Spotlight on the Endless Cycle of Wages » Page 4

The Queensland mining and gas community’s best source of local news Monday August 25, 2014 187th Edition SHIFT MINER www.shiftminer.com MAGAZINE Locally Owned & Operated BOOM TO BUST Spotlight on the endless cycle of wages » Page 4

/ Ê*,/ ,-\ Ê/>ÞÀÊÊ° /9",- - >ÀÊ-Ì ÊÊ VÉ° ÊÃ TAYLORS À>}Ê7ÀÃiÞÊÊ° -" /",- Ài}Ê >ÀÀ The Partners: SOLICITORS John Taylor - LL.B * ,-"Sharon Smith - BÊEc/LL.B H on1,s 9Ê - Craig Worsley - LL.B Greg CÊ arroll /- * iÊ{xÇÊÓ{{ÊÊ>ÝÊ{xÇÊÓä£È 7",Ê /- ÜÜÜ°Ì>ÞÀÃÃVÌÀÃ°V°>Õ "/",Ê6 Ê /- i>\Ê>JÌ>ÞÀÃÃVÌÀÃ°V°>Õ iÛiÊÓÉ£ÇÊ ÀÃL>iÊ-ÌÀiiÌÊ >V>Þ PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM S-1, É/* Ê - Mining Accidents " 6 9 ÊÊÊÊÊ -// Ê7ÊÊÊÊÊ " , Ê7 Work Accidents Motor Vehicle Accidents Insurance/TPD Claims CONVEYANCING ESTATE LAW COMMERCIAL LAW

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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 1000 new coal jobs 9 Cut wages to stay competitive 11 15 Regulars 9 15 Frank the Tank 16 Miner’s Trader 17 Off Shift 18 20 Sport

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25th August 2014 3 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com News Wages caught up in an endless cycle missus. They have the attitude that this is So how could some of the pain of forever when it’s not.” the boom-bust cycle be minimised? Curtis Island workers are currently Employees need to scale back their laughing all the way to the bank. expectations and be realistic about Last week they voted to accept Bechtel’s what companies can afford to pay, latest offering which included a 13 per cent according to Mr Joy. pay rise and daily allowances that will total “There is this perception out there between $90 and $115/day by November. that employers hate paying their The new agreement means the workers the big bucks, but actually American construction giant should be that’s not true,” he said. able to deliver the world-first project on “When times are good they are time, with LNG still expected to be ready happy to pay but things can change. for export later this year. “Many employees have this idea that it is It also helped to stave off some low-key ‘us’ versus ‘them’, that in these negotiations industrial action which had caused minor someone wins and someone loses. Most disruptions to the project. people have no concept of win-win.” Further north in the coalfields, and However, Mr Joy said employers “You’re worth what you’re worth at the time,” according to workplace consultant Craig Joy it’s a vastly different story. were not blameless either. CURTIS Island workers are pocketing “At the top of the cycle you might be Shift Miner understands a major “In the boom times comes the notion $100/day in allowances at the same time worth $100/hour and at the bottom of the contractor has cut workforce salaries by from companies that they want it done as major contractors in the Bowen Basin cycle you might be worth $20/hour.” up to $30,000 a year at one site in a bid to yesterday at whatever the cost,” he said. are cutting wages by $30,000 a year. Mr Joy said resource industry workers - hold onto an existing contract. “Then when it all crashes and the It seems unbelievable but that’s the whether they were in the coalfields or the In Mackay and Rockhampton, Hastings coal price drops they want to reel it in boom-bust nature of the construction gasfields - needed to reset the idea that big Deering workers are facing another overnight.” and resources sector. wages were guaranteed long term. round of redundancies as mining services However, Mr Joy doesn’t hold out So just how much is your time worth? “Telegraph operators were worth their businesses - big and small - struggle with much hope of a watershed moment; According to Mackay-based weight in gold once, and then one day they the prolonged downturn. more likely, history repeating. workplace consultant Craig Joy, the weren’t needed any more,” he warned. “I’ve dealt with a contracting company “It’s just human nature, isn’t it?” answer is straightforward. “A lot of miners are living hand to mouth which recently handed out a 40 per cent he laughed. “It will be boom and bust “This is about simple market when they’re on $150 grand or more. pay hit in one go,” said Mr Joy. forever. It will just keep happening.” forces,” he told Shift Miner. “They have everything on the drip “In another case it was 40 per cent “You are worth what you’re worth feed - the big fishing boat, jet ski, a fully but over two stages. These are the Comment or SMS 0409 471 014 at the time. optioned Prado and another one for the sorts of things that are happening.”

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4 25th August 2014 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com News Small waves but Adani to advertise ASAP Queensland, and more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs – further still no tsunami... opportunities for our suppliers, crucially THE long-awaited tsunami of maintenance have to,” he said. including small and medium sized has not yet hit Mackay’s industrial “If things are worn out, I think there is businesses, will be advertised as they precinct of Paget, but there are some small finally some budget to maintain or replace it. become available,” he said. waves washing in, according to local “I wouldn’t say there are signs of a recovery, The proposed standard gauge rail business owner Allan Ruming. but maybe we have bounced off the bottom.” line is expected to take about 2500 After 18 months of stagnation, Mr Twelve months ago, Mr Ruming coined workers nearly two years to build and Ruming said finally some little things were the now popular ‘Bradbury effect’ phrase pump $790 million into the Mackay starting to happen; however, he emphasised for businesses in the Paget area. region and more than $900 million into times had never been more difficult for many “Companies will change completely, the state economy over that time. businesses servicing the mining sector. disappear or absorb one another,” he DESPITE plans to kick off construction The whole project comes with a $2.2 “Unfortunately the maintenance tsunami said at the time. next year, Indian construction giant billion price-tag for Adani, which has we have all been waiting for hasn’t arrived, “It’s a time of dramatic change for Adani cannot detail the exact nature of already nominated Korean company but there are signs of some small little many businesses. Group Engineering [Mr work packages that will be needed for POSCO as the preferred contractor. improvements,” he told Shift Miner. Ruming’s business] has shrunk from a its massive Galilee rail project. Local business has been desperate “Speaking to people in the area, there staff of 35 people to four, and is about to The Queensland government has for detail on the needs of the project is a little bit of maintenance starting move to a smaller premises. now approved the 300 kilometre after Adani called for expressions of to trickle through, and anecdotally the “So what’s in it for the stayers? Why railway that will connect its billion interest in supplying services just over a enquiry rate has improved somewhat. keep the doors open, when it’s probably dollar Carmichael mine in the Galilee fortnight ago. “I think about 80 per cent of businesses easier to walk away? Basin to Abbot Point, near Bowen. In a listing on the ICN network, are still struggling to get work in, but there “You can call it the Bradbury syndrome, if However, the company is still Adani asked businesses able to supply is 20 per cent who are busy. Some of the you’re the last man standing you are going to awaiting federal approval for the rail earthmoving, signalling and rail underground guys are as busy as they get the gold - there is no doubt about that.” link and a spokesman told Shift Miner services to lodge their details. have ever been.” Mr Ruming reasoned that record coal he could not provide more detail on However, not only was the listing Notably Mr Ruming said all the work was production and no maintenance spend by the exact nature of work packages significantly inaccurate (claiming maintenance based, and was about optimising mining companies meant there was going required until then. the 388-kilometre rail line would existing production infrastructure. to be a massive wave of work hitting the “As we approach the build phase terminate south of Mackay at Abbot Businesses geared to new construction businesses left standing when it arrived. of our integrated mine, rail and port Point), but it also lacked supporting remain very quiet. Sadly, for many business people and project – a project which will deliver documents surrounding the scope of “In most cases I think the mining their families in Mackay, that day has $22 billion in taxes and royalties for works required.

