SM94_Shift Miner Magazine

SHIFT MINERMonday 30th August 94th Edition 2010 The Queensland mining community’s best source of local news

The Partners:John Taylor - LL.B

Sharon Smith - BEc/LL.B HonsCraig Worsley - LL.B

Greg Carroll

PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS Mining Accidents Work Accidents Motor Vehicle Accidents Insurance/TPD Claims

CONVEYANCING ESTATE LAW COMMERCIAL LAW

Phone 4957 2944 Fax 4957 2016 www.taylors-solicitors.com.au

email: [email protected] 2/ 17 Brisbane Street Mackay

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NewsMining’s most innovative minds » page 4

NewsBeaconsfield’s Brant Webb sends support to Chile » page 6

News100 new BMA apprenticeships in 2011 » page 7

Around TownA fun day out in Blackwater » page 12

Money MattersShould you invest in gold? » page 23

THE future of at least three Queensland coal projects is unclear following the state government’s decision to lock up parcels of prime food producing land.

The Mines Minister Stephen Robert-son has announced new areas deemed to be “strategic cropping land” will be off limits to mining.

Draft maps have been released, and the green zones denoting strategic cropping land cover 70,000 km2 - or four per cent of Queensland.

To put that in perspective, currently mining takes up 734 km2 - or 0.04 per cent of the state.

The new cropping zones look set to have implications for proposed mining projects already in advanced stages.

The zones appear to overlap sever-al developments, including Xstrata’s Wan-doan Coal project, Vale’s Belvedere project near Moura and Cockatoo Coal’s expan-sion north of Baralaba.

Projects in the Galilee Basin appear to be unaffected, as the land in question is only for cropping and not gazing purposes.

The maps are not final, and will be fine-tuned before the new policy becomes law next year.

» continued page 22

The new trend in training » page 4

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Page 3 - Shift Miner Magazine, 30th August 2010

94th EDITION. 2010CONTENTS

ON face value, the Queensland gov-ernment’s decision to lock up the state’s prime food producing land from min-ing or development might seem to make a lot of sense.

Afterall, there is plenty of logic in the argument that we can’t eat coal (although we do need the power it produces to refrigerate it and move it round the state).

But even advocates of food bowl pro-tection were shocked when the draft maps released last week highlighted a 70,000 km2 swathe of Queensland - an area the size of Ireland.

Compare that to the 734km2 that is currently being mined in the state.

The trouble is that in a bid to appease increasingly vocal agricultural lobby groups, the government has acted too quickly and without reliable data.

The onus will now be on resource com-panies, explorers and developers to prove

where proposed projects overlap “stategic cropping land” that those areas are not the state’s best agricultural land.

It’s all to be done on data such as soil quality and rainfall, and at the expense of companies that have already invested mil-lions of dollars in projects before this new policy was announced.

Instead of addressing areas where farmers had legitimate concerns about resource development in Southern Queensland in a timely fashion, the issue has been allowed to drag out, create ten-sion between farming and mining and finally now build a new level of bureauc-racy into the system.

A shared loathing of bureaucracy is usually the one thing farmers and miners can agree on.

This solution may end up an expensive, complicated and arduous walk down the bureaucratic path for all involved.

FROM THE EDITOR21

Alex Graham

MINER’S TRADERServes 6-8

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Preheat oven to 180C degrees. Grease a deep 20cm round cake tin

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and mix until just combined. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake 45-50 minutes or until cooked through (if the pudding starts to go brown

cover with foil). Once cooked, remove from oven and stand for 10 minutes before turning it out of the pan. Prepare the sauce by placing all ingredients in a saucepan stirring over low heat until sugar has dissolved and butter melted. Pour butterscotch sauce over the top and serve with vanilla ice cream or cream.

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14 STUFF TO THE EDITOR

15 FRANK’S LOVE ADVICE

17 GIGS GUIDE

18 BAIT SHOP BANTER

22 MONEY MATTERS

NEWS 5 Fit for work

Health tips on site

6 Trapped in Chile Australians help rescue

7 UCG future Minister rebukes Cougar

8 Moranbah meeting The latest Bowen Basin plans

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94th EDITION. 2010NEwS

Catcher snatches awardTHE ‘cathode nodule catcher’ mightn’t have a snappy name, but it has cleaned up industry’s top gong for innovation.

The device was developed by Xstrata Cop-per smelter workers, and has eliminated the need for workers to lift 32 kilogram floor plates and shovel 250 kilograms of copper waste underneath them for an hour every week.

When you imagine that happening in a north Queensland summer, you can see why the catcher was invented.

Now, the waste is contained in the catch-er, rather than under the floor plates - and the catcher is emptied twice a week so cleaning the area takes five minutes once every two months.

While Xstrata took out the prestigious Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Innovations Award at last week’s con-ference, the bright sparks at Rio Tinto’s Kes-trel mine took out the People’s Choice Award.

Its “belt lifting and roller replacement” tool provides a simpler and safer way to change conveyor belt rollers.

The job used to take two people, but can now be done by one and without needing to get under the conveyor.

A highly commended award went to MMG’s Century mine for its “window delineator”, which helps heavy machinery operators to more clearly see the edge of in-pit roads at night.

MORE than 2000 New South Wales miners each month are being trained using virtual real-ity (VR) technology to simulate on site hazards.

“Instead of watching Avatar, you’re actual-ly in it,” explained Coal Services’ general man-ager of virtual reality training Bruce Dowsett.

In NSW, Coal Services is funded by the union and industry to supply mines rescue, insurance, compensation and training services.

Over the past 10 years the company has developed virtual reality training modules that are now attracting worldwide interest.

The training being run at four centres in the key mining towns of Lithgow, Singleton, Wollongong and Newscastle.

Coal Services’ chairman Ron Land gave an impressive 3D presentation to 700 delegates at last week’s Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Conference in Townsville.

Mr Land told the conference VR will be needed to train the next generation of employees in the sector.

“Virtual reality is not a panacea, but when used in conjunction with modern classroom techniques and other protocols, significantly improves retention of knowl-edge and skills,” said Mr Land.

“The logistics of training on site can be very difficult, but now we can put forward virtual mines,” explained Mr Dowsett.

“What that means is training can be car-ried out in a realistic 3D realm so when people do go on site they are recognis-ing the hazards - that is, they are retaining that knowledge.”

“The feedback we are getting is this training has accelerated new starters, that they are already a step ahead.”

Mr Dowsett said the training modules can be updated to keep up with the real life changes on mine sites.

He said the Townsville conference had piqued the interest of many Queensland companies who are keen to see the technol-ogy cross the border.

“There has been a tremendous amount of interest, asking why they haven’t got it in Queensland and saying they want to get it here.”

In NSW, about 20,000 miners are going through VR training each year - including apprentices, new starters, contractors and miners on refresher courses.

Coal Services is also devising programs for police, fire and ambulance officers.

DEATH BY

DOLLAR

SHIFT MINERMonday 16th November 75th Edition 2009

The Queensland mining community’s best source of local news

MA

GA

Z I NE

Why not consider a career

in health and aged care?Go to www.mercycq.com/careers

or call our recruitment team on (07) 49317481

(SPQs excepted)

$1.00NewsNorth Goonyella

on strike » page 4

NewsMore mines on

the way for CQ

» page 5FeatureKeeping a check

on health » page 6

CQ Business

Gladstone Nickel

still a goer?

» page 12Around Town

Helping �ght

breast cancer

» page 10

Money Matters

Could your savings

be tax free? » page 23

Your guide to

property &

businesses for sale

Locally Owned and Operated - www.shiftminer.com

WHEN the price for coal in Australia fell nearly 70

per cent last year, miners held their collective breath

in anticipation of widespread mine shutdowns.

However, with the bene�t of a weak Australian

dollar ($AUD) and a new coal price that was still

historically high, most miners held onto their jobs.

Today there is a less obvious, but possibly more dan-

gerous, threat lurking in the shadows - the high $AUD.

Most of us understand that if the $AUD is high

when you travel overseas you can buy more of the

local currency because each dollar is more valuable.

But if the $AUD is high it also means the price

we get for exported commodities is a lot less – and

this has already directly cost jobs in the coal industry.

Vale last week announced the closure of its

Broadlea coal mine meaning the end to between

41 and 80 full time jobs.

The high dollar and your job

» continued page 2

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SHIFT MINERMonday 2nd November 74th Edition 2009


M A G A Z I N E

PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS

Mining Accidents Work Accidents Motor Vehicle Accidents

Insurance/TPD Claims

CONVEYANCING ESTATE LAW COMMERCIAL

LAW

Phone 4957 2944 Fax 4957 2016

www.taylors-solicitors.com.au

email: [email protected]

Level 2/ 17 Brisbane Street Mackay

TAYLORSSOLICITORS

(SPQs excepted)

$1.00NewsCurragh sales soar

even in downturn » page 5

NewsCQ brakes blitz » page 10

Think PinkMiners embrace pink » page 11

CQ BusinessSteel workers to merge

locally? » page 14FrankSets you straight on food poisoning

page » page 17Money MattersNew reform means

tax torment could ease » page 26

Locally Owned and Operated - www.shiftminer.comTWILIGHT ZONEIt’s not a boom or a bust

» continued page 6 » continued page 6

DUST headache inMoranbah

AND SHE’S OPEN!

HISTORY REPEATSWill Gladstone learn from Darwin?

SHIFT MINERMonday 19th October 73rd Edition 2009 The Queensland mining community’s best source of local news

M A G A Z I N ELocally Owned and Operated - www.shiftminer.com

Why not consider a career in health and aged care?

Go to www.mercycq.com/careersor call our recruitment team on (07) 49317481

(SPQs excepted)$1.00

NewsCollinsville remembers » page 5

NewsBMA’s $1 million donation » page 2

FeatureThe ETS explained » page 6

BusinessThe strength of family » page 12

Around Town Achtung! Oktoberfest » page 10

5 MINUTE FICTION Have a cuppa & read » page 21

Money MattersSarina’s rental appeal » page 23

Your

guide to

property &

businesses

for sale

» continued page 4

» continued page 2

You can leave

your cap on!SHIFT MINERMonday 5th October 72nd Edition 2009


M A G A Z I N E

Locally Owned and Operated

PERSONAL IN

JURY CLAIMS

Mining Accide

nts

Work Accident

s

Motor Vehicle

Accidents

Insurance/TPD

Claims

CONVEYANCI

NG ESTATE L

AW COMME

RCIAL

LAW Phone

4957 2944 F

ax 4957 2016

www.taylors-s

olicitors.com.a

u

email: mail@tay

lors-solicitors.

com.au

Level 2/ 17 B

risbane Street

Mackay

TAYLO

RS

SOLIC

ITORS

(SPQs

excepted)

$1.00News

$100B of projects

in CQ » page 2

News

Big plans for

Anglo » page 4

Jobs Alert

Looking for a

start? » page 14

Around Town

Local �ghter

crowned champ

» page 10

CQ Business

Aquila’s double

plans » page 12

Money Matters

Miners push price

rise » page 26

EVER felt like your thoughts were being closely monitored by a higher authority?

