This story has surprisingly received no coverage in the national or international media, so I’m posting it here in the hope someone picks it up.
An Australian mine worker, Matthew Norman, was among the nine people killed in an accident at the South Deep gold mine operated by Gold Fields near Carletonville outside Johannesburg last Thursday.
Matthew’s father Kevin contacted the Kalgoorlie Miner and we ran the story on Tuesday. Only one local TV station has picked it up since then.
Matthew had lived and worked in Kalgoorlie before moving to Perth and then South Africa to be with his wife.
Mr Norman said he had heard reports his son was concerned about safety conditions
on the mine.
“There’s a lot of hearsay he was worried about safety, but the man from the mining company said he hadn’t heard that – but he would say that, wouldn’t he?” Mr Norman said.
Matthew’s uncle Rick Brown lives in Kalgoorlie. He said he was saddened by reports lapses in safety procedures could have led to his nephew’s death.
“It seems that with the mining companies over there, it’s just statistics,” he said.
“Over here, we lose one person and there is uproar. They need support from our mining companies over here, in regards to safety.”
It’s the safety issue I want to raise in the public domain. With increased contact between Australia and South Africa, and the globalisation of mining, it’s likely more Australians will go there to work at various times.
Australia has arguably the best mine safety record in the world. Hopefully we can transfer our safety skills, knowledge and expertise to other countries.
Meanwhile, there’s no consoling the family of a young man who had friends, a loving family and a promising future.
Oh how sad!
And nobody wanted to run this? I wonder why!
Twitter: mgorey
says:
I think the capital city media doesn’t like to be seen following a country paper.
Delmer,
You will be BLOWN AWAY by the wonderful personality over there!! I was shocked and amazed at how many people were just so frickin’ happy, like, all the time! And not in the annoying way either, like, genuinely good mood cheerful no worries happy!
Definitely miss it too!
Twitter: delmerw
says:
I’ve started to comment to this a couple of times but was afraid that what I might say would come off poorly.
In Bill Bryson’s “In a Sunburned Country” he comments on several things that would be big news had they happened anywhere but Australia. His explanation for them being overlooked is that Australia is so far away that it isn’t often paid much attention. He also gives examples of Australians having an indifferent attitude toward the rest of the world.
But he makes it sound endearing and without the air of exclusivity I have somehow introduced.
He also goes on enough about all the things that can kill you (sort of like the Crocodile Hunter did) that I’m tempted to leave a “Bravo! Congratulations for making it through another day” comment on the Aussie blogs I read.
And yet … I want to visit more than I ever have. It really sounds like a wonderful place full of some of the nicest people.
Twitter: mgorey
says:
We had a journalist start with us recently from South Africa. She said much the same thing about the overall friendliness of Australians.
I guess it’s something we take for granted.
I don’t particularly notice it when I’m in big cities. It’s more evident in the country, I think.
When I was travelling overseas I thought Swiss people were pretty easygoing as well.