SM111_Shift Miner Magazine

SHIFT MINERMonday 9th May 111th Edition 2011 The Queensland mining community’s best source of local news

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NewsWhat mines are doing with all that water » page 4

NewsIndians buy into Abbot Point » page 5

NewsHow social media is connecting mining communities » page 7

LadderOur new jobs section built for you » page 9

Around TownMay Day celebrations » page 12

Money MattersA new community for Gladstone? » page 21

Money MattersCQ real estate dries out » page 23

Locally Owned and Operated - www.shiftminer.com

FOUR years after her husband died under-ground, Rachael Blee says she still battles every day with her grief.

Jason Blee was killed when he was crushed by a shuttle car at Moranbah North’s underground mine on April 9, 2007.

The Coroner investigating his death made 18 recommendations that have changed practice and procedure at all Queensland mine sites.

But for Rachael Blee, the changes to practice and procedure have come at home.

“My children were eight, seven, two and one at the time,” she told Shift Miner Magazine.

“They don’t really remember what went on, only that mummy was crying all the time.”

The heartbreaking task of explaining what happened is never-ending.

“One of my little boys has just started school this year,” said Rachael.

“Everyone else has a dad so he asks me all the time where’s my dad?”

“It never goes away, it is something you have to deal with every single day.”

» continued page 5

May Day fun in the Coalfields

» Page 12

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Page 3 - Shift Miner Magazine, 9th May 2011

111th EDITION. 2011CONTENTS

IT is very easy to become blase about safety.

Everywhere you turn on a mine site there is a reminder about try-ing to achieve what should be eve-ryone’s goal - zero harm.

But no poster, or slogan, or safety supervisor, or memo could possibly have the impact of Rach-ael Blee.

Rachael lost her husband Jason when he was killed underground four years ago.

Now she has found the cour-age to speak at mine sites and an upcoming safety conference to get her message out.

It’s a simple message: remem-ber that someone at home l oves you.

It’s one that is bound to reso-nate with workers, and hopeful-ly while it might be hard to hear, it will be heard.

Rachael says it’s not about being brave, it’s about making sure Jason does not become a sta-tistic.

She just wants miners to think carefully about the choices they make every day, and the impact they could have on their family - or someone elses.

FROM THE EDITOR20

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14 STUFF TO THE EDITOR

15 FRANK THE TANK’S LOVE ADVICE

17 FIVE MINUTE FICTION

21 MONEY MATTERS

NEWS 4 Partnered success

Joint tenders in CQ 7 FIFOs welcome

Moranbah wants integration 8 Constant change

A new book on Curragh mine 10 Campdraft & co

The wrap up on local sport

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111th EDITION. 2011NEwS

THREE quarters of Queensland’s coal mines are still suffering substantial produc-tion losses and inundated pits, four months after December’s flooding rains.

Queensland Resources Council (QRC) chief executive Michael Roche said the wet would slash overall production by at least 30 million tonnes this financial year - cost-ing industry $5 billion and state government coffers $450 million in lost royalties.

The latest round of quarterly reports reveal just how devastating the floods have been for coal mining in Queensland.

Production at Macarthur Coal mines plummeted by almost 60 per cent on the previous corresponding period - the worst March quarter in a decade.

The company has only just lifted its declaration of force majeure at its central Queensland mines last week.

Aquila Resources has reported a 30 per cent drop in production, and is currently preparing an insurance claim for both prop-erty damage and business disruption.

Throughput at the Gladstone Port fell 17 per cent in April - the worst result in four years.

Further north, and the Dalrymple Bay coal terminal near Mackay has been run-

ning at half its capacity for months.Mr Roche said while blue skies had

returned to central Queensland, mine man-agers were still dealing with the fallout of the wet on a daily basis.

“Absolutely, I am hearing it day in day out,” he said.

“QR is asking when they are going to see regular flows of coal and the ports are the same.”

Mr Roche said tight discharge regula-tions meant most mines had been forced to simply move the water around on site in order to get closer to full production.

“These are temporary solutions in order to get things going again.”

“Water might be pumped to another area of the mine that might be lower prior-ity or ear marked for future mining so they can get access to the higher quality coal and get production humming.”

“What it means is that many will car-ry large quantities of water into the next wet season.”

Mr Roche said mines were also look-ing at a range of infrastructure options like water storage areas and water treatment plants - to avoid the problem in the future.

“All of these come with a hefty price tag, but for many mines this is about re-establish-ing their reputation as a reliable supplier.”

“They cannot afford to have another six or 12 months like this next wet season.”

A review of the current discharge regu-lations is underway, and Mr Roche said he hoped the state government would make some meaningful changes.

“I think it’s fair to say that parts of the Queensland government didn’t realise or believe the full extent of the problem.”

He said the QRC would be pushing for water quality to be determined down-stream and not at the discharge pipe - which would mean the amount of water able to be pumped out would vary depending on flow.

“We believe we have enough experience and evidence from the last two wet sea-sons to be able to sensibly modify the sys-

tem in ways that won’t involve enhanced environmental risk.”

Despite the gloomy March quarter, Mr Roche said most companies had indicated they would be in better shape by June.

Water logged mines lose $5B and counting

NOWHERE TO GO: Inundated mines are being forced to move water from one location to another

Shift Miner Magazine asked the Mines Minister Sterling Hinchliffe for his thoughts on current state of play in Queensland mines:

There’s no doubt the recent rains had a major impact on coal production in Queensland.

I’m pleased to say that all but one of the 54 coal mines are back in operation and infrastructure like ports and rail are also transporting coal to key export markets.

The reality is that the water that is still in some coal mines needs to be treated with great care.

While we want this to be done as quickly as possible, it can’t be done in a manner that would harm the environment or other industries like agriculture and fisheries.

We need to remember that in 2009, people in Rockhampton had to boil their water after an unauthorised discharge from mines.

Permits issued by DERM are issued under strict guidelines to make sure there is minimal risk to the environment.

To put it simply, to shift contaminated water, there needs to be enough clean water available to dilute it.

This means that companies that applied for permits before the wet season were able to discharge very quickly at the height of the floodwaters.

DERM have committed additional staff to processing applications and since December, 71 applications have been approved.

These were extraordinary events with extraordinary impacts on many industries and some

operators may need to start looking at what can be done differently to minimise the effects if this happens again.

I’m confident international demand for Queensland coal and commodity prices will continue and assist the industry to recover fully.


111th EDITION. 2011

More shipping concernsConservation groups are concerned there is a rising risk of more shipping disasters on the Great Barrier Reef.In the past fortnight, a Panamanian-registered ship became stuck on a mud bank in Gladstone’s main shipping channel.No oils or pollutants were spilled, according to Maritime Safety Queensland.Last year the Shen Neng 1 spilled tonnes of oil into the ocean when it hit Douglas Shoal.Conservationists are alarmed the increased LNG shipping traffic in the Gladstone harbour could raise the likelihood of more accidents......................................................................

Indians take over AbbotINDIA’s Adani Group has won the race for a 99-year lease over the Abbot Point coal terminal, paying a staggering $1.829 billion.The final amount is much higher than the $1.5 billion the Queensland government had hoped to make from the sale, the proceeds of which will help to pay for the state’s rebuilding effort.Last year, in a $3 billion deal, Adani paid $500 million in cash (plus a $2 per tonne royalty for 20 years) to Linc Energy for a large Galilee Basin coal tenement.The company plans to spend $6.5 billion developing the coal project and railway, and is looking at Abbot Point and Dudgeon Point near Mackay as its port options......................................................................