companies are just maintaining what they not yet arrived. ww

25th August 2014 5 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com News Watertight position for Bechtel Swag rolled at Middlemount

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

THE future of the Swag Motel in It has been a long fall from grace for the Middlemount is in doubt after the business Swag Motel, which at the peak of the mining went into receivership last week. boom told Resort Brokers magazine it had a Row, row, row your boat… inside an LNG tank The complex comprises 48 rooms, a turnover of more than $60,000 a week. restaurant, and an adjoining complex of The motel complex was built in 2008, two SAFE and ready for storage. tanks is just one of the many steps we take sixteen townhouses. Pitmore Pty Ltd owns years after the land was purchased by Pitmore Construction giant Bechtel has now in our disciplined approach to delivering the land, and the management rights are held Pty Ltd in a state government auction. In 2011, successfully hydro tested two additional our customers world-class quality projects.” by Middlemount Management Pty Ltd. The a section of the purchased land was sold to LNG storage tanks built on Curtis Island, Hydro testing takes between two and main stakeholders in both companies are Gold Anglo American for more than $1 million. near Gladstone. four weeks to complete. Coast based couple Ian and Patricia Matheson. However, the seemingly solid financial The tests confirm that the tanks built for Water is pumped into each of the tanks Korda Mentha’s Robert Hutson has been position of the business started to unravel the Australia Pacific LNG and Santos GLNG and held for 24 hours to allow for various appointed to handle the receivership, and when sometime in 2012 the owners of the plants are ready to store LNG and follow the tests to be carried out. he told Shift Miner they will seek to sell complex decided to build 16 townhouses successful test of a tank at the Queensland Once testing is complete, it takes about the complex as soon as possible. on an adjacent block. Curtis LNG project earlier this year. five days to empty the tanks. “The directors of the company The major correction in the mining sector “The LNG tanks are not only one of the Hydro testing is carried out to verify appointed us as the receivers,” he said. meant that by the time the buildings were most visible and complex parts of these that each tank can hold its design capacity “We are still undertaking our completed, the owners could not find anyone plants, they are also among the most critical of LNG at -161o celsius. investigation into the business, but all to buy or rent 14 of the 16 townhouses. components to ensure long-term production Each of the QCLNG and GLNG tanks creditors have been notified. The restaurant is currently shut, and success for our customers,” said Bechtel LNG are capable of holding more than “The business will continue to trade receivers say there are no advanced general manager Alasdair Cathcart. 140,000m3, with Australia Pacific LNG’s as usual, however we expect to see the accommodation bookings that could be “Verifying the safety and integrity of the tanks each holding 160,000m3. complex up for sale in the next 6 months.” affected by the appointment of receivers.

6 25th August 2014

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com News 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. 1000 new coal jobs The group has 20 years experience across “We have only got a handful of a wide range of services including heavy people now who are FIFO, nearly all our mobile equipment repair, maintenance employees are local or drive in drive out, and rebuilds, crane hire, fixed plant which is something we are very proud of shutdowns, labour hire and recruitment. and would like to maintain in the future.” Haynes’ head office is in Mackay Further west, and Bandanna Energy is to service the Bowen Basin, but it also in discussions with primary construction does business in the Hunter Valley and contractors for the development of the WA’s Goldfields and Pilbara regions. Springsure Creek project - one of the few Now the company will set up new mines proposed for Central Queensland. an office and workshop facility at Managing director Michael Gray said Dalby and has recently upgraded its the project had reached key milestones. membership with the Toowoomba and “There are 12 directly affected Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE). landholders in our transport corridor, Haynes Group resources and infrastructure we have nine of those landholder manager, Peter Fenech, said supporting compensation agreements executed, the local industry would be a top priority. and there are a further two that we “I would like to thank our clients within have reached terms with, so there is Toowoomba and the Surat Basin for their SOMETIME in the next six to 12 months, the the start time for their respective projects really only one landholder yet to be support and for the success of the business first of around 1000 new coal mining jobs is closer than many think. finalised,” he said. in the region to date. It is our intention will be advertised in Central Queensland. “From a capital and from an approvals “There are really substantial regional to offer local employment opportunities Expanding coal miner Cockatoo Coal point of view, we are on track with where we benefits associated with this project, we and to support local business and says it’ll be looking for a construction want to be to increase our tonnage to three will spend about $160 million, and are communities wherever possible,” he said. workforce of around 400 by mid next year and half million tonnes,” Cockatoo’s chief looking at workforces of more than 500 TSBE Chief Executive Officer Shane and Bandanna Energy expects to advertise development officer Todd Harrington said. people in construction, and about 400 Charles applauded the Haynes Group for longer term full time jobs. its decision to create a new base in the for 550 people not long after that. “On the human resources side of things, region and further expand its operations. The forecasts might seem premature we have 130 odd people at the mine now, “We are progressing through “It is fantastic to see any new business given the current state of the coal market, and we expect to increase that to around the approvals process, and now we setting up in the Surat Basin, particularly but they speak to the realistic lead times 400 by the start of 2016. are finalising our procurement and one with such a high reputation like the required to expand or build a mine. “We have a very defined strategy about engineering activities, it’s our target to Haynes Group,” Mr Charles said. Since both these companies are looking local employment and - dare I say it - have front end finalised by the middle of to sell coal at higher prices around 2016, about workforce diversity. next year and first coal in early 2016.” ‘Overburden tsunami’ on its way in CQ? 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 PARKED UP: Eathmoving contractors are just waiting some pretty good looking results for the for the green light 2013/14 financial year. THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has “My only answer is that not all those offered a small ray of hope to the scores of strategies are sustainable.” mining contractors who have watched their Mr Roche said it was just a matter of businesses shrivel over the past 18 months. time before the game changed again. In something like the ‘maintenance “Eventually the coal resources that are tsunami’ that has been anticipated in being accessed are going to need to be industrial hubs like Paget in Mackay as replaced, and that is going to mean bringing production ramps up, a similar ‘overburden back fleets to remove overburden,” he said. tsunami’ might also be on its way. “So it’s a survival strategy to be doing Small to medium sized earthmoving what they are doing, and I know that has been businesses have seen contracts with very painful for a number of contractors and mining companies cancelled or - at the yes there is a lot of equipment parked up.” very least - significantly reduced in a wave While the news comes too late for of severe cost cutting that been credited contractors like Coalfields Constructions with keeping some mining operations and Jonker Plant Hire, which both shut open in the current tough climate. their doors earlier this month, it might give However, in response to an impassioned hope to companies hanging in there. question from Emerald based contractor Already the new financial year has seen Gordon Graham at an outlook conference Team Engineering in Mackay win a large recently, the QRC’s Michael Roche contract to erect the stackers and reclaimers at conceded some of the drastic cuts were Anglo’s new Grosvenor mine near Moranbah, probably not sustainable longer term. and a number of other businesses have reported “What some of the mines are doing, as smaller parcels of work coming their way. 8 25th August 2014 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com News

