Coal Australia now has 70,000 people in their ‘Friends of Coal’ network. A network of miners, employers, local businesses, and plenty of people who either want to show their support for the industry, learn more about it, or be a part of it.

Education is something that second year apprentice Bailey Hartley believes is very important.

Bailey grew up in Muswellbrook and went to school at St Joseph’s in Aberdeen. At the start of Year 10, he decided school wasn’t for him and started looking for an apprenticeship.

“I always had an interest in being a mechanic or doing something with machinery or cars. So, after talking to my Dad and my Aunty who was a plant mechanic I decided to go down that route.

“I was 16 at the time so I could only apply through MIGAS for an apprenticeship. I was successful and started with MIGAS at Bengalla in December 2023. The apprenticeship program is great. You get to work in every area of the site spending time with the crew servicing the trucks and dozers, doing shutdowns and out with the field crew working with heavy stuff like the dragline so you get really good variety,” Bailey said.

It’s hard not to be pro-mining when you grow up in a mining town and see the benefit of the industry in the community from employment to keeping small businesses ticking over and funding for various organisations.

“The mining industry has a great relationship with the town and supplies it with so many of the resources we need.

“I play rugby league with the Muswellbrook Rams who have great mining sponsorship, as do the Muswellbrook Heelers and the Muswellbrook Cats AFL team. The sponsorship keeps us all thriving.

“I am definitely pro-mining. We need it, it’s crucial. I believe mining will play a big part in our power generation for years to come supplying the resources and infrastructure that we need.”

In our community there are so many opportunities for employment, such as apprenticeships, and our schools do a great job connecting with Industry. There are lots of opportunities to attend events where we can find out about the career opportunities in mining.

“The coal mining industry supplies so much to our country, and I don’t think we’ll ever live a life where mining won’t exist.

“Coal Australia is great. We need more people talking about the positives of our industry. I believe something like Coal Australia educating people about the industry is truly a great thing.”