Tom is currently the longwall coordinator at the New South Wales mine, which he rates as his favourite job to date. He originally started out as an apprentice at BHP Newcastle in 1968 and then worked in various industries as well as being self employed before starting at Newstan as a production worker. He became the fire officer in 1985 before joining the staff as the services officer in 1987. He was appointed as an undermanager in 1988, maintenance development coordinator in 2001 and longwall coordinator in 2002.

ILN:What is your earliest mining memory?

TW: Listening to mining stories from my grandfather.

ILN: What made you choose mining as a career?

TW: At the time – no weekend rosters, more money and every Christmas off with the kids. Things have changed!

ILN: What was your favourite job in a coal mine?

TW: The job that I am currently doing - Longwall Superintendent at Newstan Colliery.

ILN: What was your least favourite job?

TW: Entering op-stats into the computer.

ILN: Who, or what, has most influenced your mining career?

TW: My first mine manager James Simpson, with his stubborn determination that nothing was impossible and anything could be achieved.

ILN: What do you consider your best mining achievement?

TW: Introducing “Huesker” mesh into our longwall recovery process at Newstan Colliery.

ILN: What do you see as being the greatest mining development during your career?

TW: Introduction of longwall mining at Newstan Colliery. At the time the longwall set the standard for longwall technology in Australia.

ILN: Do you hold any mining records?

TW: I believe that all mining records are achieved by all of the employees at the mine site, not individuals.

ILN: Do you have any unfulfilled ambitions?

TW: To win Lotto.

ILN: What was your most embarrassing moment in a coal mine?

TW: Inadvertently slipping into “industrial language” while showing a group of ladies around underground.

ILN: What was your scariest time in a coal mine?

TW: Mining through a wind blast area with the longwall - thankfully that area is behind us now.

ILN: What is your worst memory of coal mining?

TW: Being personally involved in a mining fatality and the following inquest.

ILN: Do you think that the day of the fully automated remotely operated face is near?

TW: Not in the foreseeable future.

ILN: What major improvements would you like to see on longwall operations?

TW: Better dust suppression across the face and a more advanced horizon control.