Dartbrook coal mine, 10 kilometres north west of Muswellbrook, has restarted operations after being in care and maintenance for 18 years. On November 9, former employees of Dartbrook Coal will gather for the 30th Reunion.
Mining operations commenced at Dartbrook in November 1994 and came to an end in 2006. The site was originally owned by Anglo American but was closed after a turbulent decade of life with geological difficulties including water, gas and safety problems.
Australia Pacific Coal (AQC) acquired the mine in 2016 when former billionaire Nathan Tinkler was the managing director at the company. His tenure didn’t last long, resigning the following year, but it was long enough to sign over the mine site. Since then, AQC has been working to restart operations.
This year marked the beginning of operations under AQC with the first coal dug out from underground in September and the operations now fully funded to resume.
Tony Sutherland and Glenn “Raz” Randall worked at Dartbrook from day one and are part of the committee organising the reunion with Nicole Daniel, Frank Baron and Dave McLean.
“I originally worked there as a Deputy, then Shift Coordinator and Development Coordinator. Dartbrook changed all of the terminology for the positions, so an Undermanager was a Shift Coordinator for instance, and the mining operators were called Mining Technicians, but we were one big team.
“I was there from the start until 1998,” Tony reflected.
Glenn was there until the mine went into care and maintenance in 2006 working in a few positions.
Tony and Glenn both agree it was one of the best mine sites they had ever worked at.
“I worked in the industry for 40 years, and I have never worked at a better place. I only had five-and-a-half years there, but I wish I’d been there longer because it was such a great place to work, had great people and fantastic management,” said Tony.
“From the very first day everyone was involved in the recruitment and it built up a better team from day one. Everyone wore the same Dartbrook greens, and it was just a really great place to work.”
The Dartbrook Reunion is being held on November 9 at East Maitland Bowling Club. The committee has put together another not to be missed event with a band, trivia, lucky door prizes and the current Mine Manager at Dartbrook will give an update on current operations.
| If you are a former employee and would like to head along to the Dartbrook Reunion contact Frank Baron on 0437 358 842 More details can also be found on the Dartbrook Reunion Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/dartbrook.reunion |
