The Mt Isa Rescue Challenge in early September was the first time the full team had competed together, and apart from two members all were competing in their first year of mines rescue competitions.
Captained by Russell Bowyer the team comprised vice-captain Wayne (Pud) Barnes, Luke Mahony, Jon Balcomb, Peter Clews, Chris Stoltz, Adam Ryan and Aaron Williamson, with Steve Bullough and Cole Klease serving as team managers.
Pud Barnes is the longest serving mines rescue member in the team with 21 years of experience and said the Mt Isa challenge was the toughest competition yet.
Gregory Crinum was the only coal mine team competing in the competition, with other teams from metalliferous underground and opencut mines including Mt Isa, Cannington and Ernest Henry.
The competition consisted of scenario events that included multi-casualty, hazardous material, vertical rescue, road accident rescue, fitness and technical (ropes) team events.
The team was also required to demonstrate key skill areas including roping, fire, truck rescue and first aid skills.
“The challenge was set up to be both mentally and physically demanding and I am sure that all the competitors that competed on the weekend would agree that it was truly a challenge,” team manager Cole Klease said.
“Some of the less experienced team members performed way above their experience and did Gregory Crinum proud.”
The team won the vertical rope rescue, placed second in the road accident rescue and the search and rescue, and third in technical (ropes) and the fitness challenge. The other notable results were best captain and second-best medics, which went to Peter Clews and Chris Stoltz.
Prior to the Mt Isa competition some of the team members participated in the Queensland Open Cut Mines Rescue Competition held at BMA’s Norwich Park Mine, and the EK Healy Underground Cup, held at Xstrata's Oaky No. 1 Mine last month.
Klease said although the team did not take out any places at those events, it was a great experience for the team members and provided a great learning environment, which proved its worth at Mt Isa when the team took out 3rd place overall.
In terms of training and preparing for the competitions, the Gregory Crinum team undertook skills-based training including ropes rescue courses, hazardous materials training, road accident rescue training and ongoing first aid courses.
The team also spent time at the local fire station learning about fire safety and the correct use and application of firefighting equipment.
Gregory Crinum is also fortunate enough to have a brand new mines rescue training room and mines rescue simulation room onsite that allows the team to practice and hone its skills.
Klease said participating in mines rescue competitions allowed the team members to gain experience and skills that they can pass on to others at the mine.
