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Monday August 25, 2014 187th Edition

M A G A Z I N E

BOOM TO BUST Spotlight on the endless cycle of wages Âť Â Â Page 4

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Shift Miner Magazine

CONTENTS 10 NEWS 4

How much are you worth?

5 Adani opportunities open up

6 Bechtel’s

watertight delivery

8 9

11 15

1000 new coal jobs Cut wages to stay competitive

Regulars

9

5 Frank the Tank 1 16 Miner’s Trader 17 Off Shift 18 20 Sport

Queensland mining community's best source of local news

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M A G A Z I N E

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Wages caught up in an endless cycle

“You’re worth what you’re worth at the time,” according to workplace consultant Craig Joy

CURTIS Island workers are pocketing $100/day in allowances at the same time as major contractors in the Bowen Basin are cutting wages by $30,000 a year.

It seems unbelievable but that’s the boom-bust nature of the construction and resources sector.

So just how much is your time worth?

According to Mackay-based workplace consultant Craig Joy, the answer is straightforward.

“This is about simple market forces,” he told Shift Miner.

“You are worth what you’re worth at the time.

“At the top of the cycle you might be worth $100/hour and at the bottom of the cycle you might be worth $20/hour.”

Mr Joy said resource industry workers whether they were in the coalfields or the gasfields - needed to reset the idea that big wages were guaranteed long term.

“Telegraph operators were worth their weight in gold once, and then one day they weren’t needed any more,” he warned.

“A lot of miners are living hand to mouth when they’re on $150 grand or more.

“They have everything on the drip feed - the big fishing boat, jet ski, a fully optioned Prado and another one for the

missus. They have the attitude that this is forever when it’s not.”

Curtis Island workers are currently laughing all the way to the bank.

Last week they voted to accept Bechtel’s latest offering which included a 13 per cent pay rise and daily allowances that will total between $90 and $115/day by November.

The new agreement means the American construction giant should be able to deliver the world-first project on time, with LNG still expected to be ready for export later this year.

It also helped to stave off some low-key industrial action which had caused minor disruptions to the project.

Further north in the coalfields, and it’s a vastly different story.

Shift Miner understands a major contractor has cut workforce salaries by up to $30,000 a year at one site in a bid to hold onto an existing contract.

In Mackay and Rockhampton, Hastings Deering workers are facing another round of redundancies as mining services businesses - big and small - struggle with the prolonged downturn.

“I’ve dealt with a contracting company which recently handed out a 40 per cent pay hit in one go,” said Mr Joy. “In another case it was 40 per cent but over two stages. These are the sorts of things that are happening.”

So how could some of the pain of the boom-bust cycle be minimised?

Employees need to scale back their expectations and be realistic about what companies can afford to pay, according to Mr Joy. “There is this perception out there that employers hate paying their workers the big bucks, but actually that’s not true,” he said.

“When times are good they are happy to pay but things can change.

“Many employees have this idea that it is ‘us’ versus ‘them’, that in these negotiations someone wins and someone loses. Most people have no concept of win-win.”

However, Mr Joy said employers were not blameless either.

“In the boom times comes the notion from companies that they want it done yesterday at whatever the cost,” he said.

“Then when it all crashes and the coal price drops they want to reel it in overnight.”

However, Mr Joy doesn’t hold out much hope of a watershed moment; more likely, history repeating.

“It’s just human nature, isn’t it?” he laughed. “It will be boom and bust forever. It will just keep happening.”

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25th August 2014

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Small waves but still no tsunami...

have to,” he said.

“If things are worn out, I think there is finally some budget to maintain or replace it.

“I wouldn’t say there are signs of a recovery, but maybe we have bounced off the bottom.”

Twelve months ago, Mr Ruming coined the now popular ‘Bradbury effect’ phrase for businesses in the Paget area.

“Companies will change completely, disappear or absorb one another,” he said at the time.

“It’s a time of dramatic change for many businesses. Group Engineering [Mr Ruming’s business] has shrunk from a staff of 35 people to four, and is about to move to a smaller premises.

“So what’s in it for the stayers? Why keep the doors open, when it’s probably easier to walk away?

“You can call it the Bradbury syndrome, if you’re the last man standing you are going to get the gold - there is no doubt about that.”

Mr Ruming reasoned that record coal production and no maintenance spend by mining companies meant there was going to be a massive wave of work hitting the businesses left standing when it arrived.

Sadly, for many business people and their families in Mackay, that day has not yet arrived.

DESPITE plans to kick off construction next year, Indian construction giant Adani cannot detail the exact nature of work packages that will be needed for its massive Galilee rail project.

The Queensland government has now approved the 300 kilometre railway that will connect its billion dollar Carmichael mine in the Galilee Basin to Abbot Point, near Bowen.

However, the company is still awaiting federal approval for the rail link and a spokesman told Shift Miner he could not provide more detail on the exact nature of work packages required until then.

“As we approach the build phase of our integrated mine, rail and port project – a project which will deliver $22 billion in taxes and royalties for

Queensland, and more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs – further opportunities for our suppliers, crucially including small and medium sized businesses, will be advertised as they become available,” he said.

The proposed standard gauge rail line is expected to take about 2500 workers nearly two years to build and pump $790 million into the Mackay region and more than $900 million into the state economy over that time.

The whole project comes with a $2.2 billion price-tag for Adani, which has already nominated Korean company POSCO as the preferred contractor.

Local business has been desperate for detail on the needs of the project after Adani called for expressions of interest in supplying services just over a fortnight ago.

In a listing on the ICN network, Adani asked businesses able to supply earthmoving, signalling and rail services to lodge their details.

However, not only was the listing significantly inaccurate (claiming the 388-kilometre rail line would terminate south of Mackay at Abbot Point), but it also lacked supporting documents surrounding the scope of works required.

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THE long-awaited tsunami of maintenance has not yet hit Mackay’s industrial precinct of Paget, but there are some small waves washing in, according to local business owner Allan Ruming.

After 18 months of stagnation, Mr Ruming said finally some little things were starting to happen; however, he emphasised times had never been more difficult for many businesses servicing the mining sector.

“Unfortunately the maintenance tsunami we have all been waiting for hasn’t arrived, but there are signs of some small little improvements,” he told Shift Miner.

“Speaking to people in the area, there is a little bit of maintenance starting to trickle through, and anecdotally the enquiry rate has improved somewhat.

“I think about 80 per cent of businesses are still struggling to get work in, but there is 20 per cent who are busy. Some of the underground guys are as busy as they have ever been.”

Notably Mr Ruming said all the work was maintenance based, and was about optimising existing production infrastructure.

Businesses geared to new construction remain very quiet.

“In most cases I think the mining companies are just maintaining what they

Adani to advertise ASAP

25th August 2014

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Watertight position for Bechtel Swag rolled at Middlemount

RECEIVERS IN: The Swag Motel at Middlemount will soon by up for sale

Row, row, row your boat… inside an LNG tank

SAFE and ready for storage.

Construction giant Bechtel has now successfully hydro tested two additional LNG storage tanks built on Curtis Island, near Gladstone.

The tests confirm that the tanks built for the Australia Pacific LNG and Santos GLNG plants are ready to store LNG and follow the successful test of a tank at the Queensland Curtis LNG project earlier this year.

“The LNG tanks are not only one of the most visible and complex parts of these plants, they are also among the most critical components to ensure long-term production success for our customers,” said Bechtel LNG general manager Alasdair Cathcart.

“Verifying the safety and integrity of the

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25th August 2014

tanks is just one of the many steps we take in our disciplined approach to delivering our customers world-class quality projects.”

Hydro testing takes between two and four weeks to complete.

Water is pumped into each of the tanks and held for 24 hours to allow for various tests to be carried out.

Once testing is complete, it takes about five days to empty the tanks.

Hydro testing is carried out to verify that each tank can hold its design capacity of LNG at -161o celsius.

Each of the QCLNG and GLNG tanks are capable of holding more than 140,000m3, with Australia Pacific LNG’s tanks each holding 160,000m3.

THE future of the Swag Motel in Middlemount is in doubt after the business went into receivership last week.

The complex comprises 48 rooms, a restaurant, and an adjoining complex of sixteen townhouses. Pitmore Pty Ltd owns the land, and the management rights are held

by Middlemount Management Pty Ltd. The main stakeholders in both companies are Gold Coast based couple Ian and Patricia Matheson.

