Mark Sverdloff’s first job was as an electrical apprentice at Collinsville Coal Mine. Recently retired, his career shows no matter how far you travel or how far you rise, sometimes you end up back to where you started!

Born and bred in Collinsville, Mark started his electrical apprenticeship on January 4, 1981.

“My father worked in the mines… and my brother, my uncle, my girlfriend’s family. I never saw myself going to university and as a kid, I knew nothing! There was a mechanical or electrical apprenticeship, I chose electrical. Would I make the same decision now, no, but it got me to where I am.

“There used to be fifteen apprentices put on every year at the mine. In the first year we would do a stint at the copper refinery in Townsville. Can you imagine what fifteen kids between the ages of 14 and 17 from Collinsville got up to when let loose in Townsville!” laughs Mark.

After his apprenticeship Mark was made redundant, which was standard practice at the time as you would be put on a waiting list until a job came up.

Mark moved up to Townsville with his then girlfriend Sandra who was working as a nurse at Townsville General Hospital. Often relocating for a partner isn’t a good move, but it was for Mark as he and Sandra have now been married for 37 years.

“I got a job as an orthopedic orderly at the hospital but really all I did was muck around playing rugby league. Then in early ‘85, I got a start at South Blackwater mine, that job only lasted until the footy season ended then I ended up at Collinsville mine.

“Back then they had two underground mines and an open cut. I worked in the open cut doing overhauls on the underground gear before moving over and working in the No. 2 underground mine until 1991, when they offered voluntary redundancy.”

While there, Mark joined the Collinsville Mines Rescue team in 1988, a team which would go on to win the Australian Mines Rescue championship in 1990.

“The mines rescue involvement is what really sowed the seed that safety was something I was passionate about.

“Sandra and my father encouraged me that gaining qualifications would be a good career move, so we moved down to the Sunshine Coast for study, OHS and training for me, and legal work for Sandra.

“After that we both had jobs lined up in Gladstone… and of course I had plans to play rugby… but we ended up making a detour to Moranbah and I worked at Goonyella Riverside for a couple of years.

“I started putting my hand up to be involved in different things like becoming an electrical trades union representative before there were even safety reps, especially on mine sites. Then I was offered a full time job as a safety and training coordinator at Hay Point Coal Terminal.”

That job was Mark’s first foray into the world of safety and a turning point in his career.

“I found myself doing work I really enjoyed, and that was very rewarding.”

Those years also saw the expansion of the Sverdloff family, with sons Aidan and Riley born.

In 1992, Mark was involved in an event that left a lasting impact on him. While dropping into the local Moranbah bakery, Mark went to the aid of a woman who was being assaulted by a man with a knife. Mark said he didn’t stop to think, he just acted on instinct and intervened.

He saved the woman’s life and received a commendation for brave conduct.

“What made that even more memorable is that on the same day I received the award, my father also received an OAM for his service to the community. We were the first father and son in Queensland to receive award on the same day, but for something totally different.

“I used to say to dad, ‘It took you 45 years to get your award, but it took me 45 seconds!’”

With itchy feet again, Mark left Mackay and headed back to Collinsville Mine for the third time. He stayed there until 2000, before taking a position at North Goonyella.

2002 saw Mark move the family down to the Hunter Valley in NSW where he worked at South Bulga and Beltana, a time he remembers very fondly.

“I worked as the Safety Manager and thoroughly enjoyed it but in 2004 we came back to Queensland as Sandra’s mum was ill. When Sandra said she wanted to come back I figured it was high time I moved for her instead of the other way around!

“I worked at Coppabella for about a year before deciding to start up my own consulting business, Onya Safety Services.”

Mark and Sandra worked together in the business for the next five years.

“I specialised in risk management. Working for lots of different businesses but also doing a lot of work for Xstrata. In 2010, they asked me to come on as the manager for safety and risk for Queensland so off we moved again, this time to Brisbane.

“It was a great job with incredible opportunities like getting to go to Canada. Xstrata had bought a couple of mines there and needed help setting things up, so Sandra and I went over for a few months, it was a great experience.”

When Glencore bought Xstrata in 2013, Mark returned to his consulting business but a couple of years later went to work for Glencore, first at Oaky North, then Newlands Open Cut, until finally in 2021 he found his way back to Collinsville Mine for the fourth and final time.

“And that’s how I ended up back where I started!”

When asked what he will miss most, Mark said it’s the people.

“When I started in the senior roles, I found that leading was something I really enjoyed. Maybe it’s because I’m inherently lazy so the more I can get the people around me to do, the less I have to do, and I can spend more time talking to people!

“Seriously though, I believe that the most value I provided was when I was out there talking to people. That interaction every day is what I will miss the most.”

Looking back at his career Mark said that it wouldn’t be possible without Sandra.

“Sandra has been the rock of our family. She ran the show so often when I was off working, taking care of the boys and our business and none of this would have happened without her support.”

As for the legacy he is leaving behind Mark said first and foremost it is his boys who are following in his footsteps. Aidan and Riley both are OCE’s – Aidan at Hail Creek and Riley at Collinsville. And of course, keeping in with the family tradition both did their OCE tests on the very same day!

“I’m so proud that the boys are now developing their own legacy in the mining industry with the help of their own families. Wives, Melanie and Rochelle, and our lovely grandkids, Summah, Maya, Arlo, Laney, Zayne and Bella.

“Looking back at my career my greatest wish is that people remember me as someone who was approachable, someone that wanted to help and someone who was willing to share their knowledge.

“If that’s how I am remembered then I did my job.”