Chances are if you work at an Anglo Coal mine, your suspicions were right, but it

has nothing to do with a Big Brother style conspiracy and everything to do with

fatigue man-

agement.

» continued

page 5

STILL NO

ANSWERS

» continued page 5

DEATH

BY

DOLLARSHIFT

MIN

ERMonday 16th Novem

ber 75th Editio

n 2009

The Queensland m

ining community’s b

est source of lo

cal news

MA

GA

ZI N

E

Why n

ot consid

er a ca

reer

in health and aged ca

re?

Go to w

ww.mercy

cq.co

m/careers

or call

our rec

ruitm

ent te

am on (

07) 4

9317

481

(SPQs

excepted

)

$ 1.00

News

North Goo

nyella

on st

rike » p

age 4

News

More m

ines on

the way

for C

Q

» pag

e 5

Featu

re

Keeping a

check

on heal

th » pag

e 6

CQ Business

Gladsto

ne Nick

el

still a

goer?

» pag

e 12

Around Town

Helping �

ght

breast

cancer

» pag

e 10

Money M

atters

Could yo

ur sav

ings

be tax

free?

» pag

e 23

Yo

ur

guid

e to

prope

rty &

b

usine

sses

fo

r sale

Locally O

wned and Operated -

www.sh

iftminer.c

om

WHEN the pric

e for c

oal in A

ustralia fe

ll nearly

70

per cent la

st year, m

iners held th

eir collectiv

e breath

in anticipatio

n of widespread m

ine shutdowns.

However, with

the bene�t o

f a weak A

ustralia

n

dollar (

$AUD) and a new co

al pric

e that w

as still

historic

ally high, m

ost miners h

eld onto their j

obs.

Today there

is a les

s obvio

us, but possib

ly more d

an-

gerous, th

reat lu

rking in the sh

adows - the h

igh $A

UD.

Most of u

s underst

and that if

the $AUD is

high

when you tr

avel o

verseas y

ou can buy m

ore of the

local curre

ncy because each dollar is m

ore valuable.

But if th

e $AUD is high it

also m

eans the pric

e

we get for e

xported co

mmodities is

a lot le

ss – and

this has a

lready dire

ctly co

st jobs in

the co

al industr

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Vale last week announced the clo

sure of its

Broadlea coal m

ine meaning th

e end to betw

een

41 and 80 full t

ime jo

bs.

The high dollar and yo

ur job

» contin

ued pag

e 2

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Virtual world for miners

INNOVATIVE MINDS: Xstrata Copper’s Noel Kimlin and Peter Clifford with the Mines Minister Stephen Robertson (centre)


94th EDITION. 2010

Caval Ridge 100% FIFOBMA wants the entire workforce at its new Caval Ridge mine near Moranbah to fly in and out of work.The original conditions set in its approval stipulate 30 per cent of the workforce must live locally.But BMA has applied to the Co-ordinator General for a change, citing operation requirements and workforce conditions.Both the union and the local council are against the move.

.....................................................................

Landholder rights boostedNew laws that give landholders greater protection and security in their dealings with resource companies have been passed by state parliament.The laws were devised after consultation with rural communities over concerns about the burgeoning LNG industry.The Mines Minister said the new laws make it clear what is expected from resource companies when it comes to consultation, compensation and behaviour while operating on private land.They clarify the rights of landholders, provide more options in resolving dispute, limit the civil liability of landholders against certain legal actions and allow for legal and other costs incurred in negotiation a resolution to be part of any compensation.

.....................................................................

Online gas tenuresThe Queensland Government has launched a new online system to improve the processing of tenure data from the state’s petroleum and gas industry.Mines Online is designed to reduce the manual handling of petroleum well and borehole forms and reports by allowing tenure holders to lodge and record data online.Last year, 2506 forms were lodged in relation to drilled wells and the emerging LNG industry will see that figure significantly increase.Potentially up to 20,000 forms could be generated over the lifespan of just one of the five proposed LNG projects.

FAST NEWS

NEwS

TWO of central Queensland’s mining seats have fallen to the LNP, and Labor’s mining tax was central to the fall, according to the newly elected Member for Dawson.

“I think that it was a major factor in the decision,” George Christensen told Shift Miner.

“Certainly from the door-knocking I did in Mackay and the feedback I was getting from people walking into the polling booths

there were a lot of miners and miners’ wives and contractors saying we voted Labor last time because of WorkChoices and now we are voting LNP because of the mining tax.”

“Labor lost Dawson, they lost Herbert, they lost Flynn and Capricornia is now a marginal seat - that is pretty much the entire mining belt.”

“Michelle Landry in Capricornia went from being a complete unknown on the day

she was nominated just before the election to coming within striking distance, so it cer-tainly was an issue.”

At the time of print, there was still no decision on who would form the major-ity government - with votes still being counted, and negotiations with the independents continuing.

“The only one of the independents who seems to be against the mining tax is Bob Katter - because it directly effects his elec-torate in Kennedy.”

“I like Bob, I think he should never have left the party - or been pushed out - I think he’s very sensible and he’s opposed to the mining tax, I probably have a lot in com-mon with him.”

Marginal CQ mining seats fall to LNP

THREE minutes is all it takes to get a vital health message across to miners in a new project being trialled at several Bowen Basin sites.

Registered nurse and health consultant Tammy Farrell has developed the program to fit in with the productivity demands of mining companies.

“It has become a real issue that because of loss of production time, companies are not going to take their staff off site for a 50 minute health talk,” she told Shift Miner.

“I have tried to come up with a simpler solution, maybe you don’t need 50 minutes to get your point across, maybe you can do it in a much smaller space of time.”

Ms Farrell has devised a program that combines fact sheets with a DVD presenta-tion and intranet page.

“At the change of shift at the start of each new roster, the DVD will be played.”

“Each month will have a different health topic, and each week that topic will be explored some more.”

“I’ve tried to keep it light hearted, but

with a core message.”Ms Farrell has a personal interest in want-

ing to raise health awareness among miners.She grew up in the New South Wales

mining town of Muswellbrook, and both of her brothers are miners.

“Being a registered nurse I’d always get phone calls from my family asking me advice,” she said.

“I used to laugh until I realised I did the same to thing to them about cars.”

“I decided there was a real opportuni-ty to teach more people about their gener-al health in a formal way.”

But Ms Farrell said she doesn’t believe blue collar workers are any more ignorant about their health than their white collar counterparts.

“I can speak to people in IT or solicitors and they have no idea about basic health issues - or any interest in it - until something goes wrong.”

But Ms Farrell said she believed miners need to take more responsibility for their health.

“In the mining industry there are issues like fatigue after long shifts, but employees need to take some ownership and responsi-bility for those problems.”

“You have to make sure your lifestyle can keep up with your work requirements, no-one can force you to take care of your-self that’s your job.”

“In the mining industry there are issues like fatigue after long shifts, but employees need to take some ownership and responsibility for those problems.”

Micro message to tackle miners’ healthVirtual world

for miners


94th EDITION. 2010

BEACONSFIELD miner Brant Webb says there is one critically important way to help the 33 mines trapped in a Chilean mine.

“The best thing they could do, they have already done,” he told Shift Miner.

“They have given them contact with their families.”

Four years ago, Brant Webb and Todd Rus-sell spent two weeks trapped underground in the Beaconsfield gold mine collapse.

During that time, Brant had no contact with his family, except for one letter from his wife.

“They had re-written the letter and put what she had to say in dot points, they even spelt her name wrong.”

“We had so much anger and resentment that we couldn’t have contact.”

“They did it with the best intentions because they thought we were going to die, and so did we.”

“I don’t know about you, but I would have liked to hear my wife’s voice and tell her I loved her before I died.”

Both men have sent a message of support to the 33 trapped Chilean miners, and will use skype to contact them later this week.

But Brant said they have decided it wouldn’t help the situation for him and Todd to travel to Chile.

“It’s one thing to lift people’s spirits, but they will be going through such highs and such lows that you don’t want to make it worse for them or their families.”

“Hope can very quickly turn to despair, and we can’t speak the language which would make it difficult.”

“I also think it could be detrimental for me, and my family, and the people who helped me - it could set us all back again.”

Brant says there needs to be psycholog-ical support on hand for relatives and any-one involved in the rescue.

“Every rescuer is going to need a psy-chologist, I spoke to the drillers who helped us and one of them told me to focus on the job they just blanked us out, until we were rescued, and then they went to water.”

“It’s going to be worse in Chile, because they have put cameras down there those people now have faces, and it’s going to be harder on everybody.”

Even four years down the track, Brant still wants to thank the people who helped him.

“I can’t thank my rescuers enough, you don’t get out of a sticky wicket without someone behind you and in Australia we are lucky to have the cream of the crop.”

He just hopes the 33 Chilean miners are not trapped for the four months that rescu-ers are predicting it will take to free them.

“I think they are just playing it safe and not wanting to get hopes up, they have the whole world watching.”

Aussie experience helps Chile rescueAUSTRALIAN expertise in mines rescue could help free 33 Chilean miners who have been trapped underground for more than two weeks.

Chilean officials have made contact with Coal Services, the company which co-ordi-nates mines rescue in New South Wales.

Coal Services was pivotal in the 2006 rescue of Beaconsfield miners Brant Webb and Todd Russell, who were trapped under-ground in the gold mine for two weeks.

“Basically we co-ordinated the incident management team, gathering all the infor-mation together for the recovery effort 24 hours a day,” explained Coal Services gen-eral manager of mine rescue Paul Healey.

Mr Healey said now the Chilean min-ers had been found alive, the most impor-tant part of the recovery process would be making sure the trapped men are emotion-ally stable.

“The food and water is the easy part, looking after them psychologically is the most critical issue.”

“They are trapped in a very dark space, I mean Todd and Brant were down there for two weeks but this could be four months.”

“That’s inconceivable for most of us and that’s why it’s so important they have con-tact with their loved ones and communicate with the outside world so they feel people understand what they are going through.”

An Australian driller is also directly helping in the recovery efforts.

Perth-based Kelvin Brown was on site last week when the trapped min-ers sent their note to the surface taped onto a drill bit.