Korda Mentha’s Robert Hutson has been appointed to handle the receivership, and he told Shift Miner they will seek to sell the complex as soon as possible.

“The directors of the company appointed us as the receivers,” he said.

“We are still undertaking our investigation into the business, but all creditors have been notified.

“The business will continue to trade as usual, however we expect to see the complex up for sale in the next 6 months.”

It has been a long fall from grace for the Swag Motel, which at the peak of the mining boom told Resort Brokers magazine it had a turnover of more than $60,000 a week.

The motel complex was built in 2008, two years after the land was purchased by Pitmore Pty Ltd in a state government auction. In 2011, a section of the purchased land was sold to Anglo American for more than $1 million.

However, the seemingly solid financial position of the business started to unravel when sometime in 2012 the owners of the complex decided to build 16 townhouses on an adjacent block.

The major correction in the mining sector meant that by the time the buildings were completed, the owners could not find anyone to buy or rent 14 of the 16 townhouses.

The restaurant is currently shut, and receivers say there are no advanced accommodation bookings that could be affected by the appointment of receivers.

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Surat Basin boon

THE Haynes Group is the latest big business to establish a new office in Dalby to capitalise on the gas boom in the Surat Basin.

The group has 20 years experience across a wide range of services including heavy mobile equipment repair, maintenance and rebuilds, crane hire, fixed plant shutdowns, labour hire and recruitment.

Haynes’ head office is in Mackay to service the Bowen Basin, but it also does business in the Hunter Valley and WA’s Goldfields and Pilbara regions.

Now the company will set up an office and workshop facility at Dalby and has recently upgraded its membership with the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE).

Haynes Group resources and infrastructure manager, Peter Fenech, said supporting the local industry would be a top priority.

“I would like to thank our clients within Toowoomba and the Surat Basin for their support and for the success of the business in the region to date. It is our intention to offer local employment opportunities and to support local business and communities wherever possible,” he said.

TSBE Chief Executive Officer Shane Charles applauded the Haynes Group for its decision to create a new base in the region and further expand its operations.

“It is fantastic to see any new business setting up in the Surat Basin, particularly one with such a high reputation like the Haynes Group,” Mr Charles said.

1000 new coal jobs

SOMETIME in the next six to 12 months, the first of around 1000 new coal mining jobs will be advertised in Central Queensland.

Expanding coal miner Cockatoo Coal says it’ll be looking for a construction workforce of around 400 by mid next year and Bandanna Energy expects to advertise for 550 people not long after that.

The forecasts might seem premature given the current state of the coal market, but they speak to the realistic lead times required to expand or build a mine.

Since both these companies are looking to sell coal at higher prices around 2016,

the start time for their respective projects is closer than many think.

“From a capital and from an approvals point of view, we are on track with where we want to be to increase our tonnage to three and half million tonnes,” Cockatoo’s chief development officer Todd Harrington said.

“On the human resources side of things, we have 130 odd people at the mine now, and we expect to increase that to around 400 by the start of 2016.

“We have a very defined strategy about local employment and - dare I say it about workforce diversity.

“We have only got a handful of people now who are FIFO, nearly all our employees are local or drive in drive out, which is something we are very proud of and would like to maintain in the future.”

Further west, and Bandanna Energy is in discussions with primary construction contractors for the development of the Springsure Creek project - one of the few new mines proposed for Central Queensland.

Managing director Michael Gray said the project had reached key milestones.

“There are 12 directly affected landholders in our transport corridor, we have nine of those landholder compensation agreements executed, and there are a further two that we have reached terms with, so there is really only one landholder yet to be finalised,” he said.

“There are really substantial regional benefits associated with this project, we will spend about $160 million, and are looking at workforces of more than 500 people in construction, and about 400 longer term full time jobs.

“We are progressing through the approvals process, and now we are finalising our procurement and engineering activities, it’s our target to have front end finalised by the middle of next year and first coal in early 2016.”

‘Overburden tsunami’ on its way in CQ?

PARKED UP: Eathmoving contractors are just waiting for the green light

THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has offered a small ray of hope to the scores of mining contractors who have watched their businesses shrivel over the past 18 months.

In something like the ‘maintenance tsunami’ that has been anticipated in industrial hubs like Paget in Mackay as production ramps up, a similar ‘overburden tsunami’ might also be on its way.

Small to medium sized earthmoving businesses have seen contracts with mining companies cancelled or - at the very least - significantly reduced in a wave of severe cost cutting that been credited with keeping some mining operations open in the current tough climate.

However, in response to an impassioned question from Emerald based contractor Gordon Graham at an outlook conference recently, the QRC’s Michael Roche conceded some of the drastic cuts were probably not sustainable longer term.

“What some of the mines are doing, as

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you know, is they are going after easier to get at coal - they are deferring moving overburden so the inventory is reducing there,” he said.

“So I guess the question then is, and I think the answer is obvious, that some of the strategies of record production and the cost savings achieved are sustainable and some are not.

“There has been a lot of work gone on by a lot of companies probably to produce some pretty good looking results for the 2013/14 financial year.

“My only answer is that not all those strategies are sustainable.”

Mr Roche said it was just a matter of time before the game changed again.

“Eventually the coal resources that are being accessed are going to need to be replaced, and that is going to mean bringing back fleets to remove overburden,” he said.

“So it’s a survival strategy to be doing what they are doing, and I know that has been very painful for a number of contractors and yes there is a lot of equipment parked up.”

While the news comes too late for contractors like Coalfields Constructions and Jonker Plant Hire, which both shut their doors earlier this month, it might give hope to companies hanging in there.

Already the new financial year has seen Team Engineering in Mackay win a large contract to erect the stackers and reclaimers at Anglo’s new Grosvenor mine near Moranbah, and a number of other businesses have reported smaller parcels of work coming their way.

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Cut wages to stay competitive: Peabody

Adrian Lee, Don Kirkpartrick, John Hislop, Jodanna Pullen -Puma Energy, Cola Maurirere, Charles Easton, Wade Stevenson, Tim Guinea, Theo Kummerling - THIESS Jennifer McEwan - Careers Australia

Kristan Gower, Brett Hudson, Peter Huntingdon - Onsite Rental Group

CUTTING wages is one way for Queensland coal mines to stay competitive in future, according to Peabody Australia boss Charles Meintjes.

Mr Meintjes spoke at last week’s Bowen Basin Mining Club lunch and told the 230-strong crowd that labour costs were 30 to 50 per cent greater in Australia than America.

Alan Cloge - Life Aid, Chris Currier Crocksolid Mining

He said that globally the coal mining industry was as important as ever and vital player in the improving the lives of billions.

However, he warned other countries were ‘eating our lunch’.

“Australians are passionately competitive,” Mr Meintjes said.

“We need to draw on this quality if met coal and thermal

Richard Clemmy, Katie Dwyer, Maurie Fatnowna - The Shell Company

coal are to remain globally competitive.

“It’s predicted global coal production will account for up to 40 per cent of the world’s energy in 2020, it now fuels 30 per cent,” said Mr Meintjes.

Mr Meintjes said some answers to being competitive lay in lowering Australia’s high labour costs and

the high price of electricity.

“Australian’s pay the highest price for electricity in the first world,” he said Mr Meintjes explained coal fired power generation has come a long way since the 1950s with modern coal fired power plants producing 80 per cent fewer emissions than their 1970s counterparts.

“Comparing modern day coalfired power technology to the past is like comparing a 1980s diesel car to a 2014 model, they are both cars – but very different.”

“There is a range of emissions reduction technologies already in use as well as opportunities for Australia to explore and invest in new technology to further reduce emissions,” he said.

Mr Meintjes presentation also focused on energy poverty.

“There are 3.5 billion people lacking access to electricity with electricity-demand linked with quality of life,” he said.

“The low cost structure and large global supply means coal will have a major part in this story.”

Some of the many business people who attended the lunch are pictured below [photo credit: Teresa Vella].

Ghosts of the past on display

BA Coal & Timber personnel at the weighbridge in 1915

STEPPING onto a Central Queensland coal mine during the late 1800s would give today’s miners an insight into the humble yet trailblazing beginnings of the now high tech, world class mining industry.

The Blair Athol Collection, now showing at the Clermont Historical Centre, gives viewers an insight into the emergence of mining technology and international business deals still

familiar today, from the Blair Athol coal mine located near Clermont in Central Queensland.

