For 100 years, Mines Rescue has been about people. Behind every training session, competition and emergency response are volunteers who have trained and prepared so they are ready to help when they are needed. We asked brigade members from across the industry to reflect on what first drew them to Mines Rescue, the moments that stayed with them and the lessons they’ve carried into everyday life.
I grew up in a small mining town in North Queensland and we had a Mines Rescue station there. Something that always stuck with me was the big mural on the side that said, Mines Rescue is about helping your mates.
I was six years old when the father of a boy at my school was killed at the mine. It was a tiny school, with about 100 kids, and I still remember looking outside and seeing my classmate with his mum, the school principal, the police officer and the union president, and he was crying. I knew straight away it was his dad. I’ve never forgotten that.
Years later when I joined Mines Rescue, I wanted to learn everything I could. I still remember one of the trainers bringing in a BG4 on the first day, stripping it down in front of us and going through every part. I was sitting there wide-eyed thinking, “Gee, that’s a lot.” Then they said, “You’ll be able to do this by the end of the day.”
The training is tough. As part of the 10-day induction, you’re crawling uphill through a tunnel about half a metre high with a 15-kilogram pack on your back. You can’t even take a deep breath because your suit is pushing into the roof. They really push you hard to test your limits.
But it’s the work outside the training days that people probably don’t see. We’ve recently moved onto new BG ProAir sets and I went into the station on my own one Friday and spent two hours stripping and testing one over and over until I was completely comfortable with it. You put that work in because if something goes wrong, we’ll be the ones going in.
That’s something I’ve learnt from the brigadesmen before me. One of my old captains went to Pike River and before he left, his wife asked him why he was going when he knew the risks. He told her, “Because if I was stuck in there, you’d want someone to come and try and get me.” Another old captain, Warren Kirk, told me you don’t want to be standing on the surface unable to do anything when something goes wrong. You want to be able to help.
Because when it comes down to it, the mural is right: Mines Rescue is about helping your mates.
I started in the industry in 1972 and joined Mines Rescue in 1978. I’d been involved in surf lifesaving from a young age and had done first aid and CPR, so rescue work had always interested me.
But the real reason I joined Mines Rescue came when I was only a couple of years out of my apprenticeship. We were doing a belt extension underground and I was left at the boot end to complete the electrics by myself. I started the belt and a white dust cloud travelled down the road over me. I donned my CO self-rescuer scared it was smoke and headed back to the crib room. The deputy and I went back down to investigate and it turned out to be nothing more than dust.
Not long afterwards a notice went up on the notice board asking if anyone wanted to join Mines Rescue. I thought straight back to my experience and thought, “Yes, I’m in. This is what I want to do,” and I wrote my name down. I wanted to be more able to handle a situation like that, not just for myself, but if there were other people around me too.
I’ve used the skills over the years. One time at Tahmoor we went into old workings where we were down to less than one per cent oxygen in places, doing inspections and checking conditions to reopen the area. When you’re going into situations like that, one of the biggest things I’ve learned is not to rush. Do your checks, know your equipment and be 100 per cent confident in it before you go in. No one rushes you. You rush yourself. The worst thing is to get in there and start thinking, “Did I do that right?”
I’ve been retired for three years now, but if I could still do Mines Rescue without working at a coal mine, I’d still be doing it. Most of the blokes, especially the competition blokes, are all sort of wired the same way. They want the confidence and training to help.
I‘ve worked in the underground coal mining industry for almost 40 years, and for most of that time I’ve been a Mines Rescue brigadesman.
I’ve been involved in active callouts, including the Gretley and the Endeavour explosion, and I still have clear memories of both. Those incidents changed both Mines Rescue and the mining industry. You learn from events like that, and I’ve seen the way we respond, the way we train and the way we prepare for emergencies continue to evolve.
The changes have been enormous. This is the fourth generation of long-duration breathing apparatus I’ve used, but it’s more than just the equipment. I’ve seen the way the stations operate, the way the service responds and, particularly after Gretley, a much stronger focus on emergency preparedness.
What has kept me involved is the camaraderie and the opportunity to keep learning and developing new skills.
The 100-year anniversary is a significant milestone because I understand where Mines Rescue came from. Bellbird was the catalyst. Men went underground to rescue their workmates, knowing the risks to their own lives.
The industry has changed enormously over the past century, but the need for Mines Rescue hasn’t. The hazards may be different, but we still need people with the skills and capability to respond when something goes wrong.
I’ve been involved in Mines Rescue for 15 years. What first drew me to the service was the number of tragedies in the mining industry in 2010. As an underground team leader, it really lit a fire under me to learn those skills so I could use them if the situation ever arose.
What we do at Mines Rescue carries through into every aspect of your life. Being able to perform high level information processing in a dynamic, high-pressure situation is something that’s been incredibly useful throughout my career. Outside of work, the first aid skills are something I have utilised many times, whether it’s with family & friends, at sporting games or helping someone in the community.
Over the past few years we’ve seen many of the senior figures in the Brigade Service retire. As the captain at Newcastle Mines Rescue now, it’s not lost on me that it’s up to my generation to uphold the traditions and standards they’ve set. As the next generation comes through, it’s about teaching them the skills, but also what it means to be a brigade member – having the ability to be a leader and step up when the chips are down.
