Fosterville Gold Mine takes out 26th annual Gastech Australia Victorian mine rescue competition

Kirkland Lake’s Fosterville Gold Mine in Victoria has continued its successful year by taking home the Victorian Mine Rescue Competition trophy last weekend.

The Competition, in its 26th year, hosted nine teams from across Victoria and NSW across three days of scenarios designed to test and improve each team’s emergency response skills, including practical exercises in ropes rescue, first aid and search and rescue.

Fosterville also took out the award for overall safety while Mandalay Resources Costerfield Operation’s Ben Green received the Captain’s Trophy.

Other teams in the 2018 competition included Evolution Mining, New Gold Peak Gold, Estate Services Yallourn, Cadia Valley, CMOC Northparkes, Peabody Wilpinjong Coal Mining and the CFA’s specialist emergency response unit Oscar 1.

The diversity of operations demonstrates the value placed by industry in the Victorian competition, both within Victoria and across Australia. The awards were presented to individuals and teams at a presentation dinner attended by more than 160 people in Bendigo.

Two recipients – Jamie Pope from Northparkes Mine and Andrew Burt from Coal Services – were awarded the Noel Justice award in recognition of their commitment and dedication to the Victorian Mine Rescue Competition.

MCA Victoria is extremely grateful to host Kirkland Lake for its support and all those involved in ensuring a successful competition, including the Organising Committee, competition adjudicators and the many volunteers who ensure the competition is valued by all participants.

In particular, the contribution of Simon Delander, General Manager, HSE & Risk at Evolution Mining – who has provided his technical expertise as Head Adjudicator for the past decade – is greatly appreciated.

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