Cut wages to stay competitive: Peabody A vexing issue the high price of electricity. ONE man’s terrorist is another 1000 new coal jobs “Australian’s pay the highest man’s freedom fighter in the war price for electricity in the first raging between green groups and world,” he said the Queensland coal industry. Mr Meintjes explained coal fired The Queensland Resources power generation has come a long Council chief executive way since the 1950s with modern Michael Roche has used a coal fired power plants producing parliamentary committee 80 per cent fewer emissions than hearing to slam the Queensland Adrian Lee, Don Kirkpartrick, John Hislop, their 1970s counterparts. Environmental Defenders’ Jodanna Pullen -Puma Energy, Cola Maurirere, “Comparing modern day coal- Office as leading the charge in Jennifer McEwan - Careers Australia Charles Easton, Wade Stevenson, Tim Guinea, Theo Kummerling - THIESS fired power technology to the past vexatious litigation campaign is like comparing a 1980s diesel designed to disrupt and delay car to a 2014 model, they are both resources projects. cars – but very different.” Mr Roche said the ongoing “There is a range of emissions legal campaign was an abuse of reduction technologies already in Queensland’s objection process, use as well as opportunities for which was originally designed Australia to explore and invest in to allow genuine landholder new technology to further reduce and community concerns to be emissions,” he said. raised and addressed. Kristan Gower, Brett Hudson, Peter Alan Cloge - Life Aid, Chris Currier - Richard Clemmy, Katie Dwyer, Maurie Mr Meintjes presentation also “Your previous witness, Ms Huntingdon - Onsite Rental Group Crocksolid Mining Fatnowna - The Shell Company focused on energy poverty. Bragg from the Environmental “There are 3.5 billion people Defenders Office (EDO) said in CUTTING wages is one way for He said that globally the coal coal are to remain globally lacking access to electricity with her submission that there are no Queensland coal mines to stay mining industry was as important competitive. electricity-demand linked with cases of vexatious objectors,” competitive in future, according as ever and vital player in the “It’s predicted global coal quality of life,” he said. Mr Roche said. to Peabody Australia boss improving the lives of billions. production will account for up to “The low cost structure and “This is the same Ms Bragg Charles Meintjes. However, he warned other 40 per cent of the world’s energy large global supply means coal will who is particularly thanked Mr Meintjes spoke at last week’s countries were ‘eating our lunch’. in 2020, it now fuels 30 per have a major part in this story.” for her contribution to the Bowen Basin Mining Club lunch “Australians are passionately cent,” said Mr Meintjes. Some of the many business anti-coal movement’s strategy and told the 230-strong crowd that competitive,” Mr Meintjes said. Mr Meintjes said some answers people who attended the lunch document entitled Stopping labour costs were 30 to 50 per cent “We need to draw on this to being competitive lay in lowering are pictured below [photo credit: the Australian Coal Export greater in Australia than America. quality if met coal and thermal Australia’s high labour costs and Teresa Vella]. Boom that was leaked to the media in March 2012.” Mr Roche said that document outlined several strategies to disrupt and delay Ghosts of the past on display key resources project, with breakthroughs begin, amid a litigation at the top of the list. scene of social uprising where He said $1.35 million racial tensions are high. was put aside for litigation “Like the town of Clermont strategy in the document, with today, coal mining is still a the majority allocated to the dominant industry and many Queensland Environmental people will relate to the stories Defenders’ Office. told in this exhibition. “The Committee might ask: “With the Carmichael Coal Is this strategy being executed? mine being approved recently, I refer the Committee to the we continue to see international EDO’s website where they set partnerships forming and out the cases they have run or booming right here in Central have on foot,” he said. Queensland. “The EDO represented the “I’m sure, it’s a sight for members so-called Coast and Country of our community who once lived Association in its Land Court in the town of Blair Athol to see objection to the Alpha Coal the growth of the mining industry project (a case that ran for about today,” said Cr Stranks. 15 months) and is representing BA Coal & Timber personnel at the weighbridge in 1915 The Blair Athol Collection is Coast and Country in the STEPPING onto a Central familiar today, from the Blair of Australian history. on exhibition from August 6 to judicial review of the Land Queensland coal mine during Athol coal mine located near “The items have been December 13 at the Clermont Court decision on Alpha, as well the late 1800s would give Clermont in Central Queensland. donated by Rio Tinto and have Historical Centre. as the current objection to the today’s miners an insight into From Japanese Ouchi Urushi been carefully prepared for the The Clermont Historical Kevin’s Corner coal mine. the humble yet trailblazing dolls to the original Ruston steam exhibition,” Cr Stranks said. Centre is open Wednesday to “Who or what is the Coast beginnings of the now high tech, shovel, the exhibition is diverse “This collection shows a Saturday, 9am to 3pm. and Country Association? world class mining industry. covering a selection of items and turning point in Australian Isaac Regional Council is Well they are in fact a front The Blair Athol Collection, stories which include the old history especially for our mining proud to house the Blair Athol for the anti-coal activist now showing at the Clermont ghost town of Blair Athol. community. Collection, donated by Rio Tinto, group Friends of the Earth Historical Centre, gives viewers The chair of the Clermont “Covering the period from and works collaboratively with and their spokesperson an insight into the emergence Historical Centre Advisory the 1800s to 1980s the Blair the Clermont Historical Centre is Friends of the Earth of mining technology and Committee Barbara Stranks said Athol collection is where the Advisory Committee to exhibit campaigner Derec Davies.” international business deals still the collection was a pivotal slice emergence of mining technology collections. 25th August 2014 9 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com News CSG definition A dispute between CSG pipeline company APT Petroleum and the Kestrel flying high on EK Healy win Western Downs regional council and copper mines.” has finally concluded this week. Kestrel was competing In March, APT took the against seven other teams from council to court over the way it across the coalfields: Cook had zoned pipeline assets. Colliery, North Goonyella, Oaky APT argued that its compression North, Crinum, Moranbah North stations at Yuleba, Dalby, and Oaky No 1 mines. Condamine and Kogan, and a Queensland Mines and block valve in the Chinchilla region Rescue Service state manager were not ‘CSG processing facilities’ as the council had zoned them. Wayne Hartley said the Instead, the company argued they competition was always fierce. should be zoned under the separate “This is the main event and category of ‘transport and storage’. expectations are tough,” he said. After three months of expensive “There is no room for error legal discussion over what was this is where we test for the the most accurate way to define The Kestrel mines rescue team are the proud winners of the EK Healy Cup Preparing for the competition best of the best.” the CSG assets, the court found Me Hartley said the competition in APT’s favour and ordered the RIO Tinto’s Kestrel mine has the mines rescue team is just one to learn best safety practices and was also an opportunity to audit council to pay the company’s costs. taken out the prestigious EK example of our team members share these learnings with our their training systems. However, the finalisation of Healy Cup in the 2014 mines demonstrating their commitment colleagues,” he said. “The event gives the the matter was delayed until rescue competition. to safety,” said Kestrel’s general “The international industry some comfort and this week when the council It comes ahead of the Kestrel manager operations John Coughlan. competition will be unlike any confidence in knowing that our successfully appealed the court’s mine team competing in an “I look forward to seeing competition we’ve faced before rescue service is first class so definition of which of APT’s international mines rescue the Kestrel mines rescue and offers a whole range of new that if a mine is ever faced with legal costs they had to cover. competition in Poland next team showcase the strong challenges. a real event we know we have a Mayor of the Western Downs month, after they became the first safety culture we have at the “Perhaps the most significant system that can support it.” regional council Ray Brown told team to win all three Australian international arena next month.” difference is this competition Kestrel - along the other Shift Miner the whole thing had been a bit of a storm in a tea cup. rescue competitions open to Team captain Derrin Powell is open to all underground top four teams Crinum, “I don’t think there is going Queensland mines in 2012. also won the award for ‘best mining teams around the world, Broadmeadow and Oaky North to be any long term broader “Kestrel mine is dedicated to captain’ and will lead the team at so we’ll be competing against - will now compete against four implications of the court’s making sure each and every one the international competition. and learning from groups who New South Wales teams and one decision,” Cr Brown said. of our people return home safely “Competitions like the EK work in completely different from Tasmania at the national each day and the performance of Healy Cup give us the opportunity operations such as diamond competition in October.

