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Monday 27th September 96th Edition 2010

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Anglo offers miners cash to leave Moranbah homes ANGLO Coal is offering workers who live in Moranbah $20,000 if they leave their homes to make way for the next wave of staff that are critical to upcoming projects in the region.

The bombshell comes amidst a growing wave of community concern about the number of fly-in fly-out (FIFO) and drive-in drive-out (DIDO) workers in the Bowen Basin.

Former state MP Jim Pearce has been headhunted to take on a new union-sponsored role as an advocate for mining communities.

He says mining companies are increasingly pushing to have their workforce operate on a FIFO basis in Queensland. “The mining companies are saying, and I’ve heard them saying it in recent weeks, it’s what the workforce wants.� “Well I can tell you - and excuse me - but that’s bullshit,� Mr Pearce said.

The former Member for Fitzroy has told Shift Miner Magazine, that on top of families being offered money to leave Moranbah, there is also a long waiting list of people wanting to get in. “I have it on good authority that at Moranbah North mine, there are currently 40 employees on a waiting list to get into houses in town - that’s a two year wait.�

Shift Miner Magazine contacted Anglo Coal to speak directly with someone about the housing situation in Moranbah.

A spokeswoman said the company was not in a position to comment directly on the issue, but that it provided a range of accommodation options to meet the varying needs of our employees.

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News Do mining dollars stay here in CQ? Âť page 5 News Xstrata Rail on track for Queensland Âť page 5 News Moura pauses to remember 35 years since tragedy Âť page 6 Around Town Glamourous girls in the garden Âť page 12

Miners stop to remember Âť Â Page 7

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CONTENTS 96th EDITION. 2010

18

FROM THE EDITOR

19 TO THE TOP!

CAVING IN

LUSCIOUS LAMB

MINER’S TRADER

16

21

PEOPLE living in Bowen Basin towns are increasingly uneasy about the future of their communities, according to their new advocate Jim Pearce.

The former state MP is known for being a straight shooter.

It was no surprise then, when he dismissed mining companies claims that most miners want to fly-in and fly-out or drive-in drive-out of work as “bullshit�.

Mr Pearce is being sponsored by the CFMEU to help mining towns form community groups to more effectively lobby governments and mining companies.

At lot of the angst has arisen since BMA applied for its new Caval Ridge mine to operate entirely on a FIFO workforce.

It had previously agreed to house a third of its workers in nearby Moranbah.

People are concerned that FIFO will lead to central Queensland becoming

more and more like WA, where the money made in mining is spent outside the region where the minerals are mined and whole workforces live in camps.

The latest Commonwealth Bank statistics show about two-thirds of the money made in mining in CQ stays in the region.

But community leaders in the Bowen Basin argue that even that statistic can be misleading - because while it stays in CQ it is spent in the larger regional centres and not the smaller coal towns.

Jim Pearce is right - miners should be able to chose whether they live close to work in small towns with their families, or commute to work and stay at camps.

It’s hard to believe some coal companies are genuine about giving their workers that choice - when you hear reports about people being paid to leave, and no new plans for more housing in many of the towns in question.

Alex Graham

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Reduce heat to medium. Add Bowen Basin’s premier magazine onion, carrot, celery, mushroom INGREDIENTS:Proudly Audited by Phone: (07) 4921 4333 Fax: (07) 4922 6908 angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com Proudly Audited by and capsicum.

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Page 3 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

News

96th EDITION. 2010

$20,000 to leave your home, move to camp FROM PAGE 1

“We seek to align our available accommodation with the requirements of our employees,” she said.

Those comments served as ammunition for Mr Pearce.

“Well if that’s the case, why don’t they build some more houses in Moranbah, because clearly that is what people want,” he said.

The trigger for community anxiety about the increase in transient workers was BMA’s recent application with the state government to fly in its entire workforce at its new Caval Ridge mine at Moranbah.

It had previously committed to accommodate at least a third of its workers in town.

There is growing concern that should the government approve the request, it would set a precedent for the 16 other mining projects that are on the cards for central Queensland.

Mr Pearce said workers should have a choice about whether they want to live with their families in a nearby town, or drive/fly in and out of work.

“There is a move to have mine workers 100 per cent fly-in fly-out that means there is no opportunity for a person to take his family to live in Moranbah or anywhere else,” he said.

“The community doesn’t benefit from it.”

“We have a lot of communities really struggling at the moment, small business, you’d think they’d be making heaps of money, but they’re not because the people who live in single person quarters simply don’t shop in the town.”

A former coal miner himself, Mr Pearce said in the 30 years he’s been involved in the industry he’s never felt such strong community resistance.

“What people are saying to me is that they have had a bloody gutful, to be quite honest, with the way they have been treated by the mining companies.”

“It’s the attitude of the coal companies and the will of the coal companies we need to change.”

He said aside from FIFO, people in mining communities were also concerned about the availability of housing, the cost of housing and job opportunities for young people.

In his new role, Mr Pearce will help mining communities form committees to more effectively lobby governments and mining companies.

Over the next few months he will travel across the Bowen Basin, visiting towns like Collinsville, Dysart, Blackwater, Tieri and Moura.

He said there might be common concerns where towns choose to come together and fight on issues, and he’s already met a lot of people ready to stand up for their communities.

Most of them are women.

“They are the mums, the housewives, the partners, the small business people...in Moranbah the other night I saw four women sitting at the table and they’re not going to take any mucking around, they are going to get results for their community,” Mr Pearce said.

Mr Pearce disregarded his Labor roots to praise former conservative Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s policy of forcing mining companies to build houses for their workers back in the 1970s.

“What’s happened since then is that we’ve softened and let the mining companies actually run the agenda.”

“And with mining companies running the agenda they are about cutting cost and drive-in drive-out fly-in fly-out is a lot

cheaper than building housing.”

Mr Pearce says single person quarters have a role to play, but they shouldn’t be the only option for workers.

“I slept in one for three nights out in Blackwater - it was a 10 by 10.”

“It’s great for one night’s sleep, but gee you get to know yourself pretty well after a couple of days sleeping in accommodation like that.”

The Queensland Resources Council chief executive, Michael Roche, has welcomed Mr Pearce’s appointment.

But he said it was wrong to suggest mining companies don’t support central Queensland communities.

Recent statistics released by the QRC, showed mining companies spent $390 million on goods and services, wages and community support in Moranbah over the past 12 months.

In Dysart the figure was $146 million, and $178 million in Middlemount.

Text us your thoughts on 0428 154 653

“Well if that’s the case, why don’t they build some more houses in Moranbah, because clearly that is what people want.”

Mine researchers go into rehab IF you were expecting an Amy Winehousestyle mining scandal, we may have mislead you with our headline.

But the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) is offering two postgraduate scholarships worth up to $35,000 per annum to support research into coal mine site rehabilitation.

The Coal Minesite Rehabilitation Trust Fund was set up 12 years ago with industry funding, and supports Queensland university students whose research is aimed at improving the environmental management of coal mine sites.

One recipient Jaclyn Chan is about to present at a conference in France about her research into measuring rehabilitation success through organic carbon qualities in soils.

Page 4 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

Another fellow University of Queensland student Janina Beyer is shedding light on the impact of saline mine water discharge on aquatic ecosystems in the Bowen Basin.

QRC Chief Executive Michael Roche said the research was vital to minimise longterm impacts on mining land.

“If managed properly the land can be used after the completion of mining for farming, forestry and development,” he said.

“The research conducted by these postgraduate students is making significant contributions to sustainable land management.”

Interested students can view application information at www.qrc.org.au; applications must be received by 26 November.

News

96th EDITION. 2010

Mining boom riches shared in CQ THE mining boom is pushing wages in central Queensland to staggeringly high levels, and most of that wealth is being retained in the region.

The Commonwealth Bank’s Viewpoint survey is a quarterly snapshot of the resources industry, that uses the bank’s own salary deposit data and other customer information.

It found wages in Gladstone are now 26 per cent above the national average.

