Tell me where you have completed vacation work with Byrnecut?
I worked at Thunderbox in Western Australia over the 2021 Christmas period where I spent most of my time driving trucks. And then in the 2022 Christmas period, I worked at Prominent Hill on the paste crew as well as a little bit of service crew.
What were the biggest differences that you notice between Thunderbox and Prominent Hill?
The biggest difference I saw was the size of the two sites. For example, Thunderbox was targeting approximately 2 million tonnes per annum of total material movement, whereas Prominent Hill targets 5 million tonnes per annum of total material movement. As a result, Prominent Hill has a bigger crew and more fleet.
How did you hear about the Byrnecut vacation program?
One of the clubs at the university was advertising the position on their electronic whiteboard. It sounded really interesting to me, so I applied, I was interviewed and got the job from there.
What was your first reaction to going underground?
It was very daunting at first. However, it did not take long to get used to it and start enjoying the experience.
What was your favourite part of your vacation work at both sites?
I really enjoyed the friendly atmosphere of the crews on both sites. Everyone was very welcoming, which was fantastic when you come to a new industry and a new mine site.
Do you have any advice for future Byrnecut vacation students?
Byrnecut’s vacation program is a great opportunity to learn about the underground mining industry. Do not be afraid to get your hands dirty and ask a lot of questions.