A group of 18 passionate students from The University of Queensland (UQ) travelled to Perth to participate in the AusIMM New Leaders Summit and National Mining Games (NMG) hosted by the University of Western Australia (UWA).
The diverse team, which included students from various disciplines such as mining, metallurgy, geology, software, electrical, and mechanical engineering, networked with industry professionals and participated in traditional mining events such as Hand Steel, Track Set, and Gold Panning.
UQ's Women's team, Coal Me Maybe, stood out among the competition by winning the Women's division, placing 3rd in the Mixed division, and beating both UQ Men's teams in the Hand Steel event.
The team's captain, Shirlee Duke, commented on the significance of having an all-women's team and the impact it will have on encouraging more women to join the industry.
"The UQ Women's Team was a force to be reckoned with and showed that they could 'get up with the men'," said Ms. Duke
“You can't be what you can't see. So, my hope is that other women starting out in the industry see this as just one example of what they could be.”
The success of UQ's teams, despite limited practice opportunities, is a testament to the support provided by the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering and the strong culture of the AusIMM Southern Queensland Chapter.
The week-long mining event was a huge success, thanks to the tireless efforts of the AusIMM Southern Queensland Student Chapter and the generous support of our sponsors.
Gold level sponsors BHP and Glencore, Silver level sponsors Redpath Mining Contractors and Engineers, PYBAR, and South32, and Copper level sponsors Jellinbar Group, Gnomic Exploration Services, and Board of Professional Engineers Queensland, as well as Local Mining Games sponsors Sandvik and SRK Consulting, all played a crucial role in making this event possible.
We also extend our gratitude to the University of Western Australia for hosting the National Mining Games and for their dedication to organising a successful event.
We are excited to build on this momentum and look forward to competing in the International Mining Games in Kalgoorlie next year.
