Teams from Victorian, New South Wales and Tasmanian mines have showcased their first aid and underground search and rescue skills at the Minerals Council of Australia’s Victorian Mine Rescue Competition (VMRC).
Held in Bendigo, the VMRC is a major annual safety training exercise involving simulated rescue scenarios for mine emergency response teams organised by MCA Victoria.
Cornwall Coal won best overall at the event, followed by Ballarat Gold Mine in second place and Mandalay Resources Costerfield Operations in third place.
Scenarios were hosted by Agnico Eagle’s Fosterville Gold Mine and the Central Deborah Gold Mine.
This safety training exercise relies on volunteers, adjudicators and sponsors, whom the MCA thanked for their dedication to improving safety in Victorian mines.
Eight teams competed in simulated exercises to help prepare mines for a range of emergencies.
An important part of the competition is the involvement of emergency response agencies, including Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria, to improve preparedness with the mine rescue community.
The competition is a critical part of the mining industry’s efforts to support highly trained rescue personnel now in its 31st year.
The results from the 2024 VMRC are:
Overall winner
1st: Cornwall Coal Mine
2nd: Ballarat Gold Mine
3rd: Mandalay Resources, Costerfield Operations
Winning Team Captain
Anthony Woods, Cornwall Coal Mine
Winning Team – Overall Safety
Fosterville Gold Mine
Fire Exercise
1st: Mandalay Resources, Costerfield Operations
2nd: Cornwall Coal Mine
3rd: Stawell Gold Mines
First Aid
1st: Cornwall Coal Mine
2nd: Ballarat Gold Mine
3rd: Stawell Gold Mines
Ropes Exercise
1st: Fosterville Gold Mine
2nd: Mandalay Resources, Costerfield Operations
3rd: Cornwall Coal Mine
Underground Search and Rescue
1st: Ballarat Gold Mine
2nd: Fosterville Gold Mine
3rd: Cornwall Coal Mine
Skills Exercise
1st: Cornwall Coal Mine
2nd: Mandalay Resources, Costerfield Operations
Equal 3rd: CFA Oscar 1 and Fosterville Gold Mine
Theory
1st: Mandalay Resources, Costerfield Operations
2nd: Fosterville Gold Mine
3rd: Ballarat Gold Mine
Breathing Apparatus
1st: Mandalay Resources, Costerfield Operations
2nd: Cowal Gold Mine
3rd: CFA Oscar 1
Road Crash Rescue
1st: Cowal Gold Mine
Equal 2nd: Fosterville Gold Mine and Ballarat Gold Mine
Featured image: KARL HOFMAN/shutterstock.com