From Japanese Ouchi Urushi dolls to the original Ruston steam shovel, the exhibition is diverse covering a selection of items and stories which include the old ghost town of Blair Athol.

The chair of the Clermont Historical Centre Advisory Committee Barbara Stranks said the collection was a pivotal slice

of Australian history.

“The items have been donated by Rio Tinto and have been carefully prepared for the exhibition,” Cr Stranks said.

“This collection shows a turning point in Australian history especially for our mining community.

“Covering the period from the 1800s to 1980s the Blair Athol collection is where the emergence of mining technology

breakthroughs begin, amid a scene of social uprising where racial tensions are high.

“Like the town of Clermont today, coal mining is still a dominant industry and many people will relate to the stories told in this exhibition.

“With the Carmichael Coal mine being approved recently, we continue to see international partnerships forming and booming right here in Central Queensland.

“I’m sure, it’s a sight for members of our community who once lived in the town of Blair Athol to see the growth of the mining industry today,” said Cr Stranks.

The Blair Athol Collection is on exhibition from August 6 to December 13 at the Clermont Historical Centre.

The Clermont Historical Centre is open Wednesday to Saturday, 9am to 3pm.

Isaac Regional Council is proud to house the Blair Athol Collection, donated by Rio Tinto, and works collaboratively with the Clermont Historical Centre Advisory Committee to exhibit collections.

A vexing issue ONE man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter in the war raging between green groups and the Queensland coal industry.

The Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche has used a parliamentary committee hearing to slam the Queensland Environmental Defenders’ Office as leading the charge in vexatious litigation campaign designed to disrupt and delay resources projects.

Mr Roche said the ongoing legal campaign was an abuse of Queensland’s objection process, which was originally designed to allow genuine landholder and community concerns to be raised and addressed.

“Your previous witness, Ms Bragg from the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) said in her submission that there are no cases of vexatious objectors,” Mr Roche said.

“This is the same Ms Bragg who is particularly thanked for her contribution to the anti-coal movement’s strategy document entitled Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom that was leaked to the media in March 2012.”

Mr Roche said that document outlined several strategies to disrupt and delay key resources project, with litigation at the top of the list.

He said $1.35 million was put aside for litigation strategy in the document, with the majority allocated to the Queensland Environmental Defenders’ Office.

“The Committee might ask: Is this strategy being executed?

I refer the Committee to the EDO’s website where they set out the cases they have run or have on foot,” he said.

“The EDO represented the so-called Coast and Country Association in its Land Court objection to the Alpha Coal project (a case that ran for about 15 months) and is representing Coast and Country in the judicial review of the Land Court decision on Alpha, as well as the current objection to the Kevin’s Corner coal mine.

“Who or what is the Coast and Country Association?

Well they are in fact a front for the anti-coal activist group Friends of the Earth and their spokesperson is Friends of the Earth campaigner Derec Davies.”

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CSG definition A dispute between CSG pipeline company APT Petroleum and the Western Downs regional council has finally concluded this week.

In March, APT took the council to court over the way it had zoned pipeline assets.

APT argued that its compression stations at Yuleba, Dalby, Condamine and Kogan, and a block valve in the Chinchilla region were not ‘CSG processing facilities’ as the council had zoned them.

Instead, the company argued they should be zoned under the separate category of ‘transport and storage’.

After three months of expensive legal discussion over what was the most accurate way to define the CSG assets, the court found in APT’s favour and ordered the council to pay the company’s costs.

However, the finalisation of the matter was delayed until this week when the council successfully appealed the court’s definition of which of APT’s legal costs they had to cover.

Mayor of the Western Downs regional council Ray Brown told Shift Miner the whole thing had been a bit of a storm in a tea cup.

“I don’t think there is going to be any long term broader implications of the court’s decision,” Cr Brown said.

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Kestrel flying high on EK Healy win

The Kestrel mines rescue team are the proud winners of the EK Healy Cup

RIO Tinto’s Kestrel mine has taken out the prestigious EK Healy Cup in the 2014 mines rescue competition.

It comes ahead of the Kestrel mine team competing in an international mines rescue competition in Poland next month, after they became the first team to win all three Australian rescue competitions open to Queensland mines in 2012.

“Kestrel mine is dedicated to making sure each and every one of our people return home safely each day and the performance of

the mines rescue team is just one example of our team members demonstrating their commitment to safety,” said Kestrel’s general manager operations John Coughlan.

“I look forward to seeing the Kestrel mines rescue team showcase the strong safety culture we have at the international arena next month.”

Team captain Derrin Powell also won the award for ‘best captain’ and will lead the team at the international competition.

“Competitions like the EK Healy Cup give us the opportunity

Preparing for the competition

to learn best safety practices and share these learnings with our colleagues,” he said.

“The international competition will be unlike any competition we’ve faced before and offers a whole range of new challenges.

“Perhaps the most significant difference is this competition is open to all underground mining teams around the world, so we’ll be competing against and learning from groups who work in completely different operations such as diamond

and copper mines.”

Kestrel was competing against seven other teams from across the coalfields: Cook Colliery, North Goonyella, Oaky North, Crinum, Moranbah North and Oaky No 1 mines.

Queensland Mines and Rescue Service state manager Wayne Hartley said the competition was always fierce.

“This is the main event and expectations are tough,” he said.

“There is no room for error this is where we test for the best of the best.”

Me Hartley said the competition was also an opportunity to audit their training systems.

“The event gives the industry some comfort and confidence in knowing that our rescue service is first class so that if a mine is ever faced with a real event we know we have a system that can support it.”

Kestrel - along the other top four teams Crinum, Broadmeadow and Oaky North - will now compete against four New South Wales teams and one from Tasmania at the national competition in October.

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Murphy’s law doesn’t bother speedy welders

MURPHY’S RECORD: Putting an end to Murphy’s Law one weld at a time

MURPHY Pipe and Civil (MPC) construction crews laying Santos’ Comet Ridge to Wallumbilla pipeline near Roma have set a new company record for the amount of pipe welded in a day.

MPC project manager Tom Fuller said crews welded 2.8 kilometres of pipe in a single 12hour shift, which means the 70man mainline crew welded 156 18-metre pipes in a single shift.

That’s one pipe every four minutes.

MPC was awarded the 120 kilometre pipeline contract in late 2013 and have around 350 people working on the project.

It’s well known that in construction, whatever can go wrong, will go wrong (Murphy’s law).

However, Mr Fuller said the production result was made possible through extensive

forward planning, clear communication and good oldfashioned hard yakka from the project’s entire construction crew.

“Welding 2.8km in a single day is certainly an impressive effort and reset the record bar for MPC’s weld crews, but we have assembled a great team for this project and the results of this can be seen every day across the entire operation,” he said.

“While our mainline welding

crew is averaging around 2km per day, thanks in part to the use of six scorpion welding bugs, our forward crew on pipe stringing has also set an amazing pace.

“The same can be said for our lower and lay crew who have done an exceptional job and are averaging nearly two kilometres in the trench each day, but recently pulled out all stops to record an amazing 5.1km trenched in a single shift – so great efforts across all work fronts,” he said.

Mr Fuller said while he was impressed with the outstanding production rates that crews had achieved during the project, he was most pleased with their constant focus on ensuring an injury-free workplace throughout the construction schedule.

According to MPC there has not been a single Loss-TimeInjury (LTI) which shows safety and productivity can co-exist.

“Risk management strategies are the rails that carry the train of production and I am pleased to say we are right on track,” he said.

Mr Fuller says he expects the project construction and pipeline hydro-testing to be complete by late October.

$5M still needed

THE newly named Euroa Steel plant project in Gladstone still needs $5 million to complete its environmental impact statement (EIS) and cover administration costs.

Formerly known as Boulder Steel, the company was placed into voluntary receivership last year.

Since then, the Boulder Steel Rescue Group headed by local engineer Paul Sundstrom has taken over the project in a last-ditch bid to see the steel plant built.

CQG Consulting in Rockhampton is currently putting together the EIS, which is hoped to be finished by Christmas.

The project’s leaders are currently speaking with investors, as they seek financial backing of an estimated $5 million to complete the EIS and cover administration costs.

The fate of the project should be known in the next few months, pending support from investors.

The Gladstone Engineering Alliance recently hosted a meeting between the project leaders and key stakeholders to accurately report on the current status of the project.

