Coal community tribute to those lost on the job

As the community gathered to witness the unveiling of the new Moranbah Miners’ Memorial they remembered ' the human cost to an industry that is in our DNA'. A 1200-strong crowd witnessed the illumination of the sandstone plinth at the memorial on Friday evening (November 8). Mayor Anne Baker said the memorial unveiling and service gave her a huge sense of Isaac pride. “We know how much a fatality resonates in each and every member of our community," she said. “This is thanks to an overwhelming amount of blood, sweat and tears to ensure we have a fitting reminder of those we’ve lost on the job. “To the families and friends of our miners who have passed, this is your peaceful place for us all to come together and reflect. “The lives we’ve lost in the Moranbah mines and those we’ve lost on the roads to and from work, in work camps and from coal-related diseases, these men were fathers, sons husbands, brothers, uncles and nephews and as a community we stand with you.” Mayor Baker said Moranbah now joined the Moura and Collinsville communities in providing a fitting tribute and peaceful place of remembrance for our fallen miners. Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham and Isaac Mayor Anne Baker with the bronze-casted miner created by Nebo artist Kay Paton “Coal mining is part of who we are. Establishing a memorial in each of our mining communities has been a vision of council for quite some time,” she said. This journey began with a piece of sandstone with a plaque at the local union office, she said. Every detail of the memorial had been pored over and discussed at length between councillors, the Moranbah Miners’ Memorial Committee, Designtek, Hutchinson Builders, Capricorn Stone and Adept Contractors. Starting with a ball of wire, three steel rods and 10 photographs, Nebo artist Kay Paton created the memorial’s bronze-cast miner. “All the hard work and dedication of the Isaac Regional Council team and the Moranbah Miners’ Memorial Committee is a testament of collaboration of unity and a demonstration of how we stand as one,” Cr Baker said. The memorial has been a $300,000 community partnership between Isaac Regional Council, Mineworkers Trust, CFMEU Mining & Energy Division Queensland, CFMEU Peak Downs Lodge, CFMEU Moranbah North Lodge, CFMEU Goonyella Riverside Lodge, CFMEU Broadmeadow Lodge, AMWU Goonyella Riverside Branch and ETU Goonyella Riverside Branch. All photos on this page are courtesy of Isaac Regional Council. See more on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/isaacregionalcouncil

Coal community tribute to those lost on the job

Industry Queensland

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