Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Hayden Bird and I am an electrician at Moranbah North Coal and I work on the longwall.

When did you start in the mining industry and what was your first job?

I started in the mining industry in 2015 as a school-based apprentice. I worked at a fish and chips shop for my first job.

How different is your job now to what you wanted to be when you were a kid?

Growing up, I loved the NRL and I idolised the Cowboys so like many other kids, I dreamed of being a professional football player. However, as life unfolded, I found myself on a different path, leading me to my current career.

What’s a usual day at work entail?

I arrive at work 40 minutes before my shift begins. During this time, I put on my uniform and toolbelt, fill my water bottle, and gather all necessary items for the day. After that, I head to the muster area for a quick chat with the crew before the pre-start meeting.

Once the pre-start is complete, we all hop into the drift runner (an underground vehicle) for a 30-minute ride down to the longwall.

My daily tasks involve conducting statutory checks on the longwall equipment, addressing any electrical breakdowns that may occur, performing running repairs on the chocks, and assisting fellow crew members as needed.

What’s the best thing about your job?

I am fortunate to have a great crew that I can rely on and make the workday enjoyable.

The worst thing?

Heading up to the surface at the end of nightshift on a cold winter’s day.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?

Sometimes, challenging breakdowns arise at work that may consume the majority of my shift to resolve. Once I’ve rectified the issue, I feel a great sense of achievement.

What has been your proudest achievement?

Gaining my trade certificate.

What’s something about your job that would surprise people to know?

The most surprising aspect of my job is the experience of working on a longwall. It’s difficult to explain to others and it’s something you truly need to experience for yourself to understand.

What’s a funny story about work that you can tell?

It didn’t find this funny at the time, but my crew did. One day I had packed myself a really nice crib and I left it on the go-line to turn around and find that crows had stolen my crib and ate the whole lot! Lesson learned: never leave your crib unattended on the go-line.

What do you do in your downtime?

In my spare time I like to go for a round of golf and a couple mandatory beers. I live for prime fishing weather to go catch a feed of fish.

The mining industry gets more than its fair share of criticism. What is your view of our industry and the impact it has?

I believe that coal mines play a vital role in our economy. It’s important to recognise that metallurgical coal remains in high demand, particularly for steel production. The industry provides thousands of jobs for people in Australia, which supports families and towns like Moranbah.