But what makes central Queensland different to remote mining locations in Western Australia, is much more of that money is being spent locally.

“In the fly in fly out projects in remote WA most of that spending is happening elsewhere in places like Perth and Adelaide,” said Commonwealth Bank chief economist Michael Blythe.

In fact, while 78 per cent of the wages that are earned in remote WA are spent elsewhere, 61 per cent of mining incomes in Central Queensland are being spent in the region.

“I think central Queensland is different

because it does have a more diverse economic base, therefore a larger proportion of the gains are retained locally,” Mr Blythe said.

But the chair of the Moranbah Action Group, Kelly Vea Vea, said the money isn’t being spent in the smaller coal towns, but the larger regional centres like Mackay and Gladstone.

“For example, the butcher in Moura had his worst year in 25 years and we’re in the middle of a mining boom,” she said.

“That’s because the transient workforce doesn’t support local businesses.”

“They don’t do it out of spite, they just don’t need to go into town when everything is provided in the mining camps.”

“I met a man the other day who had been working in the area for four years, and never even come into Moranbah.”

The cost of living in mining areas is the big downfall to hefty pay packets.

“It’s all swings and roundabouts I guess, in mining the work is often difficult and you can have to live in unpleasant or remote locations, and those factors tend to push up

FAST NEWS No bow tie finish The Fisherman’s landing LNG plant at Gladstone remains without a gas supplier, with discussions between Bow Energy and LNG Limited now formally over.

Talks began earlier this year, when LNG Ltd’s potential deal with Arrow Energy was derailed when it was bought out by Shell.

LNG Ltd is now continuing discussions with other suppliers, and won’t re-start construction at the site until a deal is finalised. .....................................................................

Machinery imports up

the cost of living, in particular housing and groceries,” said Mr Blythe.

The boom has fuelled unbelievable

Continued PAGE 23 >

Xstrata on track for Qld trains XSTRATA says it’s only a matter of time before its rail network extends into central Queensland.

Last week, the Swiss-owned giant launched its new fleet of trains to haul coal from its Hunter Valley mines to Newcastle starting next year.

It’s the first mining company on the east coast to run its own trains, which are capable of hauling 12 million tonnes of coal.

Xstrata’s chief executive Peter Freyberg said the company would consider using its own trains for the massive Wandoan project in the Surat Basin.

A final decision on that project is expected late next year.

Mr Freyberg said the bottlenecks that drove the company to set up Xstrata Rail in the Hunter, are also problematic in Queensland.

“The opportunity also exists in Queensland where logistic systems have also failed

the industry and where we’ve yet to see the same industry-wide solutions being applied to the problem,” he said.

It’s a potential blow for the sale of QR National, with any competition expected to eat into its potential growth - or that of its other rival Pacific National.

“The opportunity also exists in Queensland where logistic systems have also failed the industry...”

Mining trucks and excavator purchases continue to underpin steady growth in imports of heavy machinery into Australia.

During August, shipping agency Skelton Sherborne said the number of machines entering the country increased by seven per cent, and their total value increased six per cent when compared to July.

There were 120 dump trucks and 106 excavators (greater than 12 tonne) and draglines imported - mostly destined for the mining sector. .....................................................................

Chinese money in Surat The Chinese will develop yet another coal deposit in central Queensland, this time in the Surat Basin.

The China Coal Import and Export Company has entered into an unconditional joint venture agreement (JVA) with MetroCoal to develop a largely unverified coal deposit, north of Miles.

The Chinese will get a 51 per cent stake in the MetroCoal deposit, but in return will have to spend $30 million on developing the tenement.

The deal is quite a leap of faith for Chinese investors because there has been little exploration work on the tenement, and the quantity and quality of the deposit is still largely unknown.

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Page 5 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

News

96th EDITION. 2010

Moura’s men remembered 35 years on

different groups of the community and strengthens the bonds.”

For John Brady, who was involved with the 1986 rescue operation for Moura No.4, it is an anniversary he remembers all too vividly every year, even in retirement.

The Mine Managers Association of Australia (MMA) recently presented Mr Brady with an award to recognise his achievements in the industry, in particular his success in installing gas monitors in mine sites after the No. 4 disaster.

“I was the mines inspector at Moura No. 4 when it blew up and spending two weeks down the mine after the tragedy, it provided the motivator for me to try and make the industry better,” he said.

“I had to call off the rescue attempt,

- By Nicky Way

A rare photo that shows the full force of the Kianga explosion

ALL entries to Kianga No. 1 underground finally covered - 9.00pm, 22 September 1975.

That is the final chilling entry in the Warden’s Inquiry report, in the first of what was to be three mine tragedies at Moura in the Bowen Basin.

Last week, the town paused to remember 35 years since the Kianga No. 1 mine explosion, which killed 13 men.

Nine years later, the town was rocked by a second tragedy; with 12 miners dying in an explosion at the Moura No. 4 mine.

The final chapter in the town’s traumatic history came in 1994 when another 11 miners were killed after another explosion at the Moura No. 2 mine.

Banana Shire deputy mayor, Maureen Clancy, believes the disasters have taught the community to look to the future.

“I believe the way we, as a community, can pay our respects to those who have been lost in the disasters is by moving forward.”

“The anniversary brings together the

that’s a shocking decision to have to make, you’re condemning people to death and I still have nightmares about it.”

Mr Brady said the disaster put him on a personal quest to improve mine safety, that’s why he set up his own training service Jon Cris Sentinel.

“Tragedies provided the driving force for me to enter the training industry.”

“I did the investigation into that disaster and I wrote the report, from that came the introduction of gas chromatographs.”

Mr Brady then fought, alongside Ron McKenna, to have gas monitors on all mine sites.

“Kianga was devastating, the aftermath, all the rescue team could do was stand on the surface and look - you couldn’t get near it,” he said.

Mr Brady said gas monitoring systems have come a long way since then.

INDUSTRY STALWART: “They [gas monitors] give us ample time John Brady, pictured with to withdraw the men, the monitoring is his wife Christine, has much improved.” been honoured for his In retirement, Mr Brady still does the contribution to mining odd bit of mentoring, but is also content to sit on his back verandah with his horses.

Have you registeredHis yet for the 43 years of experience has taught him one crucial thing: Have Have you registered yet for the “You canfor replace you registered yet themines and you can replace equipment but you can’t replace a life.”

GOLDING INDUSTRY CONFERENCE GOLDING CONFERENCE TextCONFERENCE us your thoughts on 0428 154 653 GOLDING INDUSTRY 13th INDUSTRY - 14th October 2010 13th - 14th October 13th October 2010 Less than 4- 14th weeks to2010 go..........

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Dear Colleague It is with the greatest Dear Colleague Dear Colleague pleasure that we announce the Honourable It is with the greatest pleasure that announce thethe Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe MP, Minister for we Infrastructure and Planning, Keynote It is with the greatest pleasure that we announce Honourable Stirling at Hinchliffe MP, Golding Minister for Infrastructure andand Planning, Speaker this Hinchliffe years Industry Conference 2010 inKeynote Gladstone.

Stirling MP, Minister for Infrastructure Planning, Keynote

SpeakerSpeaker at this years Industry Conference 2010 in in Gladstone. at this Golding years Golding Industry Conference 2010 Gladstone.