500 million tonnes at BlackallEAST Energy estimates there are 500 million tonnes of coal at its deposit near Blackall in the Eromanga Basin.The company is now applying for a mineral development licence and trying to secure port capacity.The estimate is based on 249 drill holes, which means there is still a great deal unknown about the size and quality of the coal in the deposit.However, East Energy remains optimistic about the potential of the deposit, located 65 kilometres south of Blackall.“The current JORC resource figures are based on an exploration area of approximately 15 per cent of the total area of the Blackall project,” the company said its latest statement to the Australian Stock Exchange.

FAST NEWS

NEwS

THE union says new shot firing guidelines are still are long way from being finalised - despite a deadline for the framework looming.

In mid-March, the Queensland Mines Min-ister ordered new guidelines be drawn up, with the draft copy due to be presented last Friday.

It followed a number of incidents at BMA’s Saraji and Peak Downs mines where dozens of miners were taken to hospital after possible exposure to toxic blast fumes.

A steering group, comprising the Mines Inspectorate, mining companies, explosives suppliers and the CFMEU, was set up to discuss the issue.

But CFMEU safety representative Chris

Gilbert said, despite regular meetings, a new code of practise was still a long way off.

“I don’t believe there have been any real gains yet in terms of stopping another inci-dent,” Mr Gilbert said.

“What I want from this is to see some real changes.”

“I don’t want this code of practise to be a list of regurgitated procedures that are already being used.”

“That won’t solve anything.”Mr Gilbert said another meeting would

be held on Friday, and all parties should release all the relevant information needed to move forward.

“We need to find out exactly what is causing this problem and there are a lot of variables.”

“I believe some information is being buried and there are hidden agendas and we need to get past that.”

Explosive talks a lot of hot air

Four years on from that fateful day, and Rachael Blee is doing something she never would have imagined at the time.

She’s talking to coal miners about her loss at the very mine where her husband died.

“Moranbah North approached me through Gavin Taylor [Chief Inspector].”

“Six months after the accident I proba-bly would have said go jump.”

“But time heals as they say, and I actual-ly thought I need to do this.”

“If I can prevent one other family from going through this, then it’s worth it.”

The subject matter is not easy listening, but Rachael says that is the whole point.

“Miners need to realise what safety actu-ally means.”

“I talk to them about what we have had to cope with - how the children reacted, the funeral, the financial burden, identifying the body, the inquest process.”

“People have told me what I have said is very, very good, but very, very hard to listen to.”

Rachael will also present her story at the Mackay Industry Area Network (MAIN)

Bowen Basin Safety Conference in July.“We want this to set the mood for the

whole day, that’s why we’ve put Rachael on so early in the program so people hear it straight up front and it’s in their minds why safety is so important.,” said MAIN’s Karen McIntyre.

Ms McIntyre said the inaugural conference was aiming to set itself apart from the many other safety conferences held around the state.

“We knew there was no point having another safety conference just for the sake of it, we needed to be unique and different.”

“All the experts kept telling us that to make a difference in safety you need to engage with people emotionally.”

“You can have all the safety signs and pro-cedures in the world but without a human or emotional connection it means nothing.”

As a result, the MAIN conference will follow a mainly panel discussion format,

and will also break out into focus groups including a mock court trial.

“People will have the opportunity to par-ticipate and be involved,” said Ms McIntryre.

For Rachael Blee, her message for those in mining is simple.

“Remember you have a family at home.”“Every action has a consequence, so think

about each other and remember that some-one loves you and needs you at home.”

“I don’t want this code of practise to be a list of regurgitated procedures that are already being used.”

“It never goes away, it is something you have to deal with every single day.”

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Widow returns to Coalfields with safety message

Rachael Blee has vowed that her husband Jason (pictured)

will not become a statistic

FROM PAGE 1



LOCAL businesses are being urged to part-ner up and take advantage of industrial ten-der opportunities in central Queensland.

On Tuesday (10 May), Rockhampton businesses will be the first to find out what opportunities exist in relation to the Wig-gins Island Coal Terminal.

Capricorn Tourism and Economic Development Ltd (CTEDL)’s Neal Leth-lean said central Queensland businesses should be prepared to work collaboratively to win tenders.

“This is a major push of mine, because it is something that is lacking in this region.”

“Businesses shouldn’t think we are not in the ball game to tender for this project, they need to think how they can work col-laboratively with other companies to get the work.”

“For example, a fabrication business could get together with a general welding business to put in a tender for a job that neither could do on their own.”

Mr Lethlean said the Wiggins Island presentation would outline what opportu-

nities would be available for local business-es, and CTEDL planned to run a series of development workshops to help them get tender ready.

“They are looking for everything from civil works right through the entire con-struction phase.”

“But if businesses don’t know the project specifications and aren’t tender ready then it’s no use.”

Meanwhile, CTEDL has just released the latest figures for investment in central Queensland - which has increased by $50 billion in the past 12 months to sit at $146 billion.

Most of the increase is in the LNG projects in Gladstone, which were not part of last year’s calculations.

“Investors often contact us and want to be able to see a list of what is going on in the region,” said Mr Lethlean.

“This is about compiling the informa-tion so it is at their finger tips so they can make crucial decisions based on an accurate understanding of what is going ahead.”

NO concrete work is yet to emerge from mining giant BMA’s new Local Buying Pro-gram, according to Moranbah businesses.

The program was launched in February to give small businesses in Moranbah, Emer-ald, Blackwater and Dysart the opportunity to supply goods and services to the company.

Moranbah Traders Association (MTA) liaison officer Lyn Busk said it was still ear-ly days and too difficult to gauge yet how the project was going.

“Some traders have definitely had feedback but others have been untouched as yet,” she said.

“I’ve heard of people that are negotiat-ing with them [BMA] but whether or not any financial arrangements have been put in place I’m not sure.”

BMA representatives have told Ms Busk it will be 12 months before the program is fully up and running.

“We’re hoping that they’ll put their mon-ey where their mouth is, I have no doubt they [BMA] have good intentions.”

Information sessions about the program

have been held in the four towns, and a questionnaire has been distributed to estab-lish a local capacity database.

A dedicated email account has also been set up for the project at [email protected]

“We understand that the email address has initially been set up for 12 months to support the implementation and roll out of the program,” Ms Busk said.

“We haven’t seen the questionnaire as yet but we believe businesses will be chosen based on service offered, not just price.”

“That’s what the traders association tries to promote so hopefully we’ll get a foot in the door,” she said.

Ms Busk is urging BMA to make it clear what goods and services they require, which would help local businesses decide if they can supply them.

“Without guidelines there can be excel-lent entrepreneurs out there but unless they know about the program and what’s need-ed, they won’t be found,” Ms Busk said.

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Moranbah wants FIFOs in townTWO thirds of Moranbah residents would prefer to see non-resident workers living in town while they’re on shift, according to the results of a council survey.

The Adaptive Communities Project was run by the Isaac Regional Council to gauge how the community felt about accommo-dation options for fly-in fly-out (FIFO) and drive-in drive-out (DIDO) workers.

It presented six choices including mining camps on the edge of town, an entire new town set up for non-resident workers, and motels and apartments.

The most popular option was non-resi-dent workers living in a mix of apartments, units, motels and services apartments spread throughout the town.

Isaac Regional Mayor Cedric Marshall said it was now clear what the community wanted.

“Even though the results were close, people realise that we need to have integra-tion rather than to sit non-resident workers out there on the edge.”

“We need to see to show non-resident workers how a community is run, to show them what we have, so that it might lead to them having an opportunity to bring their families to town,” he said.

More than 390 people took part in the sur-vey, where the second most popular option was a new town for non-resident workers.

That concept gained 33 per cent of the vote.Feedback from respondents suggest-

ed residents were sick of seeing community resources drained by non-resident workers who are not counted in the census.

“A new town will require its own medi-cal, educational, sporting, social etc infra-structure to be established, this will alleviate the overload on Moranbah,” one respond-ent wrote.

