudly Audited by

Proudly Audited Proudly Audited by by

Locally Owned and Operated

17 Frank the Tank 18 Miner's Trader 20 Weather & Tides 25 Money Matters

www.shiftminer.com

Phone: (07) 4921 4333 Fax: (07) 4922 6908 angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com Editor: Alex Graham Advertising: Angus Peacocke 0428 154 653

www.shiftminer.com

M A G A Z I NForEmore information visit www.auditbureau.org.au For more information visit www.auditbureau.org.au

Published fortnightly by Fitzroy Publishing Pty Ltd A.B.N 72122739879 PO Box 1440, Rockhampton Q 4700

For more information visit www.auditbureau.org.au

YOUR UNION YOUR L AWYER s 7ORK#OVER CLAIMS s 7ORK RELATED INJURIES s 2OAD ACCIDENT INJURIES s 3UPERANNUATION 40$ CLAIMS s &AMILY LAW s %STATE LAW s #ONVEYANCING

CONTACT

Cameron McCracken Phillip Robinson

07 4922 0277

general@hallpayne.com.au W www.hallpayne.com.au E

Address Suite 2, Trade Union Office,

110 Campbell Street, Rockhampton. Page 3 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012

News

127th EDITION. 2012

Anglers throw the lines back in ANGLERS in Gladstone seem to have moved on from the controversy surrounding fish deaths and water quality. Last year sections of the harbour were closed to fishermen after a high number of unexplained fish deaths and serious red sores were seen on other caught fish, including barramundi and sharks. Government investigations are continuing and legal action has been launched by a group of fishing-related businesses. The issue decimated fishing and tourism industries almost overnight as the story was covered by national and international media that implied a link between the water woes and heavy industry and dredging. But anglers themselves seemed to have got the rods and reels out of the garage in past weeks and moved on. At Pat’s Tackle World in Gladstone, Josh Lunn said the quality of the water hardly rates a mention these days among those that drop into the shop to buy gear or boast about the one that got away. He says the attitude and conversation has returned back to what it was before the fish deaths.

Customers don’t really want to talk about it, he said. “It’s probably because there hasn’t been any fish deaths for a few months,” he says, in between serving customers. “Conditions have improved and talk of fish deaths has faded out of conversations. “Things seem to be back to normal.” Meanwhile, the latest test results from Gladstone harbour have found no significant change in water quality, no single cause for all fish health issues and a decrease in the number of barramundi with eye problems or lesions. The results were released by the Queensland government but compiled by its independent panel set up to investigate the fish deaths and water quality. Of the 185 crabs in the Narrows and 170 crabs at Turkey Beach caught in sampling in January, 5 per cent displayed shell abnormalities, which is similar to levels observed in historical studies. About 40 kilograms of prawns were caught in the harbour and a further 60kgs outside with all in good condition.

“Conditions have improved and talk of fish deaths has faded out of conversations.”

2012 Mackay Marine Festival featuring:

free entry

June 23 - 24, 2012

The Mackay Tinnie and Tackle Show and Australian Offshore Superboat Championships are teaming up for a second year at Mackay Marina!

Open 9am - 5pm both days Catch all the action of the Mackay Superboat Races

BALLOT papers have been handed out to BMA miners who weren’t sent the forms in the mail. It’s the latest saga in a 16-month unionversus-company confrontation over a new enterprise agreement for 3500 BMA workers at seven Bowen Basin mine sites. Employees have already voted once on the issue last September, and resoundingly rejected the company’s offer. There has also been strike action across the seven sites over the past year, causing significant disruption to BMA’s operations. When talks between unions and BMA once again broke down last month, the company decided to take the latest offering directly to employees. Despite union protests, a postal ballot was settled on as the vehicle for the vote, and now the CFMEU claims at least 154 employees are yet to receive their ballot papers. CFMEU District President Stephen Smyth has told media the number of workers without ballot papers could be much higher. “These figures are only those who have come forward, we think the actual number of workers without voting slips to be much higher,” Mr Smyth said. BMA reacted quickly to the claims and said in a statement that the employee ballot on the Enterprise Agreement had been carried out in accordance with the Fair Work Australia Act and was being conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission. “After becoming aware that some employees had not received ballot papers, BMA took immediate corrective steps,” the statement said. BMA has contacted all of the employees who were listed as not receiving a ballot paper and has spoken directly to 70 per cent of them, the company says.

Electoral Commission officials were in Emerald and Moranbah last week, handing out ballot papers to those who missed out. “BMA wants all employees to have the chance to have their say on the enterprise agreement,” a spokesperson said. The vote closed last Friday with results unavailable at the time of print .

Mines Minister’s been trippin’

IT was an industry boot camp of sorts for the new Mines Minister Andrew Cripps recently after enjoying a pit to port tour from Moranbah to Hay Point. Hosted by the Queensland Resources Council, the newly minted Minister visited BMA’s Goonyella-Riverside mine outside Moranbah plus QR National’s Jilalan rail complex near Sarina and the Hay Point - Dalrymple Bay coal port facilities. He was impressed. “Right across Queensland’s mining communities we see examples of resource companies making (social) contributions, which I welcome and applaud,” he later said. “I had the opportunity to see affordable housing projects, new employee accommodation, a new airport, contributions to local road maintenance and even the new state of the art aquatic facility in Moranbah, all built with significant funding from the local mining operator.” Minister Cripps said the Newman Government had an expectation that mining companies would be good corporate citizens and work hard to meet their social obligations within their local communities. He added that the government would also deliver on its commitments through the Royalties for the Regions programs. Moranbah is projected to have more fly-in, fly-out workers in the town this year than full-time ratepayer residents and that has placed enormous pressure on housing, health services and infrastructure. Minister Cripps said after the tour that the challenge for the government and resources sector was to continue to increase the capacity of export ports and maintain a strong supply chain to meet the growing demand of international customers who depend on Queensland as a reliable supplier of coal.

Sex worker appeals being booted FAST NEWS THE future of sex workers’ rights will be fought out in a legal battle in July when a sex worker who lost her anti-discrimination case to a Moranbah hotel has her appeal heard. Last October, the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) decision ruled that the sex worker known as GK did not have a discrimination case against the Drover’s Rest Motel owners, who had refused her accommodation. Now motels across the state are using QCAT’s decision to prohibit sex workers from using their premises. Gold Coast-based GK told Shift Miner Magazine she is determined to take up this fight because it is a case of discrimination. She said the only reason sex workers are refused accommodation is because staff don’t like what they do. “Their excuse is that they don’t like strange men walking around the motel. But what is the difference between a miner who stays next door, and has his mates coming in and out to catch up for a drink? With sex workers, the only difference is that it is sex,” she said. “The general excuse is they don’t want undesirables, but the clients I see are not delinquents. It is just a myth. We see family men, single men - men from all walks of life. At the end of the day I have seen clients who range from 18 to 19 up to 70.” Joan Hartley runs the Drover’s Rest Motel with her husband, and the couple have engaged the services of a Brisbane barrister for the appeal. “I am not a prude. I believe there is a place for everyone in the world - sex workers have a place,” she told Shift Miner Magazine between phone calls. “I didn’t want her here because it is not legal,” Mrs Hartley said. “We have a licensed premise from boundary to boundary. I understand people are not allowed to run a business, and she ran under the radar for 13 visits.” When Shift Miner Magazine asked if this would prohibit people from using their laptops or phones to conduct busi-

What sex boom?

ness from their rooms, she said no. Mrs Hartley said she would refuse accommodation to anyone wanting to sell goods from her motel. GK has been working in the Bowen Basin for four years and had been staying at the Drover’s Rest on separate occasions without raising suspicion. “The only reason why my activities were noticed on my last stay at the Drover’s Rest was because my room was opposite reception, which makes it kind of hard to disguise the comings and goings so to speak,” she said. “On 12 occasions I was allowed to stay there when they thought I was just a ‘normal’ business person. As soon as it’s discovered I’m actually a sex worker I’m refused accommodation in the future. “If that’s not discrimination I don’t know what is.” It is because of this that GK is taking up the fight and is now raising $13,000 so she can engage the services of a solicitor and barrister. “I have gone this far to stand up for my rights, and it will benefit others. A lot of girls won’t speak out for fear of being outed to their family and friends,” GK said.

IT’S a case of media hype - while there may be a resources boom, an influx of miners in central Queensland is not fuelling a sex worker boom. GK, based in Queensland’s southeast corner, has been a fly-in, fly-out sex worker for a number of years after “discovering” the mining towns, and she has seen no boom. “The reasons why few sex workers travel to these areas could be down to the lack of accommodation, high price of flights, hire cars and very average accommodation,” she told Shift Miner Magazine. “For a two-night work trip to these areas in central Queensland it costs me a minimum of $1100 in expenses - hotel, car hire, advertising, flights, etc. “This is a huge expense for ladies to fly to these areas on a whim with no guarantee of work. Yes, it can be lucrative but like in any business where there is a chance to make good money, there is always that risk that you won’t cover your costs too. Even in a boom town business can have its quiet moments,” she explained. GK said there are very few sex workers who regularly travel to the Bowen Basin, despite the boom. “I think you will find that there are more sex workers touring from city to city rather than regional country areas.” Occasionally new sex workers might do a one-off visit, but overall there is not a boom, she added. “Towns like Middlemount, Dysart, Blackwater and Clermont are just a few of the towns that I know where ladies rarely seem to visit. “These are all booming mining towns so I think it’s safe to say that, speaking from my personal knowledge within the industry, it is all media hype that the mining towns are overflowing with FIFO sex workers, when they actually aren’t.” Comment or SMS 0428 154 653

Next stop Yeppoon

WANDOAN Chamber of Commerce president Ray Mortimer will be getting behind the wheel of a Holden Rodeo of questionable condition from July 9 to 19 for the Great Endeavour Rally. The Toowoomba to Yeppoon (via the Gulf) event will be bone jarring but all for a good cause - it raises money for the Endeavour Foundation which is one of the largest non-government disability service providers in Australia. Ray says several resource companies have already supported his team’s effort and further assistance is still sought. .........................................................................................

Surat on show

REGISTRATIONS have opened online for workers wanting to attend the 2012 Surat Basin Energy and Mining Expo. The event will be held at Toowoomba Showgrounds on June 20 and 21 and is experiencing strong interest from sponsors, exhibitors and companies wanting to attend. There will also be a number of high profile speakers and over 100 extra exhibitor sites are available to cater for the demand from first time exhibitors. Further event details, including registration, are available from www.suratbasinexpo.com.au .........................................................................................

Train report nears

THE feasibility report into a proposed Gladstone to Rockhampton fast train service is expected to be delivered to Capricorn Enterprise by the end of the month. The study is being jointly funded by Capricorn Enterprise and Queensland Rail, with Rockhampton firm Tanner Consultants employed to carry out the work. Capricorn Enterprise economic development manager Neil Lethlean said late last year the report was about highlighting the level of demand. A fast train could pick up between 500 to 1000 people in Rockhampton and 200 to 300 from Bundaberg daily. .........................................................................................

Resort renamed

HE’S not just signing the cheques anymore he also has his name on the front gate. Billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer has chosen Palmer Resort Coolum as the new name for the Hyatt Regency Coolum he owns on the Sunshine Coast. Palmer was in a public stoush with the hospitality chain earlier this year over claims they weren’t managing the place properly. There are now plans to develop the resort into a luxury retreat which will take further financial commitment from Palmer as the relaxing resort is looking a little rundown.

Feel safer having your money invested by locals?

This year the Festival expands into Mulherin Park where there’ll be live entertaiment across the weekend. Check out Queensland’s leading boat brands on display - sailing boats, offshore fishing boats, tinnies, fibreglass boats, engines, PWCs, marine electronics and accessories.

Live entertainment Onsite parking

supported by:

presented by:

www.mackaymarinefestival.com.au brought to you by

Missing ballot papers irk union

Page 4 - Shift Miner Magazine, 21st May 2012

s Get low ongoing fees for your managed investments. s Want a managed fund that can perform better than most managed funds on the market? From as little as $500 with an ongoing contribution or $2,000 you can invest in a fund that is run by Central Queenslanders, for Central Queenslanders CDIF is targeting an annual return of 8% income plus capital growth

Contact Capricorn Investment Partners to receive a copy of the PDS Telephone: 1800 679 000 www.cdif.com.au

Page 5 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012

News

127th EDITION. 2012

FIFO doctor for Moranbah A six-month pilot programme that gives BMA employees and contractors access to medical care at an Moranbah accommodation village aims to alleviate pressure on town-based medical services.

BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) has been running the programme at Eureka Accommodation Village outside Moranbah since February and has contracted a Mackaybased medical business to run the clinic.