Hear industry leaders with the latest on these key Queensland mining, industry, energy thewith latest these key Queensland mining, industry, energy andHear keyindustry infrastructure projects: Hearleaders industrywith leaders theon latest on these key Queensland mining, industry, energy and key infrastructure projects: and key infrastructure projects:

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Mr Andrew Hocking, Operations Manager - Open Cut yet for the Mr Andrew Hocking, Operations Manager - Open CutCut Mr Andrew Hocking, Operations Manager - Open Aquila Resources, Washpool Coal Project

Aquila Resources, Washpool Coal Project Aquila Davies, Resources, Washpool Coal Project Supply Chain Ms Margaret Regional Manager Ms Margaret Davies, Regional Manager Supply Chain Ms Margaret Davies, Regional Manager Supply Chain Anglo American in the Bowen Basin Anglo American in the Bowen Basin Anglo American in the Bowen Basin Mr Ross Johnson, Acting Project Manager, Boulder Steel Mr RossMr Johnson, ActingActing Project Manager, Boulder Steel Ross Johnson, Project Manager, Boulder Steel Mr Danny O’Dell, Gladstone Site Manager Mr Danny Gladstone Site Manager MrO’Dell, Danny O’Dell, Gladstone Site Manager Australia Pacific LNG Downstream ConocoPhillips Australia Australia Pacific LNG Downstream ConocoPhillips Pacific LNG Downstream ConocoPhillips Mr Anderson, Gladstone Site Manager Mr Chris ChrisMr Anderson, Gladstone Site Manager Chris Anderson, Gladstone Site Manager Qld Energy Resources (Shale Oil) Qld Energy (Shale(Shale Oil) Oil) QldResources Energy Resources Mr Brophy, General Manager Project Development Mr Gerry GerryMr Brophy, General Manager Project Development Gerry Brophy, General Manager Project Development Wiggins IslandCoal Coal Export Terminal, Gladstone Wiggins Island Export Terminal, Gladstone Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal, Gladstone Mr Stuart, Group Manager—Major Projects Mr Bob Bob Stuart, Manager—Major Projects Mr Bob Group Stuart, Group Manager—Major Projects QR Coal Freight QR National National Coal Freight QR National Coal Freight

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Proudly presented by: Proudly presented by: Dear Colleague Proudly presented by: It is with the greatest pleasure that we announce the Honourable For further information call...

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For further information the GEA office Gladstone thein GEA office in Gladstone Stirling Hinchliffe MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Dear Colleague the Keynote GEA office in Gladstone 9060 or email (07) 4972 9060 or email (07) (07) 49724972 9060 or email Speaker at this yearsgreatest Golding Industrypleasure Conference 2010 that in Gladstone. events@gea.asn.au events@gea.asn.au events@gea.asn.au It is with the we announce the

Honourable RegistrationRegistration form attached: form attached: Stirling MP, Infrastructure and Planning, Keynote Registration form attached: Hear industryHinchliffe leaders with the latest on these keyMinister Queensland mining,for industry, energy Fax your registration to Fax your registration to Fax your registration to (07) 4972 4020 (07) 4972 4020 and key infrastructure projects: years Golding Industry Conference 2010 in Gladstone.

Speaker at this (07) 4972 4020 Mr Andrew Hocking, Operations Manager - Open Cut

Page 6 industry - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010on these key Queensland mining, industry, energy Aquila Resources, Washpool Coal Hear leaders with theProject latest Ms Margaret Davies, Regional Manager Supply Chain and key infrastructure projects:

News

96th EDITION. 2010

Tales of loss and survival at memorial day - By Nicky Way

WHAT THE DAY MEANS TO YOU: “You come back to pay your respects, hopefully we can do more to remind people about it, how we’ve got to be always be vigilant to stop these things and improve.”

Billie Allison, retired miner “It’s like another level of Anzac Day it’s a day of paying your respects. My husband and son are both in the industry. Knowing they go out to work everyday, it brings it back to you.”

Kathie Bush, mother and wife “Making sure that at the end of the day their memories are not forgotten and making sure that legislation is improved so that other families don’t have to go through what these families have.”

Steve Pearce, CFMEU “I’ve lost a lot of friends at the three Moura disasters. I knew a lot of people in the Blackwater field. I’ve been in the industry 30-odd years and it’s the least I can do to pay my respects to those people.”

John Hempseed, AMWU Moura mine “The day is a chance to reflect over more than 1400 people who have died in the industry... it’s a chance to reflect on safety standards for the industry.”

Stewart Bell, Mine Safety & Health Commissioner

REMEMBERING FRIENDS: The Miners Memorial Day was held in Blackwater this year

ly as a couple of weeks ago and a chance to reflect on the safety standards for the industry.”

“We have a lot of knowledge in the industry and one of the ways that we can counteract inexperience of new starters in the industry is through mentoring and training,” he said.

The Commissioner said a formal mentoring scheme for the industry was some-

Retire

thing that was a possibility.

Billie Allison has one wish when next year’s memorial day rolls around.

“Every year we’ve had it, there’s been another fatality,” “I’m hoping that next year there’s been none - that there hasn’t been one fatality that would make me really happy.”

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those left behind remember their loved ones had not died in vain, and the industry had learnt valuable lessons out of tragedies.

Former mine deputy Billie Allison knows first hand what it’s like to live through a mine disaster.

“I was involved with Kianga and the two Moura disasters as well as many of the fatalities here at Blackwater,” he said.

“I’ve lost friends in every one of these incidents, people I knew.”

Mr Allison retired from the industry 11 years ago, but the memories are still clear.

“You come back to pay your respects, hopefully we can do more to remind people about it, how we’ve got to be always be vigilant to stop these things and improve.”

Denise Marsh was another with a story to tell at the service.

Her father, who only passed away three years ago, had a narrow escape 50 years earlier when he was pulled out alive from the Collinsville mine disaster.

“I remember our neighbour standing at the fence very pregnant, when we were kids you’d hear the whistle go for crib but it sounded I think, twice for a disaster and three times it was a fatality and I just remember all the women screaming,” Ms Marsh recalled.

“Mum took us out to the mine site I was only four years old and watching the conveyor come up and, you know, as children we should never have been there for that sort of thing, but that’s what you did then, you were in a mining town.”

“I remember this man came up on the conveyor belt and it was dad and he was clinically dead, they had to revive him, he was one of only two who survived.”

Ms Marsh says there have been many improvements in the industry since that tragedy back in 1954.

The Commissioner for Mine Safety and Health, Stewart Bell, said he hoped the memorial day meant more workers made it home safely, by focussing on a zero harm policy.

“The day is a chance to reflect over more than 1400 people who died in the industry, including one in the Bowen Basin as recent-

QBSA LIC NO. 1083367

SUNDAY 19th September was a day for telling stories, personal stories.

At Blackwater, hundreds of miners and their family, friends and industry representatives, gathered to pay their respects to those who have lost their lives going to work.

The Miners Memorial Day is held on the anniversary of Queensland’s worst mining disaster at Mt Mulligan in far north Queensland back in 1921.

Those at the service told stories of loss and survival - all served as a reminder to be ever vigilant in such a dangerous industry.

Most importantly, the stories helped

Page 7 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

TIME TO VOTE FOR Shift

Bachelor &

Just find your favourite, and follow the prompts to text in your vote. You can vote once in both categories

Always put your pants on one leg at a time To vote for Ty text 8939 to 0412 055 255

Exploration Drilling, operations manager My signature dish is: Lightly seared scallops on a mixed leaf salad, with dates and finely chopped Nashi, drizzled with a coriander, lime and ginger fish sauce To vote for Harley text 8935 to 0412 055 255

Jaime Ward, 27

Rolleston mine, operator The best advice I’ve ever been given is: Don’t speed, wear sunscreen, be good to ya mother - lol

Scott Davies, 28 Operator, Norwich Park

My life is best described in the song: “Live Wire” - ACDC To vote for Scott text 8937 to 0412 055 255

Michel Maifredi, 29

To vote for Jaime text 8933 to 0412 055 255

Lake Vermont If I could have any animal as a pet I would choose (and why): Tiger - no-one’s got one!

To vote for Michel text 8940 to 0412 055 255

Glen Finning, 27,

BMA Blackwater, machine operator If I could invite three people to dinner they would be (and why): Dean Merlo - owner of Merlo coffee, Bruce Willis - my hero, and Julia Gillard - legend redhead, our hottest P.M ever!

To vote for Glen text 8930 to 0412 055 255

Brian Puckey, 26

Yongala ESS, assistant manager If I could have any animal as a pet I would choose (and why): A Dingo – because they are like me!

