In 1966, the NSW Coal Preparation Society was formed, followed by the establishment of the Queensland Branch one year later. In 1989 the two branches amalgamated to form the Australian Coal Preparation Society (ACPS) which today continues its role educating and training people in the technology of coal preparation and assisting the Australian industry in maintaining world’s best practice.

Tristan Botha is the NSW Area Manager for Weir Minerals and for over four years has been a volunteer on the ACPS NSW committee.

“I got involved with ACPS through my work with Weir. We are heavily involved in most coal mines and so I was at site one day chatting to a past Chairman of ACPS and he encouraged me to come and give the committee a go.

“Because I’m not great at saying no, I’m not only on the committee, but I’m also now on the national board,” laughed Tristan.

Tristan is keen to spread the word about ACPS and what the organisation has to offer. Whether you’re working in coal preparation, or you are considering a career in it, there are many ways to get involved, such as becoming a member, attending events or contributing to its publications.

“In my role I look after the technical meetings. We hold eight meetings every year in both NSW & QLD and these events provide an opportunity for people to network and connect with industry leaders, explore cutting-edge technologies, and gain valuable insights into the future of coal processing.

“While the topics are normally technical based and very practical, such as our next meeting in Newcastle on August 21^st where we will have Ryan Holmes from MTW discussing the upgrades and improvements they have done site, the topics can be anything relevant for the those working in the industry. For example, last month we had Peter Walsh from HVO talking about the mine’s continuation, and every year we have a meeting where we invite an expert from NAB to talk about what the banks are predicting to happen in the global financial and commodities markets.

“We normally have around 50 to 80 people from the coal mining industry come along, freely sharing information and resources.”

Currently, ACPS has over 600 members and membership is open to anyone. In addition to the technical meetings, they also hold social events such as a trivia night and an annual golf day and Chairmans Dinner.

“We’re a not-for-profit organisation, however when we can we support charities, with one of the main organisations being the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. We’ve been donating for over 25 years and at our last Chairmans Dinner were able to raise $2250 for the Service.”

The NSW branch is also involved with the University of Newcastle’s engineering students, with members going along to their events to talk to them about career opportunities in the coal mining industry, as well as inviting students to attend ACPS events so they can learn and network.

At the core of ACPS is education and training. They run seminars and specialist symposia, field trips and workshops, and provide comprehensive courses designed to meet the evolving needs of the coal preparation industry. From fundamental principles to advanced technologies, the courses cover a wide range of topics. They also hold a national conference biannually where professionals from across the globe come together to share their expertise.

“If you have any interest in coal preparation, I encourage you to become a member or come along to one of our meetings and a part of shaping the future of coal preparation in Australia.”