He said it was a complete surprise to find out all the men were alive.

“That was very ecstatic and no-one was expecting that,” he told the ABC.

NEwS

Beaconsfield survivor sends support message

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“The food and water is the easy part...”

“I don’t know about you, but I would have liked to hear my wife’s voice and tell her I loved her before I died.”

DARK MEMORIES: Beaconsfield survivor Brant Webb has sent a message to the Chilean miners



Bow Energy lights up Blackwater BOW Energy will increase its construction workforce at Blackwater from 60 to 200 over the next few months as the company builds the first coal seam gas (CSG) power station in Central Queensland.

The power station will produce enough elec-tricity to run 30,000 homes for the next 20 years.

Initial earthworks have begun, and Bow chief executive John De Stefani said he anticipates final development approval from the local council any day.

“We have our early operations approv-al from the Central Highlands Regional Council, and the final construction approv-al is set to arrive shortly,” he said.

Mr De Stefani said the coal being used in the project is much deeper than miners would normally target.

“In theory, coal seam gas could be extract-ed from coal that is going to be mined, but there would need to be the appropriate com-mercial contracts in place to allow that.”

“We are in discussions with a number of min-ing companies about whether this could happen.”

The power from the new station will go straight into the power grid, but Bow is also in discussions with several mines about sup-plying their power needs.

This could be done via the grid or by a direct line to nearby mines.

Most of the construction workforce is staying at nearby mining accommodation villages at Bluff and Blackwater.

COUGAR Energy’s enviornmental report into a contamination scare at its underground coal gasification (UCG) near Kingaroy has been rejected by the department (DERM).

The Sustainability Minister, Kate Jones, told a community meeting late last week she was angry Cougar had not provided all the information requested by DERM officials.

“The government and the people of Kin-garoy still do not have the answers we need-ed and expected from Cougar Energy,” Ms Jones said.

“Cougar Energy’s operations will remain suspended until the government is satisfied that the company can meet all regulatory requirements.”

“If they cannot prove their activities can be undertaken safely, they will not be allowed to recommence operations.”

Cougar was asked to investigate the source, cause and extent of groundwater contamination resulting from its operations, and provide a report to the government.

That report was submitted last week, but Cougar will now have to provide fur-ther environmental evaluation and more detailed information.

The rebuke has baffled Cougar Energy,

which released a statement saying it was “sur-prised and confused” by the “contradicting statements from the government and DERM”.

The statement said the company was already preparing supplementary technical information to be submitted today (Monday August 30) with the full knowledge of DERM.

It said the company had co-operated with the government and DERM during the process and would continue to do so, once it was formally told what further eval-uation would be necessary.

“Cougar Energy is confident that it can demonstrate that the Kingaroy operation will not harm the environment,” the statement read.

Ms Jones said a separate investigation into whether the company had breached environ-mental protection laws was continuing.

“The operating conditions of the compa-ny’s environmental authority were clear: no contamination of groundwater was allowed and, indeed, it had to ensure groundwater was properly protected,” Ms Jones said.

“If there is any evidence that this company has failed to meet its legislative requirements, we will not hesitate to take action against them.”

Breaching the environmental protection laws attracts fines of up to $2 million.

- 24 hours a day / 7days a week- for fly in fly out roster change overs- express Freight transport- on call nationwide medical transfers

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- Quality assured operator with a solid 25 year company history - Call for an obligation free fly in/fly out quotation

Increase productivity - reduce fatigue riskAustralasian Jet - call us direct on 0414 550 644 Email: [email protected] www.ausjetqld.com.au Office: 07 4953 3261

Australasian Jet can provide professional domestic and international charter flights for any budget.

NEED PEOPLE SAFE, ALERT AND ON TIME?

BMA has 100 apprentice and trainee roles to fill in the Bowen Basin next year.

More than 260 people turned up to infor-mation sessions in Blackwater, Dysart and Moranbah recently to find out how to get into the mining industry and gain a qualifi-cation at the same time.

BMA Cadet electrical engineer Alex King attended one of those sessions four years ago and he’s never looked back.

“I would encourage anyone wanting to start an apprenticeship or traineeship to go for it as it opens a lot of doors in the mining industry,” he said.

“In the mining in industry you have the opportunity to work in some great locations in Australia and across the world.”

Alex began his apprenticeship at Nor-wich Park mine after he finished year 12.

“I was interested in working at BMA as both my father and grandfather worked at Saraji mine and I thought that completing an apprenticeship would be a good way to gain experience in the mines.”

For Alex, that start has led to a new door opening.

“After my apprenticeship, I then moved to Blackwater mine where I am now work-

ing as cadet electrical engineer, reporting to a senior electrical engineer.”

“I am also studying for an associate diploma in electrical engineering.”

BMA currently employs 144 apprentices and 30 trainees across its Bowen Basin operations.

The new positions will be advertised in October, and are generally for people already living in the local area.

For more information go to www.bhpbil-liton.com.au

100 new starts at BMA mines

OPENING DOORS: Dysart-raised Alex King started out as an apprentice with BMA, and is

now working as a cadet electrical engineer

Construction has started on CQ’s first CSG power station in Blackwater

Minister bashes Cougar



ALICIA Ranford’s daughter used to get upset because her dad didn’t come home like everybody elses.

The Adelaide-based mum struggled to find strategies to help her daughter cope so she did something about it - she started the Mining Family Matters (MFM) website.

“My husband started FIFO when the kids were 2 and 3 and my daughter, in par-ticular, didn’t cope with dad being away,” Ms Ranford told Shift Miner.

“After getting some good advice from a friend who happened to be a psychologist, I thought it would be great if I could start a website to share that sort of information.”

The site set out to offer professional sup-port to help families cope with the down-side of mining life that can include FIFO and life in small, isolated regional towns.

The website features columns and Q&A sessions with a resident psychologist and social worker who offer advice on the unique issues facing mining families.

It also includes: chat forums, advice and tes-timonials on mining towns across the country, as well as financial and fitness information.

The website was launched in February, and Ms Ranford has been overwhelmed with the response.

“We’ve had over 14,000 hits from people all over Australia and the world and we’ve been able to help lots of people through the website,” she said.

“In the future we would like to see the website grow in the number of users and in the number of localities accessing it and we want the mining industry to get behind it.”

Ms Ranford said it makes good business sense for mining companies to support their employees.

“Every time a mining company loses an employee, replacement costs amount to between 0.5 and 1.5 times the miner’s salary.”

“A happy family makes for a happy miner.”To check it out for yourself, go online at

www.miningfm.com.au

Online support for mining families

DESPITE uncertainty surrounding the fed-eral election result and a mining tax, all the talk at a recent conference in Moranbah was about future development.

More than 60 people turned out for the two-day Bowen Basin Coal and Energy Conference last week.

Among the presentations were updates on a number of large local coal develop-ments including Anglo’s Grosvenor project

near Moranbah, and Aquila’s Eagle Downs and Belvedere projects.

Vale’s global coal managing director, Decio Amaral, said the company had large plans to expand coal production in Australia.

Central Highlands mayor, Peter Maguire, and Jan Afruns from the Isaac Regional Council addressed some of the social issues confronting the region like housing, and community development.

More projects on the way

INTRODUCTION TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT7 September, 5 October and 2 November

When a project fails, the problem often lies not in the concept but in the process. In order for a great idea to achieve great results, it must be supported by a great project team with an effective project management plan.

Our three-day “Successful Project Management” workshop can help staff put together the win-ning strategy to guide the team toward success.

Course Aims This course, held over 3 days over 3 months, aims to: 1. To identify and plan a project using a

project management planning approach

2. To use basic project management tools and techniques to: develop, schedule, plan resources, and manage a project

3. To implement a work-based or course-based project effectively using project management tools/techniques; and

4. To evaluate project risk and identify project stakeholders for their project.

Manufacturing Skills Queensland: Assists Queensland companies to develop skilling strategies to ensure the global competitiveness of the State’s economy.

INTRODUCTION TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT 7 September, 5 October and 2 November

When a project fails, the problem often lies not in the concept but in the process. In order for a great idea to achieve great results, it must be supported by a great project team with an effective project management plan. Our three-day “Successful Project Management” workshop can help staff put together the win-ning strategy to guide the team toward success.

After completing this course, delegates will show that with support and guidance they are able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes: 1. Knowledge and Understanding:

of Project Management planning and processes to managing a project; using a specified range of tools and techniques as appropriate to the scope, scale and duration of the project.

of Project Management processes using appropriate tools and techniques.

2. Intellectual / Thinking Skills:

Applying project management skills to their own role either in the workplace, for their academic studies/research or for personal hobbies and projects.

3. Practical / Professional Skills:

Risk analysis techniques. 4. Transferable Skills (e.g.

communications, team working, learning, ICT, etc.)

Communication skills and team motivation theory and practice.

Time: 8:00am—4:30pm

Date: 7 September 5 October 2 November

Venue: Quest Mackay 38 Macalister Street Mackay

Cost: $1080.00 (inc GST)

(includes all meals & learning materials)

To Register for this clinic visit the events page at the QMI Solutions

website at ww.qmisolutions.com.au Or call Tess on 3364 0607

Chris Coombes - Vale; Lynden Cini - John Holland; Hayden Leary - Bowen Central Coal Managenment

Eugene Du Plessis & Ross Redgrove - BGC Consulting

Anthony Woodside - Xenith; Andrew Hocking - Aquila; Ken Hill - Xenith; Peter Thorsen - Marubeni

Leon Lobegeier - SCN Lavalan; Phil Ferenczi - DEEDI; John Peric - Baulderstone; Bruce Henry - Thomas & Coffey

Brett Stevenson - Sunwater; Bruce De’Ambrosis - Ostwald Bros


Bert’s been mining for 20 years. 19 years ago he sold his beloved Harley to start investing for the future.

He took money to Steve Taylor and Partners in Emerald.

TODAY HE HAS 6 HOUSES, NO DEBTS - AND A HARLEY

What’s your future going to be like?

Call Steve Taylor on 0749807733 or google “Steve Taylor”

HARLEY NOW OR IN THE FUTURE?