Very loyal and just a bit wild...

To vote for Brian text 8936 to 0412 055 255

Josh Burns, 19

Apprentice electrician, Cap Coal When I’m not at work you’ll find me: Hitting the clubs with Dreamboat or mixing the dough at Eagle Boys To vote for Josh text 8938 to 0412 055 255

Mark Di Ruggiero, 36 Production worker

Matt Lawless, 21

Abbot Point Coal Terminal, electrician What are two topics that should be off limits on a first date: Ex boyfriends/girlfriend and politics

Dirk Irsch, 45

North Goonyella, underground miner My life is best described in the song: “My Way” - by Frank Sinatra.

To vote for Matt text 8931 to 0412 055 255

To vote for Dirk text 8929 to 0412 055 255

Jay Beattie, 23

Matthew Goldman, 26

If I didn’t work in mining or industry I would be a: Farmer... then I could enter another comp known as...

The farmer wants a wife!

To vote for Mark text 8941 to 0412 055 255

Daniel Brunner, 23 Clermont Coal My best attribute is: Being a lover not a fighter

To vote for Daniel text 8934 to 0412 055 255

Ty Moore, 30

Technical representative, Nobles The best advice I’ve ever been given is:

Millennium mine, shotfirer If I didn’t work in mining or industry I would be a: Try to go pro for surfing and/or buy a cafe To vote for Jay text 8932 to 0412 055 255

Harley Weston, 26

Middlemount mine, Diesel fitter My friends say I am: A rascal and I can’t keep out of mischief

To vote for Matthew text 8928 to 0412 055 255

THE TWO LUCKY WINNERS WILL RECEIVE: SHIFT MINER’S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR - Summit Apartments & Fantasea Cruising Award* · 3 nights for up to 4 people in a 2 Bedroom Luxury Ocean View Apartment at Summit Apartments Airlie Beach

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· Chocolates and Australian Sparkling wine on arrival · 2 pm late check out to sleep in and spoil yourself

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· 3 nights for up to 4 people in a 2 Bedroom Luxury Ocean View Apartment at Summit Apartments Airlie Beach · 2 pm late check out to sleep in and spoil yourself

PLUS - 2 Island Whitehaven Beach Trip for 4 people with Fantasea Cruising

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PLUS - $500 spending money thanks to Steve Taylor & Partners

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CALL 07 4921 4333 WWW.SHIFTMINER.COM Page 8 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

Shift Miner’s Most Eligible Bachelor & Bachelorette is proudly sponsored by:

Miner’s Most Eligible

Bachelorette

- Most Eligible Bachelor & Most Eligible Bachelorette. Our readers’ final six will be revealed next month for the final vote!

The best advice I’ve ever been given is: Don’t ask anyone to do what you can’t do yourself

My perfect date would be: Nothing too flash.. keep it simple. As long as it’s me and my date I am happy

To vote for Allan text 8925 to 0412 055 255

To vote for Oliviah text 8915 to 0412 055 255

Carborough Downs, laboratory rat The best advice I’ve ever been given is: My dad told me as a kid: “Don’t eat yellow snow” (I was brought up in a cold climate - love Qld!) To vote for Karen text 8908 to 0412 055 255

Nicole Murray, 27

Brodie Hock, 26

Ensham mine, serviceman for HSE Mining When I’m not at work you’ll find me: At the gym, riding my horses, roping or enjoying a drink at the pub with my friends

MICOMM (Mining and Industry Communications) What are two topics that should be off limits on a first date: Religion and politics

Noela Burke, 46

Train driver, QR National Bluff

To vote for Brodie text 8926 to 0412 055 255

My best attribute is: Long legs [ I am 6ft tall ]

Stacey Taylor, 26

To vote for Noela text 8909 to 0412 055 255

My perfect date would be: Anything romantic and a surprise that the guy has put some thought into about what I like (picnic dinner on a beach somewhere)

To vote for Nicole text 8911 to 0412 055 255

Saraji mine, multi-skilled operator

Bri Mouat, 22

Ensham, mine operator If I didn’t work in mining or industry I would be a: Either in the circus or a Olympic gymnast

To vote for Stacey text 8912 to 0412 055 255

To vote for Brianna text 8907 to 0412 055 255

Amanda Hall, 28

James Wagner, 20 Dawson Central mine

Ensham mine, ESS

Deb Fisher, 40

My best attribute is: Mum’s good looks

If I could invite three people to dinner they would be (and why): My breaky chef to cook for me hahaha, and umm when I have a dinner party I’ll let you know who the other two are - could be you, you never know...

Callide mine, plant operator

To vote for James text 8927 to 0412 055 255

My friends say I am: Straight down the line, fun to be around and reliable To vote for Deb text 8913 to 0412 055 255

To vote for Amanda text 8910 to 0412 055 255

Diana Barnes, 25 Environment & Community Officer, Glenden mine

Allan McDonald (aka PODGE), 36 HSE Mining, Ensham

Oliviah Thelan, 22

Nicole Sempf, 27

Train Driver for QR National at Bluff

My friends say I am: Lively, adventurous, loves the outdoors and all types of environments, caring, respectful, loves to laugh and have fun, very very loyal and loves to dance

Goldings contractor, BMA Blackwater

To vote for Diana text 8914 to 0412 055 255

My signature dish is: Old-fashioned potato bake for a BBQ To vote for Nicole text 8906 to 0412 055 255

Karen Hurt, 49

HARLEY NOW OR IN THE FUTURE? Bert’s been mining for 20 years.

19 years ago he sold his beloved Harley to start investing for the future.

He took money to Steve Taylor and Partners in Emerald.

TODAY HE HAS 6 HOUSES, NO DEBTS - AND A HARLEY What’s your future going to be like?

Call Steve Taylor on 0749807733 or google “Steve Taylor”

Page 9 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

News

96th EDITION. 2010

Government’s gas target behind record exploration spend A RECORD $917.1 million in exploration expenditure was invested in Queensland’s mining and petroleum industries during 2009-10.

The Mines Minister Stephen Robertson said the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the government’s incentive schemes for exploration have paid off.

“This record $917.1 million investment in Queensland represents a massive 43 per cent increase on the 2008-09 figures of $639.9 million,” he said.

“Exploration expenditure in the minerals sector (including coal) increased 24 per cent from $351.7 million in 2008-09 to $436.6 million.”

“At the same time, investment in petroleum and gas exploration jumped 66 per cent from $288.2 million in 2008-09 to $480.5 million.”

Much of that activity centred around coal seam gas, and the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) chief executive, Belinda Rob-

inson, said given the scale of some LNG projects the record spend isn’t surprising.

“The Queensland government is due a considerable amount of credit in facilitating the LNG and CSG industry,” Ms Robinson said.

“If there is one single policy that has led to the development of the industry is was the 13 per cent gas target for electricity providers.”

That target was introduced five years ago, and meant 13 per cent of the state’s electricity had to come from gas-fired power stations; this year the level has been raised to 15 per cent.

“That’s what got companies exploring, that’s what led to the identification of these enormous reserves of gas, which in turn has led to the ability to generate an enormous industry,” Ms Robinson said.

“There is no doubt that it was that policy initiative that has resulted in the industry being where it is today.”

The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) CEO, Simon Bennison, said the figures reflect a rebound from the global financial crisis (GFC).

“The GFC put an enormous dent in expenditure, and we are now starting to see some of those companies who had some finances in reserve get back into the field and continue their work,” he said.

The Minister said the state government would continue to fund a range of programs designed to encourage exploration in Queensland.

“Exploration expenditure in Queensland during the life of these programs increased

from $244 million in 2004 to the present $917 million,” Mr Robertson said.

“That well and truly delivers on our 2006 election commitment to double exploration expenditure to $540 million by 2009.”

But Mr Bennison said, nationally, Australia has a lot of ground to recover.

“We still have a long way to go to be where we used to be,” he said.

