MiNister hears of MiNe traiNiNg success - · PDF fileKidNey loopiNg the Key to loNger ... the...

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Mining Matters January – March 2013 1 Pictured at Wambo are (from left) Wambo Coal Environment and Community Manager, Troy Favell; Jason Lewin; NSW Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Citizenship and Communities, Victor Dominello; trainee operator, Josh McGregor; Ungooroo mentor and trainee coordinator, Stephen Schmidt; and Member for Upper Hunter, George Souris. N ew South Wales Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Victor Dominello, visited our Wambo project in January to see for himself the success of our Indigenous operator training program. The 12-month program, which began in February 2012, is considered to have been a resounding success, with ten trainees qualifying with a Certificate II in Surface Extraction. The intensive training program, run in partnership with our client, Wambo Coal, included an equipment skill (mechanical and/or electric haul truck), five theory modules and a first aid certificate, all of which were completed on site. Potential candidates were alerted to the opportunity through a community information session, following which shortlisted candidates visited the mine for a two-day workshop to understand how the traineeship would work. Downer Mining Indigenous Affairs Superintendent, Jason Lewin, said: “The guys were mostly green to the mining industry, and that’s why the workshop was held; so they knew what the work was like and the commitment it takes.” Our thanks to Ungooroo Aboriginal Corporation for providing mentoring support to the trainees throughout the program. MINISTER HEARS OF MINE TRAINING SUCCESS C hristmas Creek’s Rachel Cameron is a stand-out operator for many reasons. For a start she’s the envy of her peers because she gets to operate one of the biggest hydraulic excavators in the world – the Liebherr R9800. And now her achievements have earned her industry recognition, as she recently made it to the final three out of 91 entries in the Outstanding Technician/Operator/Tradeswoman category in the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia 2013 Women in Resources Awards. Rachel started out in mining when she was just 17, working in IT at the Century Zinc mine in Queensland. When she was 22, she decided that she’d rather be where the action was and became an operator, working for Roche Mining and then MMG. In June 2011, she rejoined us at our Christmas Creek project in WA. Rachel loves working in the mining industry. “The mining family really sticks together and has helped me progress through my career to where I am now – operating one of the biggest diggers in the world,” she says. “We all look out for each other – we are operating such big machines and we all make sure we get home at the end of our shifts – back safely to our family and friends.” Mining is in Rachel’s blood, with her father, two brothers and little sister all working on mine sites. ROLE MODEL RACHEL RECEIVES BIG RAP JANUARY – MARCH 2013 Rachel Cameron with her very proud parents at the CME Women in Resources Awards breakfast. Continued page 2

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Mining Matters January – March 2013 1

Pictured at Wambo are (from left) Wambo Coal Environment and Community Manager, Troy Favell; Jason Lewin; NSW Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Citizenship and Communities, Victor Dominello; trainee operator, Josh McGregor; Ungooroo mentor and trainee coordinator, Stephen Schmidt; and Member for Upper Hunter, George Souris.

New South Wales Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Victor Dominello, visited our Wambo project in January to see for himself the

success of our Indigenous operator training program.The 12-month program, which began in February 2012, is

considered to have been a resounding success, with ten trainees qualifying with a Certificate II in Surface Extraction.

The intensive training program, run in partnership with our client, Wambo Coal, included an equipment skill (mechanical and/or electric haul truck), five theory modules and a first aid certificate, all of which were completed on site.

Potential candidates were alerted to the opportunity through a community information session, following which shortlisted candidates visited the mine for a two-day workshop to understand how the traineeship would work.

Downer Mining Indigenous Affairs Superintendent, Jason Lewin, said: “The guys were mostly green to the mining industry, and that’s why the workshop was held; so they knew what the work was like and the commitment it takes.”

Our thanks to Ungooroo Aboriginal Corporation for providing mentoring support to the trainees throughout the program.

MiNister hears of MiNe traiNiNg success

c hristmas Creek’s Rachel Cameron is a stand-out operator for many reasons. For a start she’s the envy of her peers because

she gets to operate one of the biggest hydraulic excavators in the world – the Liebherr R9800. And now her achievements have earned her industry recognition, as she recently made it to the final three out of 91 entries in the Outstanding Technician/Operator/Tradeswoman category in the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia 2013 Women in Resources Awards.