Shift Miner’S MoSt eligible


Stacey taylor, 26Saraji mine, multi-skilled operator

When I’m not at work you’ll find me:Relaxing with family & friends, shopping, being outdoors fishing/camping or BBQs

The best advice I’ve ever been given is:At times life deals a lot of crap, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, be honest and true to yourself and you will always be able to hold your head high

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

My worst habit is:I’m pretty blunt which sometimes comes across wrong

My friends say I am:Generous, kind-hearted, social, fun, beautiful, intelligent, organised, a wonderful mother

If I didn’t work in mining or industry I would be a:

Fashion designer

harley Weston, 26Exploration Drilling, operations manager

When I’m not at work you’ll find me: Travelling/partying/gardening (not in the gym, not playing footy and nowhere near a “salmon polo shirt”)

The best advice I’ve ever been given is: Never pretend to be someone you’re not or you’ll always be faking it

My worst habit is: Putting myself under pressure to perform and pushing the envelope often

My best attribute is: My strength of mind and memory

My signature dish is: Lightly seared scallops on a mixed leaf salad, with dates and finely chopped Nashi, drizzled with a coriander, lime and ginger fish sauce

If I didn’t work in mining or industry I would be a: Sound engineer, photographer or geologist - (for interest only)

Deb fisher, 40Callide mine, plant operator

When I’m not at work you’ll find me:Pottering around in my garden, spending time with my horses, cruising on my motorbike, or road tripping in my F. truck

The best advice I’ve ever been given is:My father once told me to “believe half of what you see and none of what you hear”

My life is best described in the song:“Broken” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

My best attribute is:Friendly, honest, trustworthy, and a get it done attitude

If I could invite three people to dinner they would be (and why):

Teddy Thompson, Billy Connelly and Ellen De Generes. It would be packed with heaps of laughter and song

My friends say I am:Straight down the line, fun to be around and reliable

brian Puckey, 26Yongala ESS, assistant manager

When I’m not at work you’ll find me: Adventure hiking, dinner parties with friends or working on my house

My perfect date would be: Dinner in one of the most amazing restaurants in the world followed by cocktails in front of a fire in a 5 star hotel

My life is best described in the song: It’s a Beautiful Day – U2

If I could invite three people to dinner they would be (and why):

Albert Einstein, Steven Hawking and Jessica Watson - because these people are some of the most adventurous, pioneering and amazing people on the planet

If I didn’t work in mining or industry I would be a: Scuba diving instructor

If I could have any animal as a pet I would choose (and why):

A Dingo – because they are like me! Very loyal and just a bit wild...



Online support for mining familiesALICIA Ranford’s daughter used to get upset because her dad didn’t come home like everybody elses.

The Adelaid-based mum struggled to find strategies to help her daughter cope so she did something about it - she started the Mining Family Matters (MFM) website.

“My husband started FIFO when the kids were 2 and 3 and my daughter, in par-ticular, didn’t cope with dad being away,” Ms Ranford told Shift Miner.

“After getting some good advice from a friend who happened to be a psychologist, I thought it would be great if I could start a website to share that sort of information.”

The site set out to offer professional sup-port to help families cope with the down-side of mining life that can include FIFO and life in small, isolated regional towns.

The website features columns and Q&A sessions with a resident psychologist and social worker who offer advice on the unique issues facing mining families.

It also includes: chat forums, advice

and testimonials on mining towns across the country, as well as financial and fitness information.

The website was launched in February, and Ms Ranford has been overwhelmed with the response.

“We’ve had over 14,000 hits from people all over Australia and the world and we’ve been able to help lots of people through the website,” she said.

“In the future we would like to see the website grow in the number of users and in the number of localities accessing it and we want the mining industry to get behind it.”

Ms Ranford said it makes good business sense for mining companies to support their employees.

“Every time a mining company los-es an employee, replacement costs amount to between 0.5 and 1.5 times the miner’s salary.”

“A happy family makes for a happy miner.”To check it out for yourself, go online at

www.miningfm.com.au

THE Xstrata Coal rugby union charity match is on again next Saturday (11 Sep), and every-one who comes along will be seeing red.

Queensland Reds that is. Queensland Reds and international rug-

by players Ben Lucas and Leroy Houston will travel to the Central Highlands town of Tieri for the match, where they will give tips to local kids at a coaching clinic.

Oaky Creek Coal event co-ordinator Tam King said it would be fun family day.

“We want the whole town to take part in the day,” she said.

“We will have free children’s entertain-

ment, rides, games and giveaways, live music and fireworks during the night.”

But it is the highly anticipat-ed grudge match between Xstrata and BMA that will really draw in the crowds, with retired Wallaby Daniel Herbert MC-ing the event.

This is the third year the two teams have faced off - and with one win each, the battle is on to find the repeat champion.

The Xstrata team will be made up of players from its operations at Oaky Creek, Springsure and Rolleston.

The BMA team will consist of players

from Goonyella Riverside, Peak Downs, Norwich Park, Saraji, Broadmeadow, Black-water and Gregory Crinum mines.

The winning team from the charity match will donate $5000 to the charity of its choice, and all other money raised will go to the Royal Children’s Hospital.

CQ Rugby Development Officer Joel Johnston said the day helped build interest

in rugby union in the Central Highlands.“It is great to be able to bring such a high

profile event into a regional area, which is getting harder to do,” he said.

“We look forward to building on the part-nerships made with Xstrata in previous years and we hope to continue to build interest in the game of rugby union in the Central Highlands area.”

Tieri turns red for charity rugby match

“It is great to be able to bring such a high profile event into a regional area, which is getting harder to do.”

CLASH OF THE TITANS: BMA will go head to head with the Xstrata boys at the Tieri charity match (2009 images)

AT first glance, the mining industry and the Queensland police don’t have a lot in common but dig a little bit deeper and you’ll find they do.

In May this year, Rebecca Johnson start-ed working as a haul truck operator at Rio Tinto’s Clermont mine, but in another life she was a senior police liaison officer in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.

“While driving a haul truck is complete-ly different to working as a police liaison officer, I’ve found teamwork and communi-cation are still the keys to success,” she said.

Rebecca recently received a Queensland Police Service Award for Excellence to recog-nise her work in developing a new initiative called the Indigenous Elders Police Patrol.

“Elders go out on patrol with police and liaison officers, so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have familiar faces to deal with,” she explained.

The program has succeeded in reducing minor drug and alcohol related offences in the area.

“It has also built a more positive under-

standing for both police officers and the indigenous community.”

Now that Rebecca is working for a min-ing organisation, her liaison skills might be in demand once more.

“Rio Tinto has a commitment to work-ing with indigenous communities, and I hope there may even be a chance for me to help with projects in my new job.”

Haul truck driver walked the beat

RECOGNISED: Haul truck operator Rebecca Johnson awarded for her work in another life as a police liaison officer


94th EDITION. 2010

www.atcosl.com.au Phone 07-3412 8616 Fax 07-3803 0396 Email [email protected]

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Tieri turns red for charity rugby match

Haul truck driver walked the beat


94th EDITION. 2010arOuNd TOwN

Taylor Jones, Billie Boase and Kelsea Anderson

Hayden and Savannah FletcherSierra McDermott

Jarrod Ogrodniczek

Michaela and Tegan

Sophie Callanan

Tayla Martin and Nyomi Webley

Amber, Aleithia and Denzel Row

Jada Bartley shows how its done

Hayley Wornum, Payton Fell and Dakota Kirby

Grace Madsen with Jack and Dana Denman

Saru ChifadzaTeacher Rebecca Pope was the victim for the sponge throw

Blackwater North State School held their annual fete recently. Spot anyone you recognise?

BABY’S EMBROIDERED PERSONALISED BLANKETS & TOWELS.

Blanket made from Tasmanian polar fleece to keep baby snug and warm.

The 100 x 75cm blanket is over-locked to give softness against baby’s skin.

The blanket measures approx 100x75cm and will make a wonderful gift for that special someone. Other colours available upon request.

Baby’s first name embroidered on the blanket at no extra cost, and the embroidery design measures approx 7x7cm.

BOYS & GIRLS WINTER WEAR.

Brand new winter tracksuits are selling at $20 set, long sleeved tees & skivvies sell at $10 each and pj’s sell at $15.

Designs include Dora, Bratz, Spiderman, Transformers, Ben10 and many more.

They are licensed and come in sizes ranging from 2 years to 8 years. Also selling unlicensed hoodies from $10 each.

Allow 7 days delivery

BABY’S EMBROIDERED PERSONALISED BLANKETS & TOWELS.

T- made from Tasmanian polar fleece to keep baby snug and warm.

The 100 x 75cm blanket is over-locked to give softness against baby’s skin.

The blanket measures approx 100x75cm and will make a wonderful gift for that special someone. Other colours available upon request.

Baby’s first name embroidered on the blanket at no extra cost, and the embroidery design measures approx 7x7cm.

BOYS & GIRLS WINTER WEAR.

Brand new winter tracksuits are selling at $20 set, long sleeved tees & skivvies sell at $10 each and pj’s sell at $15.

Designs include Dora, Bratz, Spiderman, Transformers, Ben10 and many more.

They are licensed and come in sizes ranging from 2 years to 8 years. Also selling unlicensed hoodies from $10 each.

JANOME MEMORY CRAFT EMBROIDERY MACHINE - FOR SALE

The Memory Craft 300E is a specialized Embroidery-only machine for the embroidery enthusiast, hardly used as I have 2 machines and it is in perfect condition. Janome is still making this model which retails for $2300.

Childrens wear direct to coalfields

For full details contact me on [email protected]

Tarni Anderson had a great time throwing cream covered sponges at her teacher Miss Pope

Meg Napper, Tiffany Pitt, Bronte Lancaster, Peyton Storch, Kaylah Brown and Gracyn Delaforce

A FETE-FUL DAY


94th EDITION. 2010arOuNd TOwN

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.

Enjoying a cold glass of champagne are Melissa Summerdale, Brook Thomas & Zoe Weatherley

Moranbah’s AFL Bulldogs social club organised a

Ladies Day recently, where the fairer sex watched the

boys take on the Mackay swans and continued

drinks and nibbles well into the night...

Bilby and Phine Tom, Emily and Glenn Hamilton

Peter and Dianne Clemesha

Ian and Sally Lancaster Jason O’Donoghue, Jason and Kylie Webley

Dan Grealy and Darren Gaw Sharon, Hector, Rachel and Brownie

Tim Steinhardt and Bryce (Chicken) Little

Kerri Hamm, Shannon Green and Kelsea Ford

Looking fantastic are Charmane Sharp, Tess Waters, Carolyn Wood & Tina Hunkin

Kelly Russo, Karyn Looby & Belinda Hay enjoying a great day!

