Anyone ever worked at Telfer gold mine WA

[Tank]

Wondering if any one has any first hand info on Telfer Gold mine in WA, like climate, camp life, job conditions, recreation etc., Regards Frank.

[PAT303]

I've worked at most of them within 500k of Kal and they are all the same,only the people are different.All sites over here are hot,dusty and draining in summer,Very cold,windy and miserable in winter.All up about 2 maybe 3 months good,the rest are either of the other two. Pat

[Lucus]

Telfer is stinking hot,dusty and miles from anywhere resembling civilisation.

The camp is huge and laid out over a large area. The walk from the con camp to the mess is the best part of 15mins.

I have been there twice for field service jobs and both times there where dramas at the wet mess that resulted in people catching the morning flight out.

It wouldn't be my first choice of site, but If you where trying to crack into the mining game it might be a start

[mike 90 RR]

Telfer is stinking hot,dusty and miles from anywhere resembling civilisation.

The camp is huge and laid out over a large area. The walk from the con camp to the mess is the best part of 15mins.

I have been there twice for field service jobs and both times there where dramas at the wet mess that resulted in people catching the morning flight out.

It wouldn't be my first choice of site, but If you where trying to crack into the mining game it might be a start

I lived there for 18 months ... 6 month stints at a time
It was funny to watch some folks get out of the plane, then turn around and demand to go home .... :p

It's HOT .... but there's air conditioning everywhere .....

I enjoyed the place


Mike
:)

[Tank]

Pat, Lucus and Mike, thanks for the replies, my Son, Myles, is heading up there on Wednesday, he has had experience in Kalgoorlie, 13 months there and varied sites in NSW as a Driller, he doesn't mind the heat, he will be working 2 weeks on 1 off, return to Perth so the desolate area shouldn't get to him, just got to stay away from the wet canteen. Money is good and will give him incentive to save, Regards Frank.

[mike 90 RR]

just got to stay away from the wet canteen.

That is the downfall of most folks ... seen that pub take the best part of folks wages .... You must have a goal to save for, when you go to places like that

Seen a few that left after 10+ years of service .. and had bugger all to their name ($$$)

Mike

[BBC]

That is the downfall of most folks ... seen that pub take the best part of folks wages .... You must have a goal to save for, when you go to places like that

Seen a few that left after 10+ years of service .. and had bugger all to their name ($$$)

Mike

It is a hideous part of the mining game and it's culture. I saw the same thing over in Ghana. Well paid lads turning themselves into dribbling idiots...nightly.

What would people think if they were sticking needles in their arms?

[BMKal]

I've been there a couple of times Frank, but only ever for a couple of days at a time.

Telfer has always had a bit of a reputation for high turnover, and they have at times struggled to find employees willing to start there - but I believe a lot of that problem was when it was a largely residential minesite. These days, I'm pretty sure it's all FIFO and nobody actually lives out there in the houses any more.

Both times I went in there, I drove in - it's an interesting drive but not somewhere you'd want to break down (I got bogged in the Oakover River crossing on my first trip out that way).

But I imagine that it is much like any of the FIFO sites these days, especially up north. They all seem to be pretty well catered and have most facilities that you'd want. As others have said - the bar is usually an attraction, and can often be a trap.

Hope Myles likes it up there. Will keep an eye out for him at the airport on Wednesday - I've got about a 4 hour stopover there between flights from Kal and to Karratha. But I suspect that he won't be on Qantas, so might not see him there. I'll call his mobile when I get into Perth to see if he is around.

[pando]

That is the downfall of most folks ... seen that pub take the best part of folks wages .... You must have a goal to save for, when you go to places like that

Seen a few that left after 10+ years of service .. and had bugger all to their name ($$$)

Mike

Hi Guys,

Yeah, seen the grog get the better of many a good man, was a little that way myself until I woke up to what I was doing.

On the flip side, know of a bloke who after 6 months left site with 50cents more than he had earned, he found a 50c coin on the path on the way to the mess hall one night.