Rachel started out in mining when she was just 17, working in IT at the Century Zinc mine in Queensland. When she was 22, she decided that she’d rather be where the action was and became an operator, working for Roche Mining and then MMG. In June 2011, she rejoined us at our Christmas Creek project in WA.

Rachel loves working in the mining industry. “The mining family really sticks together and has helped me progress through my career to where I am now – operating one of the biggest diggers in the world,” she says.

“We all look out for each other – we are operating such big machines and we all make sure we get home at the end of our shifts

– back safely to our family and friends.”Mining is in Rachel’s blood, with her father, two brothers and little

sister all working on mine sites.

role Model rachel receives big rap

JANUARY – MARCH 2013

Rachel Cameron with her very proud parents at the CME Women in Resources Awards breakfast.

Continued page 2

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Mining Matters January – March 20132

froM the ceo

Continued from front page

She considers that there are many opportunities for women in the resources sector, and that it’s the responsibility of those already working in the industry to show support to the newcomers, just like the support she was given when she first joined.

“I absolutely love when I see young girls getting into the industry and sticking with it. There are so many people that find it hard at the start, but once you stick with it – get past the honeymoon period and the first big pay cheque – once you get past all of that, the rewards and the life experience you develop are more than worth it,” she says.

She believes that women make excellent operators, saying that you need to be “pretty calm, pretty relaxed and pretty patient”.Rachel has been a great ambassador for women in the industry, and has showed how, by playing to her strengths – specifically her ability

to remain calm under pressure, and being friendly and easygoing – she has been able to move up the career ladder to where she is now.Congratulations Rachel – we are all very proud of you!

role Model rachel receives big rap

n We have an Enhancing Workforce Health Program that ensures a continuous-improvement approach to injury prevention and health management

n For over five years our Health Team has been working with internationally recognised experts from the Queensland University of Technology who provide us with industry best-practice guidance

n Over the past year or so we have been rolling out a series of campaigns on key health topics, including cardiovascular health, and prostate and breast cancer. The latest of these, featuring Tina Pascoe’s battle with breast cancer, has just been launched. You can read more about this on the back page of this newsletter.

My sincere thanks to Tina, Tony Crilly and Darroll Kowald, who have all shared their stories on one of these DVDs. I know that it took a lot of courage to talk about the extreme health challenges you’ve faced. You are all shining examples of people who have so clearly demonstrated what it is to live the Downer Mining values.

elt sets strategic prioritiesIn March, the Executive Leadership Team got together to discuss Downer Mining’s business strategy for the next five years. Over the past few months, each of our businesses has held similar strategic planning sessions, and our challenge as the ELT was to ensure alignment between the businesses’ strategies and goals, and to clearly

define exactly how we’re going to deliver our vision: to be the preferred provider of quality mining services throughout the regions in which we operate.

By the end of the two days, we had decided on five key focus areas for the next 12 months and beyond. These are:

1. Our people

2. Fit-for-purpose operating systems, efficiency improvement and operations excellence

3. Disciplined implementation of our plant strategy

4. Geographical diversity offshore

5. Partnerships and alliances with clients and suppliers.

We are now working on further developing these business goals, as well as determining timing and the resources required to deliver these objectives and outcomes.

As you can see, ‘our people’ remains our No. 1 priority, as we all recognise that it’s our people who make us such a successful business. I look forward to your support in implementing this strategy and, equally importantly, I welcome your input into how we can turn these words into actions.

Regards

David Overall Chief Executive Officer

At Downer Mining, our values are the guiding principles not only for the way we

do business, but also for the way we behave towards each other. They make us who we are. For this reason they are not something that we would change without giving it a great deal of thought. However, we have made a very important change, and I’d like to take this opportunity to explain why.

Our lead value Safety and the environment has now become Zero Harm, and you only have to look at the last two pages of this newsletter to understand the reason for this. Our organisation now places an emphasis on employee health like never before, and this is an integral and essential part of our quest for Zero Harm to our people. I feel it would be wrong not to recognise this in our values.