TM

0265

Workplace & Motor Vehicle AccidentsMedical Negligence & Asbestos Claims

Local Call 4972 7567 trilbymisso.com.au

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

LADIES DAY

Sian Schonfield, Penny Semmler, Tess Waters, Julie Rose, Emma Richards & Zara Daniells all looking beautiful

Moranbah’s AFL Bulldogs social commity members Ang Francou & Jo Coldrey ensuring the afternoon runs smoothly

Blackwater hosted the semi finals between the two Emerald teams and Blackwater v Middlemount. Middlemount won by three pointsMIDDLEMOUNT WIN


94th EDITION. 2010STuff TO ThE EdiTOr

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

Our front page story last edition on cleanskins had you talking:

It’s about time they let some cleanskins in. How do they think we’re going man this next boom without them? Brad, Mackay

FIFO from the se corner doesn’t make sense. I thought they wanted people to move to the regions. This just encourages them to stay put and crowd up the cities. Work in the mines to pay for the roads in se corner, and so it goes on.... T.R, Rockhampton

A mining company that asks workers what shifts would suit them? Sounds unbelievable to me! H.R, Blackwater

Good to see one company with some vision for the future. A.R, Gladstone

The critical shortage of engineers has many worried:

Glad to see some coverage about the lack of engineers. People don’t realise just how dire it is - and what it has the poten-tial to mean. G.T, Emerald

People talk about boom 2 - but we don’t have the engineers for boom 1. F.R, Mackay

And Shift Miner’s Most Eligible Bachelors & Bachelorettes are still the talk of the Coalfields:

Check out Amanda in edition 93. She’s got my vote. Aaron, Mackay

I’d like to pick Mel up in my Mack truck. Brett, Rocky

Our regular cooking columns have a dedicated fan:

I tried making the cirtrus Moroccan chicken in the last mag, and it was deli-cious! Thoroughly recommend it. All the recipes are always great and easy to follow too. Belinda, Emerald

SHIFT MINERMonday 16th August 93rd Edition 2010


PlusIt’s not too late to enter

yourself! » page 8

NewsCaval Ridge mine

passes biggest

hurdle » page 4

NewsAlmost 130 serious

mining accidents

in July » page 5

Around Town

Cocktail hour at

Blackwater » page 10

Money Matters

Interstate enquiry

for industrial

land » page 27

SEVERAL up-and-coming mining projects

in Queensland appear set to open their

doors to untrained or “green” workers to �ll

their labour requirements.

The employment information website,

the Resource Channel, has been asked to

carry out an online survey to determine the

level of interest in �y in, �y out (FIFO) work

from the south-east corner.

“The most truly refreshing component

of this is that companies are opening their

doors to the highest number of entry level

people I have ever seen,” said the director

of the Resource Channel Jody Elliott.

“I have been bleating on for some time

for companies to offer more opportunities

for people with no experience, and to make

the process of applying for those positions

more transparent.”

While Ms Elliott won’t say which com-

panies have commissioned the survey, she

said they were highly reputable and hoped

to make a �nal investment decision on the

projects in the �rst half of next year.

FIFO is not that common at Queensland

mines, with most of the workforce either liv-

ing nearby or commuting by car to homes in

major regional centres.

This survey is about gauging the level of

interest from trainees, semi-skilled, female and

indigenous participants - as well as those already

in the industry - about FIFO opportunities.

» continued page 4

INGENIUS DESIGNS

CLEANSKINS

ARE INMining opens up

to green workers

(SPQs excepted)

Locally Owned and Operated - www.shiftminer.comM A G A Z I N E

$1.00

Overcoming the dire

engineering shortage » page 8

Check out

the local talent

in Shift Miner’s

most eligible


comp! Page 9

“A photo from a tugboat at Anglo.”Sent in anonymously

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


94th EDITION. 2010

Delivered direct to your inbox every WednesdayTo register go to www.shiftminer.com and follow the link

WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM A

MORE- mining news MORE- industrial news MORE- investment news

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W E D N E S D A Y ’ S I N D U S T R I A L N E W S O N L I N E

NEWS YOU WON’T GET ANYWHERE ELSE

fair diNKuM

IN AUSTRALIA - ‘The Sucker Fish’ strikes again!

Doesn’t quite chill the blood in the same way as a shark or crocodile attack but this less known NT nasty has been terrorising Darwin locals at a popular city beach.

Witnesses say the metre long beast chas-es, head butts, slaps and nibbles anyone near it at the artificial waterfront lagoon.

“He’s very territorial,” said local Heath Porter.

“Once you go through its territory it chases you for about 100m all the way back to shore.”

“He either hits you with his fin or tries to head butt you...It’s quite eerie when he first does it.”

Experts are divided as to the kind of species the sucker fish may be, but it’ most likely to be a queenfish or trevally.

While the behaviour is unusual, it is not considered dangerous.

Cold comfort if you are getting vio-lated and fish slapped while innocently doing your daily laps.

IN FRANCE - At least an Aussie can detect a fair dinkum predator when pre-sented with one.

French beaches along the English Channel were closed after reports fil-tered through of a 3.6m crocodile swim-ming around sailing boats.

At least three people reported seeing the croc, but the French Coastguard has since confirmed the “croc” was actually a piece of floating wood.

It seems the French don’t know a salty from a baguette - but I don’t think any-one is too surprised.

IN THAILAND - Teenagers are literal-ly becoming fashion victims.

Over the past seven months in Thailand, 43 people have died from dengue fever and another 45,000 have been infected with the mosquito-borne disease.

Many of the victims being have been young, and part of the blame is being lev-elled at a teenage fashion craze for black leggings.

A stern warning has been issued against the current fad, noting the mos-quitoes that transmit the disease are attracted by dark colours.

“The mosquitoes can bite through the leggings’ thin fabric, so those who wear them are at greater risk of being infected with dengue.”

“It’s better to wear light colours and wear pants that can protect against mos-quitoes, such as jeans.”

IN CANADA - They might have some heavy duty land-based predators in Cana-da, but they aren’t much of a threat when they are your peace lovin stoner types.

Police dismantling two large outdoor marijuana crops in British Columbia had a trippy moment when they realised there were ten big black bears wandering about the property.

It appears the marijuana growers had been using the bears to protect their ille-gal crop but they had perhaps been par-taking in the peace pipe because it soon became obvious these bears were content to just loaf about and munch on dog food rather than maul and maim.

The bears may eventually have to be put down, police said.

Fair DiNkum!

It seems the French don’t know a salty from a baguette - but I don’t think anyone is too surprised.

John, You don’t have to sit around for hours on end watching question time to show your girlfriend you’re interested in politics, that would bore anyone to tears.

In this information age of ours there are a number of ways in which to ‘appre-ciate’ the world of politics. I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but Frank made a somewhat valid point in that scandals in politics can be extremely entertaining to

the voting public. Do some reading on the internet and

you may discover that politics is a little more interesting than you first thought, we all remember poor old Kevin Rudd getting caught in a strip club in New York. Suggest to your girlfriend that you’d like to watch some shows about political sat-ire, I can almost guarantee you’ll be enter-tained, and you’re sure to learn at least a little about Australian politics.

I’d also recommend talking to your girlfriend to try and understand her polit-ical views. If you can see what makes it special for her, you may gain a greater appreciation of it. Susan

Dear Frank, My girlfriend is really into politics, and hates the fact that I find it incredibly boring. I feel like I should make an effort to share her interests, what can I do to see the interesting side of the political world?John, Emerald

Dear John,Being one of Australia’s top political minds I feel I am well equipped to answer this question. Allow me to regale you with a short history of my credentials.

My political career began in the mid 60s, as an integral part of the Holt admin-istration. I performed various parlia-mentary duties and was also the chief lifeguard to the Prime Minister himself, however, thanks to one minor slip-up I was considered unfit for that job and had to resign.

After that I felt disillusioned with democracy and for almost a decade I published and distributed a socialist newsletter which spread various unfound-ed rumours about the nature of cap-italism, most notably that gratuitous personal wealth was the leading cause of impotence in western society.

During the 1980s I was in charge of coordinating the personal affairs of Bob Hawke, and when I say ‘personal affairs’ I

don’t mean catered luncheons. I was, how-ever, unceremoniously sacked from my position after Paul Keating discovered I had spent a good deal of taxpayer money in an attempt to construct Australia’s first drive through bordello.

In the 90s I took on an internation-al role in Washington D.C., but I left the country in a hurry after that poor white haired gent got the blame for my little fling with Monica - to this day she still claims I owe her $27.50 for dry cleaning.

Before my career at the Shift Miner began I was John Howard’s image con-sultant. He fired me for suggesting some flamboyant upgrades to his conservative image, but I still maintain he would have been successful in 2007 if he had chal-lenged Kevin Rudd to a televised bare-fisted boxing match like I suggested.

If anything can be gleaned from my whirlwind political career, it’s that you don’t have to look very far to find some-thing interesting in politics, you just have to look through the spin and the empty promises…to the scandals and the fias-coes, that’s where the real entertainment is. Even though your girlfriend may claim she cares about policy and which candi-date promises more for Australia, real-ly she wants to see politicians losing their cool, showing up drunk to press-confer-ences, and drowning in a sea of gaffes and quotes taken out of context. My advice is give politics a chance, and you’ll discover that it’s one big bra-snapping, chair-sniff-ing, roller coaster ride. 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


BIKE FOR SALEHarley-Davidson FatbobNew 2010 Model. Gloss

Black.$32,900.00 Ride Away. 1 yr Rego & 2 yr warranty.103” Kit, SE Slip Ons, SE Heavy Breather, SE Race Tuner.$175.37 per week over 5 years with $1,000

deposit

Helen @ Bundaberg MC 07 4152 1121

JETSKI FOR SALE2008 Kawasaki

Supercharged Ultra 250Immaculate, 1500CC,

3 seater, 19 hours, extended warranty, swiftco trailer plus heaps of extras.

$17,000 ONOPhone Lauren 0418 185 339

BOAT FOR SALEKeith Brown 30. Pro. built

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

3208 cat deisel. 500l fuel. Cruise 13 knots.

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

Yeppoon PH 49392182, 0409491024 $59,000 neg

HOUSE FOR SALEMoore Park Beach QLD3 b/r, 2/bath with huge fully screened outdoor area. A/c, ceiling fans, tinted windows DLUG,

in quiet culdesac.400 m to white sandy

beach, close to bowling club & national park. 30

min Bundaberg.$380,000 plus0438265564

41598094

CAR FOR SALE

Toyota Hilux 2003 V6

auto dual cab ,lots of

extras,3 year premium

mech/parts warrenty

Rockhampton area

$27,000 ono

0749289185

0406272659

BOAT FOR SALE

1973 Cruiser for sale 40” Spotted Gum

Cruiser4-71GM, 12v/24v alt,

1500L diesel, 1000L water,

Gas/electric fridge freezer,

Sleeps 6, VHF 27mg and UHF

$45,000 Ono0418 988 126

CAR FOR SALE

HOLDEN MONARO CV8Z

2005, GENUINE,

LIMITED EDITION,

COLLECTORS ITEM,

45,000 KMS, EXCELLENT

CONDITION, ONE

DRIVER, AUTOMATIC.