10 25th August 2014 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com News $5M still needed Murphy’s law doesn’t bother speedy welders THE newly named Euroa Steel plant project in Gladstone still Kestrel flying high on EK Healy win crew is averaging around 2km needs $5 million to complete its per day, thanks in part to the use environmental impact statement of six scorpion welding bugs, our (EIS) and cover administration costs. forward crew on pipe stringing Formerly known as Boulder has also set an amazing pace. Steel, the company was placed into “The same can be said for our voluntary receivership last year. lower and lay crew who have Since then, the Boulder Steel done an exceptional job and are Rescue Group headed by local averaging nearly two kilometres engineer Paul Sundstrom has taken in the trench each day, but over the project in a last-ditch bid recently pulled out all stops to to see the steel plant built. record an amazing 5.1km trenched CQG Consulting in in a single shift – so great efforts Rockhampton is currently putting across all work fronts,” he said. together the EIS, which is hoped to be finished by Christmas. Mr Fuller said while he was The project’s leaders are currently impressed with the outstanding speaking with investors, as they seek production rates that crews had financial backing of an estimated achieved during the project, $5 million to complete the EIS he was most pleased with their and cover administration costs. constant focus on ensuring an The fate of the project should MURPHY’S RECORD: Putting an end to Murphy’s Law one weld at a time injury-free workplace throughout be known in the next few months, the construction schedule. pending support from investors. MURPHY Pipe and Civil (MPC) That’s one pipe every forward planning, clear According to MPC there has The Gladstone Engineering construction crews laying Santos’ four minutes. communication and good old- not been a single Loss-Time- Alliance recently hosted a meeting Comet Ridge to Wallumbilla MPC was awarded the 120 fashioned hard yakka from the Injury (LTI) which shows safety between the project leaders and key pipeline near Roma have set a kilometre pipeline contract in project’s entire construction crew. and productivity can co-exist. stakeholders to accurately report on new company record for the late 2013 and have around 350 “Welding 2.8km in a single day “Risk management strategies the current status of the project. amount of pipe welded in a day. people working on the project. is certainly an impressive effort and are the rails that carry the train of “We felt that there was a lot of MPC project manager Tom It’s well known that in reset the record bar for MPC’s weld production and I am pleased to incorrect information circulating Fuller said crews welded 2.8 construction, whatever can go wrong, crews, but we have assembled a say we are right on track,” he said. the region regarding the project, and therefore asked them to kilometres of pipe in a single 12- will go wrong (Murphy’s law). great team for this project and the Mr Fuller says he expects the come up and address these hour shift, which means the 70- However, Mr Fuller said the results of this can be seen every day project construction and pipeline concerns directly,” GEA general man mainline crew welded 156 production result was made across the entire operation,” he said. hydro-testing to be complete by manager Carli Hobbs said. 18-metre pipes in a single shift. possible through extensive “While our mainline welding late October. Outfoxed by a bat? 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 THEY’RE BACK: Moranbah residents on alert a barrier that they are unlikely to roost in (you could probably do all that in 20 THE sound of one big collective, audible mins with a budget of $20, right?). sigh can be heard across the mining town “If you have flying foxes roosting in of Moranbah. your trees, contact Council immediately, Residents are being advised by the and our environmental team will local council to start preparing for another investigate the roost,” said Cr Freeleagus. potential skyward invasion. And don’t think that yelling at Last year, more than 6000 flying foxes them during their day-time siesta will took roost in town for four months from help either. September - and this year a small colony is “Day time harassment stresses already camping in nearby Middlemount. the bats, it lowers their health which Councillor Peter Freeleagus said the means they are too weak to migrate protected - but pungent - species were away from town,” he said. 25th August 2014 11 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com Around Town BASHING THROUGH BLACKWATER FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD The Brisbane to Busby’s Bore Variety Bash passed through Blackwater recently. A 1200-strong crowd turned out to enjoy an Blackwater High School’s production of The Wizard of Oz delighted audiences across the coalfields recently epic clash between the Crushers and the Rabbitohs [Photo credit: Jeannette Fletcher]. [photo credit: Jeannette Fletcher].

Jennifer Grant, Craig lane - Quarrico

Dorothy - Tayla Clarke-Fraser, and the (L-R) Haley Doyle, Alex Fraser, Pania Crambie, Charlee-Kae (L-R) Chloe Rose Jenkins, Dylan Thompson, Tanze Szulc and Wizard of Oz - Thomas Byrne Fenner and Troy Cuffe Indiana Watts

(L-R) Rebecca Stokes, Leeann Brennan, Tanya (L-R) Brett Weekes, Stuart Telfer and Mark Mackie (L-R) Emma Parsons, Nicole Murray and Amber Carsburg O’Donoghue and Tracey Anderson

Taylor Truelson and Shay Lyall The Smythe Family (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

Sarah Picot and Shanna Schulz Lee and Katrina Kreis Some of the cast

(L-R) Sally, Tara and Sandahl Karissa and Aaron Gook

Bryce Little and Mama Rose’s Bruce O’Sullivan

(L-R) Mayor of the Munchkins Ella Marschke, Scarecrow Mandy-Jo Morris, Dorothy Tayla Clarke-Fraser, The Tin (L-R) Nicole, Jessica and Patrick Woods and Lidia (L-R) Bailee Jones, Kynta Pointon, Abby Rogers, Woodman Stephany Quebbemann, Cowardly Lion Adelaide and Joshua Edwards Kyle Doyle, Logan Brown and Matilda Pidgeon Power, and The Good Witch Hannah Kitching

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.