“BMA is aware of the difficulty in attracting and retaining medical professional in the region, and hopes the trial will relieve pressure on town-based services,” a spokesperson told Shift Miner Magazine. The clinic is run on BMA’s behalf by Best Practice OHS, who are responsible for sourcing staff, the spokesperson said. “A doctor is present at the clinic between the hours of 5am-8am and 5pm-8pm every day. Outside of these times, the doctor is available on an on-call basis. The clinic is staffed 24-7 by nursing staff.” The growing number of fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workers in the region and the pressure it puts on medical services in Moranbah has been an ongoing concern for local residents. The local medical surgery recently lodged a submission with the federal inquiry into FIFO and DIDO, which pointed to a lack of a relationship between doctors and non-resident worker patients, which was resulting in lower levels of compliance and co-operation from some patients. The submission also noted a tendency for some unattached men to engage in reckless behaviours such as drinking and drug taking, which resulted in more emergency calls in the town. “Medical services based in our towns are also under pressure, and providing on-site

services should reduce the demand on these services, providing additional capacity for local residents and their families,” BMA’s asset president Stephen Dumble said. All BMA staff and contractors within the area can access the village clinic for both work and non-work related medical issues. “We have initiated this service in order to provide high-quality medical care for employees and contractors staying in the village, particularly while they are away from home.” The Eureka Village service is offered to BMA employees and contractors, primarily from the Goonyella Riverside and Broadmeadow mines. At the end of the six-month pilot, BMA will look at rolling out the service to its other mining locations. BMA has also commissioned Health Workforce Queensland to develop a sustainable model for the provision of medical services in Moranbah and Dysart. The project will be lead by a community steering committee, including representatives from BMA, Anglo American Coal, Isaac Regional Council, the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, and Moranbah and District Support Services. Recommendations on the preferred model are expected to be made mid-year.

Boom steadies, but is it all so bad? CENTRAL Queensland contractors are jittery, but is the mining boom experiencing a drop off? The mining giants of the region - BHP through its BHP Mitsubishi alliance (BMA)

arm and Rio Tinto have given more than just hints that some aspects of their business will slow down. Last week, Rio Tinto’s chief executive Tom Albanese flagged that higher costs

were forcing a rethink of the company’s expansion plans, and driverless trucks and trains would soon be part of the Bowen Basin landscape. “I do see this work (automation) propagating in Queensland and the rest of the world. The first stage of that will happen over the course of this year,” he said. Last Friday, BMA shut the doors of its Norwich Park mine near Dysart. The mine’s permanent workforce, based predominantly in the town, has been asked to list which of the company’s other mines they would prefer to work at. BMA has confirmed that 99 per cent of Norwich Park workers will be re-deployed to either their first or second choice. About 400 Downer contractors from the mine will be moved to BMA’s Blackwater operations. However, that move means the current Golding contractor workforce at Blackwater will be out of work when the company’s contract expires. One employee told Shift Miner Magazine contractors were beginning to become a little nervous about the current work climate. “Things don’t seem as secure as they did six months ago,” he said. “The feeling is there isn’t a lot of work in the Bowen Basin at the moment, and people are looking elsewhere.”

That general sentiment isn’t helped by the fact the end of financial year is approaching, and companies are making bottom line decisions on staff. Anglo American’s Foxleigh mine has laid off 20 contractors recently, and others have had their hours reduced. But CFMEU union spokesman Steve Smyth is not overly concerned by the move. Mr Smyth says it’s just part and parcel of the industry using contract workforces. “Their jobs are like seasonal workers they can have a job now and not tomorrow and that’s one of the issues that we face in the mining industry,” he said. “It’s not good but it does happen as it gets towards the end of the financial year. It has been a practice in the past in other places.” In Mackay, which is the main feeder of major contractors and mining related service businesses for the Bowen Basin, locals firms aren’t yet feeling the pinch of any suggested cuts or a levelling out. “I think the reality is that things have slowed down because of what’s happening on the markets, and companies are being more cautious,” said the Mackay Area Industry Network’s (MAIN) Narelle Pearse. “That means the acceleration of new jobs hasn’t happened as quickly as we expected, and we are in a holding pattern.”

heights

Page 6 - Shift Miner Magazine, 21st May 2012

Page 7 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012

News

127th EDITION. 2012

New FIFO service set to go

A new charter jet aimed at servicing the Queensland mining industry’s fly-in fly-out workforce is now ready for take off. JetGo, which has bases in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Rockhampton, has been granted its Civil Aviation Safety Authority certification and is now open for operation. “Our registration approval came through last week, so now we are in the ramp-up stage of our business,” chief executive and co-owner Jason Ryder told Shift Miner Magazine. “We have one contract starting at the end of the month where will be flying to the north-west of Queensland, to Mt Isa.” Mr Ryder, a Yeppoon businessman and former international pilot, set up JetGo with Sunshine Coast based co-owner Aaron Mulder to service the booming resources industry. “The interest is what we expected and we will be a lot busier in the next two to three years,” he said. The type of jet being used by the company can carry up to 37 passengers and three crew, and will be able to access remote loca-

tions that other jets can’t get to. It is also twice as fast as the aircraft currently servicing remote communities. “Typically a client would spend half their time in travel on our service compared with a propeller aircraft, so they arrive less fatigued,” Mr Ryder said. JetGo plans to fill a gap in the market by providing the flexibility to fly to places that are not serviced by the major airlines and it bypasses airline hub structures by flying directly from remote sites to population centres. “We will be able to fly out to a destination and return in the morning, and then do another service in the afternoon, but this will depend on demand.”CAPTION: Queensland charter flight company JetGo is set to fly workers to and from mine sites after being granted approval to do so by the Civil Aviation Authority. OPTIONAL PULL QUOTE: “Typically a client would spend half their time in travel on our service compared with a propeller aircraft, so they arrive less fatigued.”

“Typically a client would spend half their time in travel on our service compared with a propeller aircraft, so they arrive less fatigued.”

Pipe trucks to be common sight BUILDING pipelines over hundreds of kilometres takes a lot of money, planning and of course pipes. Big, long pipes. Those pipes have started to arrive for major gas projects in the Bowen Basin. There are so many of them - about 420

kilometres worth - for the Santos project alone that there are going to be noticeably more trucks on the road and at least one mayor in the Basin has urged ratepayers and road users to be extra cautious. The Santos pipeline will transport coal

seam gas from outside Roma to the Curtis Island LNG processing and export facility at Gladstone. Its contractor started delivering the pipes required to a stockpile site last week with the first batch on the ground by Sunday night. People may well be amazed at how many trucks and how many pipes are on their way. “We can expect to see these trucks on these roads on a fairly regular basis over the next nine months,” said Central Highlands mayor Peter Maguire said. He asked people to exercise caution on the road, drive to the conditions and respect other road users, particularly when there were extra truck movements on the roads. This included west on the Dawson Highway, south on the Carnarvon Highway and east on Mulcahys Road. All loaded trucks travelled only during daylight to reduce risks and there was no report of any incidents surrounding the first shipments. Meanwhile, QGC has just awarded a construction contract to Murphy Pipe and Civil Constructions to install gas and water gathering pipelines throughout QGC’s gas fields in the Surat Basin. The initial phase of the contract is worth about $250 million. Brisbane-based Murphy Pipe and Civil will install high-density polyethylene pipe

to gather and transport gas and water from wells to processing facilities. QCLNG Project Senior Vice President Sandy Nairn said the contract was significant for the Western Downs region and would create many employment opportunities. “Much of what we spend on the project goes into local communities in one way or another, through wages, supply of materials and associated services,” Mr Nairn said. “The contractor has indicated that a further 250 people will be employed to fulfil the contract and that it will draw heavily on its network of Western Downs’ suppliers and service providers.” The Murphy Pipe and Civil contract, which runs for about two years, complements other work the company is doing for QGC through innovative “spider plough” machinery and fast-fusion welding technology. In 2011, QGC awarded a A$120 million contract to Iplex Pipelines to supply high-density polyethylene pipe for the gas fields through a new manufacturing plant at Toowoomba. The plant is scheduled to reach full production by September 2012. QGC’s 540 kilometre gas pipeline will consist of 46,200 12-metre lengths of pipe welded together and then buried. So, yes, more pipes for the region and the roads.

Hit in the head with a hose AN electrician who was checking for fluid leaks on a longwall pump sled in an underground coal mine was struck in the face by a loose hose and sprayed with hydraulic emulsion fluid. The hose normally feeds through floor plates to discharge to an area below the walk plates of the pump cart. But, in this instance, the discharge valve on the pump sled turned on and caused the hose to move around and hit the electrician. The Mines Inspectorate has put out a safety bulletin in relation to the accident, because it is the latest in a series of inci-

dents related to high pressure hydraulic fluids on longwalls. The Inspectorate says poor design - including hose layout and hose retention design were major contributing factors to this incident. The Inspectorate has recommended all hose assemblies should be properly restrained to prevent unplanned movement and injury, with regular audits to make sure they are in place. Meanwhile, the Inspectorate has also wrapped up its investigation into the death of a truck driver at Anglo American’s Foxleigh mine in December 2010.

The driver had been changing a truck tyre, when it exploded and killed him. The Inspectorate has released a lengthy safety bulletin on radial construction tyres. It found that in this instance the driver had followed set procedures, and that it was likely the “almost new” replacement tyre selected by the driver had previously operated at low pressure. It had a puncture repair indicating it had probably run flat. For the full safety bulletin and advice go to www.mines.industry.gov.au/mining/safety -alerts-bulletins.htm

Hose normally positioned within confines of pump cart body.

BETTER connections – network with over 600 suppliers and 10,000 peers BETTER experience – see, touch and feel live working machinery BETTER ideas – learn at the QME conference

NEED PEOPLE SAFE, ALERT AND ON TIME? Australasian Jet can provide professional domestic and international charter flights for any budget. - 24 hours a day / 7days a week - for fly in fly out roster change overs - express Freight transport - on call nationwide medical transfers

- General charter requirements for all mine sites in the Bowen Basin and beyond - Quality assured operator with a solid 25 year company history - Call for an obligation free fly in/fly out quotation

Increase productivity - reduce fatigue risk Australasian Jet - call us direct on 0414 550 644 Email: lisas@ausjetqld.com.au www.ausjetqld.com.au Office: 07 4953 3261

Page 8 - Shift Miner Magazine, 21st May 2012

Page 9 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012

SHIFT

MINER ladder

GET WHERE YOU WANT TO BE

Opportunities missed: report a 100% non-resident workforce. “This tells us we need to carefully manage the issues arising from a mobile workforce, and that it will be a key challenge to address for the industry over the coming years as the FIDO/DIDO workforce increases,” Mr Hunter said. New entrants in the industry are proportionally older than the existing workforce. According to the report findings, 22% of employees are aged over 50 years and 3.2% are over 60 years of age and eligible for retirement. “The industry is constantly recruiting new people to help support its exponential growth but a third of these new recruits are aged 50 years and over,” Mr Hunter said. “An ageing workforce is concerning because it exposes the industry to significant

risk in terms of losing critical skill, knowledge and experience to retirement. “What we need to do is examine strategies to mitigate this risk; things like pathway programs, replacement planning and knowledge management. Industry actively seeks experienced workers, with the majority of the workforce over 25 years old. Alarming statistics highlight that the number of workers under 25 years is significantly low, at less than 10% of the industry workforce. The industry is more likely to employ staff once they enter their late twenties, reinforcing the notion that industry employers are actively seeking workers with previous experience or transferrable skills. “Our main concern with this figure is that

it highlights the lack of pathway programs for young people to enter the industry,” Mr Hunter said. “If the Queensland mining industry is to grow a workforce to meet productivity goals, we must improve our capacity to introduce new workers to the industry in a timely way. Industry must do significantly more to create pathway programs and foster the development of school leavers.”

Industry insight says jobs to increase The Kinetic Group Heartbeat Report 2012 isn’t all doom and gloom with the sector workforce forecast to grow significantly over the next three years, by as much as 14%. “We believe the data identifies significant opportunities for our industry to meet productivity goals through thoughtful and intelligent management of the workforce now and into the future,” Kinetic CEO Derek Hunter said. “Their commitment to workforce planning and development is evidenced through participation in this groundbreaking research project. “It’s important we focus our attention on the solutions. The findings may paint a grim picture but the industry growth and opportunities available mean we can easily turn this around.” He said the the intention of the report

ladder

GET WHERE YOU WANT TO BE

FROM PAGE 1

“There is significant churn of employees within the industry. This is really concerning for productivity as, based on these figures, the industry will need to replace the equivalent of its whole workforce within 5.8 years.” The non-resident workforce is on the rise, with one third of current employees living more than 300 kilometres away from their place of work. The report found that non-resident workers had a high turnover more than double the rest of the industry. Key industry stakeholders, such as the Queensland Resources Council, expect enormous growth in the non-resident workforce. The QRC argues that any additional mining workforce could comprise up to 75% nonresident workers, with some mines opting for

MINER

is to support industry to meet productivity goals through careful workforce planning and development, and the key outcome is an industry skills strategy, an invaluable report which provides a holistic strategy to overcome the issues coming to light because of the skills shortage. The report quantifies the skills shortage in relation to critical roles by aggregating data across the industry and projects skills shortages into the future. The 2012 report draws on a comprehensive sample of human resource data covering 56% of the Queensland mining industry’s workforce; with data collected from more than 30,500 employees across 9 participating organisations. Data was collected from nine participating organisations including Downer EDI, New Hope Group, BMA, Xstrata Cop-

per, Leighton, Peabody, Manpower Group, Golding and Anglo American. Formerly the Mining Industry Skills Centre, Mr Hunter said the Kinetic Group has a unique understanding of the capabilities required of a modern resources sector workforce, and works to ensure a skilled workforce for a sustainable future. For copies of the full report visit www. kineticgroup.org.au

as which are often hard to reach in the event of a medical emergency and we didn’t want to draw on communities’ medical services,” Mr Pearson said. “The solution was to come together as an industry and launch the Surat Basin Gas Industry AME retrieval service.” As part of the service, up to 100 hours of dedicated community use a year is funded by the industry. The choppers have played a vital role in the rapid evacuation and treatment of local people injured in a range of situations including motor vehicle accidents, farming mishaps, horse falls and even snake bites. One helicopter is based in Roma and a back-up is in Toowoomba. Each has the capability to accommodate two patients. As part of the service a critical-care doctor and a paramedic, along with a pilot and co-pilot, are stationed full-time in Roma.