$50,000.00 ono

PHONE: 49550099 OR

0427369033

BIKE FOR SALEKawasaki ZX14 06

9300 KM Immac. cond.Full service history

with Kawasaki agentsMany extras: Full

Yoshimura Exhaust system, K&N air

filter, New rear tyreContact Jacques0447801979 or

0749822758

CAR FOR SALE

2007 FORD FALCON

BF Mk II XR8 4 door

SEDAN Black 6 sp Manual

69200km 5.4 8cyl.

Alarm syst, Rev Park

Sens,Tint,Towpack, New

Tyres, logbook, Priced to

sell $26200 Neg

0459 095 490

GREAT ACCOMMODATIONVenture Fifth Wheeler

1/07, 21\’,plus Nissan Navara 12/06 Turbo diesel.Excellent condition. Shower, toilet, a/c,full fridge, heaps extras on both.Both still under

warranty. Phone 0407628308

WHITSUNDAY HOLIDAY RENTAL

Impress your girlfriend,family or mates

& book this spacious f/furn beachfront home - 30mins

Nth Airlie Beach. Ideal affordable getaway from

$160/ntView www.stayz.com.au Property ID 25669 wallerjen@westnet.

com.au Ph 07 49461628

CAR FOR SALE1974 Cadillac Eldorado

V8 500ci, LHD, covertable, plently

of options,good paint, excellent cruiser & head turner,

compliance plates, can be fully rego\’d,

currently on club rego, minor work for RWC

$23,000PH:0428 274 675

HOBBY FARM FOR SALE

Victoria

2.5 acres Fully fenced,

cleared with pasture.

Bitumen road and Phone

to front gate. Power avail.

Prim and Sec School,

Nursing Center, Shops

less than 15min.$55,000

Colin Elders OMEO

0429 350 500

LIGHTPLANT FOR

SALE

New fully mine spec

6 head Allight lighting

tower/genset combo

$39,500

charlesscharneck@

yahoo.com.au

0423331217

EIMEO/MACKAY VAC LAND FOR SALE

Elevated block surrounded by quality homes with view of Brampton & Keswick

Islands. Close to schools, shops & transport. Owner

motivated to sell will look at all reas offers.15 Coral Ridge Drive

$209,000 CALL0407 963 955

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

0405180724

ACRES FOR SALE

HOME HILL, 7.94 HA

(19.62 Acres) 46 ML

River Allocation with

12 acres of Kensington

Pride Mangoes (500

trees) Absolute river

front powered block with

top quality soils

49827848

0407654765

CAR FOR SALE

Ford BA sedan 2003/GT

kit,6cyl,193.000kms,low

ered suspension,cd/dvd

with sub woofer and

bluetooth, this car is in

VGC. $14,500ono.

0408549027

BIKE FOR SALE

Harley-Davidson

Softail Custom

Demo 2010 Model.

Custom Paint Set.

Heaps of Goodies.

Call for more info.

$ POA.

Helen @ Bundaberg

MC 07 4152 1121

BIKE FOR SALEHarley-Davidson

Street BobNew 2010 Model.

Vivid Black.$25,639.00 Ride

Away. 1 yr Rego & 2 yr warranty.

$122.83 per week over 5 years with $1,000 deposit.



Fatboy LoDemo 2010 Model.

Gloss Black.$29,270.00 Ride

Away. Only 217kms.$155.67 per week over 5 years with $1,000 deposit.



XR1200XNew 2010 Model.

Black Denim.$18,247.00 Ride

Away. 1 yr Rego & 2 yr warranty.

$95.84 per week over 5 years with $1,000 deposit.


BIKE FOR SALEHarley-Davidson Softail Heritage

Free Harley-Davidson Full Comp Insurance.

New 2010 Model. Merlot & Cherry

Sunglow$34,330.00 Ride Away. 1 yr Rego

& 2 yr warranty.$183.13 per week over 5 Years with

$1,000.00 deposit.Helen 07 4152 1121

HOUSE FOR SALE

4 Bd, 2 Bath, Huge

patio, built-in BBQ,

3 Sheds, on 18acres

tar road & schoolbus

to front gate.

15min to Rocky.

$515,000neg

0749341339

BIKE FOR SALE

Harley Davidson 2005

softail deluxe,250

wide ass kit,Diamond

cut spokes,slash

cut pipes,burly

bars,13000km like

new. $46,000 ono

ph.0407 491 388

LAND FOR SALE6 Banksia Dr Agnes Water

1050 metres sq.Excellent building block in the middle of

townWalking distance to shops restuarants,

tavern and beach

$210,000 Contact 0419704206

LAND FOR SALEFor Sale - Lots 38 & 32 QUOIN ISLAND, Gladstone Harbour, ocean views, group title scheme, market

expected to rise, consider trading ute,

boat etc. $245000.00 each.

Phone owner 0741561186

CAMPER FOR SALE

Slide on camper.

Aluminium, fully

lockable, unfolds to

large tent. King size bed

off ground plus room

for twin. Solar Panel,

Batteries, Charger.

Heaps of storage.

$9000

Jon 0429 779151


94th EDITION. 2010Off 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

27 28

29 30

58 #MUIDEM

5 9 7 37 3 8 1

6 71 8

4 5 7 63 5

9 42 5 4 6

4 6 2 7

1. Lacking breadth

2. Quick look

3. Vagabond

4. TV watchers

6. Dare

7. Coming out

8. Ambled

11. Without delay (1,1,1,1)

15. Extortionate moneylender (4,5)

17. Wearing by friction

18. Tibia

20. Nodule

21. Inns

22. Bawdy

23. Aim

26. Astound

ACROSS 1. Adverse (reaction)

5. Spiral fasteners

9. Arouse again

10. Job path

12. Tenants

13. Lawful

14. Regrettably

16. Act of repentance

19. Gulf state

21. Pour with rain

24. Parent’s sisters

25. Variation

27. Pressure line on map

28. Crockery accident

29. Athens natives

30. Climbed up

DOWN

SHIFT MINERHandy Cross 768 - (15A grid)ShiftMinerHandy092s. pdf© Lovatts Publications 23/06/2010

S A B O T A G E G R I L L ET A E R O O NA I R F A R E S M A G N E TB I R N B D G WL A N D S C A P E H A I T IE G D S O N N

K N E E S M U G G L EP P E S S SR E L I E V E L I E SE U D R A S AC A C T I O U T S H I N E SI K N S E E A IN O I S E S P R O M P T E DC E S A I C ET E R E S A F L I N C H E S

# 84 7 3 6 8 2 9 5 1 44 1 5 6 3 7 8 9 29 8 2 1 5 4 7 3 65 6 3 7 9 8 4 2 18 2 9 5 4 1 3 6 71 4 7 3 6 2 9 5 82 7 4 9 1 5 6 8 36 5 1 4 8 3 2 7 93 9 8 2 7 6 1 4 5

LAST EDITION’S SOLUTIONS

Send your gigs to [email protected]

tuesday 31 augustMouraCoal n Cattle HotelPool Comp

Wednesday 1 SeptemberAirlie BeachKCs Bar & GrillKieran McCarthy

thursday 2 SeptemberEmeraldMaraboon TavernKaraoke with HenryAirlie BeachKCs Bar & GrillKeatonMouraCoal n Cattle HotelAPL Poker

friday 3 SeptemberEmeraldMaraboon TavernDJ MezziahRockhamptonThe CriterionThe Bottom LineAirlie BeachKCs Bar & GrillJason BullBlackwaterBlackwater HotelDisco nights

Saturday 4 SeptemberTieriTieri Hotel MotelJust Jen KaraokeCapellaCultural CentreSunny CowgirlsRockhamptonThe CriterionThe Bottom LineAirlie BeachKCs Bar & GrillJason BullBlackwaterBlackwater HotelKaraoke with Steve O

Sunday 5 SeptemberEmeraldMaraboon TavernMasters of RockAirlie BeachKCs Bar & GrillJason Bull

Monday 6 SeptemberAirlie BeachKCs Bar & GrillPatch

tuesday 7 SeptemberMouraCoal n Cattle HotelPool CompAirlie BeachKCs Bar & GrillTame Aria

Wednesday 8 SeptemberAirlie BeachKCs Bar & GrillKieran McCarthy

thursday 9 SeptemberEmeraldMaraboon TavernKaraoke with HenryMouraCoal n Cattle HotelAPL PokerAirlie BeachKCs Bar & GrillMatt Denny

friday 10 SeptemberEmeraldMaraboon TavernDJ LaceyAirlie BeachKCs Bar & GrillMark RobertsBlackwaterBlackwater HotelDisco nightsRockhamptonThe CriterionVelocity

Saturday 11 SeptemberEmeraldMaraboon TavernThe FerrymanRockhamptonThe CriterionVelocityAirlie BeachKCs Bar & GrillMark RobertsBlackwaterBlackwater HotelKaraoke with Steve OTieriTieri Hotel MotelAll Girl Show - Fever

Sunday 12 SeptemberAirlie BeachKCs Bar & GrillPatch


94th EDITION. 2010Off ShifT

FISHING IN YEPPOON

The Yeppoon Coast Guard Tight Lines Fishing Classic was the latest big gig for local fishermen with more than 1000 competitors taking to the waters off the Capricorn Coast.

The judges choice trophy went to Western Australia’s Drew Pearson who landed a 28kg Spanish mackerel.

Despite the all the action at Tight Lines, overall things have been pretty quiet according to Ian at Capricorn Coast Sport and Hobby Centre.

Those pesky green toad fish are back in business and causing chaos to unsuspecting fishermen all over the Cap Coast.

Whiting and steelback salmon are out there, but you need to persevere through the tedious toads you bag them.

In more exciting news, barra are on the move with a few hauls out of the

Fitzroy indicating they will soon be hitting Coorooman Creek and Corio Bay.

Plenty of macs and dogs about and according to Ian a big Spanish mac was picked up in the mouth of the harbour - you don’t have to go far for happy days!

FISHING IN GLADSTONE

Dylan from Pat’s Tackle World has been out and about chasing whiting which are still in plentiful supply.

There are also big flathead on the cruise and a few salmon in the harbour, so try your luck using shallow diving lures up on the flats.

The harbour is also sheltering a lot of bait - herring and mullet.

Coral trout, red emperor and sweet lip are the pick of the menu offshore and crabs are still hanging in there - the champs are yet to slow down.