If we help you to stay fit and healthy, we believe we have a much better chance of keeping you safe. That’s why:

n To supplement our three Regional Health Advisors, we have recently recruited two Mental Health Advisors (who will be profiled in the next edition of Mining Matters)

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Mining Matters January – March 2013 3

KidNey loopiNg the Key to loNger life

After two years of research, Downer Blasting Services (DBS) is on the

brink of conclusively proving that it’s both practically and financially feasible to use waste oil as an alternative to diesel in blasting products. Here’s the story so far…

Step 1: Finding the perfect blendAt DBS’s laboratory at Bajool the product was tested to see whether it performed in a manner expected of standard DBS products. The tests confirmed that waste oil was effective at both a 30% blend (30% waste oil, 70% diesel) and a 50% blend (50% waste oil, 50% diesel).

Step 2: Ensuring the blend doesn’t compromise initiationField testing was conducted at a Dalby testing facility, where detonators were stored in samples of waste oil, and then fired on the range after two and four weeks. These tests confirmed that the initiation was not compromised.

Step 3: Finding a cost-effective way to reprocess waste oil on siteTypically waste oil is reprocessed off site at waste management facilities. To reduce reprocessing and transport costs,

DBS teamed up with environmental technology provider, X-Energy, to find a way to reprocess the oil on site. Together they developed a reprocessing unit, which they placed into production at Boggabri Mine – where the onsite blasting trials were to take place. The unit successfully reprocessed the waste oil and has the capacity to handle the total volume from the mine’s workshops.

Step 4: Testing the product in a real mining blastIn November 2012, the product was ready for testing. The processed waste oil was blended with diesel at both 30% and 50%, loaded into mobile processing units and charged down the blast holes. The trials were a success, with the product performing in line with standard DBS products.

Where to from here?The product will now enter the second stage of trials to assess whether the level of fragmentation produced by a blast is impacted by the use of the product. If the product is proved effective, DBS will be in a position to offer clients a practical, cost-effective and more environmentally friendly blasting solution.

a grouNdbreaKiNg solutioN to waste oil disposal

A trial blast at Boggabri using the 30% waste oil blend.

The Plant team is always looking for new ways to improve reliability, reduce maintenance costs and extend the component life of equipment at our sites. Contamination control is a key part

of this endeavour – making sure that dirt, metals, chemicals, water and air don’t contaminate fluids, including oil, in our machines.

Kidney looping is an important part of our contamination control program, helping to maintain high levels of fluid cleanliness in all machine components. Pretty much like a human kidney, which filters waste products from the blood, the kidney loop machine filters rear axle oil, removes contaminants, and then pumps the clean oil back into the vehicle.

Kidney loop machines are usually standalone units, but at Commodore, due to the smaller size of the fleet, we have installed on-board kidney loop filtration as a more cost-effective option.

Oil sample before (right) and after (left) kidney looping.

A kidney loop machine connected to a haul truck at Christmas Creek.

X-Energy Chief Operating Officer, Adrian Abbott, pictured with the waste oil processing unit at Boggabri.

Now that we are kidney looping our large dump truck fleets at their 500-hour service, we have increased rear axle oil life from 2,000 hours to 6,000 hours on mechanical-drive trucks and to 4,000 hours on electric-drive trucks. We have reduced the amount of oil we use and the amount of waste oil we discard, resulting in both cost savings and benefits to the environment. We also hope to see extended component life and reduced rebuild costs.

iNNovatioN

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4 Mining Matters January – March 2013

bajool eMployees show their coMMuNity spirit

Bajool operators, Don Graham, Chris Brookes, Eddie Wells and Lloyd Barrett helped clear out damaged possessions from one of Bajool’s impacted homes.

MiNiNg services

In January, the DBS team at Bajool pitched in to help clean up Bajool after ex-tropical

cyclone Oswald left the small township devastated.

DBS has had a storage and emulsion manufacturing facility at the Bajool Government Explosives Reserve since 2003 – the hub from which raw materials are distributed to DBS’s Queensland operations.

So when unprecedented flash flooding swept through Bajool, leaving many homes and properties with extensive damage, the team didn’t hesitate to help get the local residents back on their feet.

Removing debris and clearing out damaged possessions from affected homes, the team was ready to lend a hand wherever it was needed.

At one point, there were as many as 50 stranded motorists accommodated in the nearby Marmoor town hall, so the DBS team supplied them with milk, coffee, toilet paper and other necessities from its Bajool facility.