Mines Rescue isn’t for everyone, but for people who have the commitment & drive to better themselves and a passion for helping people to overcome bad situations, I’d always encourage them to give it a go and jump in with both feet.
About three months after I completed my 10-day course, Moura No. 2 exploded. Brigadesmen across Queensland were put on standby while everyone waited to see what would happen. Ultimately there was no re-entry.
Not long afterwards I was involved in my first call-out, entering an unventilated area during an exploration where the ventilation had been blocked.
Reaching 100 years is a tremendous achievement. The way Mines Rescue has evolved over that time is a credit to both the industry and the pioneers who built the service.
Our generation also needs to remember where it all started and recognise the people who laid the foundations and made Mines Rescue what it is today.
I got involved with the brigades because I was interested in everything that happened around the mine, especially emergency response. I wanted to build my knowledge, develop my career and be better at the role I was doing at the time.
One day on my way home from Bengalla I came across a car that had come off the road and hit a tree. There were people trying to help, but you could see the confusion on their faces. I pulled over, took control of the phone call with emergency services and helped keep the driver calm until other help arrived. Mines Rescue gave me the confidence to step into that situation and know what to do.
The people are what keep me coming back. The mateship, the experience, the knowledge and the chance to keep developing your skills are second to none.
Something only a brigadesman would truly understand is the mateship. When you go into a situation, you know the person behind you has your back and the person in front of you has your back too. You go in as one solid team.
To be part of something that has been around for 100 years is pretty special. It shows what was created all those years ago was a necessity then, and it’s still a necessity today. It gives me a real sense of pride.
I was new to the industry when the opportunity to join Mines Rescue came up. Having come from a military career previously and worked in dynamic high-pressure situations in adverse conditions, I wanted to be a part of something that was similar so I could pass on my knowledge and skills. I also saw it as an opportunity to better myself, while providing the ability to move around in the industry and learn rescue team techniques and procedures.
My first competition was in 2014 as the number three man. The year after that I was thrust into the vice-captain role and from there I’ve captained the Ulan West teams ever since, so I’ve been involved in a good 10 or 11 competitions now.
I still remember my first training. It was before the Moolarben Mines Rescue facility opened so it was held at the Lithgow Mines Rescue station and Gary Collins was our trainer. It was very full-on, but enjoyable at the same time.
Working with brigade members in a coal mine day to day, you get that sense of having someone who’s got your back. They have the ability to make decisions in a pressure-filled environment when required. As a statutory official, knowing you’ve got a brigade member in your crew goes a long way if you ever have a situation underground.
I keep coming back to Mines Rescue because of the camaraderie, the people you work with, the trainers and the training.
For Mines Rescue to reach 100 years and still be relevant to the industry is a great achievement. I’d like to congratulate every past and present brigade member who has been part of it.
I joined Mines Rescue in the late 1980s because I wanted to become a deputy. I went to my manager, Bernie McKinnon, and he told me, “If you’re going to be a deputy, you’ve got to go to Mines Rescue.” What Bernie said went, so off I went.
Being involved gave management confidence that there were people underground with the skills to help when something went wrong. I saw that happen more than once, and it reinforced just how important Mines Rescue is.
What kept me involved were the people. The friendships I’ve made over the years are incredible. A lot of the blokes are still sitting in this room today, and I’ve known many of them for more than 40 years.
When I saw the 100-year anniversary marked at the memorial outside Cessnock, it reminded me why Mines Rescue was created. It came from tragedy, but for the past 100 years there’s been comfort in knowing that if something happens underground, there are people ready to go in and help.
Hopefully they’ll still be doing it for another 100 years.
I first got involved after the fire at Ulan. They were looking for brigadesmen, I was interested, so I put my name down and got a start.
Mines Rescue has given me the confidence to be the person people look to when they’re in trouble. I’ve used the skills a few times over the years but the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced was treating my grandson. That one hurt the most. Without the training I wouldn’t have been able to help him. During it, I was completely focused. Afterwards, I fell to pieces.
The thing about brigadesmen is that most people run away from danger. We turn and run towards it. There’s got to be something wrong with us. I don’t think we’re wired right… but that’s what we do.
What’s kept me involved is the people. I come here on my days off to train because of the people. The skills are important, and I’ve used them plenty of times in the community, but it’s always been about the people.
The biggest improvement I’ve seen over the years is the knowledge. Brigadesmen today train for what’s happening in the industry now. The machines are bigger, the ventilation is different, the regulations have changed, and the training has changed with them.
Being part of 100 years of Mines Rescue is pretty special. A few people reckon I was probably there at the start – I wasn’t – but I’ve been around for a fair chunk of it. We’ve done a lot of good over those years.
I was probably drawn to Mines Rescue because of my dad. He played a huge part in the early years of my mining career.
The time I’ve spent in Mines Rescue has been the most important part of my mining career. It’s the people I’ve met, the skills I’ve learned, the places I’ve been and the experiences I’ve had.