“Thirty-nine of the patients rescued in the past 12 months were members of the public.”

PUBLIC submissions on a proposed $500 million coking coal project in the Cape York Peninsula have opened. The proposed Wongai underground mine 150 kilometres north-west of Cooktown has the potential to operate for at least 30 years and could export 1.5 million tonnes of coking coal per year. About 250 jobs are expected during the construction of the mine if it goes ahead. The proposed Aust-Pac Capital mine site is freehold land owned by the Kalpowar Aboriginal Land Trust established under the Aboriginal Land Act 1991. Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said the Wongai project was declared a significant project last month meaning a comprehensive environmental impact statement (EIS) was now required, which would run concurrently with a Federal Government environmental assessment.

The draft terms of reference form the basis of the project’s EIS which will consider the environmental, social and economic implications of the proposed mine. “It’s important to stress that this does not mean the project is or will be approved,” Mr Seeney said. “A rigorous environmental assessment must be conducted covering all the issues and impacts before any decision on the project is made. Community consultation is a valued aspect of the assessment process.” The draft terms of reference can be viewed until Tuesday, June 12, on-line at http://projects.industry.qld.gov.au or at Cairns, Cooktown and Brisbane State libraries. All public submissions must be in writing with further details on the project website or by emailing wongai@coordinatorgeneral .qld.gov.au

“The Wongai mine has the potential to operate for at least 30 years...”

We are at the forefront of an exciting industry experiencing significant growth. As Australia’s leading energy and mining services company we value our people – the talented team who bring our unique blend of products and services together and set us apart from the crowd.

What makes us a great place to work? t Competitive pay and conditions plus additional employee benefits t Long term contracts with Australia’s major resource companies t Exciting training and regular promotion opportunities t New rigs and innovative equipment t Professional and positive working environment

Be part of something all together better.

· Flexible work rosters · Excellent career prospects · Industry leading pay · Across all mining areas · Seeking medical officers, including Rockhampton,

Call 1300 EW JOBS (1300 395 627) or scan this code for more information.

Mackay, Gladstone, midwives, nurses, carer’s, Allied Health Professionals Bundaberg and Yeppoon

Page 10 - Shift Miner Magazine, 21st May 2012

The gas industry-funded rescue chopper has carried out more than 60 patient transports in its first year. Funded by Arrow Energy, Origin, QGC and Santos GLNG Project, the Surat Basin service was launched last April to help minimise the impact on local medical services of growing gas industry operations. Thirty-nine of the patients rescued in the past 12 months were members of the public. Stephen Pearson, Chair of the Surat Basin Gas Industry Working Group, said that the service had also become an important aero medical resource for communities in southern Queensland. CareFlight Group Queensland operates the service, which provides immediate first aid and emergency transportation for critically ill and injured patients. “We have workers located in remote are-

Well Servicing, Coal, CSG Drilling, Minerals and Water Well Drilling

Why not consider a career in health and aged care?

MERCY HEALTH and AGED CARE Central Queensland Limited

Chopper helps Wongai open five a month for comment

Go to www.mercycq.com/careers or call our recruitment team on (07) 4931 7478

DMS 1201067B

www.easternwell.com.au

Page 11 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012

News

OFF SHIFT

127th EDITION. 2012

Boom backs the bid BOOM Logistics is a name that is known throughout the Bowen Basin for its fleet of cranes and 200-strong team of experienced local operators. It’s a name that’ll soon be known in sporting circles, since coming on board as the Gold Shorts sponsor in the CQ NRL Bid Junior Development Program. Boom Logistics CQ Regional manager Joe Kosecki said the Bowen Basin was a key business region for the company. “The Bowen Basin is very, very busy and expanding and it’s where we have most of growth strategies in place,” he said. “We already have depots in Moranbah, Middlemount, Blackwater, Nebo and Mackay and contracts with all the major miners including BMA, Anglo American and Rio Tinto.” The vast majority of the company’s work relates to maintenance, but it also carries out emergency breakdown work on a regular basis. “If a dragline goes down then we send crews and equipment immediately. Breakdowns of one kind or another happen every other day, and it’s not uncommon to have two or three happening at once. “Sometimes the repair job will run for four or five 24-hour shifts so it consumes a huge amount of labour, you can turn around 20 to 30 people in a few days.” Mr Kosecki said Boom Logistics could offer an unrivalled network of local workers and reliable equipment. “No other crane company has the depots or infrastructure that we’ve got. Currently, we have 75 houses in the Bowen Basin that we lease out to our employees, that’s a huge investment, especially given the current squeeze in the real estate market.” That local presence is exactly why Boom Logistics has come on board to back the CQ NRL bid.

Joe, why is Boom Logistics behind the bid? We try really hard wherever we can to support local communities around the Bowen Basin. We are an integral part of the Bowen Basin, we have no fly-in, fly-out workers, they all live locally - everyone is a resident. The Bowen Basin community is very, very sports orientated and that’s why we have come on board to wave the flag.

What would it do for the region? Having an NRL team based in CQ wouldn’t so much put it on the map, but give it an identity and a greater sense of pride in the region. The Bowen Basin is known for its coal, but it would be great for the wider region to be identified and promoted as a sporting area.

Do you think it really is a possibility? Look, I do - and I hope it does happen. One of the things I find amazing about the Bowen Basin is it’s such an important part of the Queensland and national economy, yet it is incredibly underdeveloped. It contributes so much to the overall economy, but you don’t get that feeling when you drive around the region. There are some very talented sporting people up there, and many more who are passionate about their sport and their clubs and it would be fantastic for everyone.

Proudly supported by Shift Miner Magazine

CQ schools rock TEACHERS from central Queensland schools got dirt under their fingernails at a recent earth science field trip in a bid to make the school curriculum more exciting. The teachers from Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) Schools in Biloela, Emerald, Middlemount, Moura, Tannum Sands and Wandoan State High Schools were involved in the three-day Teacher Professional Development (TPD) activity based at Emerald State High School. It focussed on exciting ways to present the curriculum to years 8 and 9 students. Teachers took part in a range of field and laboratory activities that included open-cut and underground experiences at BMA’s Gregory Crinum site and a visit to the Gemfields to fossick for sapphires. “This was a worthwhile and engaging experience which I recommend to all teachers. It has provided me with a range of experiences that I will incorporate in my teaching,” said Emerald teacher Bede Horsfall.

“An understanding of the geological processes that shaped the local area is important in teaching science and geography concepts,” said BMA senior geologist in site exploration, Brendan Mapham. “The site visits provide teachers with an opportunity to apply their understanding of basic geological principles to interpret the geology of a mine site or to predict where sapphires would be found, while also building strong links with industry,” he said.

İnk running in your blood

FROM the photos we’ve been receiving here at the Shift Miner Magazine office, there is a lot of ink on display at CQ mine sites. This edition’s stand-out entrant is Evan Wright, who posted this pic on our Facebook site.

BMA Geologist Brendan Mapham with Middlemount State College teacher Kayla Fawns and Bede Horsfall from Emerald State High School.

As usual, we have our resident life guru, Frank the Tank, on hand to “decode” the latest entrants.

are facing the same threat of online competition, there is a really large residential community who live and work in the region, and many of those are loyal customers.” Ms Porter said the Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Sarina Community Bank, would work over the next few months with Sarina businesses to ensure their survival. “They need to look at the services and products they are offering and they have to make sure what they are offering is comparable. “Comparable not just in price, although that is always important, but in all areas of the business that draw in customers. Whether it’s the type of mirrors in your fitting rooms, customer service, that your shop windows always look great and that your staff are trained in product knowledge.” Ms Porter said it was increasingly hard for small business owners in central Queensland, even if it was a boom region.

This was sent in from Catrina Gollan, who works at German Creek mine at Middlemount.

Grahame says: This is my new tattoo done last week. It’s Medusa... and to me it means women can be pretty and evil.

Catrina says: This tattoo is for my daughter her name is Lilly and her favorite colour is pink. It was done by Fletch in Mackay and everyone always tells me it’s nice ink so I’m happy I got them.

What does it all mean? Let’s ask Frank... Well, faithful readers, I am thoroughly enjoying critiquing your tattoos. I finally feel like a real psychiatrist, which is a big deal for me after posing as one for so many years in an attempt to impress women. Using my incredibly advanced methods of psychological assessment I have come to a conclusion regarding the mental state of central Queensland, based on its tattooed population. You’re all nuts. But let’s take a look at the latest offerings on display. This image was also sent in by Evan Wright.

Frank’s thoughts: Now this is my kind of tattoo! A beautiful woman with a penchant for snake handling is just my type. When we were younger my wife used to dress up as a saucy Medusa on our anniversary. We used real snakes for authenticity too. That is until she was partially constricted by a rogue python. It was good while it lasted though; why just thinking about it turns me to wood… or was it stone…I don’t remember Greek mythology too well.

Sarina shops struggle SMALL business in Sarina is struggling to survive the town’s increasingly transient population that lives locally but works in the mines or Mackay. The Mackay Chamber of Commerce is working to bring Sarina businesses into the fold, and help combat some of the challenges they face. “Sarina main street businesses have the same issues as any other community like Mackay or Airlie Beach when it comes to increased online and shopping centre competition,” said Chamber chair Kylie Porter. “What is different is that it doesn’t have as many local residents to support them, and a lot of the residential community work in Mackay or travel out to the mines.That means they don’t have the same bank of dedicated shoppers.” Ms Porter said a loyal customer base was hugely important now there was so much more competition for goods and services. “While Mackay city centre businesses

Remember last edition’s star entrant? Well, Blackwater’s Grahame Goddfrey’s back with a new offering:

Frank’s thoughts: To the layman these are obviously flowers, but to someone like me, who once argued psychiatry with a Sigmund Freud lookalike at a pub in Alice Springs, they’re much, much more. The flowers here could signify the bond between mother and child. I myself had a strained relationship with my mother, particularly after I put her in a crooked retirement home run by the Vietnamese mafia.

Evan says: I’ve never cared about what people think of me, hence the top one. And the Kanji symbols mean “Love Hurts”. The tattoo was designed for his late mother, who passed away 17 years ago when he was just 12. “It’s a combination of two designs,” he explained. “The main design is to the left with the cross, dove, sacred heart and praying hands. “It originally had some other things on it, which looked silly so I took them out and added in a separate design of the angel slumped over the gravestone, and I put my mothers name on that. “It covers the majority of the right side of my torso and took 10 hours to complete over three sittings, with all the work done by Benny Morgan at Whitsunday Tattooing Airlie Beach.”

Frank’s thoughts: I used to think only God could judge me too, how wrong I was. Thanks to the District Court of Queensland I’m now banned from every theme park in the state. I’m not bitter, though, like I said to the judge who sentenced me, “Let he who has never ridden a rollercoaster naked cast the first stone.” The bottom tattoo appears to be some kind of treasure map, but I can’t for the life of me decipher it, which is unusual; I’ve seen every Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

Be Part Of The Legend! Winning races in record times was the driving force behind Mickey Thompson’s innovations in tyre design.... STZ

ATZ 4 RIB

MTZ

CLAW TTC

To find out more about the legendary range of Mickey Thompson Tires, call Tyrepower Rockhampton, your local authorised dealer.

Tyrepower, Your Mickey Thompson Tire Specialist

PH: 4926 4364

320 Richardson Rd, Rockhampton

Page 12 - Shift Miner Magazine, 21st May 2012

Page 13 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012

around town

127th EDITION. 2012

DOG DAYS ARE OVER

127th EDITION. 2012

The Moranbah Bulls took the shield back after a slow start, but came home strong in the second half and defeated the Capella Cattle Dogs 35-29 in the annual Marcus Bourke Memorial Game. All proceeds from the day went to the Beyond Blue Foundation. Round 6 will be a Bulls home game against Emerald Rams on Saturday 26th May.

MAY DAY WEEKEND

May Day weekend was a big one for Blackwater, with a rodeo on Saturday night, free ULGHV IRU WKH NLGV RQ 6XQGD\ Ä&#x;QLVKLQJ WKDW QLJKW ZLWK Ä&#x;UHZRUNV DQG D EDQG IRU WKH mums and dads. A Labour Day march on the Monday was followed by sack races, tug o war and all-round fun. The Union paid for Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events.

Jo and Joe Coppo

Dylan Shield, Callum McKellar and Angela Russell

Capella Captain Glenn Bourke and Bulls Captain Kristian Paul

Hayley Conway

THRILLS AND SPILLS

It was an action-packed weekend for the Moranbah Junior Motocross Club, which held the CQ Motocross Championships on May12-13.

Karen Holznager, Crystal Eary and Therese Williams

David Tobane and John McEffer

Mitchell and Joanne Bass

RODEO, RIDES AND FIREWORKS

A high school rider in the bucking bronc ride

Blackwaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hayley Daniels in the Ladies Barrel race.

