GRADUATION!!! 4 YEARS LATER!!!

All the late nights, long hours, and stressful days had finally paid off!! Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Hons) would be the newest line on my resume!!! It felt like only yesterday I'd started uni - all the friends and great memories I had made along the way! It was amazing and felt slightly unreal!!

Unthinkably soon would come the day when you could no longer recieve student discounts, when filling in forms and asked for occupation you could actually put one in, when ppl ask you what you do you pause awkwardly before answering as you are still unsure what you actually do?!

In the meantime!! PAAARTY!!! EUS BALL, GRADUATION.. Its all here!!

New Zealand HOLIDAY!!

June/July 2009!

By the Middle of the year I needed a break!! Me and Alicia decided to trip around NZ and leave the uni stress behind for the few weeks!! BEST IDEA EVER!! We stayed and lived it up in Wellington for a week before heading to Auckland to Backpack / Road Trip all the way to down to Dunedin!

3 Week Trip: Auckland - Rotorua - Taupo - Wellington - Nelson - Grey Mouth - Fox Glacier - Queenstown - Dunedin!

We had a ball and made heaps of new friends along the way! Glaciers - Snow - PARTY!



Sometimes a break is just what you need to get motivated again!

FINALLY! Grad Job of my Dreams!!

May/June 2009!

FINALLY! The offers were out for 2010 grad jobs and I was lucky enough to have 2 offers! Both positions would have been fantastic but in the end I signed with Peabody Energy! Peabody Energy is the Worlds Largest Private Sector Coal Company with head office in St Louis USA! The Australian operations here make them one of the largest coal mining companies in Aus with 10 operations throughout Queensland and New South Wales!

A 2 year Graduate Program as a Process Engineer / Metallurgist!! I was over the moon!!! I was soon convinced that THIS job was the job for me! Because there are very few Process Engineers in the coal mining industry the work presents unique challenges - and you have the opportunity to work over a range of sites and on a number of projects! I was positive I would LOVE this job and couldn’t wait to start! Unfortunately the excitement was soon pushed aside by the immediate task ahead! Actually Graduating!!

Thesis was nipping at my heels and as well as thesis my chemical engineering class had a year long design subject working in teams of 4. Our task was to design a Process Plant that used Pyrolysis to change Waste Plastics into Fuels! There were many parts to design - from the initial process overview right through to detailed costing and structural drawings. The design subject on top of thesis (on top of 2 other subjects) was definitely keeping me busy!

Thesis: Biodegradable Implants!?!?!

April 2009!

By April 2009 all the Thesis topics had been allocated! Although I originally would have loved to have completed a Thesis based around mineral processing / metallurgy, this was not an option for me! At JCU, research staff select Thesis topics they want student to work on (under them), and students can then choose from these topics.

Luckily for me, I was given an extremely interesting topic - Research into Biodegradable Implants for Orthopedic Implementation. I was SO EXCITED! My superviser was amazing, enthusiastic and ironically enough had come from a Metallurgical background?!

Because this topic was rather cutting edge, I was spending most of my time researching and planning! HUGE literature review! Incredibly interesting but definately needed brushing up on Bio/chem!? Having an interesting topic for my thesis work was definately helping me stay motivated! Long Long hours before Thesis Proprosals were due! Averaging 3 hrs sleep some nights definately hurt! Guys - TIME MANAGEMENT :P you know you want to!!

Alongside this thesis work, I was ecstatic to have made it to the last round interview offers for graduate jobs with a number of highly regarded mining companies! Although it was stressful, things were starting to look up!

Job Draught and Uni Nerves!

Early 2009!

It seemed like the break was turning into one giant Job Application! With the GFC not exactly helping me get Vac work for the break, I was determined to get a Grad offer for 2010! The downturn hadn't turn me off working in the Mining Industry, but it had definately made it alot harder to get a job!

A lot of companies had closed applications as early as Jan and a few had suspended the intake of Graduates until further notice. I had a number of friends who's graduate positions for 2010 had been cancelled! Many companies were being forced to cut costs in an attempt to ensure they would make it through the downturn, and unfortunately some graduate positions were made redundant as a result.

For me - the "Thanks for your application, but unfortunately....."! email was not helping the nerves for the coming year! Not only did I have to land a job, but I also had to complete my final year of Uni! I could definately see fun times ahead!

The Ups and Downs!

Turns out my job fell through this Christmas, and I must admit I was not too surprised. Everyone knows the industry is cyclic, guess it just took a tough Christmas break job hunting to remind my generation (ie mainly me) that we should never take a mining boom for granted. Recognition of the boom itself was a wake up call for me. For many years the boom has been all around me, always there, the high paying vacation jobs available for students, the industry desperate for qualified employees. I guess maybe some of us younger people did start taking it for granted?