Dams are starting to rumble and there are more than a few punters coming up trumps.

FISHING IN MACKAY

Comrades, get in quickly if you want to share in some of the spoils of the last of the winter whiting says Greg from Reef Marine.

Greg recently scored some beautiful 450-500g specimens on a full moon forage in Sandy Creek, but with the warmer weather returning this kind of quality will soon be on the decline.

There are also some nice flathead and a few grunter getting about but Greg reckons the 40cm size limit for grunter makes it hard to pick up anything of a worthy weight.

Offshore appears to be a bit quiet by all reports but with dam fishing set to pick up in September as the weather warms things will

be firing up soon.While the muddies are not making major

waves there are a few sand crabs around Cape Palmerston way.

Prawns are laying low but once some rain comes in it will stir them up again and away you go.

bait ShoP banter

Gla

ds

to

ne

Ma

CK

aY

Gla

ds

to

ne

Ma

CK

aY

tiDe tiMeS Aug/SepMon 30 Tue 31 Wed 1 Thu 2 Fri 3 Sat 4 Sun 5

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

0534 1.06 0602 1.24 0038 2.78 0210 2.60 0404 2.63 0534 2.88 0035 0.95

1206 3.34 1256 3.22 0652 1.41 0838 1.50 1012 1.36 1127 1.09 0636 3.20

1800 1.39 1852 1.61 1407 3.15 1537 3.24 1700 3.51 1805 3.85 1233 0.79

2349 3.02 2024 1.74 2211 1.62 2333 1.31 1858 4.17

0052 4.20 0127 3.85 0229 3.50 0430 3.36 0027 1.88 0133 1.38 0227 0.90

0715 1.44 0753 1.66 0902 1.87 1056 1.83 0615 3.63 0723 4.07 0816 4.50

1334 4.23 1431 4.08 1607 4.07 1745 4.39 1223 1.47 1328 1.02 1424 0.61

1946 1.98 2052 2.24 2245 2.25 1856 4.90 1951 5.41 2039 5.83

Mon 6 Tue 7 Wed 8 Thu 9 Fri 10 Sat 11 Sun 12

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

0126 0.62 0211 0.34 0253 0.14 0333 0.05 0413 0.08 0450 0.24 0529 0.51

0726 3.50 0812 3.75 0855 3.96 0938 4.10 1022 4.15 1107 4.09 1154 3.92

1330 0.50 1418 0.27 1504 0.14 1548 0.13 1632 0.27 1717 0.53 1805 0.88

1945 4.40 2030 4.52 2112 4.53 2154 4.41 2236 4.16 2319 3.81

0315 0.51 0358 0.21 0439 0.00 0518 -0.09 0558 -0.03 0013 5.55 0057 4.99

0903 4.87 0947 5.18 1030 5.43 1114 5.58 1158 5.59 0635 0.20 0715 0.57

1515 0.29 1602 0.07 1648 -0.01 1733 0.07 1818 0.33 1242 5.45 1330 5.17

2123 6.11 2206 6.25 2248 6.21 2330 5.98 1904 0.73 1955 1.22

If you have a good photo or fishing yarn

send it through to our resident bait chucker- [email protected]

Week 1 - After the heavy rain in mid-Au-gust more light rain with some moderate to heavy falls spread across the Coalfields. Temperatures struggled to get above 16-17C during the day last Thursday. This is about the sixth North West Cloud Band (NWCB) variety that has traversed the country and rained on CQ this winter. Some sev-en day rainfall totals to last Thursday are (mm): Taroom 55, Injune 50, Lake Brown 35, Thangool & Springsure 18, Echo Hills 15, Bogantungan 11, Baralaba 10, Middle-mount & Anakie 9, Emerald & Blackwa-ter 8, Rannes & Comet 7, Dysart 6. Only very light falls recorded north of Moranbah. Frosts followed the rain in the south. Warm-er temperatures return gradually through-out this week; it will be 30-something out west by Friday as a trough approaches. There could even be some more rain about.

Boaties - along the coast fresh SE winds with brief showers early in the week. Conditions should ease south of Sarina by Wednesday. If the sea breeze doesn’t kick in with the very warm to hot temperatures inland then early weekend could be pleasant. Week 2 - SOI has been a steady +18-19 over the past three to four weeks. This does seem to support the current rain pat-tern. In the south, the snow has been at its prime during the past month. Hurry up and get there if you haven’t seen the alps at their best. September is traditionally the driest month, but with temperatures likely to remain in the high twenties and the odd thirty plus conditions are prime for the first afternoon thundery shower of the season. Marine lovers - the warmer months are getting closer, so be ready for the out early and in by lunch time.

YOUR WEATHER FORECASTWith Mike Griffin

Late August rain for the Coalfields

A BIG UN! One of the hauls at the Tight Lines Classic


94th EDITION. 2010

YOUR WEATHER FORECAST

Tee off in TieriFOR lovers of golf an eagle is a coveted shot but not when your final score is 106!

That was the result that had one play-er hanging his head in his hands at the Tieri Golf Open recently.

Not such bad luck for Tyler West from Emerald, he took out the Tieri Open in a draw with Springsure’s Steve Callum on a score of 74.

Sprinsure’s Brooke O’Keefe won the Women’s Open, with a score of 82.

Tieri Golf Open organiser Jimmy King-ton said they were pleasantly surprised when more players than were originally reg-istered turned up to play.

“We ended up with 41 men and 18 ladies, it was a really good weekend, we had nice

weather and everyone got around the course quickly,” Mr Kington said.

Club President Mick Cutts said the weekend was a great success for a small struggling club.

“Players from the visiting clubs said the course was in outstanding condition and that’s all due to the hard work of a few hard working members.”

“These events are what keeps a small club like ours going and thanks must go to those that make it happen.”

The Open attracted players from all over the Central Highlands (CH) including; Springsure, Emerald, Moranbah, Capella, Clermont, Middlemount and Blackwater.

Off ShifT

It was Damon’s first tour on the crew when, at smoko on the first night-shift, Wazza began to tell him the Legend of Larry.“Who’s Larry?” asked Damon as he took his crib from the microwave, wincing at the heat.“Larry was a rigger,” said Wazza, then took a sip of his tea. “He worked on the construction project for this plant, back in the eighties. He died on the job.” Wazza took a bite of his toast.Damon’s eyebrows shot up, and he sat down eagerly across the table. “How’d he die?”Wazza kept his face looking serious. The young bloke was taking the bait nicely. “He fell, from the top, to the bottom.”“No harness?”“Not in those days, kid. No harnesses, lanyards, EWPs. Too expensive, and slowed the job down. Riggers walked straight out on the I-beams, 30 metres in the air, no problems.”“But he fell?”“Yeah. They pushed poor Larry.”Damon’s mouth opened. “They pushed him off a beam?”Wazza chuckled. “No, they worked him too hard. The project was behind schedule and over budget. So, they started a night-shift, and gave every-one the hurry-up. Larry had already worked the whole day-shift, but they were short on blokes, and offered him double time. On top of that, the light-ing on the job was terrible, because they hadn’t planned for night-shift.”Wazza took another sip from his tea, drawing the story out, and shook his head slowly. “They found where Larry slipped. A patch of grease had been spilled on the beam. It was left there, because of all the rush.”“Wow,” said Damon, who’d been so rapt in the story, he hadn’t touched his crib. He took a mouthful, and swal-lowed. “I’d hate to be the one that left that grease!”Wazza stared hard back at Damon.Damon’s eyes opened wide. “It wasn’t … you, was it?”Wazza shook his head. “No, but I knew him. He fell apart; became a real mess. Still in jail, I think.”Damon went back to eating his meal. Wazza studiously ignored him while he

finished his toast and tried to finish a sudoku in the newspaper someone had left on the table.

“Thanks for telling me about all that,” said Damon. “I’ve always been real careful with working at heights, but that’s a real good safety share.”

Wazza shook his head slowly. “It’s not a work-at-heights safety share, kid. You need to respect Larry, and look out for him. You need to let him get to know you.”

Damon looked confused.

Wazza said, “He knows the rest of us, but he’ll come visit you soon. New blood.”

“Didn’t you say he’s dead?”

“His body is dead; saw that myself. But, his spirit will never rest. Can’t be sure why, but I think he stays around to look after us.”

Damon laughed. “You’re telling me Larry’s a ghost? That this is a haunted wash-plant?”

“I don’t use those words,” said Wazza, keeping his tone serious. “But yes, Larry’s spirit wanders around this plant – especially on night-shifts. There’s no other way to explain some of the things that have happened here, over the years.”

Wazza rinsed off his cup and plate and went back out into the plant.

At about three in the morning, when Damon was hosing in on the ground floor, Wazza set up Larry on the floor above, beside the reject conveyor. He could barely keep from laughing as he tied lengths of thin rope through holes in the shoulders of an old high-vis raincoat.

He got in position where he could see Damon, his head down, watching the spray of water from the hose. Wazza dangled the raincoat over the edge and lowered it on the ropes so it came up just behind Damon. He reached out and swung the rope so the raincoat brushed against Damon’s back.

Damon turned slowly, and faced the rain-coat. He stood dead still. Then he looked straight up at Wazza; but Wazza didn’t see Damon’s face. Instead, of Damon’s face there was a ghostly-white skull.

Wazza dropped the ropes and ran.

Damon took the mask off and stuffed it in his jacket. He smiled contentedly as he went back to hosing.

by Bernard S. Jansen5 minute fictionThe Legend of Larry

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

“These events are what keeps a small club like ours going and thanks must

go to those that make it happen.”

Tieri Ladies Open winner Brooke O’Keefe

Foodworks David Yarrow with Pin Shot winner Sharon Kington


94th EDITION. 2010YOur hEalTh

p 07 4927 3789f 07 4927 3705m 0408 625 532

ANYWHERE... ANYSIZE... ANYTIME...For all your urgent and general freight requirements.

Delivering in Utes,Vans,Body trucks and SemisWe understand the cost of delays in mining and Industry

email: [email protected]

16 Robison Street North Rockhampton Queensland 4701

Serves 6-8

Sticky date pudding is a popular family dessert all year round but most enjoyable during the colder months. Add chopped walnuts or chocolate to the mix for something extra special. INGREDIENTS:

300g pitted dates, chopped500ml boiling water2 teaspoon baking soda120g butter, cubed200g brown sugar2 eggs

BUTTERSCOTCH SAUCE:

2 cups brown sugar1 cup cream50g butter1 teaspoon vanilla essence

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 180C degrees. Grease a deep 20cm round cake tin

and line the base with baking paper. Combine the dates, boiling water and soda in a bowl. Allow to stand for 5 minutes. Blend or process the date mixture with the butter and brown sugar until almost

and mix until just combined. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake 45-50 minutes or until cooked through (if the pudding starts to go brown

cover with foil). Once cooked, remove from oven and stand for 10 minutes before turning it out of the pan. Prepare the sauce by placing all ingredients in a saucepan stirring over low heat until sugar has dissolved and butter melted. Pour butterscotch sauce over the top and serve with vanilla ice cream or cream.