“A decade ago, 24 per cent of the world’s total exploration expenditure was spent in Australia.”

“We have been down as low as 13 to 14 per cent, and we are still at the very low end of the scale.”

“If there is one single policy that has led to the development of the industry is was the 13 per cent gas target for electricity providers.”

Top rescue teams off to national titles CQ’S top mines rescue teams are gearing up to compete in the national competition next month.

Teams from Xstrata Coal’s Oaky No.1, Anglo Coal’s Grasstree, and BMA’s Broadmeadow and Rio Tinto’s Kestrel mines are on their way to the Australian Mines Rescue Competition (AMRC) after their success at the EK Healy Cup earlier this month.

The teams placed first, second, third and fourth respectively at the competition at Vale’s Carborough Downs mine.

This was the second heat of the annual competition that kicks off with the Memorial Cup and wraps up with the national titles.

“The EK Healy Cup pits the four winning teams from the 2009 cup against the top four teams from 2010,” Mr Creighton said.

The EK Healy Cup consists of a range of underground mine emergency procedures including recovery, first aid and fire fighting.

“There is also an international comp and last year’s Australian winner - BMA’s Crinum mine team - will head to Wollongong in November to take part in that,” MR Creighton said.

“We work to give the best emergency service we can provide and these competitions that involve mine site mines rescue teams is part of that,” Mr Creighton said.

Daryl Watson Engineering

OAKY’S NUMBER ONE: The Xstrata boys won the EK Healy Cup and are off to the nationals

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Page 10 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

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Page 11 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

around town 96th EDITION. 2010

A BLOOMIN’ DELIGHT

Moranbah East State School’s much loved Garden Party fundraiser was once again a successful afternoon. More than 300 Moranbah belles enjoyed a day out, and a huge thanks goes to Melissa Geddes for all her hard work to organise the event.

Looking stunning is Karlie Cummings

Amanda Lewis, Tina Faulkner, Pauline Curtis, Jo Guyton, Anita Moore and Michelle Collier

Maria Whitney, Tracey Passfield, Sonja Davidson, Julie Donnelly, Charlotte Witson and Lisa Lunck

Shanell Todd-Jackson with this year’s best dressed winner Katy Bowden

Nicole Rikards, Jayne Snowden, Cherie Stenbeck, Natasha Harvey, Amy Burke, Camille Bell, Katrina Benjamin and Kristy Worth

Amy Burke and Natasha Harvey enjoying their first Garden Party

Queen of hearts is Danielle Bennett with Diane Ruge

Enjoying champagne is Caz Hanks and Deddie Bulmer

Tanya Szepanowski, Kelly Watkins and Jill Foggit looking wonderful

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.

Workplace & Motor Vehicle Accidents Medical Negligence & Asbestos Claims Local call 4972 7567 Page 12 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

trilbymisso.com.au

TM0265

Local Contact John Golinelli - Old Court House Building, 16 Yarroon Street, Gladstone QLD 4680

around town 96th EDITION. 2010

TINY DANCERS Family, friends and students enjoyed the wonderful talent of Moranbah’s Magic of Dance students at a concert recently.

Sisters Miriam and Suzannah Elliott Haynes

RODEO STAR

Demi and Cindy Reck with Andrea Rapson enjoyed the concert

Dance student Maggie Simmons is just 4 years old!

Cousins Casey Knox and Kyah Szepanowski performed at the show

Mia Stenbeck is 5 years old but loves to dance

All the bucking bull action headed to Blackwater last Saturday for the rodeo.

BUY THIS AND MANY OTHER IMAGES AT

www.shiftminer.com Shift Miner magazine – bringing the mining community closer together Page 13 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

stuff to the editor 96th EDITION. 2010

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If LNG gets off the ground you watch the poaching that goes one in CQ. Blokes will only just get to know someone at work and they’ll up and leave for a better job! T.R, Emerald

Mark, Emerald

My mate is in WA and he earns more as a fitter there than he did here. But you couldn’t pay me to move there.

Locking up prime agricultural land from mining and development has got up the goat of one reader:

F.T, Mackay

At least in Qld you can be close to family and the coast and still earn the big bucks. You can’t do that in WA. Mick,

Bloody whinging farmers. They don’t like when they can’t clear trees or land is locked up for conservation. But they want to lock up their own farms from anyone else - no matter how many jobs it could create. D.T, Rockhampton

Mackay Our article on poaching skilled workers from the mines for coastal construction jobs wasn’t news for some:

SEEN SOMETHING WE HAVEN’T?

And Frank the Tank’s readership grows stronger every edition:

Of course they are gunna want mining boys to work in construction, there’s not enough to go around. It means work on the coast too, not in the middle of nowhere. I know where I’d rather be. Gary, Gladstone

Frank, we’re having a party on the weekend you should come. We might even go streaking past the gymnasium. Everybody’s doing it Frank! Paul, Rocky

PRIZES FOR THE BEST MINING PHOTOS. TAKE IT ON YOUR PHONE OR CAMERA AND SEND IT IN

Got something to share?

Text to 0428 154 653 Email shift.miner@gmail.com

Send us your text messages or phone photos to 0428 154 653 Or email to shift.miner@gmail.com 1

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Page 14 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

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ACROSS 1. Attacks 5. London’s Trafalgar ...

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

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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THE GOOD VIBE 96th EDITION. 2010

THE GOOD VIBE

Do you love living and working in CQ? We want to hear about the events that makes your community special. Just email us at alex.graham@shiftminer.com and let us know what’s going on in your neighbourhood. We’d love to hear from you.

Paul & Terry Merrifield pressing a bale of wool using the original Gordon Downs Ferrier wool press

Frank the Tank’s

“Streakin” good love advice Dear Frank, My friend has asked me to be the best man at his wedding and I’m a quite nervous as this means giving a speech. I’ve never been a very good public speaker, so I was wondering if you could give me some tips on what to say to make sure I don’t make an idiot of myself.

Richo, Mackay

Under arm or over arm - your choice at the World Dingo Trap Throwing championships

Richo my friend, In writing to me you have tapped into one of the long neglected reservoirs of speech writing brilliance on the planet.

I’m sure it comes as no surprise that I am considered one of Australia’s finest public speakers. My powers of persuasive speech are well known in gentlemen’s clubs throughout the country, and quite possibly the world. It’s a matter of considerable controversy, but it was in fact me who convinced now ex-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to attend that New York strip club. Seeing his glasses thrown from his face in a drunken frenzy of breasts and one dollar bills is still one of my fondest memories, but back to the question at hand.

There are a number of things you can do to increase your confidence and make yourself a better public speaker.

Now, a lot of so-called ‘experts’ will recommend dull techniques such as prac-

Sensible Susan The original shearers’ quarters

As usual, Richo, I really do recommend ignoring everything that Frank just suggested. Those ‘boring techniques’ he mentioned are actually really good ways to make yourself a more confident public speaker.

Write your speech a few weeks before-

tise, palm cards, and actually writing your speech beforehand. This is what I will provisionally refer to as bunk, that is, nonsense designed to sell self-help books to chumps. If you really want to increase your confidence you need one thing, and one thing only – alcohol.

As soon as you arrive at the wedding reception start drinking beer like they’re going to stop making it, and in no time you’ll have the confidence to say and do anything. I recall many years ago I employed the same technique at what I thought was a wedding. I arrived at the venue and went straight to the bar to ‘prepare’ for my speech. After about two dozen refreshments the creative juices were well and truly flowing and I could keep my audience waiting no longer.

I thought I’d begin with a joke and provide the groom with a little gentle ribbing. I made a number of references to having in fact spent the night before the wedding with his blushing bride, and that she was only marrying him because I was unavailable, all in good humour, of course.

Following several minutes of self-proclaimed comedy gold I was met with what I assumed was a wave of hysterical laughter, in this instance, I was quite wrong.