Times are changing it would seem, and with myself looking for a graduate position at the end of this year, it is a little scary to say the least! However, I know now that the mining industry is where I want to be. I love the work, and I love the people who work in the industry, the sense of community. Whether there is a boom or not, I still want to be there!

I'm prepared to put the hard yards in for my last year at uni, and hopefully at the end of the year there will be a job waiting. If not I'll be looking every day and waiting until I find one! The industry will never be 100% stable, and will never 100% vanish. I guess you just have to think about whether you are prepared to work there when times are tough? If you love the work it wouldn't matter what part of the cycle the industry is in, the answer is simple.

Don't let rough times turn you off the industry, everything can change in a flash, as I have now witnessed first hand!

08 Wrap!! Strreeeessss with Exams!!! Possible Vac Work @ Lady Annie!!

With the end of 08 approaching fast uni is getting extremely stressful! Currently in Exam block and only 2 weeks till our Chrissy Break! This time of year is generally the most stressful as your looking to; survive the next week of exams, hand in any remaining assess ment, and wrap up a job for your much needed vac work!

This break I ve been lucky enough to have lined up a job at CopperCo's Lady Anne Operation out in the Mt Isa region [Fingers crossed as contract is still in the mail... ]!! Unlike most larger companies who tend to have recruitment processes in place, applying for this job involved a phone call and a few emails.

Lady Anne itself is a relatively new mine (about 2 yrs running) and has no structured vacation program for students, however this didnt stop me applying. Turns out a phone call can go a long way!
After finding a contact number online for a mine I range up asking to speak to HR about the possibility of a job and was told to email in my resume to HR and they would be in touch if anything came up, however having previous experience with super busy HR people I decided to call one of the managers working in the processing dept about opportunities for students.

After a quick chat and sales pitch I was asked to forward through my resume straight to him, and was booked in for a medical 3 weeks later! Turns out a phone call to the right person can go a long way! If your trying to get a job, dont be scared to pick up the phone, showing an interest and getting in touch with people that want to help is more than half the battle!

I ll be keeping you all posted on exams and vacation work at Lady Anne!

Study here I come!!

AusIMM MetPlant 2008 / KCGM Tour!

In August 2008 I was lucky enough to attend the AusIMM Metplant Conference in Perth WA! It was excellent! The conference itself ran for 2 full days and then had specialized workshops on the side including Flotation, Heap Leaching and Sampling Techniques. Because I was already out that way I was lucky enough to organise a tour to the KCGM Super Pit and also got a tour of the Processing Plant! It was great - definately worth a look if you are ever out that way!

Conferences like this can at first look very very expensive - BUT - as a student member of the AusIMM you can apply for a student discount AND if you are lucky (and dont mind running mics in Q time) you can volunteer to help and often get a very cheap registration. These conferences mainly attract Metallurgist and Processing Specialist already working within the mining industry, therefore conferences like this are ideal for students that are serious about getting a job in this industry.

Being able to attend Specialist talks about an extrordinary array of topics including Hydrometallurgy, Pyrometallurgy, Gravity Seperation, and Dewatering processes was amazing and I gained an invaluable insight into the industry, the processes used AND new processes being developed! You dont learn stuff like this at Uni!

I highly recommend to all students that are interested in working in the Mining Industry to check all the upcoming conferences being held by the AusIMM (and become a member if you arent already one - cost is only $11 for students!) and get on board and attend any that you like the look of! You wont regret it - use it not only as a technical learning curve but also a networking event and you might just get some contacts for Vac work / Grad jobs!

AusIMM NQ Branch Charters Towers Conference: NQ MINING 2008

On the 9th of August 2008, the AusIMM NQ Branch held a NQ Mining Conference at Charters Towers. The theme for the day was the Multi Commodity Boom being experienced in NQ and its opportunities. It was an early morning for me and 3 other fellow JCU Engineerings students who traveled to the Towers for the day. It was a great day, with great speakers, great networking opportunities, and GREAT food and drink!

There where a variety of topics discussed, including:

• The discovery and feasibility of the Mt Carlton / Silver Hills Au/Ag/Cu deposit
• New base metal development and discoveries by Kagara.
• The NORNICO nickel – cobalt laterite project.
• The delineation and feasibility of base metal deposits in the Einasleigh region.
• Curtain Bros iron ore and other Mining Projects in the Mt Moss region.
• Citigold gold mining development, Warrior and Charters Towers.
• NQ Metals Pajingo gold operations and Baal Gammon Cu/Sn feasibility .
• The Ben Lomond uranium project.
• The Discovery of the Piccaninny Epithermal system, Tate River, NQ.
• Waratah Coal projects in the Galilee Basin.