“SPA camps are better for the worker, with no travel to and from work and thus not putting anymore vehicles on the roads while town residents are going to work, it will mean less accidents,” another commented.

But overwhelmingly, respondents backed the move for integration.

“The town needs choices of accommoda-tion for the workers so they have the option of permanent accommodation,” one wrote.

“People spread throughout the town [is the best option], then they feel part of the community,” said another.

Others also commented it would help stabilise small business in town.

Mr Marshall said the results would now be used to lobby the state government

when it comes to planning and accommo-dation decisions in the region.

“It [the solution] won’t happen overnight but you’ve got to start somewhere.”

“Parliament comes to Mackay 24 to 26 May and we’re in the process of approach-ing departments and ministers now to have meeting with them regarding the outcomes.”

“We’ve gone through this process to come up with an option to address issues with our non-resident workers, this is just the start.”

SOCIAL media website Facebook is con-necting mining communities across central Queensland, and its popularity and number of pages are growing.

Moranbah, Blackwater, Tieri and Dysart are just some of the CQ towns embracing the website that offers groups the oppor-tunity to create a free page to talk to their members and supporters.

In Tieri there are a community notice-board, kindergarten, playgroup and Capel-la Cattledogs rugby union pages.

Tieri Noticeboard administrator Kiely Lawrence told Shift Miner it was easy to see

why people were embracing Facebook.“More and more people are on the com-

puter these days, they probably get on the computer more than they check their local noticeboard at the shops or their letterbox.”

“Facebook is easy to use, to buy and sell things and to publicise community events,” she said.

“There is no designing, printing and delivering flyers it’s instant, the message is out there.”

“It just makes life a little bit easier,” Ms Lawrence said.

But it is Moranbah which is really

embracing the technology.The town’s list of rapidly growing pag-

es is long and includes goods for sale and many community groups.

Moranbah Traders Association liaison officer Lyn Busk said their jobs page is so popular it now has 362 members.

“I hear about jobs all the time, our Face-book page is a great way to get that infor-mation to the community,” Ms Busk said.

There are also pages for sports clubs and

even a cinema and coffee group.But other CQ towns are quickly catching up.Dysart has pages for the community

centre, high school, sell swap or buy, and a forum for items lost and found.

Just down the road, Blackwater has made smaller steps with a page dedicated to the local high school.

Keeping up with what’s going on with your favourite community facebook page is easy, just click the thumbs up ‘Like’ button.

Mining towns use Facebook to connect

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INTEGRATED RESPONSE: Most Moranbah locals would like to see non-resident workers living within their town


111th EDITION. 2011

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THERE has been a lot of change in Queensland coal mining over the past 30 years, but none more important than the change in attitude towards safety, according to the author of a book on Curragh mine.

Retired mining engineer Don Hend-erson spent 30 years at Curragh, and last week was back in the Coalfields to launch his book Constant Change.

The book, sponsored by the mine’s own-ers Wesfarmers, traces the history of the mine since its development in the early 1980s.

Mr Henderson said there had been a dramatic turnaround in the way manage-ment and workers now regard safety.

“The biggest change that has improved safety on mine sites like Curragh has been the change in attitude,” he said.

“Back in the 80s when Curragh start-ed, people regarded the coal industry

as intrinsically unsafe.”“Now I think there is an understanding

amongst management and the workforce that people don’t get hurt at work.”

Mr Henderson said the make-up of mining communities has also dramatically altered over the past 30 years.

“Back then, all the mine’s people lived in

Blackwater, there wasn’t any FIFO,” he said.“We built 400 plus houses in Blackwater

plus single quarters.”“People in those days worked eight hour

shifts and Blackwater was a home to people.”“The change to 12 hour shifts has made

an absolutely huge difference, and my per-sonal view at the time was that I was never keen on the change to 12 hour shifts.”

The economics of coal mining have also changed.

In 2011, while Curragh mine still supplies thermal coal to Stanwell power station and steel making coal to export markets, profit-ability has certainly improved.

“Over the 30 years we have seen exchange rates fall from $1.15 to 50 cents,” said Mr Henderson.

“Back when Curragh was first commis-sioned the coal price was high.”

“But as we commenced development, so did a number of other coal mines like Oaky Creek, German Creek, as well as Canadian mines.”

“By the time Curragh came on line, there had been a reduction in demand and an increase in supply, and the industry was back to bust conditions.”

“The average price for export coking coal was about $US60 and it was never more than that until 2005.”

In fact, for many years the industry was described as “profitless prosperity”, because there was nothing left over for shareholders.

Looking to the future, Mr Henderson said one of the really important questions that need-ed to be addressed was what would happen to all the infrastructure when the coal runs out.

“At some stage Curragh mine is going to close down because it will run out of coal.”

“The issue I see that is really interesting is that Blackwater will have 400 houses, an SPQ, electrical railway lines and all this oth-er infrastructure but no mine.”

“Are we going to pull it all down or are we going to look for opportunities to use those facilities?”

Mr Henderson interviewed more than 120 people while researching his book, and waded through hundreds of historical docu-ments relating to the mine’s development.

Copies of the book have been donated to state and regional libraries.

It wasn’t always this good...History of coal mine paints a changing picture

“Back in the 80s when Curragh started, people regarded the coal industry as intrinsically unsafe.”

OFFICIAL OPENING:

The Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen in

A PICTURE OF CHANGE: No long

pants or sleeves were required on site

ON SHOW: Ian Knight and Don Henderson show customers

around the site in the early 80s


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SHIFTMINERladder

G E T W H E R E Y O U W A N T T O B E

SHIFTMINERladder

G E T W H E R E Y O U W A N T T O B E

FOR EMPLOyEES

It’s the place to go to search for jobs that are relevant to your skills set and industry experience.

We’ve listened to your feedback, and we know you want a dedicated jobs section.

Ladder will bring you what opportunities are on offer in the region, and further afield.

FOR EMPLOyERS

It’s the place to go to find the skilled workers you need to keep your project on track.

Your message will be in front of your target audience - tradespeople, engineers, supervisors and skilled operators.

Don’t waste your time with expensive advertising campaigns that don’t work in publications that don’t target the mining community.

Take your message directly to the people you want working for you.

For enquiries call 4921 4333.

Welcome to Shift Miner Magazine’sLadder

Our new, dedicated recruitment section

If your local club has any news or

photos it wants added to this page,

you can submit your articles to

[email protected]

What’s happening in SpORT in your town?

Mine town’s pro-Am series falls into placeOrganisers of the Middlemount Pro-Am golf tournament have secured major sponsorship from Anglo American.

By securing this key sponsor, organisers of the event can now make final preparations for the tournament, which will be held on May 25 and 26.

A large number of mining businesses have also registered to play in the corporate golf day, held a day earlier.

A massive $20,000 in prize money is up for grabs in Pro-Am event, with 45 pro-golfers expected to play over the two days.

Middlemount Golf Club manager Leanne Economidis says they are expecting a great weekend.

“We are certainly hoping there will be strong support from the local community,” she said.

“We have already had lots of support from local business as minor sponsors - and every little bit helps.”

“We sent nominations out over the weekend, so we are hoping to get lots of miners nominating to play alongside the professionals who are doing the mining town Pro-Am series.”

The Middlemount tournament is the second stop in the mining town Pro-Am tour which kicks off in Blackwater on May 21, before reaching Middlemount, then moves to Dysart on May 28 and finally Glenden on June 4.

Interested players can contact the Middlemount Golf Club on 4985 7830.

Campdrafting returns to local HQCentral Queenslanders have once again dominated the Australian campdraft championships held last fortnight, and the event will be held in Springsure next year.

Springsure is arguably the spiritual home of campdrafting in Australia, given it’s where the Australian Campdrafting Association (ACA) was based for many years.

The nationals will be heading back in that corner of the Coalfields for what will be a ruby jubilee event - celebrating 40 years of the ACA.