Roping action

The high school bull ride

BUY THIS AND MANY OTHER IMAGES AT

www.shiftminer.com Holding a social event you want photographed? â&#x20AC;ŻCall the Shift Miner office on 4921 4333 to let us know. â&#x20AC;ŻYou can also give our office a bell if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like a copy of any of the photos in this edition.

Page 14 - Shift Miner Magazine, 21st May 2012

Shift Miner magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; bringing the mining community closer together Page 15 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012

stuff to the editor

FAIR DINKUM

127th EDITION. 2012

Fair Dinkum!

Stuff to the Editor

. At the Dawson mine in Moura . Sent in anonymously

ER SHIFT MIGN land

The Queens

Last month, Shift Miner Magazine was so chockablock with content, that we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t run our regular puzzles and sudoku page for a couple of editions. But we never anticipated a backlash from the puzzlemad mining community!

best source

munityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mining com

Monday 7th

of local new

O BLACKSD STALK GBUSTER .shif rated - www

and Ope

nore Workers ig ues health iss

LUN

Australian ues to stalk choose Dog contin t two-thirds THE Black rs but almos mining worke in a help. not to get is contained g figure of mine The startlin into health king report Wales congroundbrea a New South at ed workers releas â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s week. Mental Health ference last of te ch r Institu The Hunte out the resear for a l, who carried Trevor Hazel er the 43-page report most and put togeth Newcastle, says that sfully in conference GP were succes saw their workers that d. yers treate and s and emplo diagnosed ence ing for familie But troubl rs that experi cent of worke profesissues seek only 35 per other health women. mental and of those are ted nce. Most an estima sional assista showed that yees The report industry emplo 10,000 mine a common mental 8,000 to enced subexperi or state ssion in the y, depre like anxiet period. health illness over a 12 month rs nationwide stance abuse worke ted 70,000 An estima r issues. e with peohave simila was immun ries the industry yment catego No part of emplo all mining ionals ers and profess ple from across , from manag . affected equally ery operators and drivers ng lowthrough to machin to the industry includi costs n $320 milEstimated put at betwee tivity were $300,000 ered produc year or around per million people. lion to $450 e mine of 170 for an averag 5 to $400,000 inued page

What happened to the crossword and the best soduku in the Basin? At least Frank the Tank is still sharing his priceless pearls of wisdom... Jamie YLORS Thanks for the Shift Miner - I do enjoy it - but I was quite disappointed to see the crossword and sudoku disappear! Kate

The Partn

ANCING

News ers face Sapphire minpage 5 Âť new laws

tri gets Blackwater ng pi hearts pum page 14 es Âť More pictur ,-\ / Ă&#x160;* ,/ Â&#x2021;Ă&#x160; Â° Â&#x153;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;/>Ă&#x17E;Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x192; Â&#x2026;Ă&#x160;Â&#x2021;Ă&#x160; VĂ&#x2030; Â° -Â&#x2026;>Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;-Â&#x201C;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152; iĂ&#x17E;Ă&#x160;Â&#x2021;Ă&#x160; Â°

Ă&#x20AC;>Â&#x2C6;}Ă&#x160;7Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x192;Â? >Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x153;Â?Â? Ă&#x20AC;i}Ă&#x160;

r - LL.B ,9Ă&#x160; John Taylo Ă&#x160; Hons L.B 1 ,-" - BEc/L * Sharon Smith Worsley - LL.B

Off Shift ink on Some seriouse 13 show Âť pag

Ă&#x160;{Â&#x2122;xĂ&#x2021;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;Ă¤ÂŁĂ&#x2C6; Ă&#x2021;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;Â&#x2122;{{Ă&#x160;Ă&#x160; >Ă? *Â&#x2026;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;iĂ&#x160;{Â&#x2122;x Ă&#x192;Â°VÂ&#x153;Â&#x201C;Â°>Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2021;Ă&#x192;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x2C6;VÂ&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Â°Ă&#x152;>Ă&#x17E;Â?Â&#x153; Â°>Ă&#x2022;

Â?Â&#x2C6;VÂ&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x192;Â°VÂ&#x153;Â&#x201C; Craig Ă&#x160; ll JĂ&#x152;>Ă&#x17E;Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2021;Ă&#x192;Â&#x153; iÂ&#x201C;>Â&#x2C6;Â?\Ă&#x160;Â&#x201C;>Â&#x2C6;Â? Greg Carro Ă&#x20AC;iiĂ&#x152;Ă&#x160; >VÂ&#x17D;>Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;L>Â&#x2DC;iĂ&#x160;-Ă&#x152;

/ iĂ&#x203A;iÂ?Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2030;ÂŁĂ&#x2021;Ă&#x160; 7", Ă&#x160;

/ Ă&#x160;

Ă&#x160; 7 "/",Ă&#x160;6 , /* Ă&#x160; S

Ă&#x2030; Ă&#x160;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x160; AIM 7Ă&#x160; -1, / Ă&#x160; INJURY CL

idents Mining Acc idents Work Acc ts icle Acciden Motor Veh TPD Claims ce/ Insuran TE

CONVEY LAW

News sion Gas Commist Âť page 4 wants inpu

n Around Tow s at ines A fishy bus r Âť page 14 Bedford Wei

,", " 9 9 / / /",-"

ers:

AL PERSON

IN CUSTOM WIN $500ING - PAGE 13 TATTOO

News a good fit US workerspage 6 for QLD Âť

Âť cont

TA RS SOLICITO

2012

E A Z I N M A G

tminer.com

ed Locally Own

Edition May 136

ESTA

6 9

MMER LAW CO

Ă&#x160;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x160; -/

CIAL

2016 Fax 4957 57 2944 .au Phone 49 ylor s-solicitors.com u

Did you notice the ones that seek help are women? Men are hopeless at asking for help when they need it - itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just miners, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all men. Jodie, Emerald

m.a www.ta olicitors.co il@taylors-s ckay email: ma Street Ma

ane 17 Brisb Level 2/

Edâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: To get your hit of sudoku this edition, turn to page 19. Shift Miner Magazine does solemnly swear it will never get rid of the puzzles again (we thought you were interested in the news... but we realise now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just puzzles youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re after). Our front page story on mental illness in mining has some of you talking:

Smelled something delicious cooking in your street recently? It could have been the latest recipe in our Zestie cooking column...

Miners with mental illness? Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have to be mad to go down a coal mine wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ya?! Dave, Mackay

I cooked the Aussie beef and beer pie from your mag. It was delishhhhhh. Who ate all the pie? I did. J.R, Rocky

Got something to share? Send us your text messages or phone photos to 0428 154 653 Or email to alex.graham@shiftminer.com

Redmondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rants Insomnia ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S pathetic. It makes me feel as weak as a kitten and as angry as a dragon. It feeds itself. But yet itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s totally curable. It needs nothing at all to fix it. Just forget about it and it will go away. Sleep sleep sleep.

SEEN SOMETHING WE HAVENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T? Prizes for the best mining photos. Take it on your phone or camera and send it in

Text to 0428 154 653 alex.graham@shiftminer.com

FROM THE EDITOR A much-anticipated annual report into the industry workforce showing more needs to be done to get the most from the resources boom. The Kinetic Group Heartbeat Report 2012 is startling in what it has found by talking to nine organisations within the industry and crunching the numbers on 30,500 workers and then interpreting that data. What they got is a look at the average age and location of workers and the hiring habits of the industry. It seems at first glance FIFO is not ideal for workers and the industry with a higher turnover rate for the travelling worker than those that live near the mine site. This is going to generate a lot of debate in the industry, particularly with the federal probe into FIFO/DIDO still under way. The report has been given extended coverage on pages 1 and 10 as the

workforce issue is critical. Another interesting statistic is that younger workers are being shunned in favour of the older, more experienced employee, but that has lead to an ageing, less dynamic workforce. Solutions to these problems will bring some exciting energy to the workplace in the next year or two. Another issue faced by communities within the industry is what premises are acceptable for escorts to work from with news this week that one sex industry worker is appealing a motelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to ban her from their Moranbah premises. This is a debate with many sides - both practical, pragmatic and moral - that is sure to also have people talking as the appeal over the ban heads to court later this year.

Greg Sweetnam Comment or SMS 0428 154 653

The musings of a CQ miner... Insomniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side-kick is the flatness and were punctuated by slumber dreams. haze that fills your days after sleeplessness. In your nursery you dreamed of Peter Pan, of an Arabic flying carpet, of a The total loss is appalling. deep blue ocean and a whale, of green I feel as stupid as a smoker coughing. forests and elves, of candy houses, of I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need a $20 packet of self-ruin kings and flying horses. every day; I can supply my own misery. In your dreams you stand leading an Insomnia robs you of your dreams, army out into the world. your proper fantasy dreams - the ones Owning a house and early retirement your mind made for you as a buffer. are incorrectly called â&#x20AC;&#x153;dreamsâ&#x20AC;?. But Your first moments of consciousness thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just lazy grammar.

Page 16 - Shift Miner Magazine, 21st May 2012

Your slumber dreams are not meant to offer direction I think they are just visions. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sleep. Who is Redmond?

Redmond was born in a cross-fire hurricane and now resides in Queensland. Former Golden Glove champ turned champion shearer, his shearing career was cut short when he entered the adult film industry and made 3467 films in three months. He now enjoys semi-retirement and lives happily on his 100,000 acre property with his seven wives. He has received the annual Golden Pen award from the Writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guild four years in a row in the Truth Telling category...

IN NEW ZEALAND - It ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sophisticated but playing possum appears to be pretty effective. Kiwi students are embracing a drinking game that is literally leaving them paralytic as possums. All you need to do is drink until you are so drunk you fall out of your tree. Dunedin City Council spokesman Alan Matchett told the Otago Daily Times that local students started playing â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;possumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s botanic gardens roughly four years ago, but the game has since gained popularity and it was not uncommon for garden staff to have to chase people away. A spokesman for the University of Otago said that any students caught playing the game would be disciplined. IN JAPAN - are ice bras the next big thing in over-the-shoulder boulder holders? Triumph Japan has unveiled a concept bra with in-built gel packs that remain soft and supple even when frozen and reportedly give the wearer a refreshing â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;cool sensation against her skinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The underwear company, which has a long tradition of novelty launches, said it

conceived of the bra in response to a need to save energy during the hot summer. With no working nuclear reactors amid heightened public mistrust over atomic power in post-Fukushima Japan, the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cool Bizâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; campaign urges people to dress down for work and avoid the need to crank up the air-con. IN SWITZERLAND - who wants a kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday party with a jumping castle or petting zoo when you can get novelty party kudos and scare your kids witless by hiring the services of an evil clown? For a fee, parents can hire Dominic Deville to send threatening texts, phone calls and booby trapped letters to their birthday â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sebastianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; or â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Charlotteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. After days of stalking, Deville then shows up in a creepy clown costume and smashes your kiddie in the face with a cream pie. According to the Herald Sun, the Swiss actor claims that children â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;absolutely loveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; being terrified by him: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all in fun and if at any point the kids get scared or their parents are concerned, we stop right there.â&#x20AC;? Just another way for Mummy and Daddy to say I love you.

e h t k n a Fr Tankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Streakinâ&#x20AC;? good love advice

Dear Frank, I recently asked my girlfriend to marry me and she said no. She made it very clear she still wanted to be with me, just that she wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ready to get married. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m having a hard time coming to grips with this. I really feel like she rejected me and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not sure I can get over it. What should I do? Stuart - Rocky

What should you do? You should dress your girlfriend up like Abe Lincoln and shower her with gifts â&#x20AC;&#x201D; because she just freed you from slavery. Do you have any idea what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to be married? You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shower or go to the toilet in peace, your free time is strictly monitored, and your wife tells you what to do. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot like being in prison, only with less sex. I personally think the problem is that women these days have far too many rights. Sometimes after work on a Friday afternoon I find myself yearning for a simpler time when a man was well within his rights to force his wife to cook dinner naked. I suppose you could say I want what my parents used to have. Dad had the same philosophy on women as he did on dinner, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Franky, they should look good, smell good, but

Sensible Susan Stuart, Just because your girlfriend said no to your proposal doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rejecting you. Getting married is an extremely big decision, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of factors that

theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got no business being outside.â&#x20AC;? My father was a very old fashioned man, and he and my mother had a wonderful marriage until she accidentally reversed over him in her car a few times. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve become a little sidetracked here onto the problem at hand. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re feeling rejected by your girlfriend youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to do something to swing the balance of power in the relationship back in your favour. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve played your biggest card â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the marriage card â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and she rejected you, so now youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got nothing and she holds all the power. You can rectify this by doing one of two things. You could pay a local homeless man to accost your girlfriend while sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s out on the town, after they struggle long enough for her to panic, you show up and punch the homeless guy, saving the day. This usually works a treat, but it depends on what the going rate in your city for punching the homeless is; they tend to charge about as much as a cask of mid-range wine. Your second option is you can pay a homeless woman to pose as your â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to make your girlfriend jealous. To use what I understand is female parlance, this will â&#x20AC;&#x153;let her know she shoulda put a ring on itâ&#x20AC;?. If this backfires on you and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re feeling upset, you can always have a good time with the homeless woman â&#x20AC;&#x201D; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll cost you as much as a cask of mid-range wine. Frank.

come into play (finance, social commitments, family matters). As for what you should do, well, I personally wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do anything. You said yourself that your girlfriend made it very clear that she still wants to be with you, so that should be the most important thing. Give it some time, and let your girlfriend get used to the idea of marriage before you propose again. You never know though, she may just ask you in the meantime! Susan.