In March DBS proved it’s a true team player by signing up to become the naming rights

sponsor of the North Rockhampton Rugby League Academy.

Launching in April 2013, the academy will offer rugby league as a school subject to students aged 14–17 at North Rockhampton State High School. Upon completion of the subject, students will obtain their Level 1 Coaching accreditation, sports medicine accreditation and refereeing qualifications.

But the educational benefits don’t stop there. In addition to the normal coaching and gym sessions, students will also receive lectures on diet and nutrition, goal setting, time management, public speaking, and drugs and alcohol.

DBS operator at Goonyella Riverside, John Doyle, has also come on board as the Ambassador for the program. John is both a former North Rockhampton State High School student and a former professional rugby league player, who played in

both the National Rugby League and State of Origin competitions.

The program has also received the backing and promised assistance from Melbourne Storm player, Tim Glasby, and former professional rugby league players Alf Songoro, Sid Domic, Matt Sing, Bert Tabuai and Lionel Harbin.

DBS’s General Manager Operations, Duncan Etwell, said that the sponsorship opportunity appealed to the business based on its location, its focus on health and education, and its ability to provide opportunities to Indigenous Australians.

“With an emulsion-manufacturing facility nearby in Bajool and a number of our employees living in Rockhampton, this sponsorship will

enable us to build long-lasting relationships with the local community,” Duncan said.

dbs joiN the scruM with New spoNsorship

Pictured with Duncan (second from left) are students, Daniel Goodwin and Justin Asse, and Rockhampton Rustlers Development Manager and academy organiser, John Harbin.

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Mining Matters January – March 2013 5

sMall gifts, big sMiles By Scott Bell

little greeN fiNgers By Summer Steward

Think back to the days of school bells, squished sandwiches and spit balls.

The Environment & Sustainability Team recently took a trip down memory lane to the days of the old schoolyard.

The team’s annual workshop was hosted by NSW this year and, in keeping with tradition, we donated some of our time to the local community, volunteering at the Boggabri Public School and Boggabri Sacred Heart Primary School.

Our team descended on the schools in a flurry of shovels, compost and a can-do attitude. Our mission – which we chose to accept – was to breathe new life into the schools’ vegetable gardens with the assistance of the students. I don’t know about you but frankly children can be scary for those of us not initiated into the world of parenthood.

So thankfully Chris Gray of GEMS Pty Ltd (facilitator for our internal Downer Environment & Sustainability Awareness training) volunteered his time and was instrumental in getting the children involved on the day.

The children were first taken through the Take 5 Zero Harm process, identifying trip hazards, and hat and sunscreen requirements. Groups then quickly progressed to harvesting tomato seeds, smell testing the herbs (mint was a winner), and helping to plant and water the garden beds.

Boggabri Public School has signed up for the SmartChef program, using produce from the school’s vegetable garden. Students in Years 5 and 6 plan and cook healthy, nutritious food for sale at the school canteen, giving them

an understanding of how to apply their literacy and numeracy skills in a real-life situation.

Sacred Heart will also be using the produce for their canteen, and have commenced a seed-propagation project with native seeds provided by the Boggabri Coal Environment Department. These plants will be used on the school grounds or for local community tree-planting projects.

The Boggabri Environment Team will be providing ongoing support to these projects by conducting regular visits and working with the schools to maintain the veggie patches.

Thanks to Downer Mining and Boggabri Coal for banding together and putting up the funds to get these projects off the ground.

Iggy Czajkowski, Karen Hartley and Craig Robinson help Boggabri Sacred Heart Primary School students maintain their vegetable garden. Students at Boggabri Public School.

Travelling to site we travel through a township called Finalbin. The residents of this town are the local landowners of the

Ok Tedi mine site. This town receives on average 14,000 mm (14 metres) of rain per year and is considered one of the wettest places on earth. Every day, regardless of weather conditions, the locals will play rugby league and soccer barefooted on rock and bitumen playing fields. Someone suggested we get them some footballs, so we arranged to buy some.

When I contacted the local schools board, I was amazed to find that there were six local schools in the area catering for approximately 2,750 kids. Some kids walk up to an hour and a half in the mornings to get to school. The Finalbin school had a budget of three balls per year, and we supplied them with ten. As part of their culture, the kids rubbed their palms together to show us their appreciation.