ACA president and Alpha resident Sean Dillon said it was great news for central Queenslanders.

“The Springsure campdraft committee is a really well organised outfit, and there is plenty of room and space to host

the event next year,” he said.“So I don’t think they will need any major infrastructure

changes to host the event.”“Springsure is also a very central location, not just for

Queenslanders, but also for all the competitors who travel from other states including Western Australia and the Northern Territory.”

Pete Comiskey from Nebo rode into the history books at the recent ACA national finals in Bundarra in NSW when he won a record 17th champion open rider title.

The campdrafter is based at Westpoint Station just out of Nebo and each year he drives nearly 20,000km to attend as many campdrafts as possible.

Mr Comiskey told local media the best part of the weekend wasn’t winning the champion open rider title, but watching his 15-year-old son Clayton take out the Tamarang juvenile draft on Emma.

“The biggest thrill of all was watching my son Clayton win the Juvenile draft,” Comiskey proudly said.

Rodeo record in BlackwaterA possible all Australian roping record was the highlight of another successful May Day rodeo at Blackwater.

The event drew solid crowds, and more than 220 rough riders over the May Day long weekend.

According to Blackwater Rodeo Association secretary Hayley Daniels the event is building every year.

“We had competitors coming from all over Australia to compete in the event, but some local talent also did really well.”

“Local Ensham miner Wayne McGee placed in the team roping, and another diesel fitter for Hastings Deering at BMA Blackwater also placed in the steer wrestling.”

“Unfortunately one of the regions real talents, Mark Price who was Australian champion steer wrestler in 2009 couldn’t get off night shift to compete in the home town event.”

“ I guess the highlight was Angela Simpson of Emerald when she created a new roping record of just 1.7 seconds before going on to comfortably win her category.”

It was also an opportunity to road test a brand new Priefert box recently imported from the US.

The box is used to hold calves prior to their release, and is understood to be the first in use in Australia.

CLUB CONTACTS PERSON CONTACT

Dysart Bulls RL Gavin Reid [email protected]

CQ Cruisers Clinton Saunders [email protected]

Blackwater Basilisks RUFC Kerry Lee Katchel [email protected]

Emerald Tigers RL Jay Edwards 0448 154 231 [email protected]

Emerald Brothers Cowboys RL Damon Walsh [email protected] (07) 4987 4610

Moranbah Bulls RUFC Joel Hunter 0429 575 276 [email protected]

COMMUNITY CALENDAREvent details date venue start

Rugby League Springsure v Blackwater 14/5/11 Springsure Afternoon

Rugby League Clermont v Cowboys 14/5/11 Springsure Afternoon

Rugby League Middlemount v Dysart 14/5/11 Middlemount Afternoon

Rugby League Emerald v Tieri 14/5/11 Emerald Afternoon

Rugby Union Emerald v Rolleston 14/5/11 Rolleston Afternoon

Rugby Union Moranbah v Clermont 14/5/11 Clermont Afternoon

Rodeo Biloela Show Rodeo 22/5/5 Biloela Evening

Golf Blackwater Pro Am 21 - 22/5/11 Blackwater All Day

Rodeo Nebo Rodeo 23/5/11 Nebo All Day

Golf Middlemount Pro Am 25 - 26/5/11 Middlemount All Day

Golf Dysart Pro Am 28 - 29/5/11 Dysart All Day

Golf Glenden Pro Am 4 - 5/6/11 Blackwater Afternoon

LOOKS LIKE EVERYONES KICKED A GOAL.Interested? call Angus on 0428 154 653

YOUR BRAND SUPPORTING LOCAL SPORT?


111th EDITION. 2011YOur HEalTH

Serves 4

This dish originates in Italy with the name literally translating to mean “sailor-style spaghetti.”

This is a delicious, full-

made with all types of seafood

on the seafood tastes of those eating the dish. INGREDIENTS:

500g of mixed raw seafood 1 red capsicum, diced

2 garlic cloves, crushed

410g can crushed tomatoes 1 cup water500g spaghetti, cooked al dente

Shaved or grated parmesan cheese and parsley to serve

METHOD:

Peel, chop and clean seafood and store in the fridge until ready for use.

Heat oil in frypan over high heat. Add garlic, capsicum and onion to the frypan and sauté

paste, crushed tomatoes and

the seafood, stirring till coated with the sauce then cover with a lid and cook for 5 minutes or until the seafood is cooked.

Lower heat to medium, then add the cooked spaghetti to the fry pan and mix through. Serve sprinkled with parmesan and chopped parsley.

Tip: You can use a standard marinara mix from your local

Zest Eatery Open 4.00pm to 8.00pm daily

Spaghetti Marinara

COPPABELLA | DYSART | MIDDLEMOUNT | MORANBAH | NEBO

1300 622 222themac.com.au

For those too busy or embarrassed to ask the important questions about their healthEXPERT ADVICE

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.

Dear Tammy,

Thanks for your write up about fatigue, interesting facts. Can you tell me your thoughts on these energy drinks circulating the town. They seem to be everywhere, but not too sure that they are all that good for you.

Regards,

Paul

Hi Paul,

Thank you for your question. I’m actually glad you have brought this topic up, as it is beginning to become more of a trend for those working shift work and wanting that bit of a kick start to get going.

Energy drinks have been on the market for some time now - and are increasingly the subject of med-ical research. There have certainly been casualties as the result of com-bining these type of drinks with hot days, dehydration and cardiac abnor-malities people may never have known existed.

In August 2007, an otherwise healthy 28-year-old man had a heart attack after a day of motocross racing. He had consumed excessive amounts of a caffeinated energy drink through-out the day. Doctors think a com-

bination of excessive amounts of caffeine and taurine (found in some energy drinks) and strenuous phys-ical activity can produce the risk of a heart attack. It happens because the heart’s blood supply spasms and reduces the normal amount of blood flow to the heart, and therefore to the rest of the body.

The only reason this gentleman is alive today is thanks to an ambulance crew who was on site for the com-peition. A defibrillator was used to revert the man’s heart rhythm back to normal.

Please people, this is not an isolated incident. We are starting to see more of these cases, especially on work sites and when mixing it with alcohol. Just remember, this not only puts the person drinking these types of drinks in excessive amounts at risk, but it also puts their colleagues surround-ing them at risk too.

If you are prepared to drink these so-called “energy drinks” read the labels, and DO NOT drink over the recom-mended amounts... it may just make your heart skip a beat or two.

Until next time, stay healthy, stay informed.

Reference: Berger, A.J., Alford, K. Cardiac arrest in a young man follow-ing excess consumption of caffeinated “energy drinks” MJA 2009; 190 (1): 41-43.

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NEWS YOU WON’T GET ANYWHERE ELSE


111th EDITION. 2011arOuNd TOwN

Holding a social event you want Cecilia to photograph? 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.

Blackwater’s May Day spectacular The Blackwater community had a weekend full of fun to celebrate the May Day long weekend. There was a rodeo on Saturday night, followed by the May Day Fair on Sunday which was sponsored by the unions.

Jarrod Deguara, Timmy Hoskins and Shane Iker Katt Briggs and Tara Miko Ladies barrel racing

Erin Weeden, Abby Polkinghorne and Danny Maguire

Klay Mendham, Ben Carlew and Riley Ladies barrel racing Charlie and Kelly Huxley Mick and Liz GilliganBlackwater Rodeo Queen Janelle Milne

Megan Verdich and Carley Smith Clint and Leanne AshbacherLadies barrel racing Gavin and Rex SandilandsTy Parkinson and Russell Cox

Trevor Dunne and John Roberts Liz O’Halloran, Narelle Raynor, Jocelyn and Kerry Behan

Ken, Lilly and Josh Dunlop with Jimmy, Mitch and Harry Waters

Amber Carsburg and Matt ClarkDan Haby and Ebony Bruce


111th EDITION. 2011arOuNd TOwN

www.shiftminer.comBUY THIS AND MANY OTHER IMAGES AT

Shift Miner magazine – bringing the mining community closer together

Annette Davison and Denise McKenzie

Glad Richards, Teresa Munro and Gayle Donovan

Val Beak, Dorothy Talbot and Rachel Wight

Kids in the Easter bonnet competition

Byonce, Keenan, Tyron, Fordesha, Tyreece and Evie Daly

The Blackwater branch of the Country Womens Association held a mini cent sale and morning tea recently.