If you have a question for Frank and Susan Email Us at: franksusan.shiftminer@gmail.com

Page 17 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012

OFF SHIFT 127th EDITION. 2012

by Bernard S. Jansen

ACROSS AIRCRAFT FOR SALE 2 seat aircraft F\OLQGHU UDGLDO KS Aircraft currently in Middlemount after a mishap. Suit someone interested in a project. :LOO FRQVLGHU VHSDUDWLQJ motor from airframe. 5LQJ IRU SDUWLFXODUV

BOAT FOR SALE ,PPDFXODWH P 6WLQJUD\ KRXUV 9ROYR 3HQWD[ LQERDUG motor. *36 ÂżVKÂżQGHU 79 &' SOD\HU UDGLR Electrical anchor winch, IULGJH PDQ\ PRUH H[WUDV Heavy duty Felk trailer

Price Negotiable

$85,000 or make an offer

Phone: 0429112396

Phone 0447 988 651 CLASSIC FOR SALE

XT500 PARTS WANTED

KW +ROGHQ XWH

1976 -1981 Yamaha XT 500

LPPDFXODWH RULJLQDO

- All parts considered - All locations considered - All prices considered

condition F\OLQGHU VSHHG PDQXDO ÂżUVW WR VHH ZLOO buy $26,950.

Phone : 0428 154 653

Phone : 0422 377 385 CAR FOR SALE ; &KHYUROHW 6LOYHUDGR +' /7= = &UHZ &DE 3LFNXS / 'XUDPD[ 'LHVHO (QJLQH Allison Transmission NOP OHDWKHU LQWHULRU Ă&#x20AC;DZOHVV RQH owner vehicle loaded with options. $89,700egc. bdunne151@gmail. com CRANE TRUCK FOR SALE

CLASSIC FOR SALE &KHY IDFWRU\ ULJKW KDQG GULYH WZR GRRU ZDJRQ 9 three speed manual with overdrive,All new upholstery New whitewall tyres,All new JODVV DQG FKURPH 1HZ fuel tank,New cd player and speakers, $49,500 Phone 07 5523 0330 or 0409 209 246 PLOUGH FOR SALE

Nissan Atlas Crane Truck

*UL]]O\ 6 SORXJK YHU\

PRGHO N *90 7DGDQR 7 FUDQH

JRRG FRQGLWLRQ QHZ

P XQGHU KRRN

EHDULQJV GLVFV DERXW

RWC, Only car licence needed to drive

worn located near rocky.

$13,500

$17000 plus gst ono.

07 4941 7147 or

Phone 0429 948 198 HOUSE FOR SALE %81'$%(5* )RU 6DOH DW $XFWLRQ RQ WK 0D\ RU FRQVLGHU RIIHUV EHIRUH DFUHV 3ULPH /DQG +RXVH 6KHGV :DWHU $OORF PLQV WR &%' +LJK *URZWK $UHD EHWZHHQ %XQG\ DQG &RDVW ([FHOOHQW Investment Opportunity to Land Bank for the Future. Phone: 0428 739 682

$449,000 minus

PDQXDO ÂżUVW WR VHH ZLOO buy $26,950. Phone : 0422 377 385 CAR FOR SALE '2'*( 5$0 SLT Lonestar Edition Heavy Duty / &XPPLQV 7XUER Diesel Allison auto WUDQV :RRG JUDLQ inserts 5th wheel hitch, tow bar 4 door dual cab Dula Wheels NOPV $79 000 ono Phone: 0432 429 264 CAR FOR SALE )RUG ) ;/7 .LQJ &DE ; OWU WXUER GLHVHO JDV 9LF UHJR 0DUFK $8525$ VOLGH RQ FDPSHU IULGJH EXUQ JDV FRRN +:6 'RXEOH EHG H[W shower, water, deep cycle EDWWHULHV : LQYHUWHU ORDGV VWRUDJH 67$&(5 ERDW P +3 PRWRU $80,000 Phone: 0417 587 425 BOAT FOR SALE &UXLVLQJ FDWDPDUDQ VROLG *53 %XLOW Well appointed and very comfortable with full DPHQLWLHV IRU OLYLQJ DERDUG DQG FUXLVLQJ )RU IXOO particulars see www.catspaw2011. blogspot.com $125,000

HOUSE FOR RENT 9,5*,1,$ %5,6%$1( ATTN FIFO workers To rent fully furnished, 4 bedroom house. Train 2 min walk. %ULVEDQH DLUSRUW PLQV %HGURRPV DW %HGURRP %HGURRP Aircon, fans. %RQG PRQWK UHQW in advance. Ph: 0447 033 730

HOUSE FOR SALE

6HFXULW\ VFUHHQV )XOO\ WXUIHG IHQFHG

F\OLQGHU VSHHG

HOUSE FOR SALE GRACEMERE, Immaculate %5 KRPH %,5 VRODU panels. Fully insulated $ & &HLOLQJ IDQV bathrooms. 2 Toilets. 'RXEOH ORFN XS JDUDJH Stainless steel kitchen appliances. Spacious open SODQ NLWFKHQ GLQLQJ ORXQJH 3RWHQWLDO UHQWDO UHWXUQ DERYH S D $429,000 Ph: 0418 796 074

+286( DFUHV % 5PV ORXQJH HWF

)DQV WKURXJKRXW

condition

Phone: 0468 389 300

HOUSE FOR SALE

'RXEOH JDUDJH ZLWK HOHF UROOHU GRRUV VHSDUDWH ODXQGU\

KW +ROGHQ XWH LPPDFXODWH RULJLQDO

Phone: 0427 824 880

<(33221 1HZ EHGURRP EDWKURRP EULFN KRPH $LUFRQ LQ PDLQ EHGURRP 0HGLD URRP

CLASSIC FOR SALE

HOUSE FOR SALE SUNSHINE COAST SACRIFICE

GRXEOH JDUDJH GRXEOH FDUSRUW

Brand New impressive

ZDWHU WDQNV SXPS

Level, 4bed 2 bath, DLUG,

NOV IURP 5RVHGDOH WRZQ ZKLFK KDV +RWHO 3 2

Room Shed/Van Nth

KDQG\PDQ JHQHUDO VWRUH SULPDU\ KLJK VFKRROV

EntertWalk shops/school

$17,000 government grants if eligible

3ULFH SDUWO\ IXUQLVKHG

Ph: 0421 601 710 LAND FOR SALE

Phone: 07 4151 4500

Land for sale, Hervey Bay. Turtle Cove Estate. (OHYDWHG KDOI DFUH Ă&#x20AC;DW EORFN ZLWK GHJUHH views of Fraser Island. Cannot be built out. 8QGHUJURXQG SRZHU SKRQH DQG ZDWHU DW IURQW RI EORFN PLQV WR $LUSRUW PLQ ERDWUDPS DQG EDUJH WR )UDVHU $ERXW PLQ WR 7RZQ RQR

LAND FOR SALE 5XUDO ODQG PLQ FEG

Fenced, Side access

Fantastic Buy Offers NEAR $400,000 Ph. 0409 055 062 UNIT FOR SALE VTP UHQRYDWHG RSHQ plan unit with a HUGE

Interested in Interior Decorating? Curtains/Blinds etc in Airlie Beach 2ZQHU KDV RSHUDWHG WKLV EXVLQHVV IRU \UV DQG ZDQWV to retire. /DUJHVW VKRZURRP LQ WKH DUHD VTP DLU FRQ VKRS Ă&#x20AC;RRU VTP DLU FRQ ZHOO HTXLSSHG ZRUN URRP ZRUN YDQ Established clientele /DUJH VWRFN KROGLQJ $VVLVWDQW RI \UV SUHSDUHG WR assist with take over. 32$ WR JHQXLQH HQTXLULHV Phone: 0409 898 430

Only used in FRESH water.

cared for. &UDIWVPDQ PDGH H[FHOOHQFH for the serious skier/ boarder.

VHOO VHSHUDWO\ 32$

Phone: 0411 098 241

Phone: 0447 031 588

lifestyle! More info/ SLFV DYDLO %H 4XLFN Phone: 0424 108 784

11 12

DOWN 14

JET SKI FOR SALE

1. Bombed base, Pearl ... 2. Pitiful 3. Corrosive substances 4. Country dance 6. Person suffering convulsions 7. Enraging 8. Launder with spirit (3-5) 11. Pronto (1,1,1,1) 15. Magazine booth 17. Adored 18. Fiery 20. Root vegetables 21. Feeblest 22. Buddy 23. Hold fast (to) 26. Tense situation

17 19

21 22

+RQGD ) *3; 7XUER 6HDWHU FF 7XUER 5HG *HQXLQH

Honda Lifejackets KUV $15,500 ono Phone: 0447 606 727 COMBINE FOR SALE UXQ +RUZDUG EDJVKDZ FRPELQH QHZ ROG

KRVHV UDP UHEXLOW JRRG

condition.spare boots. $3000 plus gst. Phone 0429 948 198 HOUSE FOR SALE Fully furnished fully a/c modern home on DFUHV PHWUHV IURP 0LGJH 3RLQW

beach, 2 bedrooms 2 HQ VXLWHV ODUJH RIÂżFH RU UG EHGURRP ODUJH

FDUSRUW ED\ VKHG IXOO\ equipped workshop

Shift Miner Phone 0428 476 001 Handy 15A blank grid HOUSE FOR SALE ShiftMInerHandyblank.pdf +RXVH RQ DFUHV QHDU $JQHV ZDWHU 4/' 8QLTXH ÂŠLovatts Publications 2010 pavillion style home, 4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms ZLWK [ VKHG FDUSRUW 3DUWLDOO\ FOHDUHG DQG fenced, waterhole and a VPDOO GDP /DUJH GHFN DQG EUHDWKWDNLQJ YLHZV NP IURP VXUI EHDFK DQG WRZQ RI $510,000 Phone: 0400 797 075

7 6 7 1 4 3 6 5 8

Last editions solutions

5 1 7

7 3 9 5 6 2

MEDIUM

# 23

2 8 8

3 5 7 1 2 9 6 8 4

5 9 2 7 1 8 4 3 6

OP T I M I S K H O I A L A C A R T Y T N T E X C E S S I D H N AGOG M T R EMA N A T E D L N M I R K E D U O B S S CR AWL S R C A E S K I MO

1 4 8 9 3 6 5 7 2

6 7 3 2 5 4 8 1 9

7 3 4 5 9 1 2 6 8

8 1 9 6 4 2 7 5 3

C L UM O E H A V A T L HO T S I H OWM M E N EW A H A NG R H I GN A U S F E C T

S Y E N A R E L I E N G

R V E P S K I NC K PO F A F

2 6 5 3 8 7 9 4 1

He looked at his face in the mirror as he carefully washed his hands, and decided that there would be no problem. He felt confidence flow into him as he headed to the waiting area again. Joelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trouble was that he never did well in job interviews. He was a solid worker, he felt, but he just couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think of the examples and stories they wanted in interviews these days. And even if could drag up a story, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d always down-play his own role in the drama, or the significance of the solution; mostly because he pretty much always was a minor player, and generally very modest. Modest and mediocre: that was Joel. That was all about to change, as Joel strode down the hallway. Why not take the skills from his hobby of creative writing and apply them to job interviews? The writing itself hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t yielded the blockbuster novel or critical acclaim heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d dreamed of â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d come to realise he was mediocre at writing too; but, it was a hobby that he enjoyed. Eventually he was called into the interview room. It had white painted walls and ceiling and glaring fluro lights. The HR lady shuffled her papers and kicked things off. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to ask you some behavioural questions,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for specific examples, where you can tell us about a situation, what you did, and then what the outcome was. Is that okay?â&#x20AC;? Joel smiled; that was going to be perfect. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sure.â&#x20AC;? The lady smiled back. Even the grizzled old manager beside her seemed to soften a bit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Can you tell us about a time you came across a situation or a practice that was unsafe; what you did about it, and what the outcome was?â&#x20AC;? Joel took a deep breath.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sure,â&#x20AC;? he said.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I arrived at the place I currently work, I found that people had to walk across the roads on site a lot, which involved lots of interactions with light and heavy vehicles.â&#x20AC;? Which was true; but of course, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d gotten used to it, like everyone else. Grizzly and HR lady both nodded, starting to scrawl notes. Joel smiled; he was about to get his creative writing written by dictation. He continued, â&#x20AC;&#x153;So I conducted a traffic study, and based on my analysis and my research into Australian Standards and the Coal Mining Health and Safety Act and Regulations, I wrote a draft Traffic Management Plan for the site, which included quite a few changes.â&#x20AC;?

Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d stopped writing now, and were watching him, awestruck. Joel didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss a beat. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I costed all the changes, and then facilitated a semi-quantitative risk assessment around the major changes Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d identified; using a cross-section of the work force. I then presented my findings and recommendations to the Senior Management Team. They approved the plan, and further approved $900,000 in out-of-plan capital to make all the proposed changes.â&#x20AC;? Joel smiled, as if at the memory. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I projectmanaged all the changes, though I was given a few resources to help out, of course. We now have a system of well-lit and signed pedestrian crossings, as well as segregated traffic flows and hard barriers in the higher risk areas.â&#x20AC;? HR lady was back to scribbling notes now. The manager looked stunned. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Was that the sort of answer you were looking for?â&#x20AC;? asked Joel, trying to sound as innocent as he could. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Perfect,â&#x20AC;? they both said together, then laughed. He nailed the rest of the interview, of course, and heard promising noises at the end about â&#x20AC;&#x153;progressing things to the next stageâ&#x20AC;?. The job was his â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he knew it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; his first senior engineering role. It was his, until that grizzly fool had to talk to his boss for the reference check, and started to blubber on about how impressed he was with the traffic changes, and the increases in plant yield and the reduction in site costs.