As it turns out I had just given one of the most inappropriate eulogies in recent memory. But every cloud has a silver lining - not one person was bored during my speech. If you get into trouble up there try to picture everyone in their underwear to relax yourself, that’s what I used to do at weddings, and on a number of occasions I got to compare imagination and reality with the bridesmaids after the ceremony.

Frank

hand and practise it in front of the mirror, that way you’ll feel more relaxed on the day. You’ll definitely be among friends at the wedding, and they aren’t going to crucify you if you lose your place or slip up, so just make sure you are prepared and give it your best shot.

If you are struggling to actually write your speech there are a number of great websites around these days that provide ‘best man speech examples’ I’d recommend checking some of those out if you are stuck for ideas.

Susan

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

Page 15 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

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Page 16 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

UTE FOR SALE 2005/06 Toyota Hi Lux Space Cab 3ltr Turbo, 33,000 ks, New Tyres,

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OFF SHIFT 96th EDITION. 2010

CQ boys could soon play for Reds THE clock ticked down, only two minutes remained, BMA were determined but Xstrata was victorious.

Xstrata Coal’s annual rugby union charity day grudge match, played in Tieri earlier this month, went right down to the wire.

Central Queensland Regional Development Manager Joel Johnston said Xstrata got home by two points despite a very committed BMA team.

They finished the game 26-24. “The coaching clinics in the morning were a great success with the U13 and U15 players learning a great deal from Qld Reds players Ben Lucas and Leroy Houston‌ it certainly set the day up well for the great matches in the afternoon,â€? Mr Johnston said.

In the representative match between CQ Outback Barbarians and Wide Bay, the

local side also came through 43-17.

Joining the Reds players was retired Wallaby legend Daniel Herbert who has played commentator at the match since its inception in 2008. “There were lots of notable performances but even more exciting were the performances of some of the Central Highlands players who played in the U17 match.� “There was some real talent on display there and I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of those kids end up in Reds jerseys in a few years time.�

Queensland Rugby state education manager David Hanham agreed. “You only had to look out on the field to see the talent and a lot of that comes from CQ,â€? “Getting CQ involved in the state comp is definitely a priority for us ‌ and the next five years are important to engage the region into the competition.â€?

GRUDGE MATCH: The Xstrata and BMA boys get together for the group shot - Xstrata were victorious at 26-24

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5 minute fiction

by Bernard S. Jansen

The Nose On Your Face

“Tell me about one of your weaknesses, or areas in need of personal development.�

Up to that point, Mick had felt the interview was going well. Now he was stopped cold. Now they wanted him to tell them why he wasn’t good enough for the job; give them a good reason not to take him on. Like that was going to happen.

He needed to stall for time. “Could you ask that question again?� he said.

The bald-headed bloke on the left ran through the question, while Mick kept thinking. He couldn’t answer this question in too much detail, or they wouldn’t want him. But if he said he had no weaknesses, they’d think he was arrogant, or that he didn’t know himself very well. Telling them he was a ‘perfectionist’ or that he ‘worked too hard’ would sound cheesier than a block of cheddar. Mick wished he’d prepared for this question; he’d heard from his mates that it came up in interviews. “That’s quite a difficult question,� said Mick slowly, still stalling. Then, in a flash of inspiration he added. “I think there are so many different ways I can improve, so many weaknesses to work on; it’s hard to pick just one.�

He hoped that sounded humble, and that it didn’t come across as a simple admission that he was generally defective.

The three boffins on the interview panel sat still, their pens ready to take notes. “Are you talking about something workrelated, or personal?� “Either is fine,� said the bald-headed bloke again. Mick checked his notepad, where he’d scrawled down their names.

The baldie’s name was Ralph. He repeated it in his head: Ralph, Ralph, Ralph.

Mick thought about his weaknesses.

The first that came to mind was singlemalt Scotch whiskey. He smiled; that probably wasn’t what they were looking for. “I’m really struggling to come up with something,� he admitted. “We can leave it for now and move on; come back to it later, if you like.� “No, thanks. I’ve got to answer this now. Otherwise, I’ll just keep thinking about it, in the back of my head.� “Yeah?�

“Yeah, it’s funny,� said Mick. “Some people can just put things into one corner of their brain and park them up, and start working on something else.

I need to deal with things, there and then, or I’ll be too distracted. I can’t sleep at night, unless everything’s cut and dried.�

The bald-headed bloke smiled, and said, “I’m that other kind of person you talked about. I can sleep no matter what’s going on at work, or at home. I had to leave some unresolved issues in the longwall to do this interview.

Life’s like that; sometimes you’ve got to just put things aside and deal with something else.� “So my wife keeps telling me,� said Mick. He sighed. “I do try. I suppose I’m better than I used to be.� He paused, and then added, “In fact, I know I am.�

Mick suddenly became self-conscious. “I’m just rambling on here,� he said, and rubbed his temples. “And I’ve got to answer this question. Weaknesses: let me see...�

Everyone on the interview panel smiled back at him. “Was it something I said?�

The bald-headed bloke said, “Have you heard the saying, ‘plain as the nose on your face?�

Mick felt himself blush. That was something his wife said to him; a lot. “H-how’d you know about that?� “You get that a bit?� “Sometimes...� “Well, that’s the second weakness you could talk about.�

Mick tried not to look too confused, but he wasn’t going to ask what he meant.

He struggled during the rest of the interview. He went home, convinced he’d flunked out.

He didn’t get to sleep that night until he finally worked out what the first weakness was.

He wasn’t surprised when, after he told his wife the story, she said, “But that’s as plain as...�

Mick stopped her. “Yes, I know. That’s my second area for development, apparently.�

Mick got a job offer later the next week, though he couldn’t understand why. He signed the contract, and before long, the bald-headed bloke was his new boss.

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

Page 17 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

OFF SHIFT 96th EDITION. 2010

Underground miner wants view from world’s highest peak

LUKE Richmond is currently working underground at BMA’s Crinum East mine in the Bowen Basin.

But when that longwall project wraps up in another couple of months, the 26-year-old plans to scale the world’s seven highest summits.

“I think there is something really enlightening about waking up in the mountains and feeling like it’s just you against the elements, it’s thrill-seeking I guess,” enthused Luke.

Luke will head from the Bowen Basin to the Cayman Islands, to begin an intense training regime for his once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

In the past he’s done some amateur climbs in Nepal and parts of Europe, but nothing as serious as this.

His build up fitness regime will include pack marching, underwater running with weights, and cold room endurance.

“You have to be capable of carrying 25 kilos while climbing at height, so if I can carry 40 kilos at sea level I should be able to handle it,” he said.

The first summit he will attempt is Argentina’s Aconcagua - an impressive 6962 metres above sea level and the highest mountain outside of Asia.

After scaling Aconcagua, he will then head to the Denali summit in Alaska and then on to Russia’s Elbrus peak.

After that, Luke concedes he will be back underground earning some more money to fund the next stage of his adventure, that will eventually see him climb Everest.

“I’ll be fully broke by then and will need to come back and get some more cash together!” Luke laughed.

On his first leg of the adventure, Luke will be raising awareness of the Central Asia Institute, an NGO that builds schools for girls remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He’s being sponsored by MineTech Services, Generations Health and Wellness Centre, Emerald’s Maraboon Tavern and the Emerald Coalfields Lodge.

If you’d like to help with sponsorship you can contact Luke on 0424 029 967.

“You have to be capable of carrying 25 kilos while climbing at height, so if I can carry 40 kilos at sea level I should be able to handle it.”

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Page 18 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

www.cruisewhitsundays.com

OFF SHIFT

To boldly go where no cave has gone before!

Back in August, former Shift Miner staffer Lincoln “Linx” Bertoli decided to ditch the comforts of a steady pay packet and go and live the dream. Lucky bugger. For the rest of us stuck working to earn our keep in this cruel world, Linx will now taunt us with a regular column in “Off Shift”. If you can’t be there yourself, you might as well live vicariously through someone else... and just hope something unfortunate happens to him out there on the open road...

ba in the heart of the Blue Mountains, the Jenolan Caves are the most well known – and possibly the most spectacular – cave system in our fair country.

