musicians Laura Andrew and Cassandra Best, guest speakers Craig and Therese Stegman, Sam Whiteman, Kay Stingemore and Fr Paul Finucane, musician Shane Josephson, emcee Barry Knight and guest speaker Roger Jackson. As part of the commemoration
service, the local mines rescue and emergency services staff formed a guard of honour, the bell was rung and the school choirs and Shane performed musical numbers. See Pages 2, 4, 7 and 27 for more photos and information.
Three mine geologists recount their time in Cobar
Cobar welcomed three geologists, former residents, Therese and Craig Stegman and Roger Jackson, as guest speakers at ‘A Night to Remember Our Lost Miners’ event on Friday.
Therese and Craig first came to Cobar in 1988 to work in the mines (which was where the couple first met) while Roger originally moved to Cobar in 1991 to take up a teaching role at Cobar High School.
Roger stayed for 18 years, while Therese and Craig first came for a six months stint and then moved back to Cobar in 1995 and stayed for eight years.
All three have many fond memories of the town and the community and said it was their time in Cobar that went on to further shape their careers.
Therese said she was a student when she first came to Cobar.
“It was only a few years earlier that the legislation banning women from working underground in NSW changed,” Therese said.
“The historical significance of this and the timing is not lost on us.
“I would not have come to Cobar as a student to work underground and who knows if Craig and I would have ever met.”
Therese recalled when they returned in 1995 it had been a very prosperous period in the mining industry and a very vibrant time in Cobar.
“There were five operating mines in and around Cobar, exploration spending was booming and there was a lot of activity in Cobar.
“The same essence of Cobar that we know remains now—a friendly, tight knit community, innovative, developing, rich in history which is honoured and celebrated.
“This mining heritage park was beginning when we left, and it is wonderful to see the landscaping established and the expansions with the miners memorial and other statues.
“Walking through the Miners Memorial today I was moved by the tag board, especially of two tags which represent ones placed on boards when we were here.
“I rarely go underground anymore, however when I do, I always catch my breath when I remove my tag and acknowledge those who were not able to remove theirs.”
Therese said it was a privilege to be invited to speak and to celebrate this remarkable community and honour our lost miners.
Craig said his underground mining career began in Cobar at the CSA Mine in 1988 and later at the Elura Mine, before he became the Geology Manager at Peak.
“I learnt a lot about underground mining and mining in general in the eight years at Peak,” Craig said.
He worked on the discovery, elevation and construction of the New Cobar, New Occidental and Perseverance Mines.
“My time in Cobar set me on a career path.
“It took us to Parkes (at the North Parkes Mine) where I became a mine manager and ultimately the managing director, then to United States and finally back to Australia.
“What I learnt in Cobar I applied to the design and operation of mines in Arizona, Utah, Canada, Peru and ultimately Mongolia.”
For the past 10 years he’s been closely involved in the development of the Oyu Tolgoi Mine in Mongolia, one of the largest known copper and gold deposits in the world which employs 16,000 people.
It is also one of the most modern, safe and sustainable operations in the world.
Craig said over that time he’s always had a focus on safety and people.
“I feel those Miners Ghost looking back at all of us—at me, saying what more can we do to make our mines safer for the next generation of mines, the women and men who will follow them into the mines.
“We honour and celebrate their memories this weekend knowing there is still more to do,” Craig said.
Roger said there are only a few degrees of separation in the mining industry.
Now as a CEO and director of three ASX mining companies based out of Brisbane, Roger said wherever he travels around Australia and all over the world, he will regularly “run into the fabulous people who did time mining in Cobar”.
He re-counted teaching now accomplished Raiseborer Dallas Josephson (who played a part in rescuing the Beaconsfield trapped miners in 2006) at Cobar High in Year 9 and also the countless other “Cobar characters” he met.
“There were more metres drilled and more faces cut in the Occ [Hotel] than any mine ever accomplished,” Roger said.
He highlighted the many technological innovations that were introduced to both the CSA and Peak mines, and recounted his business interests in ore search, hire and mining accommodation, his time as a Cobar Shire Councillor, and his pride in the part he played in the construction of the ‘Cobar’ sign during his years spent in Cobar.