Bernard S. Jansen is 32, married has three young boys. He lives in Emerald, works as an engineer at a local coal mine and is active in his local church. Read more of Bernardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s writing online at surgebin.blogspot.com or email him at bernard.jansen@gmail.com

E E D I N T E E D

GOT AN IDEA FOR A STORY? Let Bernard know - email him at bernard.jansen@gmail.com or hop on his blog surgebin.blogspot.com

SHIFT MINER Handy Cross 1884 - (15A grid) ShiftMinerHandy101s. pdf ÂŠ Lovatts Publications 27/10/2010

6HOO DFUHV 3URVWRQ DUHD TXLHW FRXQWU\ JHW

Michael Bailey

Greg Cary

Alan Jones

Laurie Atlas

Weekdays 5am - 9am

3KRWRV GHWDLOV RXU ZHEVLWH

Phone: 0741689226

9 8 6 4 7 3 1 2 5

The idea came suddenly to Joel, as he sat contentedly on the toilet seat. In that moment he knew it was a winner. Ten seconds later, some unsuspecting soul wandered into the Gents, and let out a moaning, retching type of sound. Whoever it was, left in a hurry. Joel smiled to himself, and finished up.

Tune into the Michael J. Breakfast show from 7:35 am every Monday for 4RO's CQ Mining Update, with special guest Angus from Shift Miner.

HOUSE AND LAND FOR SALE

http://countrymilefarm.webs.com/

4 2 1 8 6 5 3 9 7

Creative Interview

# 24

NOW WITH MORE NEWS, MORE TALK AND THE MUSIC YOU LOVE WWW.4RO.COM.AU

Page 18 - Shift Miner Magazine, 21st May 2012

Phone: 0418 794 525.

ORWV JRRG JUD]LQJ ODQG

$262,000 ono

KS (QJLQH ZLWK 03,

SLJJHU\ %UP SDUWO\ UHQRYDWHG KRPH

Great investment BETTER

Meticulously serviced and

DZD\ VXLW FDWWOH KRUVH SRXOWU\ H[ FRQWUDFW

WKH SDLU ZLOO

Mercruiser Black Scorpion

Sunshine Coastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best point break!! Austar,

*HQXLQH KUV

EDOFRQ\ RYHUORRNLQJ WKH

J\P P ODJRRQ SRRO

BOAT FOR SALE

SURVHUSLQH [ DFUH

and house sites

1. Worrying problem 5. Held for trial, on ... 9. Jumped for joy 10. One by one 12. Social events 13. Join up 14. Shortly 16. Colourful garden annual 19. Porch 21. Candle string 24. Untruthful people 25. Wandered leisurely 27. Of family group 28. Middle Easterner 29. Awaits with horror 30. Sit astride

BUSINESS FOR SALE

5 minute fiction

Weekdays 12pm - 1pm PHONE: 1300 872 911

Weekdays 9am - 12pm

Weekdays 1pm - 6pm

SALES ENQUIRIES: (07) 4920 2000

Page 19 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012

OFF SHIFT

127th EDITION. 2012

Bait shop Banter FISHING YEPPOON

FISHING GLADSTONE

HOORAY, those big southerlies seem to be easing so some sweet fishing offshore should be yours! According to Bob at Capricorn Sports Yeppoon there are some nice cod to warm the cockles out wide once that weather window opens up. “Up in the fern country or around the islands” are the places to hunt your quarry, says Bob. “They are getting some bream, dart and whiting and the occasional salmon on the beaches up around Sandy Point and anywhere north of Iwasaki.” Bob reckons if you are having a go on the beaches to bait up with either worms or prawns. The cold snap is ushering in some movement up the creeks and estuaries with salmon, whiting, flathead and the occasional grunter on the go. And don’t mothball those pots just yet; there are a few crabs around the traps too.

Winter is beginning to extend its chill in the waters off Gladstone with the cool climate species starting to take centre stage. “Flathead, whiting and a few jew are starting to turn up with some late season barra, and the odd jack in amongst them,” says Josh from Pat’s Tackle World.

Lucky Gladstone lads score red emperors a piece plus a tidy looking trout.

Tide Times

MAY/JUNE

If you want to focus on flathead hook up with some soft plastics or hard bodied lures. It is not completely chilly willy as fingermark are still out and about...find them off bars and structures. There are big mackerel out wide and Josh says “on the reef there are quality catches of reds”. Red emperors and red throat emperors in the 5-10 kilo weight bracket are well and truly up for grabs and we have a photo to prove it!

FISHING MACKAY Adam from Nashy’s Compleat Angler says there are lots of big flathead and whiting being caught and double bonus, they are in BIG numbers. Load up with fresh yabbies and hot foot it to the creeks just out of town...Alligator, Bakers and Sandy. “There are plenty of trevally and queen fish off the harbour wall and around East Point,” according to Adam. He also promises some mackerel will be on the bite very shortly, so start making plans to hit the inshore islands.

MACKAY Gladstone

Time Ht

angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com

FISHING PARADISE FOUND

Calling all serious fisherman to the best fishing location on the coast. Close to mining areas (You have probably driven past the turn-off!) Fully s/c accommodation silly season, 2011 & 2012 Crew bookings available

Phone: 49373145

email: stanagebaymarine@bigpond.com web: www.stanagebay.com

IF you don’t know a trixie from a yankee but you do know how to find the perfect feather fascinator, Fashions on the Field might very well be your best bet. Winter racing is a season to rejoice as scorching sun, sliding make-up and distinctly un-glam sweat marks can be kissed a notso-fond farewell. There is plenty of trackside action to choose from around CQ and further south and with generous gift vouchers and holidays on offer, being the best dressed can rake you in some serious booty. But, if you want to be the prize peacock in the birdcage there are some rules of engagement you will need to adhere to. Spaghetti straps, clamouring cleavages and vanishing hemlines may be hot property on a heaving dance floor but only add zeros to your credibility in the critical sunshine of race day. Race wear hinges on nailing the ‘appropriate’ look. Fresh, feminine, conservative and chic

should be embedded in your brain when piecing together your outfit. You want to tick boxes not break new ground. Think about all of your outfit’s elements. Making accessories ‘matchy matchy’ is a time honoured trick for ensuring you appear to have stepped seamlessly out of a look-book. Wear stockings and pumps for the cooler carnivals and leave strappy sandals to strut their stuff in summer. Stilettos and grass are a no go zone. Take note of the season trends. Winter’s winning looks include bold shades of berries and gems but whoa up on that colour blocking. Ladylike and immaculate tailoring are odds on and think Gatsby and Underbelly to channel the emerging flapper trend. Print clash may be attempted by the ambitious but for most mortals, polka dots are a more suitable on song style. Flatter your figure.

Being scrupulously ‘on trend’ is utterly pointless if your peachy buttocks distort rather than taper a pencil skirt. And of course the fashions on the field must have is headwear. Felt and wool hats and fascinators get the nod in winter. Leave the straw and sinamay headpieces for spring.

The proper way to wear a hat or fascinator is over the right eye and towards the front of your head. But most of all have fun with your frocking up. It might be a cliche but the most stunning accessory on a Fashions on the Field catwalk is an honest and happy smile.

OFFSHIFT SPECIALS

At last year’s Moranbah North race day held in November.

With Mike Griffin

Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht

0317 1.01 0349 1.02 0423 1.06 0458 1.12 0537 1.20 0621 1.27 0046 3.67

Stay 3 re and r mo s t h nig ocomplimentary a e receiv 0 restaurant $10 ucher. vo

0917 3.34 0947 3.27 1018 3.19 1051 3.11 1129 3.03 1217 2.97 0713 1.30 1503 0.86 1532 0.92 1602 1.01 1633 1.12 1709 1.25 1755 1.40 1317 2.96 2131 4.08 2204 4.04 2238 3.96 2315 3.87 2357 3.76

1901 1.54

0509 1.32 0539 1.38 0609 1.46 0012 5.21 0047 5.08 0130 4.94 0224 4.81 1049 4.35 1117 4.24 1147 4.13 0642 1.56 0721 1.65 0809 1.71 0908 1.69 1654 1.01 1722 1.10 1751 1.22 1221 4.03 1303 3.92 1356 3.84 1506 3.85 2313 5.40 2341 5.32

Sat 2 Sun 3

Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht 0145 3.59 0252 3.56 0400 3.58 0506 3.63 0015 1.06 0114 0.83 0208 0.63 0815 1.28 0923 1.18 1029 1.01 1129 0.82 0608 3.68 0706 3.71 0801 3.72 1431 3.02 1547 3.21 1657 3.49 1758 3.81 1225 0.64 1318 0.50 1408 0.41 2026 1.59 2153 1.50 2310 1.30

1852 4.11 1942 4.35 2031 4.52

0331 4.74 0445 4.77 0555 4.88 0100 1.44 0203 1.15 0301 0.89 0355 0.68 1017 1.56 1126 1.30 1228 0.99 0656 5.00 0752 5.07 0846 5.09 0938 5.07 1627 4.03 1742 4.39 1845 4.84 1324 0.69 1417 0.45 1507 0.29 1555 0.19 2226 1.89 2348 1.72

1942 5.29 2033 5.70 2123 6.02 2211 6.24

Page 20 - Shift Miner Magazine, 21st May 2012

Accommodation starts from $189 per night (min3nights)

MACKAY

1824 1.37 1904 1.54 1954 1.74 2102 1.88

Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed 30 Thu 31 Fri 1 MACKAY Gladstone

If you have a good photo or fishing yarn send it through to our resident bait chucker-

Winter racing...fillies, flutters and FROCKS

Your weather forecast

Mon 21 Tue 22 Wed 23 Thu 24 Fri 25 Sat 26 Sun 27 Time Ht Time Ht

Offshore there are good numbers of nannigai and Adam reckons “target the deeper bombies with whole squid on the bottom and soft plastics”. The good news keeps on coming with barra still having a chew. Rack up your toll using surface lures.

26 May

Mackay Amateurs Cup

7 July

Mackay Cup

ROCKHAMPTON

Early winter cold nights Week 1 A cold wintery burst of dry southerly air brought widespread frost to inland NSW and southern Queensland. This crept into the Coalfields causing the lowest minimums, so far this year. Also a light patchy frost for Biloela and Clermont and surrounds last Tue/Wed. Some of last Tue/Wed coldest minimums so far this year: Biloela 0.7C, Clermont 0.8, Rolleston 3.3C, Moranbah 3.6C, Baralaba 4.6C, Collinsville 7C and Emerald 8.2C. Overnight temperatures rise from the single figure values into the early teens early in the week as cloud develops over the Central West/Warrego. An unusual trough develops which could trigger a late isolated weak thundery shower around Tue/Wed. If an upstream trough in WA (see Sat pic) moves rapidly east late thundery showers could develop in the eastern Coalfields late Thr/Fri.

Boaties! Watch the weekend closely! Mon: ESE 15-20 with a brief squally shower. Tue: ESE/ENE 18-13 with a brief shower Wed/Thr: E/ENE 16-11 with a ch. Brief shower. Fri: ENE/NE 15-10 Sat: NNE/NNW 11-16 Late squally Storms ( gusts to 35-40 knots) mainly south of Shoalwater Bay. Sun: A cold SSW 15-20 gusting 28 knots offshore – lighter inshore. Week 2 The SOI has jumped from -7 at the end of April to +5.5 in mid-May. Is this a herald for the storm activity? Cold single figure minimums start the week with frost in the south; as the early winter continues.. Then a gradual warming later in the week. Marine Lovers! The offshore winds are SSW/SSE 15-20 tending ESE 16-12 mid-week then NE’ly 11-16 late week. A deep low in southern Australia will affect timing of the easing and tending more northerly which looks like Sat/Sun.

