Day 2 - First Day of Training

Camp at 5:30.

5am start, had worse, also had better. I didn’t sleep too good, I think a combination of nerves, excitement and unfamiliarity brought that on. The aircon is nice and cold, and if you pretend it sounds like waves crashing it isn’t so bad. As I listen to it know it sounds nothing like that, maybe someone spiked my food.

As I still hadn’t located a cup or a bottle I took to drinking from the tap again, and yes, even at 5am when the sun hasn’t even shown up it is still quite warm water. After eventually getting organised I headed up the path to the mess. I will get around to taking a photo of it at some point, for now, I’m more worried about drawing unwanted attention to myself and being eaten. Literally, some of these guys look like they would regularly consume smallish humans like myself. Pretty amazing spread on, bacon, eggs (3 types), hash browns, porridge, tomatoes, sausages, cereals, muffins, danishs etc etc. The list went on, so I thought I would spoil myself, and opted for a bowl of Nutri Grain. After finally locating the milk thanks so a nice woman (she could tell I was completely lost) I sat down and tucked in. 

After this it was time to make “crib”. Crib is the mine term for lunch, you get an hour long lunch break once a day, which is when you consume your crib that you have packed that morning/night (depending on your shift). My wife would go mental if she saw the rows and rows of Chines containers, finally I know where all of ours at home have disappeared to, they joined the mining boom! So once again I splashed out and ended up with 2 ham, cheese and tomato sandwiches (minus mayo because I couldn’t locate it), 2 biscuits, and an apple. Not bad really. You can basically “crib” anything that is on offer day or night. I can see why these guys put on weight up here.

The main Mt Isa Mine.

After breakfast, I got myself organised and met up with Paul and Matty to catch the bus. Matty informed us he had to head back to the Gold Coast due to his eldest boy winding up in hospital the night before. Of course, none of us had any idea how this would be achieved. When the bus showed we dropped Matty at the airport on our way and wished him well to find a flight. He couldn’t even contact our company due to them not opening until 8am. (We later found out they had booked him on an 11am flight back to Brisbane, not bad going really, hopefully will see him again out here in the future)

Today was Generic Surface Induction. Let me tell you, I wanted to say if you can tie your shoelaces you can pass this, but there were a few people there who blew that theory out of the water (that, or someone else ties there shoes, I didn’t ask) The induction consisted of basic safety and risk management principles. Its designed to cover all aspects of the mine without going into any specific site areas. That comes later and you do an induction for every specific site you work in (above ground, below ground, copper, zinc, lead etc). This now explains why I have to do 2 weeks of inductions compared to Paul (a plumber) who starts work Thursday!

The main stack can be seen from everywhere you go.

Crib came at 12, which I enjoyed. Also went for a walk and saw a little of Isa. Found a shop and located a water bottle, which is now sitting in my fridge (by itself) keeping cool water around the place which is nice. Isa is an interesting place, there is honestly about 15 degrees difference between the sun and shade, my it’s a very dry heat which makes it more tolerable. The streets are very country town feel, from what I have seen it seems quite run down, which I found strange due to Emerald being very flash. Maybe I was just in the slums.

And now here we are, day 2 drawing to a close, (or is it day 1?), not to bad all in all, hopefully tomorrows course is a tad more interesting.

Interesting facts for the day:

• ·         Over 6000 people incl contractors (that’s me) are employed at George Fisher Mine where I shall be working.
• ·         Mt Isa Mines (MIM) produce copper in 400kg anode blocks, and lead in 4,000kg blocks.
• ·         The MIM’s also produce zinc and silver, one of only a few mines in the world to produce all 4 elements in such close proximity
• ·         Being able to read and write isn’t a requirement to get a job up here apparently.
• ·         When an instructor tells you to write something down because there is a question about that, that’s helping you, when he finds out you didn’t write that answer on your test because you “didn’t know”, he will tell you again, thats ridiculous, and Darwin’s Theory should be practiced
• ·         I still haven’t seen anyone with a miner’s helmet, but I did see a photo, so there is still hope
• When you buy water in Isa, it comes from the Gold Coast. Not sure how I didnt notice this before.

Nu water from Burleigh Heads