12 25th August 2014 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com Around Town 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].

Jennifer Grant, Craig lane - Quarrico

Taylor Truelson and Shay Lyall The Smythe Family

Sarah Picot and Shanna Schulz Lee and Katrina Kreis Some of the cast

Buy this and many other images at www.shiftminer.com Shift Miner magazine – bringing the mining community closer together

25th August 2014 13 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com Off Shift 20 years of pain should act as reminder By Peter Cross, director of Confiance

the Moura No. 2 underground To take a quote from the coal mine, which resulted in the report of Frank Windridge, the loss of life of 11 coal miners, all mine warden who conducted the of whom were husbands, sons, investigation and inquiry into the dads, brothers or uncles. No. 2 explosion: On Thursday 7 August, the “The immediate past track community of Moura came record is that these measures together, as it did 20 years ago, to [measures to enhance safety pay their respects. recommended in the report] Unfortunately the disaster will be effective for somewhere which occurred in Moura in around a decade with 1994 was the third time the fundamental problems beginning community had come together to re-emerge somewhat earlier.” to grieve the loss from mining Recent events unfortunately explosions. There were two prove Frank’s prophecy of earlier tragedies in 1975 and then “fundamental problems in 1986. In total, 36 lives were beginning to re-emerge” as being lost in those three disasters. To correct. The disasters in Turkey this day, 24 of those miners still and Pike River in New Zealand remain buried at the site. are testament to this. These 36 men are gone but Is safety foremost in the minds the impact of their deaths on of all coal mine workers and their families, workmates, and the leaders in the Queensland mining community continues. industry? Or has the impetus to Some 500 attended the drive safety measures diminished memorial service on Thursday as our memories fade? MOURA MOURNS: In 1994 [pictured] and 20 years later on August 7, 2014 7 August. I also attended the For me, the gathering of 500 memorial service in 1986. The people united by this tragedy NEWCOMERS to the mining the loss of life has on families, in Moura on Thursday 7 August. words the minister used that two decades ago is a very timely industry rarely consider the career workmates and the communities Thursday 7 August just day still ring out: “why Moura?” and powerful reminder of our decision as life threatening. in which they live, current and happened to be the 20th What would he have said in obligations and commitment to To understand the impact potential miners should have been anniversary of the explosion in 1994? Why Moura indeed? keep miners safe. Photos to THE EDITOR

Text in your best snap Sent in by one of our readers. to 0409 471 014

14 25th August 2014 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com Off Shift

20 years of pain should act as reminder Frank the Tank’s “Streakin” good love advice I tell you, there’s something wrong with motoring is extremely disconcerting. Dear Frank, this country when a man can’t upload a Have one of your mates dress up like a We recently moved into a new Youtube video of himself making love to reporter and barge into your landlord’s office, SENSIBLE SUSAN house, but the landlord is a a Julie Bishop mannequin without the law making allegations and threatening legal action. Gary, getting involved. Your landlord will be so bewildered that complete nightmare. We have Sounds like your landlord is I believe I should be able to help you out he’ll agree to anything, and before you trying to save himself a bit of dough of your predicament though, Gary, as many know it you’ll have tradesmen there getting a list of things that need fixing at your expense! It seems to me you years ago I was the all-powerful landlord of the job done properly. urgently, but he refuses to hire have a couple of options here, you an apartment building in Brisbane. In the highly unlikely event that the fake could contact your real estate agent tradesmen. Instead, he keeps Unfortunately I was forced to resign television show intervention doesn’t pan out, and complain, and in turn they appearing - day and night - with after I was accused of installing secret there’s always the lost art of the booby trap. cameras in some of the showers. These You said your landlord likes to come might put pressure on the landlord a box of tools and doing a dodgy allegations were, of course, never proven. over and fix problems himself, so all you to fix the house. Or, you could have job himself. Last week he installed Thankfully I had the revenue stream have to do is call him and say the window a quiet word to the landlord and a new shower unit that wouldn’t generated by my website, “Peeping Frank’s above the toilet is jammed. let him know that you’re willing to Shower Sirens”, to keep me afloat during Spray a little cooking oil on the toilet report him to the relevant authorities be out of place in a caravan. What my unemployment. seat before he comes over - he goes to stand if he doesn’t hire some reputable can I do? Gary, Biloela Now, dodgy landlords, shonky builders, on the seat to see what the problem is and tradesmen. If you decide to take and sleazy used car salesmen all fear one before you know it, he’s out of commission option number two I’d tread carefully, Gary, thing – exposure by TV programs like A and forced to hire real tradesmen. if this guy is going to be your landlord Even though this doesn’t fall into the category Current Affair and Today Tonight. If you want to thank me for my advice, for a while it’s probably best not to of love advice, I’m still going to help you out, I can tell you from personal experience, Gary, you can order a copy of my Julie alienate him too much. Gary, just because I’m such a nice bloke. Well, having a camera crew barge in on you while Bishop video – send $25 to “Frank’s that and answering these questions counts you’re trying to pass off a donkey wrapped Foreign Liaison”, Shift Miner Headquarters, Susan towards my community service. in alfoil as the new breakthrough in ‘green’ Quay Street Rockhampton. Frank

happened to realise the potential profit After winning, Duke was treated to five margins of provocatively dressed peaches hours of grooming and a new outfit plus simultaneously. Tuffy’s Pet Food will be donating a one year Fair Dinkum! supply of dog biscuits in lieu of a salary. IN THE UNITED STATES - Ever thought a monkey could do a better IN SPAIN - Now this is what I call job than your local mayor? Well how a drug BUST. A 43-year-old woman was about a dog? The residents of Cormorant, arrested at Madrid’s Adolfo Suarez airport Minnesota reckon it is worth a shot and after police say nearly two kilos of cocaine have welcomed Duke, a seven-year-old were found inside her breast implants, dog, as their new honorary mayor. according to a press release obtained by Twelve people in Cormorant each paid Euro Weekly News. a dollar to cast the votes that saw Duke Narcotics agents say the Venezuelan emerge from a five-week election as the woman, who was arriving on a flight from overall winner. Colombia, caught their attention because Despite not being human or even of her nervous demeanor. running a campaign, Duke, who belongs After a body search uncovered “certain to a resident in the village, has proved a irregularities and deformations in both popular choice. breasts.” the traveller allegedly confessed Resident Tricia Maloney told WDAY6 to stowing cocaine in her implants. Peaches cunningly disguised as dinky/kinky derrieres “He won by a landslide. He doesn’t know The implants, which wound up how to handle this publicity. containing 1.7 kilos of cocaine, were a mutually loving relationship. “Poor Richard Sherbrook that owns the removed at a hospital. The woman, whose IN CHINA - Does your fruit According to a report in the Wall Street Cormorant Store, he didn’t even have half name has not been released, was detained bowl need a bit of a spice injection? Journal, the vendor sells the peachy as many votes as Duke did,” she added. for an alleged crime against public health. Well I have only one word to say to you: bottoms using the trade name “Ripe Fruit” “lingerie”. What isn’t improved by a pair and for around 87 bucks you can bag of silky knickers?...well, quite a few things yourself a set of nine nestled in a silk or actually...but not peaches...peaches look chiffon-lined box. fantastic in a pair of panties. And you can rest assured, the vendor Thank goodness a fruit vendor guarantees Ripe Fruit’s g-bangers are put in Nanjing, China has realised the on by hand. I mean you wouldn’t want commercial potential of sexing up fruit some kind of fruit-dressing robot doing and has started selling peaches wearing such a sensitive job. wee undies in celebration of the recent The report also says the fruit vendor Qixi festival, the Chinese version of in question claims to have applied for a Valentine’s Day. patent on panty peaches as they are none Given “the juiciest, most delicious too pleased that fruit vendors elsewhere in peaches on Earth” allegedly come from Shanghai are also sexualising their produce. Yangshan in Wuxi, an area famous for They are even filing for infringement with it lingerie and garment industry, it was the intellectual property bureau, which probably therefore a matter of time before seems fair enough. It is a bit of a stretch these two claims to fame came together in to believe multiple fruit vendors just

