Annual service remembers fallen miners

Hundreds of people will gather today at the historic Mount Morgan Mine site to honour the memory of the 1500-plus Queensland workers killed over almost 200 years of mining.

Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham will join families, mine workers, mining industry representatives, as well as union and government officials for the eighth annual Miners Memorial Day Service.

The service is held in a mining community every year on 19 September, the day in 1921 when 75 miners were killed in Queensland’s worst mining disaster at the Mount Mulligan coal mine in far north Queensland. The annual service is organised in partnership by the Queensland Government, the mining industry, workers and unions.

Dr Lynham said Miners Memorial Day was an opportunity for families and mining communities to gather and commemorate lives lost.

“It is also an opportunity for everyone associated with mining to recommit to a goal of zero harm in the industry,” he said.

“Sadly, when we pause for a minute’s silence, we must also remember the four miners lost to mining accidents in Queensland since last year’s memorial service, and offer condolences to their families, friends and colleagues.”

In almost 200 years of mining, Queensland has had a number of major mining disasters, including Kianga, where 13 workers died in a mine explosion 40 years ago on Sunday, and two at Moura in 1986, killing 12 people, and 1994, when 11 miners died.

Dr Lynham said it was appropriate that the 2015 service was being hosted by the historic mining community of Mount Morgan.

“Mount Morgan has a long history of mining dating back to 1882 when it was founded as a gold mining town,” he said

“The historic Mount Morgan Mine operated between 1882 and 1990 and was the largest gold mine in Queensland during the 19^th and early 20^Th centuries.

“Mount Morgan is no stranger to mining tragedy and more than 180 people are recorded as being killed in mining activities in the district since 1889.”

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for Sport and Racing Bill Byrne said the Rockhampton region owed a huge debt of gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives in the perilous pursuit of gold and copper at Mount Morgan.

“Their legacy is in the historic buildings on Quay Street and in the growth of our city as a major port,” he said.

“The wealth their toil created shaped our region and it is fitting to honour their memory and remember all miners killed at work in Queensland.”

This year’s memorial service will commence at 10.30 am at the historic Mount Morgan Mine site, 38 km south-west of Rockhampton.

Former miner and Member for Mirani Mr Jim Pearce will be attending today. He will also represent Dr Lynham at a service on Sunday to commemorate the 40^th anniversary of the Kianga mine disaster at the Kianga Hall in Moura.

“Saturday’s event will contribute to the service on Sunday where we will remember those lost 40 years ago in the Kianga mine disaster,” Mr Pearce said.

“Having been a miner, I am very passionate about making sure that their efforts are recognised.”

[ENDS]                       19 September 2015

Media contact:           Jan Martin    0439 341 314