“We felt that there was a lot of incorrect information circulating the region regarding the project, and therefore asked them to come up and address these concerns directly,” GEA general manager Carli Hobbs said.

Outfoxed by a bat?

THEY’RE BACK: Moranbah residents on alert

THE sound of one big collective, audible sigh can be heard across the mining town of Moranbah.

Residents are being advised by the local council to start preparing for another potential skyward invasion.

Last year, more than 6000 flying foxes took roost in town for four months from September - and this year a small colony is already camping in nearby Middlemount.

Councillor Peter Freeleagus said the protected - but pungent - species were

already on the move, and residents should prepare.

“After thousands of little red flying foxes took roost in the backyards of Moranbah residents last year, including my own yard for a short period of time, I encourage you to take steps now to prepare and to know what to do if you have flying foxes in your yard,” he said.

Wondering how to make your yard less attractive to flying foxes? Chop down all your trees and replace them with a big cement slab.

Ok, the official advice isn’t quite that dramatic, council simply suggests you could clear the under-storey of nearby trees and remove some branches and plant low, dense trees and shrubs around fence lines to form a barrier that they are unlikely to roost in (you could probably do all that in 20 mins with a budget of $20, right?).

“If you have flying foxes roosting in your trees, contact Council immediately, and our environmental team will investigate the roost,” said Cr Freeleagus.

And don’t think that yelling at them during their day-time siesta will help either.

“Day time harassment stresses the bats, it lowers their health which means they are too weak to migrate away from town,” he said.

25th August 2014

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Shift Miner Magazine

Around Town

www.shiftminer.com

BASHING THROUGH BLACKWATER

The Brisbane to Busby’s Bore Variety Bash passed through Blackwater recently. A 1200-strong crowd turned out to enjoy an epic clash between the Crushers and the Rabbitohs [Photo credit: Jeannette Fletcher].

Jennifer Grant, Craig lane - Quarrico

(L-R) Rebecca Stokes, Leeann Brennan, Tanya O’Donoghue and Tracey Anderson

(L-R) Brett Weekes, Stuart Telfer and Mark Mackie

(L-R) Emma Parsons, Nicole Murray and Amber Carsburg

(L-R) Lasha Lane, OD and Mitch

Nicole and Boof

(L-R) Alicia Jones, Laetitia Young and Kerry Dwyer

(L-R) Jo, Tamara, Shaya and Sam

(L-R) Sally, Tara and Sandahl

Karissa and Aaron Gook

Bryce Little and Mama Rose’s Bruce O’Sullivan

Mick and Moo

Cody King and his Grandmother Kathy

(L-R) Harry and Andrew Hopes and Courtney Byrne

Holding a social event you want photographed? Call the Shift Miner office on 4921 4333 to let us know. You can also give our office a bell if you’d like a copy of any of the photos in this edition.

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25th August 2014

Shift Miner Magazine

Around Town

www.shiftminer.com

FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD Blackwater High School’s production of The Wizard of Oz delighted audiences across the coalfields recently [photo credit: Jeannette Fletcher].

Dorothy - Tayla Clarke-Fraser, and the Wizard of Oz - Thomas Byrne

(L-R) Haley Doyle, Alex Fraser, Pania Crambie, Charlee-Kae Fenner and Troy Cuffe

Taylor Truelson and Shay Lyall

The Smythe Family

Sarah Picot and Shanna Schulz

Lee and Katrina Kreis

(L-R) Nicole, Jessica and Patrick Woods and Lidia and Joshua Edwards

(L-R) Chloe Rose Jenkins, Dylan Thompson, Tanze Szulc and Indiana Watts

Some of the cast

(L-R) Bailee Jones, Kynta Pointon, Abby Rogers, Kyle Doyle, Logan Brown and Matilda Pidgeon

(L-R) Mayor of the Munchkins Ella Marschke, Scarecrow Mandy-Jo Morris, Dorothy Tayla Clarke-Fraser, The Tin Woodman Stephany Quebbemann, Cowardly Lion Adelaide Power, and The Good Witch Hannah Kitching

Buy this and many other images at

www.shiftminer.com Shift Miner magazine – bringing the mining community closer together 25th August 2014

13

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Off Shift

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20 years of pain should act as reminder

By Peter Cross, director of Confiance

MOURA MOURNS: In 1994 [pictured] and 20 years later on August 7, 2014

NEWCOMERS to the mining industry rarely consider the career decision as life threatening.

To understand the impact

the loss of life has on families, workmates and the communities in which they live, current and potential miners should have been

in Moura on Thursday 7 August.

Thursday 7 August just happened to be the 20th anniversary of the explosion in

the Moura No. 2 underground coal mine, which resulted in the loss of life of 11 coal miners, all of whom were husbands, sons, dads, brothers or uncles.

On Thursday 7 August, the community of Moura came together, as it did 20 years ago, to pay their respects.

Unfortunately the disaster which occurred in Moura in 1994 was the third time the community had come together to grieve the loss from mining explosions. There were two earlier tragedies in 1975 and then in 1986. In total, 36 lives were lost in those three disasters. To this day, 24 of those miners still remain buried at the site.

These 36 men are gone but the impact of their deaths on families, workmates, and the community continues.

Some 500 attended the memorial service on Thursday 7 August. I also attended the memorial service in 1986. The words the minister used that day still ring out: “why Moura?”

What would he have said in 1994? Why Moura indeed?

Photos to THE EDITOR

Sent in by one of our readers.

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25th August 2014

Text in your best snap to 0409 471 014

To take a quote from the report of Frank Windridge, the mine warden who conducted the investigation and inquiry into the No. 2 explosion: “The immediate past track record is that these measures [measures to enhance safety recommended in the report] will be effective for somewhere around a decade with fundamental problems beginning to re-emerge somewhat earlier.”

Recent events unfortunately prove Frank’s prophecy of “fundamental problems beginning to re-emerge” as being correct. The disasters in Turkey and Pike River in New Zealand are testament to this.

Is safety foremost in the minds of all coal mine workers and their leaders in the Queensland mining industry? Or has the impetus to drive safety measures diminished as our memories fade?

For me, the gathering of 500 people united by this tragedy two decades ago is a very timely and powerful reminder of our obligations and commitment to keep miners safe.

Shift Miner Magazine

Off Shift

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Frank the Tank’s Dear Frank,

We recently moved into a new house, but the landlord is a complete nightmare. We have a list of things that need fixing urgently, but he refuses to hire tradesmen. Instead, he keeps appearing - day and night - with a box of tools and doing a dodgy job himself. Last week he installed a new shower unit that wouldn’t be out of place in a caravan. What can I do? Gary, Biloela Gary, Even though this doesn’t fall into the category of love advice, I’m still going to help you out, Gary, just because I’m such a nice bloke. Well, that and answering these questions counts towards my community service.

I tell you, there’s something wrong with this country when a man can’t upload a Youtube video of himself making love to a Julie Bishop mannequin without the law getting involved.

I believe I should be able to help you out of your predicament though, Gary, as many years ago I was the all-powerful landlord of an apartment building in Brisbane.

Unfortunately I was forced to resign after I was accused of installing secret cameras in some of the showers. These allegations were, of course, never proven.

Thankfully I had the revenue stream generated by my website, “Peeping Frank’s Shower Sirens”, to keep me afloat during my unemployment.

Now, dodgy landlords, shonky builders, and sleazy used car salesmen all fear one thing – exposure by TV programs like A Current Affair and Today Tonight.

I can tell you from personal experience, having a camera crew barge in on you while you’re trying to pass off a donkey wrapped in alfoil as the new breakthrough in ‘green’

IN THE UNITED STATES

Peaches cunningly disguised as dinky/kinky derrieres

bowl need a bit of a spice injection?

Well I have only one word to say to you: “lingerie”. What isn’t improved by a pair of silky knickers?...well, quite a few things actually...but not peaches...peaches look fantastic in a pair of panties.

Thank goodness a fruit vendor in Nanjing, China has realised the commercial potential of sexing up fruit and has started selling peaches wearing wee undies in celebration of the recent Qixi festival, the Chinese version of Valentine’s Day. Given “the juiciest, most delicious peaches on Earth” allegedly come from Yangshan in Wuxi, an area famous for it lingerie and garment industry, it was probably therefore a matter of time before these two claims to fame came together in

motoring is extremely disconcerting.