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Can help with finance. Very clean new tyres 115 Mercury Optimax (18hrs), Mercury smartcraft Near New 70hp Tohatsu TLDI motor. All the extras 200 rear tyre 6 month REGORWC looks gauges, Hydraulic steering, electric motor, for creek & off shore fishing included. Offshore right rides right. Information, Lowrance HDS 8 & Structure Safety gear. Everything Works. Dry scan at the helm, 100ltr fuel tank, boat & powers well in all conditions. photos phone Reuban Scotty downriggers & rod holders, Owner recently layed off & now or email: rp.watson@hotmail. 50Ltr live bait tank, Seven built in retired. Other pics / view available com. Can freight bike. compartments & many more extras. by email. $160/wk $17,750 $37,500 $12,000 Call: 749 381 550 Call: 0418 754 206 Call: 0438 117 725 Call: 0419 587 668 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com Off Shift MOVIE Review 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-boy- made-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. Big story...short film There is no denying it, that Dwayne Johnson is a massive unit. He gives the rest of us 40-year-olds hope I don’t have the strength to walk out of budget action film from director Brett I did find the storytelling and character that if we had loads of money, a lot of free a cinema feeling emotionally drained Ratner, I thought it sounded like my type of development a bit ridiculous. time and some Pacific Islander heritage, we anymore. I figure everyday life does a gig, and in a nutshell it didn’t disappoint. The problem is, you can’t tell the could be built like we were in the 90s. good enough job of that. So for me, going There were some impressive special backstory of a Roman demigod [Hercules] As for his acting, well, it was good enough. to the cinema is about escapism. effects, the good guys won, and the were in 20 minutes, which is what needs to His rousing speeches to the outnumbered Also what’s the point in watching some pretty fit Roman women getting happen to get the whole thing done and good guys before battle were passable, but emotionally draining drama on the big screen? around (and plenty of buffed blokes for dusted in an hour and a half. I don’t think they will stick in the collective You can get the same impact watching the those interested). The comic series Hercules by Stephen memory like Mel Gibson in Braveheart. news on our not-so-small screens at home. However - and it’s a big however - like Moore - which the film was based on - ran My score 3 out of 5. So when Birch Carroll & Coyle offered so many films in this genre that have been for years, so readers had plenty of time to Tickets kindly supplied courtesy of me a ticket to Hercules - the latest big adapted from once very popular comics, understand Hercules’ motivations. Birch Carroll & Coyle Rockhampton.

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25th August 2014 17 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com Off Shift 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 Just like mum used to make? Blended by The Aviary in Chicago, this bourbon- whiskey, corned beef extract and cabbage based drinkee is served inside a large, water. A molecular gastronomist has hollow ice sphere that the customer turned a tipple into meat with veg but smashes with a custom “slingshot”, thankfully minus the white sauce and transforming the cocktail from ‘in” the mustard pickles. rocks to “on” the rocks.

Menage a Trois Sip your champagne, cognac and Grand Treasure Chest No. 1 Marnier concoction gangster style with Save this one for a classy night out with a trio of bling: 23-carat gold flakes, your entourage at Three Dots and a Dash, liquid gold syrup and a gold-plated straw Chicago. A treasure chest filled with studded with a ridgy didge diamond. Lob rum and tropical fruit juices is topped into the Tryst Nightclub at Wynn Las tableside with a bottle of Dom Perignon, Vegas with $US3000 in your pocket to while dry ice at the bottom of the sample this liquid threesome. chest creates a chic layer of fog. Drink delicately with a two-foot-long straw.

Who put the fun back into mining? 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 From salt mine to warehouse for offer in cutting edge mine-site-fun? cheese and WWII anti-aircraft shelter, Well at least when your parents Salina Turda has finally re-emerged threaten to send you to a salt mine in as a futuristic fun-zone. Transylvania you need not quiver in fear.* Located more than 100 metres wear overalls and helmets!). underground in an old salt mine in The huge trampoline-like nets are hung Romania is an amusement park that looks within two vast chambers at varying like something from the set of a sci-fi film. levels, the highest being 55 metres up from Salina Turda sits in the Romanian region the bottom of the cavern, linked together of Transylvania and is one of the world’s by walkways and slides, the longest of oldest salt mines, dating back to the Middle which is a whopping 18 metres. Ages. Over three billion tonnes of salt were The tunnels and chambers of this carved out by hand or machine and now subterranean world were cut out by men the enormous void left behind has been Its official. “You win, Wales. You win. The title of “Most Fun Place In The and boys but no need to dwell on the converted into an amazing underground World” is all yours,” LA celebrity reporter Perez Hilton recently declared. workers who risked their lives during theme park with a ferris wheel, mini golf the Industrial Revolution when you can course, bowling alley, sports arena and even WONDERING what to do with your but enormous underground trampolines, whoop it up in a fun palace. a subterranean lake for a spot of boating. blazing big pit once all the coal has with massive slides and a kick arse LED Sure if you’re afraid of heights, caves, the And if you are over catching your gone? Rehabilitation sounds like a jolly light display. ALL in a 176-year-old dark, suffer from claustrophobia or vertigo, annual dose of carnie-flu at the local honourable ambition but you need to ask disused Victorian slate mine. Genius. this might not be for you, but for those under show, the enclosed mine is free of allergens yourself - is it really fun? This spectacular new fun thing at the 120kg and without weak ankles it’s game on. and bacteria making it perfect for sufferers Some original thinkers in Romania and Llechwedd Slate Caverns in Blaenau Ffestiniog, “It has taken two-and-a-half years [to of hay fever or asthma. Wales didn’t start backfilling, sealing or North Wales is called Bounce Below. pull together]. No one has ever done this Sounds fun or what? revegetating their blinking big holes, they Imagine a vast underground chamber underground. It’s completely unique,” said * You were only ever threatened with went all Kevin Costner “if you build it, they which you can only reach by train, lit in Sean Taylor, Bounce Below’s co-founder in no telly for the day? Well just pretend will come” and kitted out an amusement day-glo iridescent colours, where you The Telegraph. you were the product of parents who parks with giant trampolines instead. bounce through the earth’s bowels on an “We’re going to have stag and hen parties, enjoyed mentally torturing impressionable And not just any old giant trampoline enormous trampoline (you even get to sports groups, school groups. Scouts want children and you will get the gist, okay? 18 25th August 2014 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com Off Shift

