Whyalla SAMERC prompts big response for this year’s SIMEC team

Uncategorized > 8th October, 2024

Trials conducted for 2025 competition at Roxby Downs

8 October 2024

SIMEC Mining Iron Ore is reaping the benefits of hosting, and performing well, at last year’s South Australian Mines Emergency Response Competition (SAMERC) in Whyalla.

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.

As the SAMERC event heads up to Roxby Downs this year, with hosts BHP adopting many of SIMEC’s town-centric ideas, SIMEC’s innovative approach and the success of its team in 2023 has seen an upsurge in interest from within the business.

SIMEC Mining Emergency Services Superintendent, and key organiser of last year’s event, Mark Bishop said the SIMEC Mining emergency response team performed brilliantly to pick up four awards including the Theory, Fire Fighting, Team Skills and BA (Breathing Apparatus) Search and Rescue trophies in 2023.

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 step up as leaders and learn skills they can use in the workplace

SIMEC Mining Emergency Services Superintendent Mark Bishop

“We have had that many people interested in joining the team and competing, we are having to conduct trials to settle on the final team of seven,” Mark said.

“This will result in another strong showing at the SAMERC this year 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.”

Another win for SIMEC Mining is the reappointment of team captain Graeme Nolen who led the 2023 crew admirably.

“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 step up as leaders and learn skills they can use in the workplace.

“This year Graeme and team medic Matt Gulin will take 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 in the town of Roxby Downs and Olympic Dam Mine from 18 to 20 October. 

Main picture and above right: Trials get underway at the Whyalla Basketball Stadium to choose the SIMEC team for this year’s SAMERC in Roxby Downs. Bottom left: Last year’s award-winning SIMEC team. Below right: The SIMEC team in action during last year’s Whyalla competition.

See pictures from the 2023 SAMERC in Whyalla

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