Have one of your mates dress up like a reporter and barge into your landlord’s office, making allegations and threatening legal action.

Your landlord will be so bewildered that he’ll agree to anything, and before you know it you’ll have tradesmen there getting the job done properly.

In the highly unlikely event that the fake television show intervention doesn’t pan out, there’s always the lost art of the booby trap.

You said your landlord likes to come over and fix problems himself, so all you have to do is call him and say the window above the toilet is jammed.

Spray a little cooking oil on the toilet seat before he comes over - he goes to stand on the seat to see what the problem is and before you know it, he’s out of commission and forced to hire real tradesmen.

If you want to thank me for my advice, Gary, you can order a copy of my Julie Bishop video – send $25 to “Frank’s Foreign Liaison”, Shift Miner Headquarters, Quay Street Rockhampton.

Frank happened to realise the potential profit margins of provocatively dressed peaches simultaneously.

Fair Dinkum!

IN CHINA - Does your fruit

“Streakin” good love advice

a mutually loving relationship.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the vendor sells the peachy bottoms using the trade name “Ripe Fruit” and for around 87 bucks you can bag yourself a set of nine nestled in a silk or chiffon-lined box.

And you can rest assured, the vendor guarantees Ripe Fruit’s g-bangers are put on by hand. I mean you wouldn’t want some kind of fruit-dressing robot doing such a sensitive job.

The report also says the fruit vendor in question claims to have applied for a patent on panty peaches as they are none too pleased that fruit vendors elsewhere in Shanghai are also sexualising their produce.

They are even filing for infringement with the intellectual property bureau, which seems fair enough. It is a bit of a stretch to believe multiple fruit vendors just

- Ever thought a monkey could do a better job than your local mayor? Well how about a dog? The residents of Cormorant, Minnesota reckon it is worth a shot and have welcomed Duke, a seven-year-old dog, as their new honorary mayor.

Twelve people in Cormorant each paid a dollar to cast the votes that saw Duke emerge from a five-week election as the overall winner.

Despite not being human or even running a campaign, Duke, who belongs to a resident in the village, has proved a popular choice.

Resident Tricia Maloney told WDAY6 “He won by a landslide. He doesn’t know how to handle this publicity.

“Poor Richard Sherbrook that owns the Cormorant Store, he didn’t even have half as many votes as Duke did,” she added.

SENSIBLE SUSAN Gary, Sounds like your landlord is trying to save himself a bit of dough at your expense! It seems to me you have a couple of options here, you could contact your real estate agent and complain, and in turn they might put pressure on the landlord to fix the house. Or, you could have a quiet word to the landlord and let him know that you’re willing to report him to the relevant authorities if he doesn’t hire some reputable tradesmen. If you decide to take option number two I’d tread carefully, if this guy is going to be your landlord for a while it’s probably best not to alienate him too much.

Susan

After winning, Duke was treated to five hours of grooming and a new outfit plus Tuffy’s Pet Food will be donating a one year supply of dog biscuits in lieu of a salary.

IN SPAIN

- Now this is what I call a drug BUST. A 43-year-old woman was arrested at Madrid’s Adolfo Suarez airport after police say nearly two kilos of cocaine were found inside her breast implants, according to a press release obtained by Euro Weekly News.

Narcotics agents say the Venezuelan woman, who was arriving on a flight from Colombia, caught their attention because of her nervous demeanor.

After a body search uncovered “certain irregularities and deformations in both breasts.” the traveller allegedly confessed to stowing cocaine in her implants.

The implants, which wound up containing 1.7 kilos of cocaine, were removed at a hospital. The woman, whose name has not been released, was detained for an alleged crime against public health.

25th August 2014

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115 Mercury Optimax (18hrs), Mercury smartcraft gauges, Hydraulic steering, electric motor, Lowrance HDS 8 & Structure scan at the helm, 100ltr fuel tank, Scotty downriggers & rod holders, 50Ltr live bait tank, Seven built in compartments & many more extras.

Near New 70hp Tohatsu TLDI motor. All the extras for creek & off shore fishing included. Offshore Safety gear. Everything Works. Dry boat & powers well in all conditions.

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Shift Miner Magazine

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MOVIE Review

Big story...short film

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I did find the storytelling and character development a bit ridiculous.

The problem is, you can’t tell the backstory of a Roman demigod [Hercules] in 20 minutes, which is what needs to happen to get the whole thing done and dusted in an hour and a half.

The comic series Hercules by Stephen Moore - which the film was based on - ran for years, so readers had plenty of time to understand Hercules’ motivations.

budget action film from director Brett Ratner, I thought it sounded like my type of gig, and in a nutshell it didn’t disappoint.

There were some impressive special effects, the good guys won, and the were some pretty fit Roman women getting around (and plenty of buffed blokes for those interested).

However - and it’s a big however - like so many films in this genre that have been adapted from once very popular comics,

I don’t have the strength to walk out of a cinema feeling emotionally drained anymore. I figure everyday life does a good enough job of that. So for me, going to the cinema is about escapism.

Also what’s the point in watching emotionally draining drama on the big screen?

You can get the same impact watching the news on our not-so-small screens at home.

So when Birch Carroll & Coyle offered me a ticket to Hercules - the latest big

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9. Threatening 10. Coloured-tile design 12. Impasse 13. Make sense (3,2) 14. Electric rod, cattle ...

16. Removed hide from 19. Fluid loss 21. Chap 24. Florida resort city 25. Kitbags 27. Eradicates 28. 60th 29. Desire for water 30. Blood feud

It seemed pretty obvious to me that the directors spent a lot of time in post production trying to work out what sort of mental leaps they could get away with to keep the film short and action packed.

The audience gets a few flashbacks and some brief conversations to piece together what motivates Hercules and his band wedged between some solid fight scenes.

Notable in the cast, is local Aussie-boymade-good, Stephen Peacocke. For those of you tangled up in Home & Away, you might know him better as the generally shirtless Brax, the leader of the River Boys gang.

He has only a minor part in the film, but I guess you have to start somewhere in Hollywood.

It must have been somewhat of a shock for Peacocke to be on a set where he wasn’t the biggest….not by a long way.

There is no denying it, that Dwayne Johnson is a massive unit.

He gives the rest of us 40-year-olds hope that if we had loads of money, a lot of free time and some Pacific Islander heritage, we could be built like we were in the 90s.

As for his acting, well, it was good enough.

His rousing speeches to the outnumbered good guys before battle were passable, but I don’t think they will stick in the collective memory like Mel Gibson in Braveheart.

My score 3 out of 5.

Tickets kindly supplied courtesy of Birch Carroll & Coyle Rockhampton.

DOWN 1. Not quite 2. Ice-cream dessert 3. Kinsman 4. Beer mug 6. Estimate of costs 7. Leaves behind 8. Caper 11. Embroiders 15. Willingness 17. Leanest 18. Squid 20. Large deer 21. Hard rock 22. Coldest 23. Respiratory ailment 26. Located

LAST EDITION’S SOLUTIONS I MMU N I T N O E O H A N D S OU A I T R L OC K SM I E A S E X I T S U Y K I N D L E S E D O A WH E L P K E R H E R E A S ON E G N D I E T E R

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25th August 2014

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Slippery nipples are out

It appears Sex on the Beach or a Slippery Nipple are, like, totally lame. If your cocktail repertoire is stuck in the 80s along with Tom Cruise, it’s time to get with the program. In 2014, cocktails in are the Wild West of weird ingredients and way-out theatrics.

Old Fashioned In the Rocks

Corned Beef Collins

Take your Jack D on the rocks? Created

by The Aviary in Chicago, this bourbonbased drinkee is served inside a large, hollow ice sphere that the customer smashes with a custom “slingshot”, transforming the cocktail from ‘in” the rocks to “on” the rocks.

Just like mum used to make? Blended whiskey, corned beef extract and cabbage water. A molecular gastronomist has turned a tipple into meat with veg but thankfully minus the white sauce and mustard pickles.

Menage a Trois

Treasure Chest No. 1

Sip your champagne, cognac and Grand Marnier concoction gangster style with a trio of bling: 23-carat gold flakes, liquid gold syrup and a gold-plated straw studded with a ridgy didge diamond. Lob into the Tryst Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas with $US3000 in your pocket to sample this liquid threesome.