It was a great chance for us as students to get a look at what the industry is doing in our own backyards. It was a great day, and hopefully the NQ Branch will hold another in the near future!

2008 AusIMM New Leaders Conference!!

This year the AusIMM New Leaders Conference lived up to expectations once again! The conference was held in Wollongong, which turned out for to be a great adventure! Me and 6 other QRC student ambassadors flew down for the conference, with some staying on to compete in the Mining Games! The conference itself was incredibly diverse and informative, making me excited to get through uni and out into the industry! Some of us were conference veterans; however the majority was fresh new faces. The mining industry is a small world, and the people you meet at these events often appear again. I am still in Uni and already I find myself crossing paths with people / students who work / aim to work within the tight knit community that is the mining industry!!

The days spent in Wollongong were great, the nights were perhaps even better, and the locals took great care of us making it an all round amazing trip! I had never been down that way before, and it’s not your stereotypical Coal mining town as far as lifestyle is concerned! You live right near the ocean, the scenery is green and fresh, the town is right near Sydney for all those big shoppers and the surf looked great! I had no idea! Definitely not a bad place to visit, and definitely not a bad place to work either! I learnt a lot from this trip, and hope to be lucky enough to attend next year’s conference!

Vacation Work over the 2007/2008 Break - Cannington

Over the 07/08 Chrissy Break I was lucky enough to get offered a vacation job out at BHP Billitons Cannington Operation. Located in northwest Queensland, Cannington is a fly-in, fly-out mining and processing operation that has grown to become the world’s largest and lowest cost single mine producer of both silver and lead. I was offered a placement as a student environmental advisor!? This was a bit of a surprise (me being chemical engineering and all), but I m not one to pass up a great offer and took the job!!

It was an awesome experience, I was working an 8/6 roster with 12.5 hr shifts and living in the temporary camp set up for over 300 contractors. The camp was great, with a Gym (and personal trainer :P), swimming pool, footy field, tennis court, mini golf, BBQ and bar. Being an Enviro on site turned out to be a 24hr thing - Whenever an injured animal was spotted on site, cattle snuck onto site, or the goanna at camp was stealing peoples steak off the BBQ, it was our job to go sort it out. I learnt how to chase - and beta yet - actually herd cattle, not get bitten by goannas and snakes, 4wd on all the sites dirt roads (which only enviros where allowed to do), and in general appreciate the impact the mine was having on the area and the animals that lived there.

The environmental dept was a small group of people who took great care of me and made my time at Cannington memorable. Daily activity involved meetings with the HSEC Dept, various monitoring, and constant data collection/analysis/reporting. I attended various inspections at both the Mine Site and Yurbi Rail facility, aswell as data collection and tracking from the Townsville Port facility.

Although the work may not have been directly related to Chemical Engineering, I had an amazing time at Cannington and am grateful that I was given such a great opportunity! If you're ever offered a job that's not quite what you had in mind, remember life is full of surprises - take the chance and use every opportunity you can to try new things!

EUS End Of Year Ball

Towards the end of each year, the Engineering Undergraduate Society holds an end of year ball. The ball is a celebration of the passing of another year, and the graduation of our finishing JCU Engineering students. Partners are welcome, and its a pretty big function. The Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS) organizes the ball and after party, using money made from the Friday BBQ's as well as a number of sponsors.

You can see pictures from this year ball bellow. Its a pretty formal event with a limited number of tickets (often selling out in the first week). This year it was held at the Museum (next to Reef HQ). The after party was held at the Brewery. It was an awesome night, with a number of speeches from the sponsors and the EUS committee members. Lucky door prizes where also given out; and yes we had some pretty awesome stuff to give out with the most intriguing being a leather whip and handcuff set.


Hope you like the pics! It really was an awesome night!

Crank up the Beats!

Sorry, had to have music! Mainly just putting these up as music to go with my page, turn it up! Hope you like at least one of them!
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Sum 41 - Hooch


Little Birdy - Come On Come On


Red Hot Chili Peppers - Storm In A Tea Cup

James Cook University Open Day

This year, JCU once again held an awesome Open Day! This provided the opportunity for the general public and many students interested in commencing their studies at JCU to; find out more about the degrees/diplomas they are interested in, look at the college accommodation available, look at some interesting exhibits and displays put on by various faculties, as well as eat some great food along with live entertainment (this year from Christine Anu).

I was helping out on the day as a mentor, answering questions, helping people navigate around the campus, and helping run the college tours. The Engineering students and staff put on a great show, with many stalls and competitions, as well as a free BBQ provided by the EUS. Below are some pictures taken from the Engineering section.