My dad was part of Darks Forest No. 2, the second team into the Appin disaster. We spoke about it many times. He always told me, “Son, when you work underground, prepare yourself and never expect that the unexpected isn’t coming.”
Those words have stayed with me. Every time I go underground I try to increase my understanding of the situations I might face. He’d seen the worst of it at Appin and he drilled into me that you always have to be ready. That’s what pushed me into Mines Rescue. I learned gas monitoring, firefighting and emergency response, but more importantly I learned to be prepared.
More than anything, I’d like to acknowledge the people who have dedicated themselves to training brigadesmen over the years. They’ve given us the skills and confidence to respond when we’re needed. The people have always been the most important part of Mines Rescue.
What drew me to Mines Rescue was my dad and grandfather. They were both brigade members for a good part of their mining careers, so that was definitely an influence on me.
In 2010, we had a really good team and were lucky enough to go to Queensland and win the national title as a NSW team. Up until then, the last NSW teams to have done that was the two Angus Place teams that Dad had been part of as well. That was pretty special.
What keeps me coming back is definitely the people. There’s a real spirit pride and camaraderie around Mines Rescue in the Western region and you get to train and build relationships with people from different mine sites.
The skills I’ve gained through Mines Rescue have also played a big part in my career. I probably wouldn’t have been afforded some of the opportunities I’ve had in mining if it wasn’t for Mines Rescue.
If something does happen underground, whether it’s a minor first aid incident or a major emergency, we’re relying heavily on our brigade members. At my current mine site, if there was a situation, I’d have full confidence in every single brigade member there.
For the next 100 years, you hope there are no incidents that Mines Rescue has to respond to, but it’s all about being as prepared as we possibly can.
I was drawn to Mines Rescue when I started doing my deputy’s ticket in 2012. I thought it would be a great opportunity to upskill in emergency response and gain greater knowledge.
Over the years I’ve found myself in some extremely high-pressure situations at national-level Mines Rescue competitions. Being a captain brings its own challenges and you’ve got to be prepared to face those head on.
What keeps me coming back is the people. I’ve made lifelong friends over the past dozen or so years through Mines Rescue, but I also always want to keep developing my own skills and knowledge and pass that on to future brigade members.
Mines Rescue is always evolving. We trained with the BG4s for many years and the move to the ProAir has been a major technology change. If we continue to evolve with the technology and keep upskilling, I think we’re in good stead.
Reaching 100 years is a huge achievement. The people who came before us created the backbone for those of us in the brigades today. I’d particularly like to thank the trainers who have given up their time over those 100 years to give us the skills and the platform we have today.
From a community perspective, Mines Rescue has helped unite this small community of Lithgow. I’m proud to be part of it.
Mines Rescue started for me through family connection. My father was in Mines Rescue for 25 years, starting in the Southern Region and finishing in the Western. I’d also done SES and fire with him, so it was a case of naturally progressing into doing something like this when I went into the mining industry myself as a wee lad.
I did my initial training in 1988 and my first callout was in 1989 to a heating at the bottom of the old drift at Ulan No. 2. My second deployment was in 1990 to a spontaneous combustion heating at the bottom of Longwall 3 bleeder roadway. Then in 1991 the big fire happened at Ulan. I’d been on day shift and at 6.30 that evening I was called back to work. We sealed the mine. I was also a member of the first team to re-enter Ulan No. 2 post-sealing, to check gas levels and as a preliminary to the work to reopen the mine. I then spent seven months involved in deployment exercises to reopen Ulan.
I’ve done more district competitions than I can remember and been to four nationals. One of my best memories was winning the district competition with a five-man team against six-man teams. We’d worked our arses off to get there and were completely surprised when they told us we’d won.
Over the years I’ve watched Mines Rescue equipment change enormously. When I started, I actually saw a Proto unit that was still in service. I trained on the BG174s and did most of my deployments on them. Then in 1993 I saw the prototype BG4 at the National Competition at Ulan.
What makes brigade members different is probably the camaraderie and the way everyone looks out for each other. Mining can be a fairly harsh environment and things do go wrong. These are the people who use their skills to try and help their mates and workmates.
Congratulations to Mines Rescue on reaching 100 years and surviving the test of time.
I joined Mines Rescue while working as a contractor at Narrabri. They were looking for new brigadesmen and I saw it as a great opportunity to become more involved. Looking after the workforce is something I see as a privilege.
The skills I’ve learned through Mines Rescue carry into everyday life. As a husband, father of three young kids and someone involved in local sport and community events, I’m much more confident dealing with injuries, whether it’s a rolled ankle or a cut finger. That’s all come through Mines Rescue.
People in the community know who’s involved in Mines Rescue and they often look to those people when something happens. I feel very fortunate to be a brigadesman and to have gained those skills.
What makes a brigadesman different is the willingness to give up your time to look after others. In difficult situations, people naturally turn to the Mines Rescue members for guidance. Brigadesmen are often leaders within the workforce.
Congratulations to Mines Rescue on reaching 100 years. It would’ve been a tough job in those early days with the equipment they had, and it’s incredible to see how far the service has progressed.