9 June

Tattersalls Gold Cup Day

16 June

Girls Grammar Race Day

23 June

Rockhampton Cup

GLADSTONE 11 August

Gladstone Cup

BRISBANE 19 May

Doomben Cup Day

26 May

Doomben 10,000 Day

2 June

Queensland Oaks Day

9 June

Stradbroke Day

Page 21 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012

MONEY MATTERS

Your Health

127th EDITION. 2012

MOVIE REVIEW BY JUSTIN CARLOS

Dear Eddie: Please bring back Beverly Hills Cop! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to state for the record that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a big Eddie Murphy man. When I first watched Delirious (Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first stand-up comedy special) in my youth, I spent months afterwards

reciting it word for word. Films like Coming to America, Trading Places and Life brought me similar joy, which is why it pains me to see Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current movies go from bad to worse. His latest offering A Thousand Words was universally panned by movie critics as one of the worst films of all time. I keep praying that Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s renaissance of hilarity is right around the corner, but I must admit my unwavering hope cannot remain so for much longer. Since Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not holding out much hope for the future, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve decided to look at one of Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best films in retrospect â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Beverly Hills Cop. Eddie Murphy plays Axel Foley, a fast-talking detective from Detroit whose unorthodox methods of police work make him a headache for his superior officers. After Foleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best friend is murdered, he travels to Beverly Hills to investigate and finds himself pursuing one of LAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest drug smugglers. The film is pretty much your stock standard eighties action movie â&#x20AC;&#x201C; car chases, gun battles, bad guys

127th EDITION. 2012

getting blown up, et cetera. What sets Beverly Hills Cop apart from a lot of other action movies is that the primary focus is to make the audience laugh, the explosions and car chases are merely incidental. In a lot of action movies this dynamic is reversed. The dialogue in Beverly Hills Cop is sharp and funny, and nearly 30 years is virtually guaranteed to raise a smile, if not full blown fits of laughter. This is really a testament to the writing of the film, which was recognised with an Oscar nomination, as well as Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hilarious delivery as the irreverent Axel Foley. If your only Eddie Murphy experience is with lacklustre movies like Norbit and the seemingly endless parade of Disney films he signs up for, take a trip down memory lane and check out Beverly Hills Cop. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re anything like me you might find yourself scratching your head and wondering why Murphy canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to recapture the essence of what made him so hilarious in the past.

EXPERT ADVICE For those too busy or embarrassed to ask the important questions about their health Dear Tammy, Lately Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been experiencing bloating and headaches after eating anything with cheese in it. Does this mean Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m allergic to cheese? If this is the case, what can I eat instead? Regards, Sam Dear Sam, Many people think they are allergic when they have a reaction such as cramping or bloating after eating a certain type of food when in fact they may be intolerant. If a person has an allergic reaction to food it can be life-threatening and can affect a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breathing, gastrointestinal tract, skin and heart.

A Thousand Words is the reason we need to bring back Beverly Hills Cop.

Hear Today, Gone Tomorrow Hope for Industrial Deafness Are you at risk of permanent hearing loss? An undiagnosed or poorly treated hearing loss can lead to a very real danger of

( ! ' " # ! $" % " permanent physical damage to both the " # ! $ $# # ! & ! " structures of the ear, and areas of the brain % " " # $ & # ( $ ! "$ # responsible for processing speech sounds. ! # ! "" ! * $"#! "",

Hearing loss can prevent critical speech sounds # "$ ! !" " # # # ( from reaching the areas of the hearing system and ! # $# )# $ !"# & # brain responsible for processing these sounds. Over # ( ! " ( time, these areas may die away from a lack of use. Consequently, speech sounds are never heard clearly ! % $" ( # & " % !( ! # #! # $"#! again even when the sounds are loud enough to be "" $" $## "# ! ! heard or when wearing a hearing aid. Just like any # ! part of the body, (" ( # ! itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a case of use it or lose it. ! % # # $" # ! # Further psychological side effects, such as feelings & # ! " of isolation, loss of conďŹ dence, anxiety, frustration, loneliness, depression and withdrawal from social & % ! + # ! situations, can also result from the hearing loss.

% # " # $"$ ! " "" #

Very few people are aware of when intervention for

a hearing loss is needed. Poor technology has led many people to steer away from hearing aids due to problems with unnatural sound quality, excessive background noise and the unsightly size of devices. & # #! # $"#! "" "#

with their hearing should arrange a consultation with a university qualiďŹ ed Audiologist. Most clinics offer this service free and take bookings direct â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not necessary to have a referral from your GP. ! "$ # " #$! " $ ' "" %

However high quality modern hearing aids that are # ! # " % " % " % # correctly chosen and ďŹ tted allow the ear and auditory ! & ( $ # $" ( $! ! structures of the brain access to speech sounds that # & # ! " & # # ! the hearing loss usually prevents. With this access, the $# & # " " $ " # deterioration of auditory/hearing structures is slowed or # ! " halted, and the rate at which the remaining hearing

The earlier treatment is sought, the greater the ! $ " $ & ! % chance of halting further damage and restoring "

decline is greatly reduced. Consequently hearing and communication difficulties associated with the loss are alleviated and the quality of life for the hearing impaired person is greatly increased. Furthermore most new hearing aids are now virtually invisible regardless of the hearing loss severity. Senior Audiologist Jodie Miles, of Clarity Hearing Solutions, agrees itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s critical to seek treatment for hearing loss as early as possible to avoid permanent damage. It is critical to seek treatment for a hearing loss as early as possible; anyone who is experiencing difficulties

hearing to normal or near normal levels.

If you, warning or someone youa know from Typical signs that hearingsuff lossers is present these symptoms phone Claritymisunderstanding Hearing are frequent requests for repetition, conversations, TV/radio louder than â&#x20AC;&#x153;normalâ&#x20AC;? Solutions today for amuch free no obligation or not clear, difficulty hearing phone conversations consultation. or the phone ringing, difficulty differentiating background noise, ringing in ears (tinnitus) and familiar sayings such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;People mumble when they talkâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;He only hears when he wants toâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can hear but not understandâ&#x20AC;?, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;People talk too softlyâ&#x20AC;?.

Until next time. Stay healthy, stay informed.

Tammy Farrell is a registered nurse, nutritionist and author of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Real Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Toolbox â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A DIY Health Manual for Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Tammy grew up in the Hunter Valley with two brothers in the local coal mines. In 2007, she started to give health talks in the Hunter, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when she began compiling the book, helping hundreds of men answer questions about their bodies.

Chicken Laska Serves 4

METHOD:

Laksa is a popular spicy noodle soup from the Peranakan culture, a combination of Chinese and Malay cultures.

Heat the chicken stock in a saucepan over a medium-high heat. When it begins steaming mix in the laksa paste.

INGREDIENTS: 100g vermicelli noodles 500ml chicken stock 2 tbsp good-quality laksa paste FKLFNHQ WKLJK ÂżOOHWV DERXW 600g), trimmed, cut into 3cm pieces 8 cherry tomatoes, halved 2 tsp caster sugar 1/2 tsp sea salt 100ml light coconut milk 200g green beans, ends trimmed 50g bean sprouts Coriander sprigs, spring onions and lime wedges, to serve

Once combined add the chicken, tomatoes, sugar and sea salt and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. While the chicken is cooking, soak the noodles in warm water for 10 minutes or until soft. Drain and set aside. Once the chicken is fully cooked add the coconut milk and green beans and simmer for a further 5 minutes or until the EHDQV DUH FRRNHG EXW VWLOO ÂżUP Divide the noodles across 4 deep serving bowls and top with the chicken and laksa broth. Top with bean sprouts, coriander and spring onions. Serve with lime wedges for added zing. Tip: To spice up the dish, serve with fresh chilli or dried chilli Ă&#x20AC;DNHV

B.Sp.Path.(Hons).,M.AudSt.,MAudSA(CCP). Senior Audiologist

Zest Eatery Open 4.00pm to 8.00pm daily

Shop % " % $ !# ( 6, 25-29 Evans Avenue, North Mackay

Advanced Hearing Aid and Audiological Specialists

Page 22 - Shift Miner Magazine, 21st May 2012

Intolerances usually rear their ugly heads several hours after a food is eaten or build up slowly over weeks or months as the foods are regularly consumed. Many food intolerances can be caused by sensitivities to lactose in milk or natural chemicals found in foods such as glutamate, amines and salicylates. Amines are found in pineapples, bananas, vegetables, red wine, chocolate, citrus fruits and mature cheeses. Salicylates are found in herbs, spices, fruit and vegetables and glutamate occurs naturally in foods such as tomatoes, soy sauce, mushrooms and some cheeses. If you are continually experiencing bloating and headaches after eating cheese, try eliminating it from your diet for a few weeks and see if you still get the same symptoms when eating other foods. Take your findings to your GP or a naturopath and ask to have tests done for food intolerances.

Jodie Miles â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Clarity Hearing Solutions

Visiting Moranbah, Proserpine, Sarina & Northern Beaches Visiting Moranbah, Proserpine, Sarina & Northern Beaches & Walkerston. w www.clarityhearingsolutions.com.au

If left untreated, these symptoms can be fatal (anaphylaxis) though most people who are allergic to certain types of foods carry emergency medication with them such as an EpiPenÂŽ or Anapen, which are adrenaline auto-injectors. Between 2-4 per cent of Aussie adults and 6-8 per cent of children have food aller-

Symptoms can include: â&#x20AC;˘ headaches â&#x20AC;˘ bloating â&#x20AC;˘ wind â&#x20AC;˘ nausea â&#x20AC;˘ mouth ulcers â&#x20AC;˘ hives

For a free rehabilitative hearing consultation contact Clarity Hearing Solutions on 07 4957 2000 today.

Call now for your free no obligation consultation 4957 2000

e enquiries@clarityhearingsolutions.com.au

Symptoms Symptoms of food allergy can include: â&#x20AC;˘ Hives. â&#x20AC;˘ Swelling of the lips, face and eyes, or tongue. â&#x20AC;˘ Difficulty in breathing. â&#x20AC;˘ Abdominal pain, vomiting or a sudden drop in blood pressure.

gies and 10 people die from severe anaphylactic reactions each year in Australia. Intolerances, on the other hand and are not life-threatening.

Grant Collins Audiologist B.PSYCH(DIST)., M.AUDST., MAUDSA(CCP)

Jodie Miles Audiologist B.SPATH(HONS)., M.AUDST., MAUDSA(CCP)

Page 23 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012

What’s happening in sport in your town?

If your local club has any news or photos it wants added to this page, you can submit your articles to angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com

One man to offset exodus

The Moranbah Bulls Rugby side is hoping former Welsh international Brent Cobain will offset the pain of a player exodus from the club over the summer months. Brent Cobain has played 26 games for Wales arguably the most passionate rugby playing nation on earth - and is brother of Matt Cobain who played for the Australian Wallabies. However despite it being a large injection of quality into the Moranbah rugby side, the club’s player roster is notably bare after losing 50 per cent of its players in the off season. Year-on-year continuity, is probably the largest contributor to success in regional rugby, because of the limited training time available throughout the season. However coach and captain of the Moranbah Bulls Kristian Paul says its just the nature of mining. “We picked up Brent Cobain who is now working at Goonyella Riverside mine,” he said. “He played 26 games for Wales and while he is yet to play a game for us he has trained heaps. “Unfortunately for me, he plays in my position so I guess we are going to have to work something out there; he is a class player. “Because of the nature of mining we have actually lost more than 50 per cent of the team that we went to the grand final with last year. “It’s just how it is, people come here to complete a project, and when it is finished they move on. Meanwhile former Samoan International Onehunga Mata’uiau has been linked to the Dawson Valley Drovers in a coaching role. Mata’uiau represented Samoa in the 1999 World cup when the small Pacific island nation made the quarterfinals playoffs. He has also played extensively in New Zealand premier rugby competition.

Clubbing for charity

No it’s not a charity disco. But it is a big month for golfers of all abilities, who might like to have a drink, make some new business contacts and help charity along the way. The Mackay Area Industry Network (MAIN) is holding its annual charity golf day this weekend at the Mackay Golf club and the Capricorn Resort Yeppoon has set June 15 as the date for the battle of the mines golfing tournament. Organiser of the Battle of the Mines Graham Shephard says they have a range of activities planned. “The event has been organised by myself with a goal of donating $20,000 to the Prostate Cancer foundation,he said.” “The format for the golf is a two-ball ambrose with the winning pair winning two spots in the 2013 Sydney Invitational Pro-Am.

“After the golf there is a dinner and a charity auction.” MAIN says the aim of the day is threefold. “We want to raise money for the Mater Foundation Prostate Research of course, but it is a great way for businesses in the mining sector to network, and let’s face it, it’s great weather for golf.”

Tigers turn around a cultural thing

After round four in the Central Highlands Rugby League competition, the world has turned upside down. The victorious of last year are this year the vanquished. Sitting on top of the A-grade competition at the time of printing is the Emerald Tigers, who last year came dead last in the competition. While at the bottom of the table are Dysart - a team that was unbeaten for most of 2011. So what’s changed at the Tigers? A new coach, new players and a new culture. The club’s new coach is Nigel Soden, who in an earlier life played for the South Queensland Crushers and various English sides. After spending his post school years away from the coal fields, he has returned home to develop his mining services business Summit Tower Hire. He says it’s good to be back. “I was actually born in Blackwater, where my father and his brother were heavily involved in mining and rugby league,” he said. “Now with business bringing me back here, I wanted to get involved in the community, and rugby league was an obvious pathway. “The turnaround at the Tigers is due in part to a number of reasons, we have recruited some excellent players, but importantly there is a renewed spirit and energy at the club.

Rio Tinto Coal Australia is pleased to partner with Isaac Regional Council and the community to support the construction of 108 new houses in Clermont. Rio Tinto has committed to a three year lease on half of the houses, so that current workers from Clermont Mine can join the local community with their families.

“We ran dead last in 2011 and it won’t happen again, we talked about that before we had our first training, about pride in the jersey. “And it seems to be working, and I guess there is no hiding the fact that we are a front runner in the competition. Part of the cultural turn around for the club has involved getting old boys involved, and making sure that the post game social functions have a good atmosphere. On top of that he says they have tried to play a brand of rugby league that is attractive to the crowd. Their ability to do that has been largely because they have chosen players for key positions that will be able to play most weeks. “I think that is important” Mr Soden added “We have tried to get some of our more important positions on the field filled by players that can be there most of the time, so our 5/8 is a police officer rather than a coal miner.”