Shirley Pidgeon and Jenny Plampin

Helen Rix with her mother Joyce Rookwood and her granddaughter

Joan Bradbury,and Helen Draper Selma Draper and Nicholas Bradbury

NO CENTS AT BLACKWATER


111th EDITION. 2011STuff TO THE EdiTOr

Got somethinG to share? send us your text messages or phone photos to 0428 154 653 or email to [email protected]

Long serving miner Tom Wharton caused a stir a few editions ago, when he wrote a lengthy letter about his concerns about the mining industry - covering safety and recruitment issues.

Well, he’s back with a second instalment.

Dear Editor,

I say once again that I am not running down the present people in safety departments but the way safety has evolved.

In most cases, when the daily production meeting is held the safety advisor is present with lots of papers quoting budgets and actualities for all type of incidents, lost time reportables and so on. If they are good figures, there is a pat on the back. Now this is where the system is wrong. There should be no budgets on safety. The aim should be zero harm - just like it says on most company safety signs.

Then there are various items like take five hits and so on. Everyone is supposed to complete one per shift. A lot of people fill them in at the start of their tour and hand in one per shift. That keeps everyone happy. But this is quantity over quality and makes a mockery of the system.

I have seen a young engineer drive around a mine site for over an hour to get a hit as he had not got his quota. Is that what he went to uni for? I think not.

If you were to ask for my recommendations I would say:

1. Stop little empire building within mine sites. Get safety advisors off their altars-on-high and get them out with people on the coal face listening and learning. That will improve things in most cases.

2. Start getting quality rather than quantity both in systems and personnel. Reams and reams of fancy paper is not the only thing that makes good safety.

3. Most importantly, get the trust and respect of people on site and maybe we should all remember the Chinese proverb; “Tell me - I forget. Show me - I might remember. But involve me - and I will understand.”

Yours sincerely,

Tom Wharton

Then we received this letter from a NZ miner, keen to get into the industry here in Queensland:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am currently renewing my generics to get back to working in the Queensland mining industry.

In the last month or so I’ve obtained through MY own efforts and at MY own cost:

1. Combine surface/underground generic through Central Highlands Safety Services, Rockhampton

2. BMA surface induction and drug test with SGS Stax, Rockhampton

3. White card construction industry, with New Horizons, Rockhampton and

4. Coal board medical and drug test with Dr Peter Smith, Yeppoon

Total cost $1015.

After my coal board medical came the doctor’s reply. Gary - I cannot forward your medical papers to the appropriate authority because you have to have current employment with a mining company or a letter of offer. Oh! I said. Looks like they will be on file for a while.

This industry needs a clean up and clean out - starting from the top. I thought coming from NZ five years ago from a mining background (Huntly) I wouldn’t have to face all this paper work and bureaucracy. But no, it’s ten times worse.

I would also like to ask through this letter what is happening at BMA’s Peak Downs mine where two supervisors were parked chatting in a no go zone who didn’t correctly inform the Mines Inspectorate, who didn’t barricade the accident scene, and who removed the vehicle from the scene.

I would love to hear from coal miners and companies in regards to these matters. Don’t live in fear guys, it is time to BE HEARD - speak up, speak up, speak up!

Kind regards,

Gary Palmer

(unemployed fitter)

Tune into the Michael J. Breakfast show

from 7:35 am every Monday for 4RO's CQ Mining Update, with special guest Angus

from Shift Miner.

Michael Bailey - Weekdays 5am - 9amBreakfast

Greg Cary - Weekdays 9am -12pmMornings

Alan Jones - Weekdays 1pm - 2pmAfternoons

www.4ro.com.au SALES ENQUIRIES: (07) 4920 2000

NEWS, TALK ANDTHE MUSIC YOU LOVE

SEEN SOMETHING WE HAVEN’T?

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

Text to 0428 154 653Email [email protected]

stuff to the editor

“Another bogged dozer”sent in anonymously


111th EDITION. 2011fair diNKuM

IN AMERICA - A marathon runner who dropped his dacks during the race, was tasered when he refused to stop running.

The 35-year-old was arrested for pub-lic indecency, but he claims he did nothing wrong.

Police ordered the man into their car when they noticed he was running with-out pants, but when he refused to stop they forced him out of the race with a taser gun.

The man told his local paper he did nothing wrong and that “anything goes” on race day.

He said his pants just fell off because the draw string had come loose and he didn’t stop because he wanted to finish the race.

There was one flaw in his argument - he wasn’t actually registered for the run.

CLOSER TO HOME IN BRISBANE - and a man has been fined by a Bris-bane court after he fought a man who “mooned” him.

The 26-year-old Blackwater man plead-ed guilty to public nuisance.

The CCTV footage of the early morn-

ing in question shows a fight broke out after a man mooned the 26-year-old.

The mooner in question wanted $315 to compensate for blood stained clothes, a doctor’s bill and xray.

But the Magistrate refused, and just fined the Blackwater man $350 and told him to stay away from the booze.

IN TURKEY - it was a home visit of a dif-ferent kind.

Turkish police dressed up in white coats and stethoscopes, knocked on peo-ple’s doors to see if any would allow the “pseudo doctors” in.

Residents were told they were screen-ing for high blood pressure and handed out pills.

Alarmingly, 86 out of 100 residents took the pills immediately.

While those pills were harmless, a local gang has been using the same technique to give people sedatives and then burgle them.

Police are urging all residents to be more savvy when it comes to letting stran-gers into their home and swallowing pills.

FAir Dinkum!

Andrew,I hate to say it, but any woman who cares solely about how much money you’re making probably isn’t the kind of girl you want a long term relationship with.

It is possible though that she’s just trying to gauge how successful you are, and how good you are with money to see if you’re someone that can support her financially. I’d go with the flow for a while and see how your relationship develops, if your girlfriend starts ask-ing you for money, or wants access to your bank account, I think it might be time to cut and run.

Susan.

Dear Frank,I met a girl through a friend of mine about three months back and I’ve been seeing her ever since. I really like her, although she seems to be obsessed with how much money I make. I’m worried that if she meets someone who makes more than I do than she’ll leave me, what should I do?Andrew, Yeppoon

Well, Andrew, I’ve always found mon-ey to be an extremely useful relation-ship tool as you can basically use it to make women do whatever you want. For instance, if you take a woman out to dinner and she orders a meal worth more than $50 it’s legal to put your hand down her pants while she’s sleeping, it’s in the preamble to the Constitution.

Still not convinced? No matter the magnitude of trouble you’re in with your lady, buying her an expensive gift will always get you back in the good books. My wife once caught me stark naked in my living room refereeing an all nude female wrestling tournament. Needless to say she was rather upset, but thanks to a new pair of earrings and a nice dinner, I was trying some wrestling moves of my own on her that very night.

You see Andrew, money, gifts, fan-

cy dinners, they all have the incredible ability to erase a woman’s short term memory, it’s truly one of the most fan-tastic discoveries man has ever made.

Having said all that, I do see your problem. No matter how well off you are, there will always be someone with more cash than you. I can tell you from personal experience, nothing deflates your ego quite like watching a portly merchant banker use hun-dred dollar bills to convince your lady friend to knead his groin like a fren-zied pizza chef.