JCU Engineering Undergraduate Society

The engineering undergraduate society is a society set up and run by us good little engineers at James Cook University! The EUS hold BBQ's every Friday for lunch. Trust me, its WAY better than college food. The money raised from these BBQ's goes towards our end of semester functions, Pub Crawls and our end of year EUS Ball. Members get a discount to all these events, and on top of drinking events, they organize things like Paint Ball days and guest speakers for the faculty. The most recent event was Paint Ball. So there we were, 50 young engineers ready for battle! It was an awesome day, and there was friendly rivalry between disciplines as well as years! I d like to say the 2 nd years were clearly the winners (that's me!) !!! However the chemical discipline itself did not have such a good day. Being a member of this society provides great opportunities to meet other engineers in other disciplines and years (as well as providing many engineers with great excuse to drink!)

Photos from some of the EUS events are shown below....

Vacation Work over the 2006/07 Break - Birla Mount Gordon

Over the 2006/2007 Christmas break I was given the opportunity to work at Birla Mount Gordon. I was employed for 3 months as a Metallurgical vacation student. The mine itself is a copper mine located 2 and a 1/2 hours drive north of Mount Isa. I was a bit worried at first, I wasn't really sure what it would be like living in a camp out in the middle of nowhere. After I passed the medical examination in Townsville, I was taken to the site on a fly in fly out roster of 14/7. The camp itself was pretty cool. They had a gym, swimming pool, a TV room, and a pub that opened up twice a day for the night and day shift crews.

Over the first few days I was given site inductions for the surface, and an area specific induction of the process plant and laboratory. After all the inductions were complete, I spent the remainder of my first swing learning as much as I could from the plant operators and the metallurgists that kept the plant running everyday. I learnt a lot from these people, and soon had some friends to hang out with after work.

Over the next few swings I spent my time working on projects/surveys in both the grinding and flotation circuits. These involved working with the metallurgists and operators. I was required to select points in the circuit that would provide the necessary information, collection of samples, analysis of samples in the labs, and full analysis of the circuits in report form. I was worried that I wouldn't know what to do, but the metallurgists and operators were very patient and answered any questions I had.

I found the work itself extremely interesting, and loved the lifestyle on site. I actually spent my 18th birthday on site, which was very different to how I had originally planned to spend it. Conveniently there was a Chrissie party on that same night, so I still had fun. As well as working on the surface, I was also given an underground tour! It was amazing! Once you get through the portal there's just miles and miles of underground work, I loved it. If you ever get the chance to go underground, definitely worth having a look!

Below are some pictures from underground, the surface, and even camp.

Career Markets

As part of my scholarship with the Queensland Resource council, I get to speak at career markets all over Central and North Queensland. Heaps of high school students and general public come through. At these events I get the opportunity to share my knowledge about the mining industry and what chemical engineering involves. There are many different people coming through, and trust me there are never any stupid questions . I love getting the opportunity to speak to students, and I always try to provide useful information to anyone who is interested.

Below are some pictures from one of the Townsville Career Markets I attended.

Things to do in Townsville - THE BEACH!

There are all sorts of things to do in Townsville, but my favorite things to do up here are normally at the Beach. 'Wait' you might say, 'But there's no surf? What could you even do at the beach?' Well! There is lots to do! You can: Go Scuba Diving on the Great Barrier Reef; Learn to Kitesurf; Windsurf; Sail; JetSki; Wakeboard; Kneeboard; Waterski; Beach Cricket; or Simply sit around in the NQ Sun!

My and my mates favorites would have to be Sailin, Windsurfin, Kitesurfin, Beach Cricket and Wakeboarding. There are heaps of clubs organized to teach you all you need to now about your chosen sport, so it's not hard to get into your new sport. Many of these clubs are actually set up through JCU, and they give Uni Student Discounts, so that's pretty handy. Below are some pics of me and my friends on our days at the beach!

Toga Party!

I'm not sure if you know what a Toga Party is, but if you don't its time you learnt! Its pretty much one of the most popular college/uni traditions! Basically Toga Parties provide the perfect opportunity/excuse to dress in sheets and make a fool out of yourself. Up at JCU we hold it twice a year (coinciding with the Uni's O Week!) We normally start drinking on college about 3pm (or earlier if necessary lol), then cruise to the Uni Club (after copious amounts of alcohol) for the actual party! If your super keen, town is normally the next step to an awesome Toga-Filled Night!

Anyone's welcome, as long as you are in a sheet! Heres some pics of JCU's most recent Toga Extravaganza!

Xkcd Comics

Heres some comics I find amusing, you ll have to pause each to read it properly, sorry. There all from xkcd - A webiste of Romance, sarcasm, math and language.