as well, which would indicate the water reports Craig from Pat’s Tackle World. temperatures are warming up and that it It appears good news is pretty sketchy Bait Shop Banter “won’t be long until we are back in the but if you are still keen to throw a cast into thick of it,” according to Adrian. the wind there are blue salmon about in Rosslyn Bay off the rocks has been the harbour region. fishing spotties and doggies when the Craig reckons there are also still bream wind has cut the wailing. in the mouth of the Boyne with the And if you are lucky enough to get occasional flathead poking its head up. offshore, you might go like Adrian’s mate Here’s hoping this windy weather Sladey and do some serious damage using buggers off and calm conditions return soft plastic on a six pound line. and some big bodies once again hook up Check out Adrian’s Facebook snap of on the end of your line. Sladey and his tidy 82cm snodger grunter. If you have a good photo or fishing yarn IN MACKAY - “Fresh send it through to our resident bait chucker- to frightening winds” off Mackay as [email protected] 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. Sladey and his suitably impressive snoder grunter Whiting, grunter, flathead are your quarry but on the bigger tides you will need to work for them upstream using yabbies and prawns. the middle of winter!” said Adrian. Looking for a lure? Bruce suggests IN YEPPOON - Well, it has There were a couple of threadies in amongst trying little squidgy prawns. been blowing the proverbial dogs off them too and they carried out this handy work Bruce reckons the barra have been chains on the Capricorn Coast says Adrian using Thready Busters and Shads Vibes. higgledy piggledy but that come at The Secret Spot Bait & Tackle. Adrian also reckons just down from the September they should be back online. But sometimes this just means an Quay Street boat ramp is also worth a shot Ditto when things calm down in the opportunity to diversify your approach with threadies and blue salmon currently weather department it will be game on for and an outing into town proved a handy being sourced from there. the mac offshore. little bonanza for Adrian recently. Corio Bay has been throwing up “Quick trip up the town reaches of the flathead and good winter bream plus a few IN GLADSTONE - Same old Fitzroy, managed to bag about 8-9 barra more blue salmon and threadies. stupid story Gladstone way, with 35 knot between us, dropped a metery...not bad for Two or three barra have turning up winds making the fishing scene pretty dire, Who put the fun back into mining? Queensland Dad’s Day In the Valley Top picks Sunday, 7 September 2014 For more events in the Pops Orchestra Region: Queensland, Mirani Friday, September 5, 2014 and mining community Treat dad for Father’s Day and head to Mirani for the Sunday, September 7, 2014 Pioneer Valley Classic Car Club’s Show and Shine. go to shiftminer.com Region: Queensland, Rockhampton and Gladstone With over 150 cars and trucks on show and 6000 - Referred to as the “Angel of Australia” by Andre 7000 people expected through the gates it is going Rieu, Mirusia Louwerse is returning to Australia with to be a great day! Held along Alexandra Street in the Queensland Pops Orchestra to bring some of downtown Mirani, there will be speciality stalls, trade Capricorn her amazing songs to Rockhampton and Gladstone stands, music, food and drink plus lots to keep the audiences. Having performed around the world with kids amused. Gates open 9am to 3pm. Admission Treat dad to a car show this Father’s Day, Colour Event one of the foremost entertainers of modern times, $5 per person and children under 16 are free. Gate with Dad’s Day in the Valley at Mirani. Friday, September 5, 2014 - Sunday, 7 Ave Maria has now achieved more than 15 million proceeds go to various local charities and the Kidney September, 2014 hits on You Tube and Mirusia will sing that version in Support Network. Region: Queensland, Yeppoon the concert. Lead by Maestro Patrick Pickett, the Pops For more information contact Rod or Tracey Woods Want more events in your world? on 0407 696 929 or go to: https://sites.google. Show your true colours and support CQ’s largest will bring a variety of music you have grown to know Go online and look at our events guide. It’s updated daily. com/site/pioneervalleyclassiccarclub/ charity event! Tee off on Friday with hilarious and love and will include music from the Glenn Miller www.shiftminer.com or get the iPhone app mayhem on the fairways with the Fawltee Crew Tribute Show. back for the funniest charity golf day in CQ. For tickets and further information go to: Breakfast, lunch and ample beverages all day www.seeitlive.com.au and www.gladecc.com.au 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 See Mirusia perform with the than a run along the beach in the sunshine with Queensland Pops Orchestra the whole family.

25th August 2014 19 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com Sport Monday - Roundup Middlemount remembers in style

The winning connections of the Paul McGuire Memorial Dachshund Sprint. Jason Lambie (Middlemount), Harrison McCoy (Perch Creek, Duaringa), Alison Kirby (Kotree, Springsure),

Heather Mallett (Rockhampton), Julia Lambie (Middlemount). Katrina Cavanagh, Harrison Cavanagh, Chris and Toni Patterson all of Middlemount

Ashlee Davis, Melanie Duncan, Peter Quinn (Essex, Middlemount), Peter Comiskey

James Spence (Civeo), John Manzelmann Tash Henderson, Kelly Marsh, (Lyra Park, Capella), Allan Acton (Wilpeena, Middlemount), (Trainer), Eliza MacRossan (Civeo Peter-John Marsh all of Middlemount Ron White (Wilangi, Marlborough), Dan Godwin (Springsure), Allan Wallace (Clive, Clarke Creek)

THE Middlemount Races were a the Middlemount community who have her husband David Simmon. Graeme Acton owned and trained by Middlemount local monument to the resilience of bush recently passed away. was a founding member of the Middlemount Catherine Wilson. The race raised about towns this year, with more than 1500 Central Queensland cattleman Races club and former president. $3000 for the Capricorn Rescue Helicopter. people turning out for the event despite Graeme Acton, who was killed during The super popular novelty dachshund The organising committee of the the mining downturn and a beef industry a camp drafting competition in May, (dog) race was run in memory of local Middlemount races would like to thank struggling through the drought. was remembered in the Graeme Acton miner Paul McGuire, who was killed in a all their sponsors for their ongoing It was a special commemorative Memorial Benchmark 55 over 1200m. mining accident earlier this year. support including Anglo American, meeting this year, with two of the races It was won by Top Button, trained by That race was won by last year’s Middlemount Coal, The Acton family, run in memory of the lives of members of Tracey Simmon of Mackay and ridden by runner up in the same event Sally. She is Isaac Regional Council and CIVEO.