The next school we visited was Migalsim, located near the Ok Menga power station. There were approximately 200 kids at the school, and they only had two old soccer balls. The Papua New Guinean people are very hands-on, and nearly all the kids wanted to touch us or place their hands on us at some stage. The kids at the Wangbin and Tabubil schools were also very appreciative of the donation. The memory of their smiles will stay with me forever.

All in all we delivered 42 footballs and 44 soccer balls, in addition to 14 others we had previously given to be distributed at the schools in Tifalmin and Telefomin in the Highlands.

Operational Support PNG, Scott Bell, and HSET Superintendent, Tim Westendorf, pictured with the Principal, sports teacher and students at Migalsim School.

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6 Mining Matters January – March 2013

MeaNdu welcoMes New appreNtices

KiNgaroy tafe studeNts get their haNds dirty oN real eNgiNes

opeN-cut east

Our Meandu team recently gave three South Burnett locals,

Michael Marriot, Kiersten Butler and Steve Eckart, a jump start to a new career, when they were all offered apprenticeships at the project.

Michael has just finished Year 12 at school and has also completed a Certificate II in Plant Processing, making him a perfect candidate for a Boilermaker apprenticeship. In five years’ time, he hopes to be fully qualified and working in the mines. He also has ambitions of being a supervisor.

Kiersten, who is undertaking an HV Electrician apprenticeship, has always wanted to be an electrician at a mine, and chose subjects at school with this goal in mind. She hopes to eventually become an electrical engineer.

Steve joins us as a Diesel Fitter apprentice. He completed a Light Vehicle apprenticeship in 1997 and then worked as a diesel fitter on blast-hole drills. He’s looking forward to applying his knowledge, experience and safety values to his new role.

Apprentice diesel fitters studying at the Southern Queensland Institute of

TAFE’s (SQIT) Kingaroy campus are revved up to apply their knowledge to real-life equipment after we gave them two decommissioned engines in March.

A computer-controlled Caterpillar C12 engine from a pit dewatering pump and a Caterpillar 3406 engine from a grader were transported to Kingaroy from Goonyella Riverside Mine to enable the students to strip down and rebuild the engines as part of their automotive mechanical training.

SQIT’s Leading Vocational Teacher – Diesel Fitting and Light Automotive, Bob McIntosh, said the donation of the used engines provided additional training opportunities for their apprentices.

“It’s a struggle to get resources like this sort of equipment. To have something that has the electronics is just great,” Bob said.

“We appreciate getting end-of-life stuff because it has faults that we can diagnose.”

Meandu’s new apprentices (from left) – Michael Marriot, Kiersten Butler and Steve Eckart.

Pictured in front of the donated Caterpillar C12 engine with Dave Waddell (far left) are Bob McIntosh; SQIT Faculty Director – Manufacturing Construction & Technology, Kylie Lee; and our Regional Training Superintendent, Tina Pascoe.

Meandu Mine Operations Manager, Dave Waddell, said Downer Mining was pleased to be able to help SQIT improve its capacity to train diesel fitter apprentices.

“Apprentices are our future tradespeople, so we’re delighted to donate engines that will increase their exposure to, and understanding of, mine-specific equipment,” he said.

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Mining Matters January – March 2013 7

coppabella studeNts will be touch typiNg iN No tiMe

be brave aNd shave!

Students at Coppabella State School will be trading pens and paper for keyboards and computer screens after we donated six new Dell laptops to the school in February.The laptops will be used by students in a range of lessons, including maths, spelling and reading comprehension.Our Contracts Manager at Daunia Mine, Paul Oram, and Technical Services Superintendent, Ian Walker, were thanked by the

school’s captains at a school parade.“Coppabella is the closest community to the mine, so it‘s great that we could make such a practical contribution toward

the education of the school’s 24 students,” Paul responded.

Gutsy and generous… Zoe Anderson, HSE Clerk at Blackwater Mine, sacrificed her lovely, long tresses to

raise $3,000 for cancer research. Participating in the World’s Greatest Shave, which raises money for the Leukaemia Foundation, she promised to shave her head if she raised over $2,500. With the generosity of her friends, family and workmates, as well as a $1,000 contribution from Downer Mining, she well and truly surpassed her target.