I once attempted to solve my mon-ey woes by trying out for one of Aus-tralia’s most popular

game shows. However, my hopes of winning untold riches were unceremo-niously dashed by the supercilious host, and his insistence that yours truly was not cut out for Australian television.

I got even with him though. I used my considerable skills to doctor some photographs of him in some very com-promising positions.

I then of course blackmailed him and published the photos on the inter-net anyway, if you’re interested in checking out my handy work you can do so at www.man-vs-donkey.com.

It’s not all doom and gloom though, it sounds like you’re making fair-ly decent money, even if your wom-an does leave you for a richer guy you can always head down to the local cat-house to ease your pain, tell them Frank sent you.

Frank

If you have a question for Frank and Susan Email Us at: [email protected]

Sensible Susan

Frank the Tank’s “Streakin” good love advice

Own Your Own

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option available.”


HOUSE FOR SALE

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raked ceiling in large lounge/dining, 2 x split system

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HOUSE FOR SALEInvestor Kickstart!

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RETIRE IN COMFORTChoose from one of our many home and land packages in QLD from

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solid f/glass half cabin fishing vessel.length 9m, beam 3m, drft 1.2.210hp

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HF & VHF radios,plotter, 6”sounder.All safety gear & ground tackle.Twin berth, covered back deck.Ideal fishingor Island cruising.Yeppoon 49 392 182,

0409491024 $59,000 neg

BIKE FOR SALE

Harley Davidson 2005

softail deluxe,250

wide ass kit, diamond

cut spokes, slash

cut pipes, burly

bars,13000km

like new

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ph.0407 491 388

BOAT FOR SALEMustang 3200SE,

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JETSKI FOR SALE2008 Kawasaki

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$17,000 ONO0418 185 339

BOAT FOR SALE

480 coastrunner CV,,

fully registered until

july 2011,,75 hp

honda 4 stroke,,boat

and motor have only

25hrs,,also comes with

heaps of extras,,

$26,000

0429 841 205

CAR FOR SALE

Landcruiser ute, 06

model, diesel, bullbar,

sidebars, towbar, a/c,

cd player, uhf radio,

white, tinted windows,

115000kms,

$41,500.

ph: 0400 543 398

ACRES FOR SALEProperty 5 Mins to Miriamvale, 2x125 acre blocks + 120

acre reserve. Massive water supply &

extensive irrigation. Grow anything. Choice blocks.

$550,000 house Block

or $900,000 the lot. Ph:0749791384

BIKE FOR SALE

Honda Goldwing (Luxury

Model) 2007 Model First

Reg March 08, Full Log

Book History, 38,000Km

As new condition,Tow

Bar, UHF Radio, Carry

Rack, Highway Pegs,

Lots of Chrome, Located

at Airlie Beach

0405 180 724

CAR FOR SALE

Ford BA sedan 2003/GT

kit,6cyl,193.000kms,

lowered suspension,

cd/dvd with sub woofer

and bluetooth, this car

is in VGC.

$14,500 ono.

0408 549 027

HOUSE FOR SALE

Ultimate holiday or

investment house

on Keswick Island .

With development

progressing on the

island, don’t miss

this opportunity!

Fully furnished.

$499 000

0427 411 531

CAR FOR SALE

2001 Subaru WRX. Sti

turbo, K&N air filter,

3 in exhaust, alum

radiator, bluetooth

stereo, manual, a/c,

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cruise cont,

$14,500 ONO.

0424 668 934.

BIKE FOR SALE

Honda Blackbird 1100

24,000km, Tinted

Screen,

Excellent condition,

must sell due to

wedding.

$8,990

m. 0417 767 454

ACRES FOR SALE

HOME HILL, 7.94 HA

(19.62 Acres) 46 ML

River Allocation with

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Pride Mangoes (500

trees) Absolute river

front powered block with

top quality soils

49827848

0407654765

CAR FOR SALEPRADO GRANDE 08

Diesel, Auto, Leather Int, S/Roof, Centre

Fridge, Adj Air Susp, Sat Nav, D/Hill Assist, 3Yr Factory Ext Wty,

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VGC $60,900 o.n.o.

Mob: 0407 138 822

BIKE FOR SALEHARLEY DAVIDSON

’03 100th ANNIVERS. XL 1200S SPORTSTERExcellent condition, always garaged &

covered.Windscreen, cruise control, saddles bags, many accessories

including all original parts. 14500km.

$14500 Sue 0427 570 619

CAR FOR SALE2005 Toyota Land-

cruiser,turbo diesel,

charcoal grey,5 speed manual,112,000 kms,

excellent condition,far too many extras to

mention,one owner

$55,000 ONOPh: 0438 035 478

PASTURE FOR SALE

Black Spear Seed (no weeds)

Ideal for land rehabilitation

Harvested and stored in the Rockhampton region.

Ph 07 49346190 nights

HOUSE FOR SALESUNSHINE COAST

SACRIFICEIdeal Investment.

Brand New impressive 4bed 2bath DLUG. Level Fenced block room for Shed/Van. Walk shops/schools.

Nth Facing Entert Area.Fantastic Buy

$419,000 0409 055 062

BIKE FOR SALE2009 Honda CBR 125r

As new condition, 1222k\’s, 1st log

book service was at 1000k\’s, Lady owner,

Excellent Learner bike, 6 months Qld

rego upon purchase, can deliver to

Moranbah (Mackay)$4,000 ono

0403 166 835

UNIT FOR SALE3 x 1brm s/cont

units at Haliday Bay Golf Resort. 30 mins Nth Mackay. 100m to stunning beach & boatramp. Rent to reduce your tax or enjoy yourself.

$195,000ea. Also avail for rent .

Ph: 0429 151 500.

LAND FOR SALEBeachfront Street Yeppoon 50 mtrs

walk to beachLocal boat & vehicle

ramp onto beachWalk 15mins along

Farnborough Beach to Rydges Resort for a

cocktail Great fishingIdeal family, holiday

or retirement location$250,000

0417 779 031

CAR FOR SALEHJ60 1985 L’CRUISER5 speed diesel, a/c,

warne winch, roof and rear racks, diff lock,

driving lights, Bull Bar, tow bar, Everything in good working order

Registered but selling without RW.

$2990 ono or SWAP for 400cc +

offroad bikePh 0428 154 653

HOUSE FOR SALE3 bedroom home, fully renovated, on

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$225,000. John 0428 646 014,

07 5464 6200

YOUR CLASSY HERE2 Weeks $19.506 Weeks $49.50Until Sold $99.50

Items over $200,000 have a flat fee of $50 added

Reach 20,000 miners

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HOUSE FOR SALEYeppoon.

Modern4bed 3bath, Walk to beach,

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111th EDITION. 2011

“It’s futile.”

“What is?”

“Everything.”

Bill rubbed his eyes and shook his head. “Whatta ya mean, eve-rything?”

“Life, stuff,” said Graham. “Work, especially. Here we are, a thousand ks from anywhere, in Woop-Woop, working ourselves to the bone, twelve hours a day. Why? What’s it for?”

“Don’t know about you, but I do it for the money.”

“And what’s the money for? Nothing lasts.”

Bill shrugged. “Food, a home for the family, cars, schooling, a boat, holidays. You need money for everything.”

“But none of that lasts. You can’t take it with you when you go, can you?”

“I can’t?” said Bill. “Well if that’s the case, I’m not goin’” He laughed at his own joke; it was his favourite kind.

Graham swore. “Can’t you keep up a serious conversation for once?”

“Sorry mate,” said Bill, trying to look sorry. “You’re very correct. You can’t take your gear with you when you kark it.”