Already boasting 11 show caves and the enviable moniker of the world’s oldest dated cave system (roughly 340 millions years at last count) Jenolan has also recently added another popular – albeit incredibly weird - string to its bow.

You might say it’s boldly going where no cave has gone before!

World class facilities at Jenolan attracts visitors from around the globe

IT probably never happened.

Indeed I know for a fact that it is logistically and financially impossible.

But I like to think at one time, every tour guide in Australia – nee the world - must have crossed paths; some mystical gathering of tourism dignitaries organised to discuss one thing and one thing only… jokes.

Call them one liners, knee slappers, gags, goofs or punch lines, every tour guide has one that they drop at an exact moment during his or her tour, and more often than not they get a giggle.

You see I know this, gentle reader, because I have worked as a tour guide, which leads me to this quaint little tale; full of intrigue, a little science fiction and a port-

The original golden arches some 340 million years in the making

ly tour guide named Jeff.

We had decided on a stop over at the world renowned Jenolan Caves long before we embarked on our Australian odyssey, and late last month those plans fell delightfully into place.

Located roughly an hour from Katoom-

As of the 22nd of August, powerfully nerdy tourists have been able to make the ‘trek’ through the caves, accompanied by the soothing sounds of the Klingon.

In a world first, audio accompaniments have been translated into the fictional Star Trek language for those who have given up on trying to woo the opposite sex!

(The link is through a spaceship, the USS Jenolan, which featured in an episode of the Next Generation series.)

With this utterly useless knowledge securely under our belt, we set forth on a tour of the ‘River Cave’; a two hour jour-

ney through the New South Wales underground.

As we wound our way through the various twists and turns, Jeff regaled us with standard tales of early cave tours, cave formations and the like.

But, as I alluded to earlier, it was when the lights dimmed and the darkness enveloped us that Jeff’s sense of humour came to the fore.

“You can only imagine what the first explorers went through when it’s pitch black like this!”

“Well it’s about now that we talk about tipping your guide,” he chuckled.

“No seriously I’m just going to finish my lunch and I’ll be back for you in a couple of hours hey?”

‘Oh Jeff, you scallywag’, I thought to myself, but low and behold, he had us eating out of the palm of his hand, particularly the very young and the very old members of our group.

With the brave and oh so witty Jeff lighting the way, onward we marched, past a bevy of cave formations with names like the Minaret, Grand Column and Mons Meg (which incidentally looks nothing like a huge medieval cannon, for those of you who know what I’m talking about).

Roughly two hours and 1298 steps later, Jeff informed us that we had reached the end of the line, but the ‘enchanting gift shop was open for further exploration’.

Another home run!

Surely the 2010 gathering of guides must be just around the corner!

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Page 19 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

OFF SHIFT 96th EDITION. 2010

Bait shop Banter YEPPOON Out wide, things have been fishing a bit slowly - but never fear - as there is stirring in the deeps and no one need go hungry according to John from Rosslyn Bay Fishermans Market.

There are still mac about, although not in obscene numbers, but their migratory track at the moment seems to be from Johnson Patch moving out to the Percy area.

Good red emperor and coral trout are fishing off the local reefs.

John says the quality is A grade and at around the 7kg mark you can have yourself a nice fat “lovely butter ball sized” beauty.

Closer in, there isn’t much in the way of beach whiting and mullet, but Corio Bay is fishing well and there are good macs coming out of Stanage Bay. A note of caution on the Corio Bay

front is that it is sanding up so keep potentially dangerous conditions in mind.

You can source blue salmon in the estuaries and king salmon out of the Fitzroy.

The commercial guys have given up on chasing crabs but for everyday fishermen there are opportunities around Stanage and Fitzroy.

Stanage Bay and Keppel Bay oysters are coming on and starting to be harvested.

John reckons that once the wet weather clears you can expect some voracious action and that everyone should be out and about to have a red hot bash.

GLADSTONE Phillip from Pat’s Tackle World says that while the wet weather may have put a dampener on your immediate fishing plans, if you can bear the wait a big wet like this one can only bode well for next year’s season.

The here and now is not just a sodden

Tide Times

Sep/Oct

MACKAY Gladstone

Mon 27 Tue 28 Wed 29 Thu 30 Fri 1 Time Ht Time Ht

Time Ht

Time Ht

MACKAY Out wide, the macs are on the run.

Spotted, schooling and spanish are all in really good numbers according to Zach from Nashy’s Compleat Angler.

Golden trevally are a tasty booty to be found off the north harbour wall - stock up on fresh prawn baits, live yabbies and mullet strips.

Bag some barra out of the Pioneer River or dams using lures or live bait.

Zach says some top wild barra are being caught around the 90cm to metre mark but made note that while strictly legal it is recommended that these breeding fish be thrown back.

The estuaries are turning out bream and whiting with Shoal Point and Dolphin Heads particularly flush with whiting.

Grunter and salmon are coming out of the northern creeks and can be baited up on fresh and live bait.

Crabs are slow with reports of lots of jennys.

Focus your efforts on Constance, Bakers and Murray creeks and Zac recommends putting your pots up in the mangrove gutters on a high tide and working them for a few days for a decent feed.

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

angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com

Your weather forecast With Mike Griffin

Sat 2 Sun 3

Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht

0436 0.85 0500 1.02 0529 1.21 0028 2.71 0201 2.59 0351 2.70 0515 3.01 1103 3.65 1142 3.52 1231 3.39 0619 1.41 0813 1.53 0953 1.38 1111 1.10 1710 1.11 1750 1.31 1845 1.50 1341 3.30 1508 3.36 1630 3.59 1736 3.87 2258 3.14 2330 2.92

2009 1.59 2145 1.47 2306 1.17

0000 4.31 0030 4.02 0109 3.71 0218 3.42 0418 3.39 0001 1.66 0107 1.16 0615 1.15 0644 1.36 0723 1.61 0833 1.85 1027 1.86 0559 3.75 0706 4.26 1230 4.70 1307 4.53 1403 4.34 1533 4.28 1713 4.54 1200 1.51 1309 1.05 1848 1.63 1931 1.89 2040 2.09 2227 2.05

Mon 4 Tue 5 Wed 6 Thu 7 MACKAY Gladstone

shade of grey either with the rain giving mud crabs and prawns a gee up.

Phillip reckons the barra season is also firming up to be top shelf but remember with the shop shutting up in November you had best bait up now to cash in on the action.

The last timely target is whiting, with a fair few of the small and sweet fellas available off the beaches.

Fri 8

1827 4.99 1924 5.43

Sat 9 Sun 10

Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht

Record September Rainfall

0008 0.82 0059 0.51 0144 0.28 0225 0.13 0304 0.08 0343 0.16 0420 0.35

Week 1 - After an unseasonal burst of tropical air (almost monsoonal) which caused over 200mm around Mackay; the Queensland Trough (QT) has delivered record heavy September rain across most of the Coalfields.

0615 3.37 0704 3.70 0749 3.97 0831 4.17 0915 4.29 0958 4.30 1043 4.20 1215 0.80 1311 0.53 1400 0.33 1446 0.23 1531 0.24 1616 0.38 1701 0.62 1831 4.12 1919 4.27 2004 4.31 2047 4.24 2130 4.09 2214 3.84 2259 3.52 0200 0.69 0247 0.34 0330 0.09 0410 -0.05 0449 -0.07 0527 0.05 0604 0.32 0758 4.75 0845 5.16 0928 5.49 1010 5.73 1051 5.86 1134 5.83 1217 5.63 1406 0.66 1458 0.38 1545 0.22 1631 0.19 1716 0.28 1802 0.53 1848 0.89 2014 5.75 2059 5.91 2142 5.91 2224 5.77 2307 5.48 2350 5.06

Page 20 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

Springsure recorded 244mm - its highest total in over 100 years. Yet the rain continues!

