After an outrageously successful inaugural Mates in Mining Fight Night in Cessnock last year, it’s on again on November 23. Tickets are already sold out for the event, which raises money for suicide prevention organisation Mates in Mining and the family of Josh Bedford who tragically died of a rare cancer last year.
The idea to get a bunch of mine workers in a ring and fight for a good cause came straight from the crib room.
“It started from a couple of blokes in a crib hut. They were sitting around talking and one of them suggested doing something for mental health and they thought why don’t we jump in the ring and make a night out of it,” explained one of the organisers Sarah Caban who works at Mount Thorley Warkworth mine.
“The guys also had a mate who suffered a bad workplace injury. Some of the people he worked with still haven’t gone back to work due to the mental impact of what happened. So, they decided to not only do something for mental health through the Mates in Mining organisation, but also help their mate.”
Sarah jumped on board to help her aunty and uncle, Jodie and Ben Dederer, organise the event. Last year 500 people raised $19,000, half going to Mates in Mining and the other half to Jay Stevens and his family.
“The mining community is so big, but it’s so tight knit.
“Mental health doesn’t discriminate. The hours and the shifts that we work, we miss out on a lot of time with our families. Yes, we get paid well but money isn’t everything.
“We need people to know that they are not alone.”
This year half of the money raised will be going to the family of Josh Bedford. Josh worked underground for 14 years and in 2021 was diagnosed with Primary Myxofibrosarcoma of the heart – an extremely rare cancer. Tragically Josh passed away in May last year at the age of 44 leaving behind a loving wife and three beautiful daughters.
Last year there were 30 fighters, and Sarah said they’re expecting even more this year.
“Our biggest thing has always been that it’s on a Saturday night and we need everyone to be okay to go back to work on Monday morning. If they can’t, then we haven’t run our event properly.
“At the end of the day everyone shakes it off and gives each other a handshake. They’re not there to kill each other, it’s all for a good cause.”
All fighters have to apply through Combat Sports who also supply the referees from League Boxing Inc. who are there throughout the entire event running each fight.
“Our doctors and refs will stop a fight before it gets bad. Last year we had two fighters who weren’t paired correctly so it was stopped, and no one was hurt.
“Everyone has to go through a medical check and prove they have been doing appropriate training before they’re allowed in the ring to make it fair for everyone,” said Sarah.
Conveyor Partners is the major sponsor of the Mates in Mining Fight Night with the winner receiving the Brett Plunkett Memorial Trophy named in honour of the owner’s brother who took his own life.
“They help us out so much that we decided to make them our one and only major sponsor.
“The owner is very passionate about mental health in the mining industry.”
With tickets for the event already sold out, the organisers are looking for more fighters to jump in the ring and more sponsors to get on board for the amazing cause.
| For details on the event, where to buy merchandise and to get in touch with the organisers, head to the Mates in Mining Fight Night Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093262792544 |
