In the last month, two hard-working Mount Isa women have been getting their hands dirty at the new Lorena Mine, 15km out of Cloncurry.
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After completing their Certificate III in Surface Extraction and work experience through Axxis Training, Ruby-Ann Chapman and Candice Butler were offered full time employment at the mine.
Lorena Mine Superintendent Stephen ‘Ox’ Hodgkinson, said Ruby-Ann was persistent in asking for a job.
“She was that keen with that much interest, and a passion to want to go further with it,” Ox said.
“She kept hassling and hassling us, got her resume, and when a job came up I said, ‘You need to make sure it’s what you want to do’.
“Ruby’s been here a couple of weeks now, absolutely loving it, and she’s doing a fantastic job.”
Ms Chapman had previously worked in retail for 27 years, and credits her Axxis trainer and assessor, Croydon Hampton, for his dedication in getting her ready for the job.
“Every morning before training, Croydon picked us up, and dropped us back home after the shift,” Ms Chapman said.
“He took us through how to drive and reverse Moxy loaders, which was a bit daunting at first because it’s something I’d never done before.”
After two weeks on the job, Ms Chapman manoeuvres her Cat dump truck like a true pro.
“I’m always thinking ‘I better get this right’, because I know that there is always someone watching!” she said.
The two recruits were hard at work on Tuesday November 21, when Axxis brought a new group of trainees through for a visit.
Ox said he is happy to inspire new trainees to enter the industry.
“Young people that may not have a direction, you give them a hand and you give them a go, just because they might not have an education doesn’t mean they can’t do the job,” Ox said.
“I’ve worked with people who can’t spell ‘truck’, and they're some of the best operators you will ever get.
“I’m not an educated person. I’ve been given the opportunity so I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t try and do the same thing for everybody else.”
Candice Butler is a Mount Isa local with a background in mining, returning after a hiatus.
“My father was a superintendent foreman throughout my childhood, and I’ve worked in coal as well as hard rock at MIM,” Ms Butler said.
“I love it. I’m back doing what I know, and I do it well. I enjoy every minute of it. My crew, my bosses, they are brilliant.
“My favourite truck would have to be the Caterpillar 777. It's very comfortable, very smooth, so easy to handle.”
Ms Butler also gave credit to Axxis trainer, Croydon Hampton, who she makes sure to visit whenever she gets back to Mount Isa.
Regional Manager for Axxis Training, Schuster Palamo, said that unlike Ms Butler and Ms Chapman, many of their trainees have never worked before – let alone in the mining industry.
“We try and pick up the ones through Centrelink, that have been on the benefit long-time unemployed,” Mr Palamo said.
“Through the course a lot of them have managed to change their lives, get off the drugs, things like that.”
Mr Palamo said that, rather than just hand out resumes, Axxis has directly approached employers in Mount Isa and Cloncurry.
“I think our biggest supporters are JDR Mining and City and Country,” he said.
“They allow us on site to do our practical, and a lot of them have given us the opportunity to send our trainees to do work experience.
“Through that work experience, many of our trainees have been able to gain full time or part time employment in the industry.”