Outback Barbarians clobber maggots at festival : The Queensland Outback Barbarians rugby side has continued its dominant tour of the USA with a clean sweep of the interestingly named “maggotfest” rugby carnival. They defeated the Missoula Maggots 71-5 , the Calgary Cannucks 66 -7 and Colorado 57 - 0

MONEY MATTERS 127th EDITION. 2012

Capricorn Coast demand surges with resources boom THE CAPRICORN Coast property market is riding a wave of buyer activity as mining industry-related housing demand spills over from nearby regional centres. Real estate agents from the Yeppoon area are reporting an upsurge in deals as mining personnel based in Mackay, Rockhampton and Gladstone look to the Capricorn Coast for a better quality lifestyle. Ross O’Reilly, of O’Reilly’s Real Estate, said as the larger centres began to burst at the seams buyers were turning to the coastal strip for an attractive, value-for-money alternative. “Coastal towns like Yeppoon are seeing a spillover from traditional mining centres that are getting too busy, too expensive and aren’t conducive to a family lifestyle,” he said. Mr O’Reilly said the trend was set to continue in the long term with State Government figures showing the populations of Gladstone and Mackay were predicted to jump 30 per cent and 25 per cent respectively between 2011 and 2020. The data from the Office of Economic and Statistical Research reveals that Rockhampton’s population is set to grow by 11 per cent over the same timeframe and a further 13 per cent by 2031, while Brisbane is expected to experience more modest

increases of 10 per cent by 2020 and a further six per cent by 2031. Kev Doolan, of Professionals Emu Park, said residents of Gladstone were moving to the Coast after cashing in on rising house prices in the city. “The trend of people relocating to the Capricorn Coast is real, I have dealt with seven individuals or families in the past six months who have moved from Gladstone and Calliope,” he said. “Some are finding that Gladstone is getting too busy for them, so they are taking advantage of a rising market and moving to a more laidback environment without leaving the region.” Mr Doolan said the mining industry was the major driver of property sales and rentals with up to two-thirds of transactions related to resources. “There has been a wonderful run in the market since November (2011),” he said. Mr Doolan conceded the current union dispute at BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s Dysart mine had had some impact on demand. He said house-and-land package prices on the Capricorn Coast had risen 20 per cent in the past 12 months, with the average shift from $430,000 to $500,000.

Apartments were being rented for between $300 and $450 per week while quality short-stay product was attracting $230 - $250 per night. Having purchased a house in Yeppoon, Wayne Perry plans to relocate his family from Gladstone at the end of the year to escape the city’s rapid population growth. “We were looking for a change as Gladstone was becoming over-industrialised and Yeppoon offered an enviable family lifestyle in what is arguably the most beautiful coastal area in Queensland,” said Mr Perry. “My wife and I are planning to enter semi-retirement, and the kids won’t have to travel far to attend a good school. “Our new home is in reach of all day-today needs, with the added advantage of being in a quieter neighbourhood just moments from the beach and close to Rockhampton.” Mr O’Reilly said Brisbane-based developer Concept Living Properties had timed its entry into the market well with construction to commence soon on the $35 million Oshen apartment development at Yeppoon. The project, which has secured more than $17 million in pre-sales, features 62 self-contained and professionally managed one, two and three-bedroom apartments across five levels with ocean views to the

Keppel Islands and beyond. CLP director Sandy Murdoch said Oshen was meeting the needs of the investment market with a high quality product, affordable pricing (from $349,000) and potential strong returns driven by the huge resources presence in the region. “Resource projects will drive the most dynamic phase of growth in Central Queensland’s history and place even greater demand on accommodation across the region,” he said. “The subsequent impact this has on residential values is being felt in areas such as Gladstone and Mackay and is now filtering through to Rockhampton and Yeppoon.”

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Sport

Event

Date

Venue

Rugby league

Bluff v Dysart

26/5/12

Bluff

Rugby League

Cowboys v Middlemount

26/5/12

Emerald

Rugby league

Peak Downs v Blackwater

26/5/12

Tieri

Rugby League

Emerald v Clermont

26/5/12

Emerald

Rugby League

Moranbah Miners v Brothers (ladies Day)

02/06/12

Moranbah

Rugby Union

Emerald v Moranbah

26/5/12

Moranbah

Rugby Union

Clermont v Capella

26/5/12

Tieri

Rugby Union

Clermont v Rolleston

12/5/12

Emerald

Want your club details here? Call Shift Miner 07 4921 4333

We support a range of local projects through the Clermont Region, Kestrel Mine, and Hail Creek Mine Community Development Funds. For more information contact: • Clermont Region Alissa Gordon on 07 4988 3505

The remaining homes are being sold by the private developers, providing extra accommodation to the Clermont community.

• Kestrel Mine Maureen Tutton on 07 4984 7694

This initiative is a part of the Clermont Preferred Futures Strategy.

• Hail Creek Mine Marie Cameron on 07 4951 6437

www.riotintocoalaustralia.com.au

Beachfront location with spacious air conditioned 2 and 3 bedroom Ocean and garden side apartments. Low rise apartment complex with pool, gym and indoor spa and sauna. Walk to restaurants & Jupiters Casino. Totally non smoking complex

P. (07) 5592 5350 F. (07) 5592 5130 info@lagrande.com.au www.lagrande.com.au

Page 25 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012

MONEY MATTERS

127th EDITION. 2012

The good, the bad and the ugly... (or managing debt) IT’S easy to borrow money these days - and even easier to get into debt. Don’t give up if you are having trouble managing your debts. Here are some strategies to help you cope with debt from the federal government’s Money Smart website. Making repayments If you keep up with or make extra repayments on your loans, you can get rid of your debt faster. You will save money in interest payments and take a financial load off your shoulders. Why make extra payments? The more money you owe, the more interest you’ll pay. If you miss a repayment, the interest on your loan will build up so you end up paying interest on your interest. By keeping up with or making extra repayments on your credit card or home loan when you can, you’ll pay off your debts faster and save on interest. If you have more than one credit card or loan, pay off the one with the highest interest rate first, or tackle the smallest debt first. If you choose a loan at a fixed rate, you may not be able to make extra repayments without incurring extra fees. Ask your credit provider if you can make extra repayments on your fixed rate loan without penalty.

Pay off your home loan faster There are two things you can do to pay off your home loan faster. Find a cheaper interest rate Shop around to find a home loan that offers a lower interest rate than your current loan. A loan that offers a honeymoon or introductory rate can be good but you need to check that it is right for you. The savings tend to be shortlived and once the honeymoon period ends, you could end up with a more expensive loan. Be cautious, though, as switching home loans may cost you extra. See if you can save on interest and fees without switching by: • Asking your current lender to match the best deal you can find or offer you a better loan so you can avoid refinancing costs • Asking the lender to waive fees to keep your business • Asking for a discount on your loan (sometimes called a ‘professional package’). Don’t be pressured by sales staff, brokers or loan minimisation ‘experts’ to switch home loans before you’ve compared fees and charges. Make larger or more regular payments on your loan Unless you have an interest-only loan, you

usually pay both principal and interest on a home loan. On a typical 25-year mortgage, anything extra you pay in the first five to eight years (when most of your payments go towards paying off the interest) will cut your interest bill and shorten the life of your loan. Check if your loan allows you to make extra payments, and if there are any fees for doing so. You may not be allowed to make extra payments on home loans with fixed rates. Even if you can make extra payments, there may be a limit on how much you can repay over the life of the loan. Find out if there are any fees or penalties if you pay off the loan early. Making extra repayments can cut your loan by years and can save you thousands. It is really worth looking into. Paying off credit cards Try to pay off the entire amount owing on your credit card each month (or as much as possible). This will let you take advantage of any interest-free period and pay off the whole debt (not just the interest, fees and charges). Paying off multiple credit cards Do you really need more than one credit card? Here’s how to get rid of your debt and feel the stress go away.

Step 1: Keep up your repayments Keep making minimum payments on all your cards each month, to avoid any additional fees. Step 2: Pay the highest interest rate or smallest debt first You can either: • Pay off the card with the highest interest rate first: keep making minimum payments on all cards, but pay more on the card with the highest interest rate, so you pay off the total amount on that card first. Then work your way through your other cards. • Pay off the smallest debt first: keep making minimum payments on all cards, but pay more on the card with the smallest debt, so you pay off the total amount on that card first. Then work on paying off the next smallest debt, and so on. Step 3: Close each account as you go Whatever option you choose, stop using all but one of your credit cards, and try to only use it for emergencies. As you clear the debt on each card, cut up the card and close the account by contacting your provider. This is important because if you just cut up the card you may still have to pay fees, even if you are no longer using the card. Step 4: Lower the limit on your last card You may decide to keep one credit card for emergencies and online payments. If so, lower the limit on it to an amount that you can repay within three months, say $2000. For more tips like these go to www.moneysmart.gov.au

Are you sorted if you smash your ankle? Most of us spend our down time from a demanding job just chilling out, either spending the weekend playing rugby, going for a spot of fishing, or hanging around the house with the spouse and kids - perhaps all three and more if you are Frank the Tank.

But what would happen if you did a Molly Meldrum and fell and were out of action for months or even longer? And there was no way you would be able to get back into a job that would earn you the big bucks? Insurance. Okay, it might sound boring and insurance companies certainly get a lot of flak don’t mention the floods. But the truth is that no one can afford not to insure and there is an insurance package out there to suit any budget. Shift Miner Magazine had a little chat with Rockhampton-based Darryl Strelow, of Strelow Insurance and Financial Services, who has many years of experience under his belt and lots of advice. “Most people are not insured, and if they are they are usually under-insured. They will get cover for a debt, but would not cover for looking after the kids,” he said. “Life insurance is dirt cheap, and if you do get killed on the job, at least your family is looked after. “But what I do say to people is get your income protection insurance in place first, so at least you have your wage or salary protected.” Income protection insurance is meant to help you if you can’t work temporarily due to either illness or temporary disable-

Paying too much Tax?

Find out how to own an Investment Property from $11 Dollars per day by Redirecting your Weekly Tax

at our Gladstone Property Seminar Free Developer Direct Gladstone Property Seminar 30 April 2012 Gladstone Entertainment Centre - Play House

Book on 1300 850 252

Page 26 - Shift Miner Magazine, 21st May 2012

All while Saving Tax and

GETTING RID OF PERSONAL DEBT

Build your Property Portfolio Today... Call 1300 850 252 to Book your seats today!

ment. You get monthly compensation payments when you need extended leave for a few weeks or months. “The premiums for income protection insurance could go up from $3000 to $6000 a year depending on your salary, but it is silly not to take it out because it is tax deductible. It is an educational and lifestyle choice and it is the first insurance policy I would sell,” Mr Strelow said. Shift Miner Magazine posed as a 41-year-old non-smoking truck driver in an open cut mine for the good of a quote (we tried underground and there was no income protection insurance available). “So for you, on $150,000 salary, you are covered for up to two years because you are in the mining industry. If you smash your ankle at your weekend rugby and you are unable to work, you will be covered until you are able to work again.” Note that the words are “until you are able to work again”. You may not be able to drive a truck once your ankle heals, but you could become a taxi driver. Income protection will stop once your meter starts running. “Your premium would be $537.40 a month - almost $6500 a year - and you will have a two month waiting period before you get your first payment.” Your payment would then be 75 per

cent of your salary - worked out on a monthly basis. So you would get just under $10,000 a month until you got back on your feet. Not all insurance companies will offer income protection for mine workers, and those who do will only pay for you being out of work for up to two years. For other occupations, the payout is much longer. “After a year, we can then talk about life insurance. When you get around the 40 mark, then we are looking at getting trauma and permanent disability insurance. From this age on, you can have a heart attack or stroke, but not die from it.” TPD insurance is meant to help you if you are permanently disabled and you can no longer work and you get a lump sum payment. “I had a client who was a painter. He fell off his ladder, broke his back and was paid out,” Mr Strelow said. Hmmm. Channelling Molly Meldrum. “It is complicated, because there are some occupations the companies won’t insure for, so you do need to speak to an insurance consultant,” Mr Strelow said. And also note that insurance will cover you for events that happen outside of work. If you have an injury at work, it is another story for another time.

Find out how to buy an Investment Property from $11.00 per Day! Don’t send all your WEEKLY TAX to Canberra, come to our Developer Direct Property Seminar on April 30 and we’ll show you how to redirect that tax into buying Investment Properties. This will be the best 90 minutes you have ever spent to find out how to secure your retirement now using your current Tax. Deal Direct with the Developer and find out how to own these high demand Family Homes in strong growth corridors with huge rental demand....want passive income? Then become a Landlord today for less than $11.00 per day.

WHY SHOULD YOU COME TO A DEVELOPER DIRECT SEMINAR! Because you’ll find out how to: Deal Direct with the Developer Reduce your Debt Minimise your Tax Redirect your Tax to buy Investment Properties

ts 52 e k tic 50 2 r u yo 300 8 2 k Boo on 1 il 201 r now 30 Ap for

Gladstone Property Seminar 30unable Aprilto2012, Seats are Limited If your attend the Gladstone Seminar,

Call 1300 850 252 to book a free One on One In-Home Appointment with one of our Consultants. Don’t miss this Gladstone Seminar on Monday night 30 April 2012. Normally a $50 value..! Call 1300 850 252 now for you & your partners COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS Page 27 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012