Zoe decided to take part in this great cause after a family member passed away from a melanoma about 18 months ago.

“Instead of giving the foundation money this year, I thought I would ‘give’ them my hair,” she said.

Regional Mining Superintendent, Neil Kidd, also shaved his head and coloured his mo’ and Otraco Supervisor, Ryan Wadwell, waxed his eyebrows, with both of them pooling their contributions towards Zoe’s final amount.

Fantastic effort Zoe – you look great!

Watching the students test out their new laptops (from left) are Ian Walker, Coppabella State School Principal, Shane Wilkie, and Paul Oram.

Zoe before and after.

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8 Mining Matters January – March 2013

revaMped grad prograM lauNched

By Luke Messer and Pia Cappiello

in February, 28 of our graduates came together in Brisbane for the first development module in the revised Graduate Program.

This group comprised members from most disciplines within our business, spanning projects from across our entire operations. Underpinning this first module was the focus on our Downer Mining values, and the critical role they play in individual, team and organisational success.

Held over four intense days, the sessions enabled graduates to build a strong identity for their community by sharing personal experiences, participating in group activities and, most importantly, learning how our business operates. Key to these learnings were contributions from Downer Mining Executive

Andrew Scudds (left) accepts the Employer of the Year award from Polytechnic West’s

Executive Director Engineering and Resources Sector, Jonathon Maile.

polytechNic partNership produces iNdustry-first traiNiNg prograM

At Downer Mining we’ve discovered that a partnering approach pays dividends in all facets of our business. Certainly this has

been the case with our relationship with Polytechnic West.At their awards night in February, Polytechnic West honoured

us with the title of Employer of the Year in the Engineering and Resources division, thanks largely to our Trade Up-Grade collaboration to ‘up-skill’ our employees.

The Trade Up-Grade program provides a pathway for light- or heavy-vehicle mechanics and servicemen to gain a Certificate III Mobile Plant Mechanic through a credit transfer and recognised prior learning process. As part of the process, Polytechnic West conducts a gap analysis, so that each participant’s training program can be tailored to specifically address their outstanding competencies.

In an industry first, we have developed a Certificate II Vehicle Servicing (Heavy) in conjunction with the polytechnic. This is a site-based 12-month program incorporating theory and practical components, which provides our service personnel and trade assistants with a stepping stone towards a Certificate III qualification.

Currently, 13 of our 21 apprentices in the West are in the Trade Up-Grade program. We have just signed up 12 Certificate II Servicing (Heavy) trainees and will sign up a further nine Trade Up-Grade participants for our 2013 program.

Congratulations to Maintenance Training Superintendent, Andrew Scudds, GM Plant – West, Alex Grechko, HR Manager – West, Lyndon Joyce, and Plant Asset Manager – West, John MacDonald, on establishing such a great program and partnership.

David Peut and his daughters, Bella (front) and Lylah (right) preparing their tasty meal.

Congratulations to Bella and Lylah Peut for winning first prize in the Health Calendar Healthy Recipe Cooking

Challenge. They cooked a wonderful, healthy Mexican taco feast and will be receiving a $100 Rebel Sport voucher as their prize.

Their dad is Christmas Creek’s Senior Safety Coordinator, David Peut, and Bella and Lylah love when he’s home from work and they can cook together.

Oli and Max Chong and Kaitlin Rawson were joint runners-up, each receiving a $50 Rebel Sport voucher.

The next Health Calendar challenge is on now – check out page 11 for details!

tasty tacos taKe out top prize

opeN-cut west

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Mining Matters January – March 2013 9

traiNiNg at dowNer MiNiNg goes oNliNe

Ever had to pull out of a training session at the last minute because something

pressing has come up? Or struggled to pay attention because work matters are distracting you? Well, with our new online training centre, this could largely become a thing of the past.

With a variety of online modules to choose from, you can pick a time when

your head’s in the right space and work through the training program at your own pace. All you need is a computer… and a bit of peace and quiet!

According to Organisational Development Advisor, Kelly Gordon, who’s managing the online learning project, 2013 is going to be a real growth year for online training.

“We have developed modules that specifically suit the business, and we’re also looking at the purchase of ready-made online training solutions for the company,” she explains.