Rams secure golden a game and today the Rams are minor unavailable for an away game. However, irrespective of who they premiers in the CHRU competition. “I am sure it is the same for play he says they will remain focussed home game Despite a surprising loss to Capella Moranbah, and as a coach I wish on their own game. Posted 18 August: on Saturday, Emerald have earnt the all everyone could be available every game “I think we have got to stick with AT the end of round four in May, important right to host the major semi- day, but with mining the way it is, what we have been doing, which is about coach of the Emerald Rams rugby side final against Moranbah at home. players are not willing to risk their jobs the forward pack doing their job, giving Greg Schwartz drew a line in the sand Schwartz says it’s hard to put a value on for a game of footy.” the backs the chance to do theirs. for his playing group. what a home game is worth in the finals. However, the Rams didn’t come “We have a set game plan that we At that point they were coming dead “This is absolutely what we have been through the game against Capella need to play to, and try and force the last in the Central Highlands competition. after,” he told Shift Miner. unscathed, losing up and coming opposition to change their style rather With more players unlikely to arrive “It has been a work in progress since breakaway Beau Shields for the rest of than us change to meet theirs. at the club, he told his small but talented that round four low point, but it is a huge the year with a broken leg. “You can only do that when you are playing group that if they planned to advantage to have the final at home. While Schwartz conceded the dominant in the forwards. have a good season, they had to look “I don’t know what it’s worth in Moranbah Bulls are clearly the most “But anything can happen on the long and hard at themselves. percentage terms, but there are a whole obvious threat to their premiership day, and all the best plans come undone, The talk must have worked, because lot of players who work rosters that ambitions, he says Capella could be the so we have an A, B and C plan in case since that point they have hardly lost can play a home final, but would be dark horse in the finals. things don’t go our way.”

20 25th August 2014 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com Sport Monday - Roundup

Support swings behind “The boys have been looking something about the strength of the club. “But that doesn’t take anything Moranbah reserves really sharp at training and we will “It’s a hallmark event for them - but I away from the Blackwater boys. Bluff be sticking with a game plan that has guess of the negative kind.” are a class outfit and now that we are Posted 18 August: worked for us all year. However Capella’s hard fought win in out of contention, our support will THE hopes of Moranbah’s rugby “We have been really lucky this year Clermont still does not clarify the final swing behind Bluff, and I think they league supporters will now focus on in reserve grade because we have had a standing for the competition, with the can go all the way.” their reserve grade side, after A grade larger than usual player base, with 48 order of the final four still undecided. Bluff and Blackwater matches always was narrowly defeated by Sarina 36 players on the books and around 30 in While Emerald, Moranbah, Clermont pull a crowd on the Central Highlands, points to 30 on the weekend. our core regular playing group. and Rolleston will all definitely go but this weekend was special because an It was always going to be a hard road “But it does mean I might not be the through to the finals in a fortnight’s time, extra 350 people stopped in as part of the to the Mackay and districts rugby league most popular bloke in Moranbah this where each semi final will be played and Variety Bash. grand final, after an inconsistent season week when I pick our final team, but I am which teams will play in it is undecided. Not only did they bring extra people, meant the A grade side just scraped going to pick the best team we can put on Given there has only been two weekends but they also brought an impressive through into the finals in fifth place. the paddock. in the whole season where away teams fireworks display and a live performance While it is not uncommon for “It is a headache because so many have won their games, home ground by country singer John Williamson. teams to take the long road from fifth players have put in, but it is a good one advantage is gold come finals time. Local rugby club the Blackwater to a premiership, it is nonetheless a to have from a coaching point of view.” “It’s the last round of the competition Basilisks also moved their home game so sudden death path. However not all positions are up in this week, but effectively the finals have they could play the curtain raiser, giving President of the Moranbah Miners club the air, with Bloomfield confirming that begun,” Shaw said. Blackwater residents a full day of footy Peter Henderson reflected on the difficulties the leadership group of five-eighth Justin “Everyone is playing for a home and entertainment. A grade had to deal with this year. McKay, second-rower Phillipe Sambo, semi final, and they need to win on the With this season still fresh in their “We definitely lacked consistency halfback Mark Finlay and hooker Brad weekend to get it. minds, the Crushers committee will meet early, but toward the back end of the Petersen all definite starters on Saturday. “Even the venue for the grand final is soon to plan for next year. season we started to get it back,” he up in the air, because it is decided by the “Well the boys are enjoying silly told Shift Miner. Clermont gets its first winner of 1 versus 2 in the semi finals. Monday and we will give them space to “I wouldn’t say any team is better wooden spoon “But we don’t know who that is yet, enjoy that, but probably by the end of than us, but I would say that Sarina it’s been an amazing year every team has next week we will meet and organise a were better on the day and capitalised Posted 11 August: had full benches and every team has been date for our AGM,” Denman said. on their opportunities. CENTRAL Highlands rugby president competitive.” “The club has developed a lot this year “But it has been a hard year in lots of ways. Eddie Shaw says the standard of all and on the back of that we will sit down “In the current mining teams playing in this year’s competition Blackwater and make a plan for 2015. environment we were not able to is the best he has seen in his 20 year gallant in defeat “We have done a lot of upgrades, and I bring as many players to town, and involvement. think we are on track to build a better club. changed rosters and concerns about He made the comments in the wake Posted 11 August: “I don’t know who else from outside job security, made it harder to get our of another surprising weekend of rugby THE Blackwater Crushers have already the club will be interested in participating best team available every week. which saw football powerhouse Clermont begun planning for 2015 after just next year, but I will put my hand up to go “But our reserve grade side has had pick up the dubious honour of their first missing out on making the finals of around again as president. an outstanding season finishing minor ever competition wooden spoon. the Central Highlands rugby league “There are a few things that we have premiers, and all our support will now Clermont have won the premiership competition this year. started that I would like to see through to swing behind them when they play for the last two seasons, and have The team went out in style, pushing completion, but in the end that will come Souths in the finals on Saturday.” featured in the finals in every season the yet-to-be-defeated Bluff side to their down to a vote by the committee. Reserve grade has had almost the before that. However, finally the cycle hardest victory of the season in front of “I am not sure what the coaches exact opposite season to A grade in so far has turned against them. well over 1500 people in Blackwater. plans are, so I will leave them up to that they have not lacked consistency or Speaking after Clermont’s 15 to 12 Club president Jay Denman told him, but I am pretty sure he would like players, which is remarkable given they point loss to Capella, Shaw (and Capella Shift Miner the 44 to 32 point defeat to go around again, and build on the have had to continuously supply players player) said it was another surprise in an was nothing for the Crushers to be base we created this year.” to fill holes in A grade. outstanding rugby season. embarrassed about. As for the 2014 premiership Denman As a consequence of the A grade’s loss, “I was speaking to some of the “It was a very physical and fast game reckons Buff will go all the way, but has this Saturday’s game against Souths will be Clermont old boys after the game and and I don’t think any player from either picked the Clermont Bears as the team the first time they can field their best team. they reckon it is the first time the club has side came off feeling they didn’t give it most likely to beat them in a grand final. “It’s the first time this year that ever won the wooden spoon,” he said. 100 per cent,” he said. we have our best team from one to “I can proudly say that Capella has “Nothing was left on the paddock, TO GET YOUR SPORTING NEWS AS IT HAPPENS 19 available,” Coach Dale Bloomfield about 10 of them in the cupboard, but but in the end the best team on the MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER FOR SPORTMONDAY told Shift Miner. it’s the first time for Clermont which says night won the game. AT SHIFTMINER.COM. IT’S FREE

25th August 2014 21 Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com Money Matters

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