We had a big chat one night. I (Leanne) was doing it tough after news of yet another death in a Qld coal mine. 4 in 6 months! This chat inspired us to release Steel Cap Sisters and to use our voices and platforms to get the message out about a minutes silence at pre start meetings after the death of a miner. Hopefully this will never have to happen again! We were receiving messages from Peeps whose workplace did not even acknowledge a death had occurred. We thought this was just wrong on so many levels…..and so the #1minuteforourlostminers message was born.
Since the interviews and article has gone public the government and mining companies and bodies gathered for an emergency meeting. All agreed a “safety reset” was needed. The major push came from the CFMEU and on 22 July 2019 it began on sites in Qld. We were heartened to learn that the safety resets will begin with a minutes silence, to honour the lives of miners lost, and reflect on our roles in the industry.
Breathe in…. #yougotthis! 
Mad Mumzie is in da abc house! 
Lovely reporter Angel Parsons
Mad Mumzie was then invited to share thoughts with ABC Triple j’s hack show about the mining deaths here in Qld.
. #1minuteforourlostminers#steelcapsisters
https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/hack/11284520
Click this link to see the article from our chat. https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-10/queensland-mine-deaths-emergency-meeting/11294770?fbclid=IwAR11CQwYCWtaRceB_g_n2WJ6sjKOXRhjhZpfpfvbgIocqEZahMzBgTlxLX
My message to Angel…The Abc Reporter prior to interview.
I think this is the biggest message I want to share.
To the miners on site. At least say something at your pre starts. Everyone knows shit has gone down. Don’t say nothing. Ok we dont know all the details and learnings and changes and procedures etc for each incident but at least say something like:
“I;m sure most of you heard the sad news of a another miner dying last night in an accident right here in our Bowen Basin. We know as much as you do from the media. When more comes out no doubt more will be said, but for today, right now, …. let’s take a minute to bow our heads, think of the lost miner and their family, past lives lost, and what we can do today to make sure we all go home safely to our loved ones.” and it doesn’t have to be the supervisor. It could be you, especially if it looks like no-one is going to mention the freakin elephant in the room!
Too many people I have spoken too are saying the supervisors are saying nothing about it at all! As if it didn’t even happen. That is so wrong to me on many levels.
We all talk about mental health and well being and suicide prevention in mining and lets talk about stuff with the likes of RuOK? Mates in Mining and Beyond Blue…
Our supervisors and managers need to allow a couple of minutes to personally acknowledge this, Show they are human too and actually care! They say safety before production. This is a way to prove it to the crews, the peeps at the coal face, which lets face it is where these incidents are occurring. Not in the offices!
We are more than numbers, statistics and KPI’s. We are people. Men and women with families and mates that worry about us every time we go out for a swing.
My partner, the Real Miner, works underground and when I get that text each day that says hello, a huge wave of relief comes over me. He’s outta the hole! They had a death on his site this year which was way too close and surely inspires my passions right now.
A few years ago my daughter’s partner died at Daunia, Tony, Big T. He wasn’t “Killed in an accident” he died from heart failure, But my daughter is still struggling, and now after these four deaths this year, she’s finally ready to talk to me on the podcast about it. It affects so many people on so many levels forever.
So let’s get it happening…. 1 minutes silence , share on social media the hashtag #1 minute for our lost miners so we can see that people are actually doing it. At least bloody talk about it, not pretend like nothing has happened.
Rant over.. soz lol. Thanks Angel… by the way that’s my daughter’s family nickname… Angel.