Zest Eatery | 1300 622 222Open 4.00pm – 8.00pm daily

Sticky date pudding

The MAC VillagesCoppabella, Dysart, Middlemount, Moranbah & Nebo

A new generation of accommodation

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,

Too often I see the guys I work with blowing all their cash on fags, beer and toys. It was only brought to my attention recently when a mate of mine who has worked within the mining industry for over 15 years had to finish up work due to some health problems and is now under some real financial stress. What are your thoughts on this, how do you educate the younger guys to learn they are not bullet proof?

The Wise One!

Hi ‘Wise One’,

Very good question. Now I think most of you would know I am not a financial adviser, but you have raised a really important point.

Too often we see men and women living well and truly above their means, ploughing ahead thinking nothing serious will change their situation.

Often you need to ask yourself, if the person is smoking and drinking and buying all the toys, is it to fill a void and to keep them more happy, less stressed and more social?

That’s also known as self-medicating.

It’s not just in mining I can tell you, I see many people who I could say self-medicate with substances or certain behaviours in order to get through their day. Self-medicating can be as simple as shopping because you had a bad day (new shoes to help you feel better), or smoking because it calms your nerves.

If this sounds a little familiar, ask yourself what could be driving this?

Possible warning signs to look for include:

• Feelingstressed,overwhelmedor even depressed

• Yourbehaviouraffectsyourability to focus on your work

• Someonehasnoticedachangein you and said something

• Youfindyourselfmakingexcusesfor your current behaviour

• Youfindyourselfhidingthe behaviour

This problem is a lot more widespread than you might think. Next edition, we will have a look at how you can avoid self-medicating and look to the future.

Until then - stay health and stay informed!

Tammy


94th EDITION. 2010

Braith Garratt in the 50cc AUTO Olivia Morgan from Blackwater in the 50cc AUTO

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Serious 4WD Tyres!Mickey Thompson, the motor racing legend, holds more racing records than anyone on earth. Now his revolutionary 4WD tyres come in Australia’s largest range of speciality sizes.

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THE Blackwater Motocross Club has more than 25 years of history behind it and last month the Central Queensland (CQ) Moto-cross Championships returned to the club after a five year absence.

Tony Healy, one of the organisers of the Blackwater round, said the event attracted more than 160 competitors and 500 specta-tors over two days.

“We had good conditions, the mornings were a bit cold, and the 70mm rain we got a couple of days before the comp made the conditions a bit slippery, but the day went off really well,” he said.

CQ comp secretary Julie Maeyke said local Blackwater competitors featured prom-inently on the score board in round eight.

“BMA apprentice electrician Daniel Healy in the Clubman Open category is 176 points ahead of second place Zac Lack-

ey who’s also from Blackwater and there’s only 100 points on offer in the last round in Rocky so Daniel’s already won,” she said.

Other locals who did well in the comp included the Morgan sisters and Dylan and Jake Gook.

“In Queensland motocross is broken up into northern, central, southern divisions and in CQ we have 14 clubs.”

“All of our clubs want to host a round in the CQ Motocross Competition but we only had seven rounds in 2009 and this year we had nine rounds so that give you an idea of the popularity of the event for both clubs and players in CQ”

“South east Queensland clubs struggle to get numbers and tracks to hold events at,” Ms Maeyke said.

A competition of this size doesn’t just happen and Blackwater worked hard to

source the manpower and money needed to host the event.”

“It’s taken a lot of hard work to get Blackwater back into the championship and we’ve been able to do it through a lot of man hours and the financial support from sponsors and from BMA’s Matched Giving Program,” Mr Healy said.

Blackwater was the eighth round in a nine round comp of races held in Dysart, Emerald, Gladstone, Longreach, Middlem-ount, Clermont and a very wet Mackay.

You can get more information about join-ing the Blackwater Motocross Club from President Grant Lackey on 0439 061 971.

If you would like more information about finding and joining a Motocross Club in Queensland contact Motorcycling Queensland by email [email protected] or phone 3281 2255.

CQ Moto X Comp returns to Blackwater

Blackwater’s Jake Gook competing in the “Senior Open” Stuart Gould’s first race in the 50cc DEMO

Watching the action Justin Daniels and Henry Gonzales Cheer squad Grant Gardner and Emily Hamilton

Blackwater’s Jake Gook in the “Senior Open”

Blackwater’s Zac Lackey in the Clubmen Open class Blackwater’s Luke Garratt in the Mini Lites 14-15


MONEY MaTTErS

Farmers whose land is not included can apply to have their land assessed.

The Minister said the new zones will stop mining or any other activity that would permanently prevent the land being used for cropping in the future.

“Based on current technology at least, it would be difficult to see how an open cut coal mine could proceed on strategic crop-ping land,” Mr Robertson said.

But the door is still ajar for CSG developments. “Well-designed coal seam gas opera-

tions may be able to be accommodated under this policy without alienating the land,’’ he said.

A spokesman for Xstrata said he had not yet been notified by the government regarding the new maps and was unable to comment further on the implications of the new policy for the Wandoan development.

But Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche has questioned the fairness of applying the new zones to developments already on the table.

“The maps put a question mark over projects, many of which have already spent tens of millions of dollars,” he said.

“There are real sovereign risk concerns about the over-hasty application of this policy for companies that have invested years and many millions of dollars explor-ing and proving up a resource.”

Mr Roche said the implementation of the new policy will be difficult.

“There is a substantial gap between the large-scale regional maps released by the government and the detailed, paddock by paddock information that farmers and resource developers will need to put a pol-icy into practise.”

Land Auction Central Highlands Regional Council in conjunction with Ray White Emerald are pleased to advise that they will be conducting an auction for the sale

of 8 blocks of commercial vacant land in Doon Street Blackwater.

A list of the properties being offered is as follows:

Commercial Land

Lot Plan Address Area Title Ref

711 & 712 HT596 17 – 19 Doon Street 2024m25077239750772398

713 & 714 HT596 21 - 23 Doon Street 2024m25077239950772400

715 & 716 HT596 25 - 27 Doon Street 2024m25077240150772402

717 & 718 HT596 29 - 31 Doon Street 2024m25077240350772404

Auction: 10.00am Friday 10th September 2010 at the Blackwater International Coal Centre

Buyer Registration commences at 9.00am Terms: 10% deposit, settlement 30 days

Ray White WorksExperience, knowledge, results

For further details, please contact: Mark Muldrew from Ray White Emeraldon 4982 2400 or 0428 836 675

94th EDITION. 2010$100K Price Boom Predicted

GREAT FOR INVESTOR - GREAT FOR TAX - GREAT FOR MINERS

Position Position PositionFinance AvailableSignature on High - Southport

The Ultimate in Location and Lifestyle

The Signature on High complex is a much sought after and ideally located in the centre of Southport. The complex is a short walk to the central business district, shops, Australia Fair Shopping Centre, cafes and the beautiful Broadwater precinct and it’s park, boardwalk & pool. It’s also a short walk from a major bus interchange in the centre of Southport. We have a unique opportunity where we are able to offer Deposit Finance for this purchase if you do decide to finance your loan through us.

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[email protected] Declaration is available from AgentCall for Brochure on Gold Coast Light Rail & Broadwater Upgrade

Buy Now

before the light

rail goes in and

prices soar2 1 1&2

Details derail mega mining projects

“It would be difficult to see how an open cut coal mine could proceed...”

FROM PAGE 1


94th EDITION. 2010MONEY MaTTErS

THE price of gold has more than doubled over the past five years, from $578 per ounce in 2005 to about $1300 per ounce today.

What’s even more staggering is the price just continues to climb.

RBS Morgans Emerald manager, John Kirby, said the financial instability of the past two years has meant gold has been par-

ticularly in favour with investors.“Gold traditionally is always in favour

because it’s got the physical properties, people can touch it, hold it, feel it,” Mr Kirby explained.

“Gold has two uses – investment and mak-ing jewellery, it’s a back stop, in times of finan-cial crisis people run to physical investments.”

And run to it people did during the glo-

bal financial crisis when gold reached an all time high of $1546 per ounce.

While gold prices haven’t returned to those levels, they are once again on the incline.

But for the average punter is gold as good an investment as shares or property?

Mr Kirby said investors should ask them-selves where it fits in their investment port-folio and weigh up the risks.

Gold is seen as a safe investment because it is largely unaffected by inflation and in times of economic crisis it will retain its val-ue, or even increase as it did during the GFC.

This reduced risk factor makes it a very attractive investment.

On the downside, gold will never return an income, and you need to decide how you want to invest in the metal.

Do you want the physical product like bullion or do you just want exposure to the gold market?

If you do want to invest in physical gold, have you considered the costs?

“When you buy gold you have to consid-er storage and transport of the product, and you have to think about where your market to buy it will come from when it comes time

sell it,” Mr Kirby said.Shares and property can deliver substan-

tial increases in price in the long term and both can deliver an income stream.

However, there are associated costs - and buying and selling property has ongoing costs such as maintenance, property man-agement and insurance as well as the added worry of finding tenants.

For shares and property, the downside is if you have to sell in a hurry you’re at the mercy of the market and you could end up losing a lot of money.

So how do you choose?Well, according to Mr Kirby, it’s all about

diversity.“You need to have a diverse investment

portfolio, one that considers your risk pro-file and balances it.”

“An investment portfolio can con-tain shares, property and gold among oth-er investments, it’s a matter of getting your investment balance right.”

Mr Kirby recommended investors should consult their own financial advisor, account-ant or legal advisor for advice that relates to their specific financial circumstances.

“Gold traditionally is always in favour because it’s got the physical properties, people can touch it, hold it, feel it.”

BECAUSE WE WANT TO FINISH HERE AND START A NEW PROJECT SO WE ARE SACRIFICING THIS LAST REMAINING SPACIOUS UNIT TO MOVE FORWARD.

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For further details and enquiries please contact: Norm EastBundaberg City Realty - PO Box 1889, BUNDABERG QLD 4670Phone: (07) 4154 4566 Fax: (07) 4154 4144 Mobile: 0416 153 134

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Documents

SM94_Shift Miner Magazine