I first met drilling legend Clayton Denny in Gunnedah dancing on a table, owning the room at a drinks party after a mining trade fair. He had the infectious energy of a teenager and a passion for music that would later help him overcome a tragedy and keep on dancing, even though it was with one leg! While we recently lost Clay, his songs will keep on playing.

A great friend to many in life and in business, Clay was also a great friend of @ The Coalface. His greatest pride wasn’t being at the top of the drilling industry, most recently as Regional Manager for Epiroc based in Muswellbrook, nor was it the success he received in recent years as a DJ, it was his children, Declan and Kate.

Nothing was conventional about Clay including his beloved pooch, Snoop Dog the Chihuahua. His was a life well lived, from obsessions with red Cadillacs and toys and gadgets, a shoe collection to rival Imelda Marcos, to his favourite ‘Secret Recipe’ homemade cookies.

However, it was after becoming an amputee that Clay learned firsthand the fragility of life and while a tragedy, it also became the impetus for him following his dream of being a DJ and so many of you will also know him by his DJ name, Cheques One.

His passion for music was huge, Tupac, Wutang Clan and The Hilltop Hoods were among those who shaped his eclectic tastes. He revelled in The Prodigy and their hit Firestarter, a song which aptly epitomised Clay.

Whether he was putting out his own beats or collaborating with others he made a real name for himself on the Hip-Hop, House, Drum and Bass and Techno scene.

Sport was also a lifelong passion. An on and off Wallabies fan and supporter, he loved nothing better than watching a game with mates.

Talking to his mates at the service held recently to honour his memory, every story had a similar thread about who Clay was. A man with a tireless energy, an easygoing nature, a positive attitude and who was always laughing and smiling.

Torturing his kids – and friend’s kids – with kindness and comedy was another thing that delighted Clay. He would come up with crazy challenges and silly bets like shaving heads for $100 or eating super-hot chilies for $5. Simply put, Clay was a ball of energetic fun and unpredictable antics.

Ben Chaniago from SMW Drilling, a client turned mate, is an example of just how great a guy Clay was to work with. There’s not many who can turn purchasing new equipment from a new client into a friendship.

“Clayton was, despite his afterhours persona of fun, dedicated to professionalism, a stickler for good time management, and he always did what he said he would do and more. He helped our business achieve what it set out to do, grow and rise to greater success,” shared Ben.

“We became mates, our friendship developed through rugby, music and just being typical Aussie guys. Supporting each other when needed and ripping into each other in funny ways. He made it easy for people to feel comfortable around him after losing his leg and one of the funniest memories was watching him try to get onto the boat one legged.

“Emotionally intelligent, kind to a fault, he was always there for anybody. I saw a guy that was positive and strong and that had turned his life around after a tragedy.”

Last year @ The Coalface were honoured when Clay shared his story with our readers. We heard how he started off in the industry as an underground coal miner in a small mining town in Central Queensland, working and studying his way up the ranks all the way to Superintendent before taking on a new challenge as Regional Manager for Epiroc. His career was a success story by any measure.

However, on Australia Day in 2021, his life changed forever. Fishing at South Stradbroke Island, he cut his foot on a reef. It was a tiny cut, and he didn’t think twice about it.

It wasn’t until Clay got back home that he started feeling miserable, but he assumed he had a bout of food poisoning. A couple days later his kids found him collapsed on the bathroom floor gasping for air and he was rushed to Maitland Hospital. When Clay woke up seven days later, he discovered his leg had been amputated from below his left knee.

While he went through a dark time initially, Clay soon got back on his feet – or foot – as he would say. He became an advocate for amputees and realising the fallibility of life began to focus more on the things in life that gave him joy, such as his DJ career.

Far from perfect, but perfectly imperfect, Clayton’s was a truly rich and interesting life. Not having him around anymore is a deep cut.

From all that knew you mate you made our lives better for having known you. You will never be forgotten and we hope that wherever you are, you are still dancing on tables.

If you are experiencing emotional distress, remember you are not alone and there is always someone ready to listen. Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 (24/7) MensLine: 1300 789 978 (24/7) Beyond Blue: beyondblue.org.au Black Dog Institute: blackdoginstitute.org.au Head to Health: headtohealth.gov.au RUOK?: ruok.org.au