Other rainfalls (mm) to the 23nd September: Taroom 155, Thangool 135, Clermont 116 & Emerald 112.

Only the north western section of the Bowen Basin missed the heavier falls. Moranbah 32mm and Collinsville 39mm were the totals for the first three weeks of September.

Motorists take care - the Mackenzie and the Dawson Rivers and tributaries are rising. Creek

crossings and some dirt roads will be impassable.

More heavy rain and possible storms before the QT is knocked out by southern dry air mid-week.

The heavy rain was also felt on the coast and islands. Fresh to strong winds (20-25 knots) are likely from Wednesday to the weekend. This will be accompanied by squally showers with gusts to 30 knots at times. Not good for the latter part of the week for the boaties.

Week 2 - the 30day SOI rose to +25 in the third week of September. This is giving record value signals for a September in 134 years of data. The mild to warm conditions should ease as the winds along the coast drop back in speed towards the end of the week. Watch for major October storms in NSW/ VIC which should reach southern Queensland late weekend and push the boundary of the Coalfields.

The “wise marine lover” should succeed by being patient over the weekend...

Your Health 96th EDITION. 2010

EXPERT ADVICE For those too busy or embarrassed to ask the important questions about their health Hi Tammy, Thanks for your last article, a few points you made really ring true to me. When you talk about drug taking, what sort of health effects can it have on you in the long term?

Name withheld

• stomach cramps or reduce your appetite • aggression • increased body temperature • a false sense of confidence • you to feel agitated, panicky or anxious

Hello, Well, drugs come in many forms, so let’s firstly look at the overall effects drugs can have on your body.

Depressants (alcohol, barbituates, cannabis, GHB, benzodiazepines) can cause: • poor concentration

Never underestimate the amount of damage drugs can do to you. By having the ability to change your physical and psychological state, drugs are a pretty powerful substance. As you know, there are different types of drugs out there, such as the legal form - alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, & pharmaceuticals - and the illegal form - cannabis, methamphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin.

• nausea & vomiting

Now these different forms of drugs are often known as stimulants, depressants and hallucinogens which all play very different roles on your body. The following are some more immediate effects of the drugs, but in the long term there can be some unfortunate changes you may not be able to reverse.

A stimulant (caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine) can cause: • your eyes to dilate • you to feel alert but may follow with headaches • increased heart rate and blood pressure • paranoia

• feeling relaxed • drowsiness • unconsciousness • poor coordination • slow reaction time Hallucinogens (ketamine, LSD, magic mushrooms, PCP) can cause: • your eyes to dilate • you to talk faster or more often • a euphoric feeling • nausea • hallucinations • paranoia • sweating • poor appetite • stomach cramps Next time we will cover the drugs most commonly used in this country of ours, and their effects on you and your family.

Until next time - stay healthy, stay informed.

Tammy

Tammy Farrell is a registered nurse, nutritionist and author of ‘The Real Man’s Toolbox – A DIY Health Manual for Men’. 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 that’s when she began compiling the book, helping hundreds of men answer questions about their bodies.

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Page 21 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

MONEY MATTERS 96th EDITION. 2010

Nerves affect unit sales in CQ THE latest figures for the sale of units and town houses in central Queensland reflect the ongoing nervousness in the real estate market.

The Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) data shows median sale prices for units and townhouses in Rockhampton, Mackay and Gladstone in the three months to June, have all been affected by variations in the quality and quantity of stock listed for sale.

In fact, on the Central Highlands, there have not been enough sales over the past quarter to be able to get an accurate picture of price.

Nonetheless, a 10 per cent and 20 per cent increase in median prices in Mackay and Gladstone respectively make the CQ region one of the top performers in Queensland.

However, the REIQ has noted these very large increases reflect the sale of a dis-

proportionate number of high value waterfront properties.

Looking over a 12 month period, median prices increased less that two per cent in Gladstone and just over seven per cent in Mackay.

In Rockhampton, the median price of units and town houses fell nearly thee per cent over the June quarter, but have increased more than four per cent for the year.

In percentage terms, other strong performers were Logan City, Redland City and Brisbane City where median prices increased between seven and 12 per cent in the last year.

In dollar terms the median house price in Mackay is about $306,000, $276,000 in Rockhampton and $293,000 in Gladstone.

“A 10 per cent and 20 per cent increase in median prices in Mackay and Gladstone respectively make the CQ region one of the top performers in Queensland.�

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Sky high wages in CQ boom FROM PAGE 5 property values in some mining areas like Karratha in WA, where a three-bedroom home can sell for $2 million.

In the heart of the Bowen Basin, rents in Moranbah can be as high as $1200 per week.

There is also a stark contrast between what people are earning in mining, and what they earn in different jobs in the same region.

For example, the average salaries for those employed in essential services like healthcare in Central Queensland is less than half of those employed in mining; and those in consumer retail earn less than 36 per cent of those employed in mining. “This is evident across the whole country but particularly in mining regions,� Mr Blythe said. “It is partly the nature of the work, and it is partly the skills shortage that is reflected in salaries, but it is a big step down to what people in other areas are earning.�

The survey found women will earn more in mining than in other sectors, but their wage will be less than their male counterparts.

Mr Blythe said it was more likely that was due to the type of roles women were working within the industry, and not that they were being paid less than men to do the same job.

Despite the boom times for mining, Queensland recorded the lowest level of business confidence across the country. “You would think because of the mining story that Queensland should be top of the list with WA, but other factors at work like the high Aussie dollar hurting tourism and fallout in property being a bit more intense than elsewhere are at work,� Mr Blythe said. “But mining is going to keep rolling on and it is very powerful, so Queensland will continue to perform extremely well in the future.�

“It’s all swings and roundabouts I guess, in mining the work is often difficult and you can have to live in unpleasant or remote locations, and those factors tend to push up the cost of living, in particular housing and groceries.�

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MONEY MATTERS 96th EDITION. 2010

CQ businesses rally behind transport hub

MORE than 20 transport industry leaders will meet in Rockhampton in a fortnight to work out the next stage in establishing a transport hub for the region.

Last month, more than 130 local business representatives from across the central Queensland region met to support the idea for an intermodal freight hub on the outskirts of Rockhampton.

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“We’ve very mindful that we don’t want this to just fizzle, this opportunity should not be squandered and we need to act while we have momentum.”

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to chair this project into the future.”

One person who is listening, is the Australian Logistics Council’s (ALC) Michael Kilgariff.

The ALC represents the freight and transport industry and is pushing for federal government support of inland intermodal freight hubs.

“We believe that from a policy and infrastructure viewpoint, that is where we should be headed to ensure regions can be adequately services,” he said.

“It [Rockhampton hub] certainly seems to have a lot of local support and that indicates it has enough interest to justify a fairly rigorous cost benefit analysis of the proposal.”

Mr Busby said it was estimated a pre-feasibility study into the hub would cost in the vicinity of $50,000.

Similar hubs established elsewhere have created up to 250 jobs and generated tens of millions of dollars in investment.

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“We had 130 business people in the same place at the same time, that’s the biggest meeting of its kind Rockhampton has ever seen,” said steering group chairman Raymond Busby.

The hub would be a freight changing station, where freight containers could be loaded from trains onto trucks or vice versa.

It would also incorporate warehousing and other distribution facilities, which supporters

say would service the booming mining industry in the region.

The next step will see representatives from Queensland Rail, Pacific National,Toll,AgForce, three levels of government and private industry get together on Tuesday 5th October.

“We will conduct a strategic planning workshop so we can try and form the board of governance to take the initiative forward to the pre-feasibility stage,” Mr Busby said.

Mr Busby said it might take two meetings to sort out the new board, but he wanted swift action.

“We’ve very mindful that we don’t want this to just fizzle, this opportunity should not be squandered and we need to act while we have momentum.”

“If we want to get this thing off the ground we need to get the people with the shiny shoes and clean offices that work down south to listen, and we need to find the right person

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Page 23 - Shift Miner Magazine, 27th September 2010

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