[Tank]

Brian, thanks mate, I will find out what flight he is on and let you know and I'll get him to keep an eye out for you, Regards Frank.

[ATH]

Hi Tank.
I worked there for a year in the early 80s and loved it. Hot or cold, wet or windy I reckoned it was a good place and that was long before FIFO and you got to know virtually everyone that lived there.
The main contractor there in those days was Quest Mining who I worked for and the old bastard that ran Quest used to watch everyone get off the plane and if he didn't like the look of you back on the plane you went, no arguement or reasoning allowed!
The old road in was not good and caught drivers quite often with many punctures and the occassional stranding when the waters rose after rains. Not good if you had a truck sitting there for weeks at a time unable to get back out but they have improved the road since then.
Weather is usually a bit warm this time of year which is when I arrived there, count on about 45C every day but the pub was good and cool!
Bigger trap for some on site was not the pub but the bookie and he took so much money off certain blokes they were considered unsackable as he was a member of the management.
Couldn't have his income being dropped could they?:D
Alan.

[Phil633]

My mate works there FIFO week on week off, Flys in and out every Wednesday. Due to fly back up this week.

I think with National Jet.

[CraigE]

Have known a few people that have worked up there. Apparently the camp is good, but rather large. Has had a bit of a shakey history recently, but most people have liked it up there. Same with all gold mines, all good while the gold price is high like it is. Not sure what the lifes span is estimated at, but it has been around for a while now. Probablly like Norseman Gold, borderline viability.
Very hot and dusty through to cyclonic conditions.
If you have not lived in remote mining camps, it is a very different lifestyle, some love it others hate it. Focus on something like further schooling when you are off work and in camp. If you have not done it before it can seem quite lonely and you will miss your family. I am doing it again and miss my family like crazy.

[billnjim]

Hi Tank, resigned from there in july, facilities include gym, wet mess, squash court, tennis courts, cricket nets, lawn bowls, golf driving range, footy oval, pool, shop, cafe & internet room. majority of the people are friendly enough, they bands & karoke nights, the village is pretty spread out but he can take a bike up, room quality varies depending on company, couples rooms, ensuited SPQ's & shared ensuite SPQ's, assuming hes in exploration (is he with pinnacle drilling or swick?) chances are he'll be in the bronx area of SPQ's - may have a t.v, will have communal showers (tell him to shower after dark - they're saunas otherwise). flights are ex perth with skywest or ex brissy with alliance (you get alcohol on this flight) not sure what else you would like to know? not wanting to spill the beans too much but right now is an exciting time for telfer in regards to exploration, they received a big budget for two green fields projects they are currently drilling.
heat and humidity are big factors out there at the moment, rains we got from the cyclone caused a bit of damage to the telfer access rd, but trucks can still get in (not like our site). sorry took so long to reply but sat comms here are pretty hit and miss out where i am.

[Tank]

Hi Tank, resigned from there in july, facilities include gym, wet mess, squash court, tennis courts, cricket nets, lawn bowls, golf driving range, footy oval, pool, shop, cafe & internet room. majority of the people are friendly enough, they bands & karoke nights, the village is pretty spread out but he can take a bike up, room quality varies depending on company, couples rooms, ensuited SPQ's & shared ensuite SPQ's, assuming hes in exploration (is he with pinnacle drilling or swick?) chances are he'll be in the bronx area of SPQ's - may have a t.v, will have communal showers (tell him to shower after dark - they're saunas otherwise). flights are ex perth with skywest or ex brissy with alliance (you get alcohol on this flight) not sure what else you would like to know? not wanting to spill the beans too much but right now is an exciting time for telfer in regards to exploration, they received a big budget for two green fields projects they are currently drilling.
heat and humidity are big factors out there at the moment, rains we got from the cyclone caused a bit of damage to the telfer access rd, but trucks can still get in (not like our site). sorry took so long to reply but sat comms here are pretty hit and miss out where i am.
My Son will be blast drilling, not exploration, will be working for Newcrest through private employment mob for 3 months, then if suitable, Newcrest will take him on full time.
He actually enjoys the heat, I can't handle it though, he'll be happy to hear of the facilities there, he was supposed to fly up last Wednesday, but because of a SNAFU with the induction he has had to stay in Perth another week, will have induction next Monday and fly out next Wednesday, they sent his tickets thru last night. Thanks for the info, most appreciated, Regards Frank.