Graham sighed. He went to the wet-mess bar and got two more beers. He came back and handed one to Bob. They sat in silence for a few minutes, and watched the sun flood the sky with red

and orange as it began to set. The brigalow and a few gum tree stood out against the brightness in black silhouette. The clouds looked like they were on fire.

Bob said, “Might be the middle of nowhere, but I like it out here. More than Brisbane.”

Graham said, “I hate Brisbane, actually.”

“You hate everything today. You sound like you’re in a hurry to curl up and die.”

“No, but we all die, and then nothing’s left.”

“You really think that? You die, and then that’s the end of every-thing?”

Graham shrugged. “It’s futile.”

“You mentioned that.”

Graham grunted.

After a minute Bob smiled. “Ah!” he said, to himself.

“What’s up?”

Bob said, “Your girlfriend called it off, didn’t she?”

Graham turned suddenly to face him. His surprise was obvious. “She wasn’t my girlfriend,” he said. “She was my fiancée.”

Bob said nothing, but shook his head.

Graham mumbled, “Yeah, she called it off.”

“Even though it’s futile, would you like another beer?”

“I hate you,” said Graham. “But: yes, I would.”

by Bernard S. Jansen5 minute fiction

It’s FutIle

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 [email protected]

GOT AN IDEA FOR A STORY? Let Bernard know - email him at [email protected] or hop on his blog surgebin.blogspot.com

Off SHifT

Shift MinerHandy 15A blank gridShiftMInerHandyblank.pdf©Lovatts Publications 2010

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10

11

12 13

14 15 16

17 18

19 20 21

22 23

24 25 26

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29 30

MEDIUM # 1

2 4 3 75 97 6 1

3 9 56 4 3 2

9 6 43 8 9

2 51 5 7 2

1. Director, ... Hitchcock

2. Opposed

3. Crooked

4. Hovers (on brink)

6. Colleagues

7. Comprehends

8. Physically demanding

11. Doing word

15. Tell off (5,4)

17. Ceiling window

18. Instructor

20. Over-gratify

21. Fur animal hunter

22. Abort

23. Introduced to solid food

26. Pass (law)

ACROSS 1. From the menu (1,2,5)

5. Turn sharply

9. Brown skin marks

10. Invasion fleet

12. Not here

13. Slightly wet

14. Lyrical poems

16. ... a rock and a hard place

19. Purifying organs

21. Flip (coin)

24. Is without

25. Brand (5,4)

27. Makes good progress (4,2)

28. Paint atomiser (5,3)

29. Cruel ruler

30. Babbled

DOWN

SHIFT MINERHandy Cross 2742 - (15A grid)ShiftMinerHandy107s. pdf© Lovatts Publications 03/02/2011

G E M S T O N E I G N I T ER E Y O R M NI T A L I A N S Z I P P E DN N N S O M O OD E L I G H T E D I N L A WS Y O E N I I

S K I P S W E E T E NI E I S E G

M E A S L E S U S S RP S O A N A SI D E A L W R A P P E D U PN S I N I A D AG H O S T S I D E N T I T YE F R E I C ED I F F E R E D U C A T E D

# 100 8 4 1 7 3 9 5 2 67 2 5 4 8 6 1 9 36 3 9 5 2 1 7 8 41 6 4 2 7 5 9 3 83 5 2 9 6 8 4 1 79 8 7 3 1 4 6 5 25 7 6 8 9 2 3 4 12 9 3 1 4 7 8 6 54 1 8 6 5 3 2 7 9

LAST EDITION’S SOLUTIONS


111th EDITION. 2011Off SHifT

YEPPOON“It’s all peaches and cream here!”

You could almost hear Adrian from the Secret Spot in Yeppoon’s smile down the phone as he reported the best fishing fort-night in many, many months.

“Doesn’t matter where you go, you’ll get something.”

And for the first time in a long time, peo-ple are able to get out wide.

Adrian went out himself recently and bagged up on nannagai, red emperor and sweet lip.

He said there have been reports of big jew fish around the 16 to 17 kilo mark being caught off Findlays Reef - and some quali-ty cat fish too!

“They’re 15 to 20 pounds and they’re pulling like trains!” according to Adrian.

Some nice grunter up to the 5 kilo mark have been pulled in, and some good catches of Spanish mackerel off Flat and Perforated.

However, while the catches are good (25kg size) the numbers are not great.

Adrian sold out of cast nets over the

Easter break, with prawns still going besserk in the catchments.

Corio and Coorooman Creek are still throwing quality crabs too.

“They are nice big chocolate coloured bucks,” says Adrian.

Those throwing their line in from the shore can expect to land a few whiting, and the flathead are just getting started.

One bloke landed a metre long beauty at Ross Creek just down from the Information Centre in Yeppoon.

It’s worth remember though that when it comes to flathead anything over 75 cms has to be thrown back - because they are the big breeding females.

GLADSTONEThe good weather has graced Glastone’s fishermen too.

Dylan from Pat’s Tackle World said plenty of people took the opportunity to get out wide over the Easter and long weekend breaks.

And they were rewarded for their efforts.

“There are good numbers of reds and trouts around the local reefs.”

“In fact there are good number of reef fish getting caught everywhere,” he said.

“Spanish mackerel are also starting to run.”The Calliope River is still running live

with barra, and there are plenty of crabs kicking around - although the prawns are starting to die back with the cooler weather.

The Calliope hot water drain is a popular haunt for barra and should start producing some nice queen fish through the winter.

MACKAYMackay fishermen have been out wide in mass numbers taking full advantage of the break in the weather.

Bruce from the Compleat Angler reck-ons people are starting to haul good num-bers of Spanish mackerel wide off St Bees and Keswick Islands.

The shipping channel has also been pro-ducing good reds - particularly around the Mackay side of Parker Reef.

“There have also been reports of good table fish like trout and lipper off Three Rocks,” said Bruce.

The good rains mean the winter season should be a pearler - and Bruce has some advice.

“Get that lobby pump out now and get it fixed, because the whiting are just starting to have a bit of chew.”

“It won’t be long now before we start to see bream, whiting, flathead, salmon and queen fish - it should be a great season.”

Gla

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TIDE TIMES MayMon 9 Tue 10 Wed 11 Thu 12 Fri 13 Sat 14 Sun 15

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

0044 3.73 0149 3.67 0302 3.69 0413 3.76 0518 3.84 0019 1.00 0116 0.79

0715 1.37 0824 1.34 0937 1.21 1045 1.01 1146 0.79 0617 3.90 0710 3.90

1313 2.92 1434 2.97 1556 3.17 1706 3.48 1806 3.80 1238 0.61 1327 0.48

1859 1.52 2032 1.56 2158 1.44 2314 1.24 1858 4.10 1946 4.32

0223 4.90 0338 4.87 0457 4.98 0607 5.16 0106 1.32 0208 1.04 0304 0.83

0912 1.79 1029 1.63 1141 1.32 1243 0.97 0706 5.32 0801 5.38 0851 5.36

1504 3.79 1633 3.97 1751 4.35 1855 4.82 1339 0.66 1429 0.42 1515 0.28

2102 1.84 2232 1.82 2355 1.60 1950 5.27 2040 5.65 2126 5.95

Mon 16 Tue 17 Wed 18 Thu 19 Fri 20 Sat 21 Sun 22

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

0208 0.62 0256 0.53 0344 0.53 0431 0.62 0517 0.78 0605 0.97 0024 3.88

0801 3.87 0849 3.79 0938 3.68 1026 3.53 1115 3.36 1203 3.19 0654 1.16

1412 0.41 1455 0.43 1538 0.53 1620 0.71 1701 0.95 1741 1.21 1254 3.05

2032 4.47 2117 4.53 2203 4.48 2250 4.34 2336 4.12 1824 1.45

0355 0.69 0444 0.63 0532 0.68 0620 0.83 0026 5.85 0112 5.52 0201 5.15

0940 5.26 1028 5.10 1115 4.89 1204 4.62 0708 1.06 0756 1.32 0850 1.53

1559 0.22 1642 0.26 1724 0.41 1807 0.68 1254 4.35 1345 4.09 1441 3.91

2211 6.15 2256 6.20 2341 6.10 1850 1.02 1936 1.39 2029 1.75

ColdesT morninG so farWeek 1 - After some thick fogs the Coal-fields recorded the coldest morning so far this year. Biloela recorded a minimum of 6.7C last Thursday morning. Other places in the southern Coalfields recorded under 10C with grass temperatures close to 2/3 degrees. After the heavy rains of the previous week pushed the Dawson River into flood the countryside is completely green. A North West Cloud Band (NWCB) should drop some light rain early in the week over the north Coalfields. Then colder temperatures later in the week with sunny skies.