“There are 18 online modules already available. We have just completed the Performance and Development Feedback module to support the employee review process and next is a SAFEmine GPS module, for those employees who will be using SAFEmine on site.”

If you want to check it out, you can visit the online training centre at https://downermining.savvecentral.com/. You will have to request access by completing the Online Training Request form DM-TR-F24 on the IMS and sending it to [email protected]. Ask your Site Administrator for assistance if you don’t have Intranet access.

Online modules currently in the Online Catalogue are:n Introduction to Downer Miningn Introduction to IMSn Introduction to PMPn Performance and Development FeedbacknFour HSE Induction modules.

throughout the week,” said course facilitator, Luke Messer.

“So many of the group lived our values this week, which made for a very tough decision, though Gerry and Tim were thoroughly deserving of the awards,” agreed fellow facilitator, Pia Cappiello.

Through the range of topics covered, the challenging activities and the input from our management team and past graduates, our newest intake of graduates left the workshop with a newly formed sense of community and an abundance of key learnings to take back to their workplaces.

Contribution and went to Cadet Mining Engineer, Gerry Morales, with Graduate Mechanical Engineer, David Rooke, and Graduate HSE, Stuart Janson, receiving high commendations. The second award for Professional Conduct was taken out by Graduate Mining Engineer, Timoti Hopkins, with Graduate Mining Engineer, Heath Fitzimmons, and Graduate Mechanical Engineer, Harry Godwin, earning high commendations.

“It was a really difficult decision with so many of the participants displaying tremendous character and team spirit

members, Peter Newman and Peter Kerr, who both gave inspiring presentations relating to the history and future of our organisation. General Manager Engineering – East, Peter Cory, and Business Innovation Manager – East, Vikesh Magan, shared their insights into the world of mining innovation and how this relates to our company, while Human Resources Manager – East, Ashley Brett, taught the group how to lead their own performance and development.

A definite highlight of the week was the involvement of past graduates who have been promoted into senior roles within our business. Mining Manager Meandu, Dayne Somers, Environmental Superintendent South East, Summer Steward, and Regional Plant Superintendent, Matthew Ponomarenko, formed a panel to share their experiences and provide advice, while also getting to answer a curly question or two. This discussion proved to be highly valuable, with consistent themes coming out across the three panel members. Namely, always take your opportunities, familiarise yourself with those parts of the business that you know least, and be flexible in your approach.

Two awards were handed out to recognise high-performing participants. The first award was presented for Outstanding Communication and

our people

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10 Mining Matters January – March 2013

It’s not many operators who can boast over half a century operating heavy equipment,

but Keith Corker, one of our team at Sunrise Dam, is one of them. Over the course of his remarkable career, Keith has clocked up over 80,000 hours on dozers and over 20,000 hours on a variety of other machines on sites all over Western Australia. What makes this even more impressive is that he spent the first 25 years of his career operating equipment with no air conditioning!

Seeing as he spent most of his career operating CAT machines, Keith’s first employer, longtime friend and mentor, Keith Hendry, wrote to Caterpillar’s corporate headquarters in America asking them to recognise his friend’s service record. Caterpillar responded by profiling him in the March 2013 edition of their company-wide magazine – TracTion.

As well as catapulting Keith onto the path of fame and glory at Caterpillar HQ, Keith Hendry gave him his first job on a dozer when he was 16 years old – clearing land in the south west of WA. Soon after, he bought that machine and started his own business. After a few years he sold the dozer, and teamed up with some old school mates in the heavy haulage and dam sinking business.

In 1980, he started working in the mines, starting with Astek Contracting and then moving to Kanny’s Earthmoving (now Macmahon) where he operated the first Caterpillar D11N dozer in Western Australia.

Keith has worked on nine gold mines to date, as well as nickel, iron ore and mineral sand mines. He has been with us at Sunrise Dam since 2001, where he now mainly drives haul trucks.

“Every day earthmoving throws up a new challenge, and I enjoy tackling a challenge. Safety has come a long way in 50 years, and cowboys are no longer tolerated in open-cut mining,” he says of his experiences over his career.

Keith has also experienced over 50 years of newer and larger machines, saying that: “The bigger the machine, the more comfortable they get and the more room you have to operate.”

“The tyres are large and you don’t feel the bumps so much. The CAT 793 is like being in a big waterbed!” he explains.