Save this one for a classy night out with your entourage at Three Dots and a Dash, Chicago. A treasure chest filled with rum and tropical fruit juices is topped tableside with a bottle of Dom Perignon, while dry ice at the bottom of the chest creates a chic layer of fog. Drink delicately with a two-foot-long straw.

Who put the fun back into mining?

From salt mine to warehouse for cheese and WWII anti-aircraft shelter, Salina Turda has finally re-emerged as a futuristic fun-zone.

Its official. “You win, Wales. You win. The title of “Most Fun Place In The World” is all yours,” LA celebrity reporter Perez Hilton recently declared.

WONDERING what to do with your blazing big pit once all the coal has gone? Rehabilitation sounds like a jolly honourable ambition but you need to ask yourself - is it really fun?

Some original thinkers in Romania and Wales didn’t start backfilling, sealing or revegetating their blinking big holes, they went all Kevin Costner “if you build it, they will come” and kitted out an amusement parks with giant trampolines instead.

And not just any old giant trampoline

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25th August 2014

but enormous underground trampolines, with massive slides and a kick arse LED light display. ALL in a 176-year-old disused Victorian slate mine. Genius.

This spectacular new fun thing at the Llechwedd Slate Caverns in Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales is called Bounce Below.

Imagine a vast underground chamber which you can only reach by train, lit in day-glo iridescent colours, where you bounce through the earth’s bowels on an enormous trampoline (you even get to

wear overalls and helmets!).

The huge trampoline-like nets are hung within two vast chambers at varying levels, the highest being 55 metres up from the bottom of the cavern, linked together by walkways and slides, the longest of which is a whopping 18 metres.

The tunnels and chambers of this subterranean world were cut out by men and boys but no need to dwell on the workers who risked their lives during the Industrial Revolution when you can whoop it up in a fun palace.

Sure if you’re afraid of heights, caves, the dark, suffer from claustrophobia or vertigo, this might not be for you, but for those under 120kg and without weak ankles it’s game on.

“It has taken two-and-a-half years [to pull together]. No one has ever done this underground. It’s completely unique,” said Sean Taylor, Bounce Below’s co-founder in The Telegraph.

“We’re going to have stag and hen parties, sports groups, school groups. Scouts want

to use it as a giant hammock to sleep overnight. I want to get a wedding in there, some bands, too,” confided Taylor.

Sounds like the sky’s the limit for Bounce Below but what do the Romanians have to offer in cutting edge mine-site-fun?

Well at least when your parents threaten to send you to a salt mine in Transylvania you need not quiver in fear.* Located more than 100 metres underground in an old salt mine in Romania is an amusement park that looks like something from the set of a sci-fi film.

Salina Turda sits in the Romanian region of Transylvania and is one of the world’s oldest salt mines, dating back to the Middle Ages. Over three billion tonnes of salt were carved out by hand or machine and now the enormous void left behind has been converted into an amazing underground theme park with a ferris wheel, mini golf course, bowling alley, sports arena and even a subterranean lake for a spot of boating.

And if you are over catching your annual dose of carnie-flu at the local show, the enclosed mine is free of allergens and bacteria making it perfect for sufferers of hay fever or asthma.

Sounds fun or what? * You were only ever threatened with no telly for the day? Well just pretend you were the product of parents who enjoyed mentally torturing impressionable children and you will get the gist, okay?

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Bait Shop Banter

as well, which would indicate the water temperatures are warming up and that it “won’t be long until we are back in the thick of it,” according to Adrian.

Rosslyn Bay off the rocks has been fishing spotties and doggies when the wind has cut the wailing.

And if you are lucky enough to get offshore, you might go like Adrian’s mate Sladey and do some serious damage using soft plastic on a six pound line.

Check out Adrian’s Facebook snap of Sladey and his tidy 82cm snodger grunter.

IN MACKAY - “Fresh

Sladey and his suitably impressive snoder grunter

IN YEPPOON - Well, it has

been blowing the proverbial dogs off chains on the Capricorn Coast says Adrian at The Secret Spot Bait & Tackle.

But sometimes this just means an opportunity to diversify your approach and an outing into town proved a handy little bonanza for Adrian recently.

“Quick trip up the town reaches of the Fitzroy, managed to bag about 8-9 barra between us, dropped a metery...not bad for

the middle of winter!” said Adrian.

There were a couple of threadies in amongst them too and they carried out this handy work using Thready Busters and Shads Vibes.

Adrian also reckons just down from the Quay Street boat ramp is also worth a shot with threadies and blue salmon currently being sourced from there.

Corio Bay has been throwing up flathead and good winter bream plus a few more blue salmon and threadies.

Two or three barra have turning up

Top picks Queensland For more events in the mining community go to shiftminer.com

Capricorn Colour Event

Friday, September 5, 2014 - Sunday, 7 September, 2014 Region: Queensland, Yeppoon Show your true colours and support CQ’s largest charity event! Tee off on Friday with hilarious mayhem on the fairways with the Fawltee Crew back for the funniest charity golf day in CQ. Breakfast, lunch and ample beverages all day included. Great prizes, raffles, lots of surprises and all for a great cause. On Saturday spoil yourself with a great morning at the Yeppoon Town Hall, Normanby Street. Em Rusciano, singer, writer & comedian, hosts a stylish, entertaining and delightful high tea full of fun, bubbly and fine food. Not to be outdone, Saturday evening offers a black tie ball like no other. The magnificent 35 piece Qld Pops Orchestra, Qld Police Pipes and Drums with the sublime Mirusia Louwerse live in a dinner concert first for Central Queensland. Pre-dinner drinks commence on the lawn at 6.00pm with the Ball commencing at 7.00pm. And finally, what better way to spend a Sunday morning than a run along the beach in the sunshine with the whole family.

Pops Orchestra

Friday, September 5, 2014 and Sunday, September 7, 2014 Region: Queensland, Rockhampton and Gladstone Referred to as the “Angel of Australia” by Andre Rieu, Mirusia Louwerse is returning to Australia with the Queensland Pops Orchestra to bring some of her amazing songs to Rockhampton and Gladstone audiences. Having performed around the world with one of the foremost entertainers of modern times, Ave Maria has now achieved more than 15 million hits on You Tube and Mirusia will sing that version in the concert. Lead by Maestro Patrick Pickett, the Pops will bring a variety of music you have grown to know and love and will include music from the Glenn Miller Tribute Show.

For tickets and further information go to: www.seeitlive.com.au and www.gladecc.com.au

to frightening winds” off Mackay as well, according to Bruce from Nashy’s Compleat Angler.

With offshore fishing therefore off the boil, Bruce recommends hunkering down inshore and hitting the creeks.

Whiting, grunter, flathead are your quarry but on the bigger tides you will need to work for them upstream using yabbies and prawns.

Looking for a lure? Bruce suggests trying little squidgy prawns.

Bruce reckons the barra have been higgledy piggledy but that come September they should be back online.

Ditto when things calm down in the weather department it will be game on for the mac offshore.

reports Craig from Pat’s Tackle World.

It appears good news is pretty sketchy but if you are still keen to throw a cast into the wind there are blue salmon about in the harbour region.

Craig reckons there are also still bream in the mouth of the Boyne with the occasional flathead poking its head up.

Here’s hoping this windy weather buggers off and calm conditions return and some big bodies once again hook up on the end of your line.

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

angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com

IN GLADSTONE

- Same old stupid story Gladstone way, with 35 knot winds making the fishing scene pretty dire,

Dad’s Day In the Valley Sunday, 7 September 2014 Region: Queensland, Mirani

Treat dad for Father’s Day and head to Mirani for the Pioneer Valley Classic Car Club’s Show and Shine.

With over 150 cars and trucks on show and 6000 7000 people expected through the gates it is going to be a great day! Held along Alexandra Street in downtown Mirani, there will be speciality stalls, trade stands, music, food and drink plus lots to keep the kids amused. Gates open 9am to 3pm. Admission $5 per person and children under 16 are free. Gate proceeds go to various local charities and the Kidney Support Network.

For more information contact Rod or Tracey Woods on 0407 696 929 or go to: https://sites.google. com/site/pioneervalleyclassiccarclub/

Treat dad to a car show this Father’s Day, with Dad’s Day in the Valley at Mirani.

Want more events in your world?

