Nine mine rescue teams from all over the country descended on Bendigo over the weekend to compete in the annual Victorian Mines Rescue Competition.
MMG Rosebery’s team placed first in three out of eight events including Underground Search & Rescue, Breathing Apparatus – Practical and Breathing Apparatus – Skills. This builds on the team’s success in the Underground Search & Rescue and Breathing Apparatus – Practical categories at the event last year.
Simon Delander, MMG Group Manager – Health & Safety, attended the competition and had an opportunity to see the team compete first hand.
“The team demonstrated great skill and teamwork being one of the few teams to complete the Underground Search & Rescue event and doing so both quickly and safely,” said Simon.
The event involved the team of six responding to a report of a simulated rock fall to search multiple levels of an underground mine for two missing miners whilst wearing breathing apparatus.
They had to dig through broken rock with hand tools to locate one casualty and then carry that casualty up a steep decline to a refuge chamber.
The team consisted of Elmar Van Breda (Team Captain), Josh Berryman (Vice Captain), Marcus Cook, Graham Cowan, Craig Lawler, Wayne Woolley and Corey Ruffles (Reserve & Team Manager). Rosebery General Manager Stuart Gula and Mine Manager Greg Bowkett also attended the event in a show of support for the team and their participation in the competition.
“Mine rescue skills are an important part of our safety preparation and competition is great way for the team to showcase their skills and build on site based training,” said Simon.
“The weekend’s success was a fantastic result for the MMG Rosebery team and for all personnel at Rosebery mine who can rest assured that they have a group of highly dedicated, well trained and professional mine rescuers among their ranks.”
The Victorian Mines Rescue Competition is coordinated by the Minerals Council of Australia’s Victorian Division. This year’s event was held at Fosterville Gold Mine (Northgate Minerals Limited), Kangaroo Flat Gold Mine (Bendigo Mining Limited) and at the Country Fire Authority’s Training Ground at Huntley.
For more information:
Sally Cox, MMG Communications Advisor
T 61 3 9288 0850/0417 144 524
E sally.cox@mmgroupltd.com
Downloads