Thursday, January 26, 2006

A Little Close To Home

Hi All,

I'm not sure if you are all aware of the plane crash that occurred last week close to MRM. Here is an article taken from www.news.com.au

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Two men killed in plane crash

By Karen Michelmoe January 19, 2006

TWO men have been killed in a light plane crash near Borroloola in a remote part of the Northern Territory.Police say the pilot and 47-year-old passenger, a field officer from Perth-based North Australian Diamonds, were on approach to the McArthur River Mine airstrip this morning, when their plane crashed.

Workers at the airstrip became concerned when the Hardy Aviation charter plane did not arrive as scheduled at 9.30am (CST) and called police.

An air search later found the overturned twin-engine Beechcraft Baron B58 2km from the airstrip.

"(There was) no sign of life," Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) spokesman Peter Gibson said.

North Australian Diamonds chief executive Alan Campbell said the Perth-based worker was enroute from Darwin to the airstrip, where another employee was to be collected.

The pair were then to fly on to the company's Merlin Diamond project, 80km south of Borroloola. "We are obviously shocked by the accident," Mr Campbell said.

"It's very sobering."

"Our condolences go out to the family involved."

Mr Campbell said the 47-year-old man had been an employee of the company since the early 1980s.

"He was based out of Perth but returned to Darwin just a couple of days ago," he said.
NT Police senior sergeant Garry Smith said police launched a search with McArthur River Mining employees after the aircraft failed to arrive at the airstrip.

"Police are still at the scene," he said.

The bodies of the two men were expected to be transported to Darwin for post mortem examinations.

Mr Gibson said the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) would investigate the crash, while CASA would review safety aspects.

He said it was too early to draw any conclusions about why the plane had crashed.

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I was told that there was no trouble with the plane at all, it had seemed that the plane just plummeted to the ground nose first. When I heard about it, I thought it was an AirNorth plane which flies MRM workers in and out of the site, it wasn't though. It's really sad as we actually fly over that area coming in and out. The weather was pretty bad that day so it took rescue workers about a day and a half to get the bodies out of the wreck. The two guys died on impact.

As you can imagine, my Mum freaked out and a few friends were concerned, but the planes we catch a lot bigger than that and are able to handle stormy conditions pretty well.

I never usually think of my plane ever crashing when I'm on board, but I did think of it when I came back to town on Wednesday. I suppose I do take things for granted sometimes.

Anyway, I will update you all more on what happened at work soon.

Take care.

Jack Handy Thought For The Day: If you think a weakness can be turned into a strength, I hate to tell you this, but that's another weakness.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

We Don't Like Cricket.........

Oh no!!!!!

We LOVE IT!!!!! (ah!!!!)

*sings*

Ummm...........I'm rather excited that Sri Lanka just kicked some South African butt!!!!

Woohoo!!!!

Could this be like the summer of 1995-96?? I hope so!!!! This victory just proves that we (the Sri Lankan team) are not just a bunch of losers, but great sportsmen who deserve to be taken seriously!!! You go guys!!!!

I contemplated wearing my Sri Lanka cricket shirt back on the plane to MRM tomorrow but decided against it. I'm not sure how other people would take it (I was also a little afraid). Maybe I'll wear it if we get into the finals!!!!!

Okay, that's all!!! I'm leaving to the mine tomorrow morning!!!!

And to all a good night!!!

Jack Handy Thought For The Day: If you go through a lot of hammers each month, I don't think it necessarily means you're a hard worker. It may just mean you have a lot to learn about proper hammer maintenance.

Sunday, January 15, 2006

And So It Goes.........

Hey All,

I would first like to apologise for being so slack updating this!!! I will try and update on the first or second day that I'm back from MRM in future!!!

I have actually started to settle down into the swing of things at the mine. The 12 hour days are not bad at all, and we did get a new chef who is great!!! He is French (oh yes Yumna!!!!). I have made a few more friends and have started playing a bit of pool and table tennis!!!! My weighing skills have improved dramatically and I am more confident in the laboratory.

However, I had my induction on Tuesday, let me tell you a bit about it. I WAS COMPLETELY BORED!!!!!!!!!! I started work at 6.00am like always. Then left for my induction at 11.00am. I went to the class room and listened to talks on safety, the environmental impact of the mine and also how to put out a fire using a fire extinguisher. The guy talking about fire asked everyone if they had a hard hat. I told him I had one in the lab and asked him whether I should go and quickly get it then. He replied "no, just get it before we go to start practicing putting out fires." The whole class then had to wait about 5 minutes for two other ladies who took too long in the break so I really could have gone and got my YMCA Village People hat then.

When it was time for everyone to go to the cars to get driven down to the fire fighting spot, I quickly went to the lab whilst everyone else pretty much ran to the cars. When I got back, there was NO ONE there!!!!! I looked around the back and front and realised they had left without me. I honestly felt like punching someone. Whilst I stood outside the office feeling a little sorry for myself, another presentor walked towards the office. I told him I had been left behind. He then drove me to the site. He was really nice!!! Thanks mate!!!

After putting out a fire, which was actually quite fun, we were driven back. The guy who forgot me said "sorry for leaving you behind". I was like "yeah, I survived" and thought no thanks to you!!!!

We then had lunch - this was at about 1.00pm and we went back to the classroom at about 1.40pm. We then had a series of presentors and occasional 10 minute breaks. Now, I sat at the front so I would have to pay attention and not be too bored. I almost fell asleep as soon as we got a new presentor. When we were supposed to be watching videos and the lights were dimmed, I took the opportunity to close my eyes and pretend I was in bed.

We ended up finishing our induction at 6.50pm!!!!!! So, all up, our induction took 8 hours to complete. I don't know what we gained out of it. It was just cruel and I don't think I'll remember much of what was talked about. Contrary to that, time in the lab goes very quickly and I'm so glad for that!!!!!!

I HATE INDUCTION!!!!

Thank you!!!

Jack Handy Thought For The Day: I think a good product would be "Baby Duck Hat". It's a fake baby duck, which you strap on top of your head. Then you go swimming under water until you find a mommy duck and her babies, and you join them. Then, all of a sudden, you stand up out of the water and roar like Godzilla. Man, those ducks really take off! Also, Baby Duck Hat is good for parties.