MNSEC go mining at BHP

September 16th saw over 30 students from Gladstone High School, Orroroo Area School, Mid North Christian College and Quorn Area School attend Gateway’s annual road trip to Olympic Dam.  For most of the students, it was their maiden voyage to Roxby Downs.  The bus chucked a mainy and a quick look around the town was followed by some well earned lunch. 

While at BHP Billiton, presentations included an overview of the proposed

mine expansion and guided tour by Public Affairs Officer, Deb Ainslie and an explaination of radiation and safety procedures on site.  Students and Gateways own Marc Swensson dressed up in the compulsory safety uniform (aka disco pants) making for some memorable dance moves and catwalk poses.  After some Q&A time, it was back on the road for the trip home.  Gateways also supplied Subway sandwiches for lunch, snacks, drinks and movies for the bus ride – and the students provided some cheeky sing-a-longs and great conversation.  Capped off with Hungry Jack’s for tea, the trip was long and fun with never a dull moment!

Olympic-sized Fun @ BHP Billiton

On September 2nd, over 40 students from John Pirie Secondary School and Australian Technical College took part in Gateway’s annual road trip to Olympic Dam.  It was the first time many of the students had been to Roxby Downs, so after a tour of the town and some lunch, it was off to Olympic Dam.  The excursion included an overview of the proposed mine expansion and guided tour of Olympic Dam by BHP Billiton Public Affairs Officer, Deb Ainslie; CEG’s Darren Lowe spoke about employment opportunities; plus an explaination of radiation and safety procedures on site.  Students were given the opportunity to ask any questions they had about mining and related industries and everyone got a good laugh (and photo opportunity) when we could dress up in the compulsory safety gear & uniform (including the affectionately titled “Disco Pants”).  Gateways also supplied Subway sandwiches for lunch, snacks, drinks and movies for the bus ride – keeping everyone entertained and fresh as a daisy.  Complete with a trip to Bree Park’s bird sanctuary in Woomera and Hungry Jack’s for tea, the trip was long, but informative and enjoyed by all.

Mining for Information

OZ Minerals is Australia’s third largest diversified mining company and is the world’s second largest producer of zinc as well as a substantial producer of copper, lead, gold and silver. Read more

Understanding Generation Y

During this years Industry trip to Olympic Dam our invited representatives were treated to the knowledge and wisdom of Michael McQueen.

Michael McQueen, is a Sydney-based speaker, social researcher and business owner. Graduating from the University of Wollongong in 2002, he is the founder of a national training and consultancy company called Nexgen Impact. Each year Michael and his organisation present to just over 20,000 students on topics ranging from personal development to employability skills and goal setting.

As a leading authority of the topic of connecting generations, Michael features regularly on Television and Radio programs and is a sought-after presenter across Australia and South East Asia. In addition to his work in the government and education sectors, Michael’s corporate clients have included Vodafone, Pepsi and Lenovo.

Dump Truck Simulator

Students from Mimili travelled to Port Augusta to undertake training at the Theiss Dump Truck Simulator. On the way, the group spent the night at the Arid Recovery Conservation and Rehabilitation project at Olympic Dam, tours and presentations at BHP Billiton mine site, and shopping in Port Augusta. The students achieved excellent results in the truck simulator, impressing the trainer with their skills. Since this time, students have expressed a desire to follow up employment opportunities in mining.

Mining their own business

These students were the first of the five groups to take the BHP Billiton tour of Olympic Dam this year with students from Gladstone, Peterborough, Jamestown, Mid North Christian College and Booleroo Area School participating.

Food for Thought

After a long trip and a major influx of information these famished students were fed and watered in the dining room at Olympic Village.

Outdoor learning at BHP

A group of Port Pirie students listening intently while on the outdoor leg of the tour through the BHP Olympic Dam site. Nothing like sunshine and education!!

Hilarious Hairnets

Port Pirie students hamming it up for the Gateways paparazzi in their oh-so-stylish hairnets while touring onsite at Olympic Dam.

Surveyors General’s Corner marker

Western Australia – South Australia – Northern Territory Border

A glance at most maps of Australia will tell you something that isn’t quite true. The border that runs along the eastern edge of Western Australia is not actually one continuous straight line.

The survey of the W.A. border was first discussed in 1911, but it wasn’t until 1922 that an agreement was signed between then Prime Minister W.M. Hughes, and Acting Premier for South Australia, Mr. Bice, and the Premier of Western Australia, Sir James Mitchell. The agreement set out the border as being a line determined by the 129th meridian east longitude. However, the agreement required that the boundary be defined by lines running north and south from independently fixed points at Deakin and Argyle. When survey work began on the South Australia – Northern Territory border in 1963, it was quickly realised that the earlier agreement precluded the possibility of these lines meeting exactly.

Precise survey methods confirmed this, and in June 1968, two monuments – approximately 127 metres apart – were erected at the junction of the boundaries. This ceremony was attended by the respective Surveyor Generals, H.Comm from Western Australia, H.A. Bailey from South Australia, and P.J. Wells from the Northern Territory. The monuments common to all three territories was named Surveyor General’s Corner at the suggestion of the Director of National Mapping. One interesting piece of trivia is that fewer people have visited this site than have been to the South Pole.

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