Final crew settled after selection trials
18 October 2024
Safety will be front and centre this week as SIMEC Mining Iron Ore fields a team in the South Australian Mines Emergency Response Competition (SAMERC).
SIMEC was widely praised as it brought the 2023 SAMERC in from its regular remote mine-site locations and held it in the Whyalla CBD as a spectator-friendly event that attracted more than 5000 people over two days.
This year’s SAMERC will kick off at Roxby Downs on Friday with hosts BHP adopting many of Whyalla’s town-centric ideas, SIMEC’s innovative approach.
These events are not only a great chance for the response team to put into action what they practice, they are also great opportunities for people to develop as leaders and learn skills they can use in the workplace to keep our people safe.
SIMEC Mining Emergency Services Superintendent Mark Bishop
SIMEC Mining Emergency Services Superintendent, and key organiser of last year’s event, Mark Bishop said there were so many people interested in joining the team and competing this year, they had to conduct trials to settle on the final team of seven.
“This will result in another strong showing at this year’s competition and means we are continuing to improve our emergency response capabilities with more people, more enthusiasm and more learnings that will keep us all safer and comfortable in our workplace,” Mark said.
The final selection of the team saw the reappointment of team captain Graeme Nolan who led the 2023 crew admirably. He will be joined this year by Matt Gulin (medic), Brendan Schwenke, Adam Acton, James Weir, Scott Murphy and Matthew Vlachoulis.
“Graeme and our team medic Emma Mullenger stepped up last year and led the SIMEC Mining team brilliantly,” Mark said.
“These events are not only a great chance for the response team to put into action what they practice, they are also great opportunities for people to develop as leaders and learn skills they can use in the workplace to keep our people safe.
“This year Graeme and team medic Matt Gulin have taken even more responsibility for the team including selection and training in preparation to compete to the best of their ability.”
The South Australian Mines Emergency Response Competition is designed to test the skills and knowledge of teams who would be called on to respond to a mine emergency with life-like scenarios.
The 2024 South Australian Mine Emergency Response Competition will be held from 18 to 20 October.
Main picture: The SIMEC Mining emergency response team for this year’s SAMERC, back left to right: Matt Gulin, Scott Murphy, Adam Acton, Graeme Nolan. Front: James Weir, Matthew Vlachoulis, Brendan Schwenke. Above right: Selection trials held in Whyalla to select this year’s SAMERC team.
Read more about SIMEC Mining and SAMERC