Boaties beware!! Calm seas inshore are

a trap for young players. With the strong high in the south fresh offshore souther-lies should prevail now the colder air has arrived.Week 2 - The record SOI values continue with a +21.9 for early May. The Monsoon Trough has moved over PNG. Coastal south east winds should cause a brief shower that may move inland into the eastern Coalfields. Cool overnight temperatures with mostly sunny days in the west.

This could be a little rough for the boaties. Constant moderate SE/E winds could keep a moderate swell up. Only for the marine loves with strong constitutions.

YOuR WEAThER FORECASTWith Mike Griffin

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YOuR WEAThER FORECAST


111th EDITION. 2011Off SHifT

Our introduction to Western Australia involved wandering around Perth till three in the morning and paying $300 for less than 12 hours in a hotel bed.

Not ideal, not endearing, not even remotely funny, not even now as I write this

three months later.What was ideal, even idyllic if I can be so

bold, was what we discovered after we hired a car and left the capital to head to Marga-ret River just three and half hours away.

You might know the region for its win-

eries, breweries, food scene and picturesque surrounds, but what you might be surprised to find out is it was originally known for its famous Surfers Point.

A point we stumbled across when we fol-lowed the seaside board walk from our resort

at Gnarabup Beach to the crammed carpark.The dozens of people lining the car-

park were there to watch kamikaze surfers on the massive breaks and some of the less experienced kiteboarders and windsurfers!

The turquoise and sapphire waters were breath taking, but it was the warmth of the western sun that hypnotically drew us back every afternoon.

We kept our mornings for exploring.Choosing a tour of the region was hard

given the number of choices but eventually (and I think wisely) we vetoed the Wine for Dudes tour in favour of the half day Marga-ret River with Neil McLeod.

Neil’s better half picked us up to join the rest of the group and shared a secret with us.

“It’s his birthday today you know, you have to embarrass him and sing happy birthday, he’s always embarrassing me,” Coralie said.

Putting that tit bit of information to the back of our minds we headed to our first stop, a tasting paddle of beers and lunch at the Cowaramup Brewing Company.

We were in good hands, Neil knew eve-rything, history, jokes, towns and tastes.

It was easy to see how he could embar-rass a girl.

We tasted venison, olive oil, chocolate and cheese but Coralie’s secret was never far from our thoughts.

As we arrived at Evans and Tate win-ery, and in front of a packed tasting hall, the whole tour bus launched into a spirited ver-sion of Happy Birthday toasting Neil with the icy champagne from our sampling glasses.

Well Coralie, you’ll be pleased to know that more than 30 people cheered and clapped and Neil turned bright red.

I think we might have embarrassed him.

Open 9am - 5pm both daysFree entry for the whole familyOnsite parkingPLUS catch all the action of the Mackay Superboat Races

Wine, food, surf and the western sun

“The turquoise and sapphire waters were breath taking,

but it was the warmth of the western sun that hypnotically

drew us back every afternoon.”

Shift Miner Magazine journalist Nicky Way recently headed west for some much needed r&r. She spent some time in one of Australia’s most beautiful regions - the Margaret River.


111th EDITION. 2011

GLADSTONE property values have soared by 10 per cent in just six months and vacancy rates have fallen below one per cent, accord-ing to valuers Herron Todd White (HTW).

The major driver for the boom in real estate is not surprisingly the go-ahead of LNG projects in the region.

According to HTW, the impact of those decisions cannot be over-stated.

“The Gladstone area was not directly affected by any of the recent natural disas-ters that occurred across Queensland dur-ing recent months,” the report read.

“The market changed significantly, how-ever, when the first of several LNG plants were approved in October 2010.”

“Within months of the announcements, activity around town increased dramatically, sales volumes were increasing, vacant land was becoming scarce and vacancy rates for rental properties had dropped below one per cent.”

“Whether this growth can be sustained is yet to be seen as it is dependent on many factors.”

Responding to this demand, property developer Devine Homes has just last week unveiled plans for a new 2900-home resi-dential development.

The $1.4 billion project would be built on land between Gladstone and Tannum Sands, although the project still needs coun-cil approval before it can go ahead.

According to the Gladstone Regional Coun-cil, more than 4000 residential lots have already been approved for development in the area.

Devine Queensland general manager Andrew Brimblecombe said the new devel-opment - if approved - would include a pri-mary school, shops and and industrial and business area.

“Gladstone is currently experiencing a land shortage and this new community will provide a range of quality living options to suit all lifestyles,” Mr Brimblecombe said.

If approved, building would begin next year, but it would be 2025 before the project was completed.

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needs council approval before it can go ahead.”


111th EDITION. 2011MONEY MaTTErS

05/11

130

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So what are the advantages and disadvantages?One advantage shares have over proper-ty is that they are ‘liquid’ assets. You can liquidate, or sell them relatively quickly

if you need the cash. It can take months to sell a property as you know. The oth-er advantage shares have is that they are cheaper to buy than a property. You can get a start in the share market easier than in the property market, especially if you are young. Your ongoing costs are lower too. Maintaining an investment property can be costly.

You seem to have a preference for shares? Is that right?No, not at all. As I said, there are upsides and downsides with either. One upside with property, for example, is that you can influence its value, through renovations or improvements, whereas shares are at the mercy of markets. And, as we’ve seen over the past few years, markets can be turbu-lent. The ease with which someone can offload their shares can be a genuine dis-

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You mentioned financial goals at the start, what did you mean by this?

Essentially that people are at differ-ent stages in their lives and their goals vary. I see people who’ve just started in the workforce and I see people about to retire. They have different goals and their investment strategy needs to reflect this. Also, someone in their 20s can general-ly tolerate higher risks than someone in their 60s for example.

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Shares or property – which is the better investment?


111th EDITION. 2011MONEY MaTTErS

REAL estate agents are reporting a spike in activity across the board as central Queensland slowly dries out after an extended wet season.

In Rockhampton, real estate heavyweight Pat O’Driscoll said both the residential and commercial property markets had been posi-tively effected by the end of the wet.

“The weather makes a massive differ-ence for residential real estate, and after a wet summer it feels like the year is just get-ting started,” he said.

“ I think that a lot of the people who have transferred to town through work are just arriving now, as companies start to make proper plans after all the rain.”

“This is translating to rental vacancy rates of 1.65 per cent which is very low.”

According to Mr O’Driscoll, the low

number of rental houses available and the sunny weather had also led to a spike in res-idential sales.

He said enquiry had nearly doubled over the past five weeks.

In the commercial and industrial sectors, Mr O’Driscoll said there had also been a bounce back in interest.

“There has been good enquiry for both leasing and sales in commercial and indus-trial real estate,”

“However it has been less so in retail.”“The main reason has been ongoing con-

fidence in the key sectors of mining, LNG and grazing.”

“While the wet weather might be creating a few headaches for graziers at the moment, it will be good for them down the track.”

“The weather makes a massive difference for residential real estate, and after a wet summer it feels like the year is just getting started.”

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