The event coordinated 75% of the available brigadesmen in the area, plus three mines rescue stations from NSW: Southern (Wollongong), Western (Lithgow) and Hunter Valley (Singleton).
The day involved a full simulated emergency where oblivious brigadesmen are notified by telephone, using the callout system of the station, to attend the colliery. This method ensures the emergency simulation is as realistic as possible.
The brigadesmen assemble at the colliery and are formulated into nine teams, consisting of a captain, vice-captain and four team members.
After completing surface procedures all teams venture underground simultaneously where they complete three tasks. The Cooranbong Colliery tasks included fighting a vehicle fire, retrieving a barricaded mine worker to safety, locating a missing person and using a stretcher to bring the worker back to fresh air.
Competition organisers said all teams returned to the surface around the same time after completing the tasks.
The afternoon session saw the teams completing three exercises including an individual practical – inspection and operation of specific equipment for mines rescue procedures; a theory assessment; and inseam response.
The latter exercise used the new Inseam Response Guidelines, formulated by the Mines Rescue Working Committee and available to the mining industry as a supplement to their Mines Rescue capabilities. It utilised compressed air breathing apparatus (CABA) in a simulated underground environment to perform a rescue of personnel from a working section.
The winning team on the day consisted of:
Bob Wilson (captain), West Wallsend
David Phillips (vice-captain), Myuna
Dennis Underwood, Austar
Steve Pettit, Newstan
John Gillard, Mandalong
Duncan Moody, Mannering
The runner-up team consisted of:
John Cousins (captain), Austar
Greg Harman (vice-captain), Awaba
Neil Lindsay, Austar
Jamie Mitchell, Austar
Garry Boon, Mandalong
Murray Reynolds, Myuna
“Management from all the collieries from which the Newcastle Station draw their brigade from should be congratulated for allowing their personnel the opportunity to participate in the day’s events thus honing the skills of the individuals for an event we hope never occurs,” the competition organisers said.
