This month, @ The Coalface was honoured to meet with members from the NSW Retired Mineworkers Association Northern District branches. We quickly discovered that while they might be retired, these legends are still making a positive impact in our mining communities.

The Retired Mineworkers Association Northern District is made up of seven branches, Cessnock, Muswellbrook, Gunnedah, Singleton, Kurri Kurri, Swansea/Belmont and Westlakes.

Initially formed so coal miners could keep in touch with each other after retirement, the Association has seen many changes in the eighty plus decades since it was established but it’s main objective is still the same. Lorraine Boyden, Secretary of the Swansea/Belmont Branch summed it up perfectly.

“It’s about friendship and comradeship.”

That connection is at the core of the Association. With social gatherings, trips away, fundraising events and meetings, it provides a way for those retired workers to not only keep their old friendships alive, but to make new ones.

“Our members aren’t just retired mineworkers either,” said Darren Watson, Cessnock Branch President.

“We also have honourary members, people who have gotten involved with us because they put their hand up to help. Spouses are also welcome to join and as you can see, we have a lot of spouses like Lorraine sitting here with us. To be honest without them we would struggle!”

Membership to join the Association is just five dollars. Each branch runs different events throughout the year and there is something for everyone no matter what your interests are.

“Some people just like coming along to the bus trips. Others like the dinners. Some like helping with fundraising. What’s important is just getting out,” said Darren.

“What often happens is that you retire and all of sudden you’re sitting at home with nothing to do. This is an opportunity to get out and get involved. It’s good for the brain and it’s good for the body.”

Though don’t go thinking that all the members do is sit around and have a yarn.

Each branch is actively involved in its local community and while many of the contributions they make might be small, if you add them all up it equals one mighty big impact.

The Gunnedah Branch man the gates at the Gunnedah Speedway meets, the Singleton Branch fund the Singleton and Branxton Santa Lolly Runs year after year, the Kurri Kurri Branch’s latest lunch fundraiser supported pancreatic cancer research and the Westlakes Branch run the barbecue that keeps our Mines Rescue teams fuelled at competitions.

We could go on and on and on.

Over the years their fundraising and volunteering has helped countless people, charities and local organisations in our coal mining communities.

Organisations like the Coalfields Local Historical Association.

After beginning fundraising efforts in June last year to purchase desperately needed display cabinets for the Sir Edgeworth David Memorial Museum, the recent donation of $1000 from the Retired Mineworkers Association was the final step in achieving their fundraising goal.

President of the Coalfields Local Historical Association Kim Weller and Research Officer Lynette Hamer gratefully accepted the cheque.

“The purpose of our museum is as a repository for information about coal mining and in its history and its communities,” said Kim.

“It’s people and organisations like the Retired Mineworkers Association who are helping us preserve that history and all of us at the museum are so incredibly grateful for the donation.”

Lynette went on to add that one of the biggest challenges of the Museum was ensuring that future generations understood the importance of preserving the history of the coalfields.

“Our heritage belongs to all of us and so it is up to all of us make sure that it is not lost or forgotten.”

It’s also important that we never forget the contribution that these retired coal miners have made to our industry as they fought for better pay and safer working conditions.

Daryl Haile, Secretary of the Westlakes Branch, said many of its members spent their careers as proud unionists fighting for change.

“Back when I was still working, I came along to the Westlakes Branch and they asked me to get up and give a bit of a talk. I spoke about how we were currently going through an enterprise agreement and were trying to hold onto the conditions that they had fought and won for us all.

“One of the members, Billy Chapman, came up to me at the end and said, ‘if you need a picket line you just call us. Those coppers won’t arrest us because then they’ll have to bloody feed us!’

“That really demonstrates who we are and what we are about.

“As our motto says, ‘The tools are down but the flames still burn’.”

Retired Mineworkers Association Northern District Swansea/Belmont Branch Contact: Lorraine Boyden – 0450 862 271 Westlakes Branch Contact: Daryl Haile – 0414 339 288 Kurri Kurri Branch Contact: Frank Baron – 0437 358 842 Cessnock Branch Contact: Darren Watson – 0434 175 985 Singleton Branch Contact: Alice Muller – 0458 193 565 Muswellbrook Branch Contact: Linda Hunt – 0438 434 250 Gunnedah Branch Contact: Ron Fuller – 0429 420 290