Go online and look at our events guide. It’s updated daily. www.shiftminer.com or get the iPhone app

See Mirusia perform with the Queensland Pops Orchestra

25th August 2014

19

Shift Miner Magazine

Sport Monday - Roundup

www.shiftminer.com

Middlemount remembers in style The winning conn ections of the Paul McGuire Memoria Dachshund Sprint. l Jason Lambie (Midd lemount), Harrison (Perch Creek, Duar McCoy inga), Alison Kirby (Kotree, Springsure Heather Mallett (Ro ), ckhampton), Julia Lambie (Middlem ount).

Cavanagh, agh, Harrison Katrina Cavan Middlemount tterson all of Pa ni To d an Chris

James Spence (Civeo ), John Manzelmann (Trainer), Eliza MacR ossan (Civeo

can, Ashlee Davis, Melanie Dun rsh, Ma ly Kel , Tash Henderson dlemount Peter-John Marsh all of Mid

t), Peter Comiskey Peter Quinn (Essex, Middlemoun eena, Middlemount), (Wilp n (Lyra Park, Capella), Allan Acto Dan Godwin h), oug lbor Mar i, ang (Wil Ron White Clarke Creek) e, (Cliv (Springsure), Allan Wallace

THE Middlemount Races were a monument to the resilience of bush towns this year, with more than 1500 people turning out for the event despite the mining downturn and a beef industry struggling through the drought.

It was a special commemorative meeting this year, with two of the races run in memory of the lives of members of

the Middlemount community who have recently passed away.

Central Queensland cattleman Graeme Acton, who was killed during a camp drafting competition in May, was remembered in the Graeme Acton Memorial Benchmark 55 over 1200m.

It was won by Top Button, trained by Tracey Simmon of Mackay and ridden by

her husband David Simmon. Graeme Acton was a founding member of the Middlemount Races club and former president.

The super popular novelty dachshund (dog) race was run in memory of local miner Paul McGuire, who was killed in a mining accident earlier this year.

That race was won by last year’s runner up in the same event Sally. She is

owned and trained by Middlemount local Catherine Wilson. The race raised about $3000 for the Capricorn Rescue Helicopter.

The organising committee of the Middlemount races would like to thank all their sponsors for their ongoing support including Anglo American, Middlemount Coal, The Acton family, Isaac Regional Council and CIVEO.

Rams secure golden home game

a game and today the Rams are minor premiers in the CHRU competition.

Despite a surprising loss to Capella on Saturday, Emerald have earnt the all important right to host the major semifinal against Moranbah at home.

Schwartz says it’s hard to put a value on what a home game is worth in the finals.

“This is absolutely what we have been after,” he told Shift Miner.

“It has been a work in progress since that round four low point, but it is a huge advantage to have the final at home.

“I don’t know what it’s worth in percentage terms, but there are a whole lot of players who work rosters that can play a home final, but would be

unavailable for an away game.

“I am sure it is the same for Moranbah, and as a coach I wish everyone could be available every game day, but with mining the way it is, players are not willing to risk their jobs for a game of footy.”

However, the Rams didn’t come through the game against Capella unscathed, losing up and coming breakaway Beau Shields for the rest of the year with a broken leg.

While Schwartz conceded the Moranbah Bulls are clearly the most obvious threat to their premiership ambitions, he says Capella could be the dark horse in the finals.

However, irrespective of who they play he says they will remain focussed on their own game.

“I think we have got to stick with what we have been doing, which is about the forward pack doing their job, giving the backs the chance to do theirs.

“We have a set game plan that we need to play to, and try and force the opposition to change their style rather than us change to meet theirs.

“You can only do that when you are dominant in the forwards.

“But anything can happen on the day, and all the best plans come undone, so we have an A, B and C plan in case things don’t go our way.”

Posted 18 August:

AT the end of round four in May, coach of the Emerald Rams rugby side Greg Schwartz drew a line in the sand for his playing group.

At that point they were coming dead last in the Central Highlands competition.

With more players unlikely to arrive at the club, he told his small but talented playing group that if they planned to have a good season, they had to look long and hard at themselves.

The talk must have worked, because since that point they have hardly lost

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25th August 2014

Shift Miner Magazine

Sport Monday - Roundup

www.shiftminer.com

Support swings behind Moranbah reserves Posted 18 August:

THE hopes of Moranbah’s rugby league supporters will now focus on their reserve grade side, after A grade was narrowly defeated by Sarina 36 points to 30 on the weekend.

It was always going to be a hard road to the Mackay and districts rugby league grand final, after an inconsistent season meant the A grade side just scraped through into the finals in fifth place.

While it is not uncommon for teams to take the long road from fifth to a premiership, it is nonetheless a sudden death path.

President of the Moranbah Miners club Peter Henderson reflected on the difficulties A grade had to deal with this year.

“We definitely lacked consistency early, but toward the back end of the season we started to get it back,” he told Shift Miner.

“I wouldn’t say any team is better than us, but I would say that Sarina were better on the day and capitalised on their opportunities.

“But it has been a hard year in lots of ways.

“In the current mining environment we were not able to bring as many players to town, and changed rosters and concerns about job security, made it harder to get our best team available every week.

“But our reserve grade side has had an outstanding season finishing minor premiers, and all our support will now swing behind them when they play Souths in the finals on Saturday.”

Reserve grade has had almost the exact opposite season to A grade in so far that they have not lacked consistency or players, which is remarkable given they have had to continuously supply players to fill holes in A grade.

As a consequence of the A grade’s loss, this Saturday’s game against Souths will be the first time they can field their best team.

“It’s the first time this year that we have our best team from one to 19 available,” Coach Dale Bloomfield told Shift Miner.

“The boys have been looking really sharp at training and we will be sticking with a game plan that has worked for us all year.

“We have been really lucky this year in reserve grade because we have had a larger than usual player base, with 48 players on the books and around 30 in our core regular playing group.

“But it does mean I might not be the most popular bloke in Moranbah this week when I pick our final team, but I am going to pick the best team we can put on the paddock.

“It is a headache because so many players have put in, but it is a good one to have from a coaching point of view.”

However not all positions are up in the air, with Bloomfield confirming that the leadership group of five-eighth Justin McKay, second-rower Phillipe Sambo, halfback Mark Finlay and hooker Brad Petersen all definite starters on Saturday.

Clermont gets its first wooden spoon Posted 11 August:

CENTRAL Highlands rugby president Eddie Shaw says the standard of all teams playing in this year’s competition is the best he has seen in his 20 year involvement.

He made the comments in the wake of another surprising weekend of rugby which saw football powerhouse Clermont pick up the dubious honour of their first ever competition wooden spoon.

Clermont have won the premiership for the last two seasons, and have featured in the finals in every season before that. However, finally the cycle has turned against them.

Speaking after Clermont’s 15 to 12 point loss to Capella, Shaw (and Capella player) said it was another surprise in an outstanding rugby season.

“I was speaking to some of the Clermont old boys after the game and they reckon it is the first time the club has ever won the wooden spoon,” he said.

“I can proudly say that Capella has about 10 of them in the cupboard, but it’s the first time for Clermont which says

something about the strength of the club.

“It’s a hallmark event for them - but I guess of the negative kind.”

However Capella’s hard fought win in Clermont still does not clarify the final standing for the competition, with the order of the final four still undecided.

While Emerald, Moranbah, Clermont and Rolleston will all definitely go through to the finals in a fortnight’s time, where each semi final will be played and which teams will play in it is undecided.

Given there has only been two weekends in the whole season where away teams have won their games, home ground advantage is gold come finals time.

“It’s the last round of the competition this week, but effectively the finals have begun,” Shaw said.

“Everyone is playing for a home semi final, and they need to win on the weekend to get it.

“Even the venue for the grand final is up in the air, because it is decided by the winner of 1 versus 2 in the semi finals.

“But we don’t know who that is yet, it’s been an amazing year every team has had full benches and every team has been competitive.”

Blackwater gallant in defeat Posted 11 August:

THE Blackwater Crushers have already begun planning for 2015 after just missing out on making the finals of the Central Highlands rugby league competition this year.

The team went out in style, pushing the yet-to-be-defeated Bluff side to their hardest victory of the season in front of well over 1500 people in Blackwater.

Club president Jay Denman told Shift Miner the 44 to 32 point defeat was nothing for the Crushers to be embarrassed about.

“It was a very physical and fast game and I don’t think any player from either side came off feeling they didn’t give it 100 per cent,” he said.