His extensive experience makes him the perfect teacher for many of our trainees. In addition to operating trucks, he trains our

‘greenies’, and provides advice to the dozer and grader operators. He has even developed

a PowerPoint presentation, with the help of his son Stephen, to show new operators a“view from the driver’s seat”.

In Keith’s spare time, he enjoys the fruits of his lifetime of hard work – spending time with his family and travelling around the world.

Keith’s corKer of a half ceNtury

Keith on site at Sunrise Dam.

Keith Corker (left) with his first employer and long-time friend, Keith Hendry.

our people

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Mining Matters January – March 2013 11

prize MoNey helps Keep chopper flyiNg aNd safety top of MiNd

Recently the last of the cheques from our 2012 HSE Awards prizes

were presented to their worthy beneficiaries.

After taking out the top prize for both the Best HSE Performance and Sustainability categories, members from the former Norwich Park team chose to donate their $10,000 winnings to the Mackay-based RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter service.

The CQ Rescue helicopter provides a vital community service to Central Queensland, a region in which many of our employees live and a number of our operations are based. This donation is therefore a great way to support a service that supports us when we need it most.

The Goonyella Riverside Civil team won the Best HSE performance for a Short-Term/Small Project, and Senior Project Manager – Civil, Tom Day, suggested they support the inspirational work of A Miner’s Legacy.

This not-for-profit foundation was established to provide support, advice and assistance to families of mineworkers involved in fatal mine accidents, and the donation will assist the foundation in its bid to improve

mine safety and ultimately prevent mining-related fatalities.

Operations Manager QPAC, Brad Zillman (left), and Regional Health and Safety Superintendent, Derek Muirhead (right), present Chief Executive Officer CQ Rescue, Mark Shield, with the cheque.

Presenting the cheque to A Miner’s Legacy Co-founder, Rachel Blee are Project Manager – Civil, Daniel Caroly (left), and HSET Superintendent – Civil, Nick Mason (right).

Kids join inTell us how you sTay connecTed wiTh your parenT

while They’re away aT work. wriTe us a sTory, poem or song or draw a picTure.

geT your enTry in before The end of may by emailing us aT

[email protected]

The besT submission will win a $100 rebel sporT voucher, while The Two runners up will each

win a $50 rebel sporT voucher.

zero harM

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12 Mining Matters January – March 2013

breast caNcer awareNess taKes ceNtre stage

Head Office SW1/104 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane QLD 4101

PO Box 8221, Woolloongabba QLD 4102 T: +61 7 3026 6666 F: +61 7 3026 6060 E: [email protected]

In 2009 Regional Training Superintendent, Tina Pascoe, heard the words that every

woman dreads – “you have breast cancer”. As a result of this diagnosis, Tina had

a lumpectomy and underwent a series of radiation treatments to eliminate the cancer. However at her two-year check-up she discovered it had returned, and she needed surgery and several months of chemotherapy.

This battle with breast cancer has prompted Tina to bravely educate our workforce on the disease by featuring in our latest health video on breast cancer awareness. The video is part of a health

campaign designed to inform our people about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, how to deal with it, and the importance of early diagnosis.

According to Radiation Oncologist, Dr Marie Burke, who also features in the video, the risk factors of breast cancer can be reduced by leading a healthy life with good nutrition, minimising alcohol intake, keeping your weight down and maintaining physical activity.

As a token of our gratitude to Dr Burke for giving her time and advice for free, we have made a donation to the Breast and Prostate Cancer Foundation of Queensland.

soMe facts about breast caNcer

1 in 8 women under the age of 85 will develop breast cancer.

75% of women who develop breast cancer are over the age of 50.

Although breast cancer in men is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all breast cancers, it can occur.

You can significantly increase your risk of getting breast cancer if you:n Are overweightn Are taking medication such as

hormone replacement treatment or the oral contraceptive pill

n Drink three or more glasses of alcohol a day.

If you are aged 40 or over, sign up to BreastScreen Australia’s

free breast screening program. Phone 13 20 50 to make an

appointment today.

Tina (left) launched the video at an afternoon tea held at our Brisbane office on International Women’s Day. She is pictured with Regional Health Advisor, Natasha Palethorpe, and Dr Marie Burke.