“Nothing was left on the paddock, but in the end the best team on the night won the game.

“But that doesn’t take anything away from the Blackwater boys. Bluff are a class outfit and now that we are out of contention, our support will swing behind Bluff, and I think they can go all the way.”

Bluff and Blackwater matches always pull a crowd on the Central Highlands, but this weekend was special because an extra 350 people stopped in as part of the Variety Bash.

Not only did they bring extra people, but they also brought an impressive fireworks display and a live performance by country singer John Williamson.

Local rugby club the Blackwater Basilisks also moved their home game so they could play the curtain raiser, giving Blackwater residents a full day of footy and entertainment.

With this season still fresh in their minds, the Crushers committee will meet soon to plan for next year.

“Well the boys are enjoying silly Monday and we will give them space to enjoy that, but probably by the end of next week we will meet and organise a date for our AGM,” Denman said.

“The club has developed a lot this year and on the back of that we will sit down and make a plan for 2015.

“We have done a lot of upgrades, and I think we are on track to build a better club.

“I don’t know who else from outside the club will be interested in participating next year, but I will put my hand up to go around again as president.

“There are a few things that we have started that I would like to see through to completion, but in the end that will come down to a vote by the committee.

“I am not sure what the coaches plans are, so I will leave them up to him, but I am pretty sure he would like to go around again, and build on the base we created this year.”

As for the 2014 premiership Denman reckons Buff will go all the way, but has picked the Clermont Bears as the team most likely to beat them in a grand final.

TO GET YOUR SPORTING NEWS AS IT HAPPENS MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER FOR SPORTMONDAY AT SHIFTMINER.COM. IT’S FREE

25th August 2014

21

Shift Miner Magazine

Money Matters

www.shiftminer.com

MONEY TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS

Is it time to lock in your interest rates?

RECENTLY, CBA led many of the major banks in lowering their five year fixed rate to under 5 per cent.

With the current outlook being that rates will likely begin to increase at some stage in the next 12 months, it would appear we are now at the bottom of the cycle.

Inflation is slowly beginning to rise and, as confidence increases, the Reserve Bank will eventually have to take action.

There is by no means a need to rush, however, the timing is right to review your lending arrangements and talk to an expert in the field.

They will be able to give you advice on structure as well as where to find the best rates.

In many circumstances they will negotiate a better deal for you with your current provider.

To be put in touch with such a specialist or to gain a better understanding of your current situation and where we can help, I invite you to contact Jeff White on 07 3114 8621 or Simon Milton on 07 3114 8652 for a free consultation.

FIXED 5YRS

FIXED 3YRS

VARIABLE % pa

LENDER

5.49

4.94

4.98

ANZ

5.69

5.04

4.79

BANKWEST

4.99

4.98

5.00

CBA

5.39

4.87

4.83

CITIBANK

4.99

4.94

4.92

HOMESIDE/NAB

5.59

4.89

5.23

HERITAGE

5.29

4.79

4.83

ING

5.69

4.99

4.99

ST GEORGE

5.65

4.84

4.84

SUNCORP

4.99

5.09

5.08

WESTPAC

Stock of the Month Carsales.com (CRZ) Carsales.com has moved into the car financing market, acquiring a controlling 50.1 per cent stake in the country’s largest independent vehicle finance broker, Stratton Finance, for $60.1 million. The deal will be earnings accretive immediately. The move on Stratton was a classic buy versus build decision. Carsales had been operating a finance facility (Ignition Finance) on its website for the past two years but was struggling to get market share. The upside from the Stratton deal is that Carsales acquires a new earnings stream - with the potential to grow significantly - which does not depend on a relationship with either car dealers or manufacturers. The risk is that some car dealers (who make commissions from providing vehicle finance) worry that Carsales is becoming more of a competitor than a service provider.

To find out further information on carsales.com, contact Jeff White on jeff.white@morgans.com.au.

To ask them any questions or continue any of these conversations please email jeff.white@morgans.com.au or simon.milton@morgans.com.au and they will try to help.

ROOM WITH A VIEW

Mountain Mansion, Calgary, Alberta

Exotic homes

Price: $5,400,000

Price: Calling for offers over $699,000 Get back to nature, get off the grid and get away from it all on Cape Tribulation. No mobile phone coverage here so if you really want an escape from your endless modern lifestyle how about a tree change complete with 3.5 hectares of your own private rainforest (world heritage Daintree rainforest nonetheless)? You even get to run your very own organic permaculture exotic fruit farm (over 2000 tropical fruit trees including 400 mature mangosteens in the commercial orchard). Plus you get to run your very own bed and breakfast (with two very private, high-set, poleframed, timber cottages, each with an ensuite, balcony and a stunning view of Mt Sorrow). Imagine jumping out of bed every morning to prepare your guests an exotic tropical fruit platter of your very own produce for them to scoff down at breakfast.

If this sounds like the perfect escape contact Mark Whitham, Daintree Sales Specialist, Raine and Horne at mark.mossman@rh.com.au

22

25th August 2014

Price: From $500,000 This place is called Jolly Harbour and it is in the Caribbean... enough said? Live it up like a latter day plantation owner (sans the slaves) in Colibri Court, a small private development within the gated community of Jolly Harbour. It consists of 14 three to four bedroom luxury apartments with full-sized pool and a smaller spa pool all contained within the development. Colibri Court is built immediately adjacent to Jolly Harbour’s 18-hole golf course with views over the marina and the beautiful blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. The 14 apartments are surrounded by mature tropical gardens and beautifully landscaped property. All Colibri Court apartments are just under 140 sqms with an additional 46 sqms of verandas and balconies. Verandas are cooled by the ever-present trade winds that drift across the golf course.

located just a 100m walk away from a 4km stretch of white sandy beach on Koh Samui should serve you well. Capture some of Thailand’s most spectacular views out towards the five islands while drowning in stunning sunsets almost every evening. The 320 sqms villa is built to a high standard in a contemporary indoor/outdoor living style and features a large swimming pool and spacious landscaped garden. This villa is ideally suited to those looking for a holiday home within easy distance of the beach that will also provide great rental returns as an investment property.

Say sawa dee to Jeremy Briggs at www.exotiqproperty.com

Giddy up and contact Rachelle Starnes Properties of Distinction Real Estate Team

»

Exotic Fruit Farm, Cape Tribulation

»

»

Jolly Harbour Villa, Antigua and Barbuda

»

for the mobile miner

Live like a mountie (but perhaps lose the weird jodhpurs) on this phenomenal three acre estate in a park-like setting.

There is no other property of this stature within the City of Calgary. Features include over 6600 developed square feet in the beautiful ‘Timberock’ main residence, a quaint 108 sqms guest house and garages for ten vehicles. One of the most unique aspects of the property is the magical drive through the Valley Ridge golf course to arrive at the impressive iron entry gate. The property is elevated 40 feet above the Bow River and offers breath-taking views of the river, the Valley Ridge golf course and of the environmental reserve. The main residence features an incredible eight metre rock fireplace, Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring, a ‘Chef’s kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, an elevator, a main floor guest suite and a fabulous six diamond upper level master suite with a gigantic office, library, ensuite and dressing room. The quality of materials used to build this home are rare creating a bespoke offering.

Delightful? Contact Stanley’s Estate Agents in Antigua.

Multi-level Villa, Koh Samui Price: $840,000 Freehold Want to be more permanently loved up in the land of smiles? This well designed spacious three bedroom villa

Send your exotic dream property details and low resolution images to justin.carlos@shiftminer.com

Shift Miner Magazine

www.shiftminer.com

Money Matters

FROM $330,000

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Architecturally designed homes will be constructed on generously sized allotments and have access to lifestyle benefits that only seaside living can offer. Carlisle Waters Estate consists of 103 fully serviced allotments which are to be released in 4 stages with modern elegant affordable housing options.

Investors and families looking for an ocean-side slice of paradise will come to realise the charm and enormous potential of this location. The beach is approx a 3 minute walk, Whitsunday Coast Airport is approximately a 15 minute drive from Midge Point and recently underwent 9 million dollar upgrade. Call Terry now for more information. Furniture not included. . 103 LOTS AVAILABLE. FROM $330,000 . SIZES RANGING FROM 723m2 - 1142m2 . HOUSE & LAND PACKAGES AVAILABLE . 2 MINUTES TO TAVERN & SHOPS

25th August 2014

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