[HUE166]

Billnjim summed Telfer up perfectly.

The chance of a full time job with Newcrest is a brilliant opportunity for any young fella and should be guarded like gold. There is then the chance to work anywhere.

Good on him!!

[vickles]

I worked at Telfer in 1979 as a dump truck driver.
I was one of the first women to be employed as a "plant operator" haha
I used to do 12 hour shifts and lived in a caravan.I remember the power went off once and we sweated it out. There was not much there then and all there was to do was drink (I didnt much though)
I had no other license but a normal car license and they did not require anything else in those days.
I learnt really quick.
We drive in by road then and the road was very rough.
When we left to come back into Port Hedland (via Marble Bar) we struck a storm and it was thunderous and frighteneing. We got a puncture in the station wagon we were driving a Valiant. Luckily my boyfriend had another guy who we were giving a lift 'back to town' to help. We found a pole ( ironic- where it came from who knows) and as the jack had I think broken- from memory, the pole was just there waiting for us. The water was halfway up the wheel of the car and I am not sure how we got out of there.
We did and today I wish I had stayed at the Mine as I could have saved a little bit more for the old age. :angel:

[HUE166]

I've completed numerous small contracts at Telfer. The Accommodation was excellent, the mess is catered for by ESS and is unbeatable. There was no sign of trouble at the wet mess throughout my numerous stints there and all staff seemed to be fairly happy. I've yet to hear a complaint.

[tjupurula]

I did work at Telfer in the early 90's, I had only about 10 years experience in my field then, but the money and life was great. I didn't drink at all, and put enough pennies aside to start up my own business.
I have since had three young fellows go through there papers and work there.
Regards
Tjupurula

[vickles]

Wondering if any one has any first hand info on Telfer Gold mine in WA, like climate, camp life, job conditions, recreation etc., Regards Frank.

I was working there when it first opened or shortly after 1978.
I was one of two women dump truck drivers in Aus at the time I believe.
We lived in an air conditioned caravan. One day the generator failed we sweated our gutses our and had to try and rest ready for the next 12 hr shift ( nightshift for me ) . I had only a car license as they did require anything more then. I climbed up into it and a few minutes tuition and drove off. I only left because the guy I was with was no good as a dozer driver . So we left
I never backed over the edge obviously 🙄

[V8Ian]

Holy thread revival, Batman! :vampire:

[leslloyd]

I worked there from'78 till '81 for Quest,Dump trucks had no Ac back then,no hard hats short sleeve
shirts and 56C down in the pit,
the camp was just over from the current mine workshops,now covered in spoils.I traveled in with
my HR premier was pretty scary back then lots of river crossings.They later on moved the camp
closer into town.I remember fighting fires one night that threatened telfer using one of the Michigan 475
loaders.Yes i remember the quest manager,Ray H and his side kick bookie.
Don't know how we did it back then in that heat,12 hour shift's all in one showers 2 weeks night shift
2 weeks day shift continuous,till you'd had enough and flew out for a break,i remember flying out to
PH in a little Cessna,staying in the Port Hotel, bare knuckle boxing laid on every friday night.
By the way Quest mining was under receivership due to their failed sand mining efforts in Enneabba,
Ray H was sent in as a consultant manager and turned the company around the shares went sky high
they sold out and the company got taken over by another group.
cheers
colin

[ATH]

I went to Telfer in late ’81 just before Xmas. Bloody hard leaving the wife and kids at that time but I wanted the work so did it. Ray Hardy the boss of Quest Mining used to watch new employees come off the plane and if he didn't like the look of you, back on you went. No argument allowed.
Good camp about a mile from the Telfer townsite. Airconned single rooms with a small fridge in each to keep essentials cold.
Ray Hardy bought all new Cat 777 trucks, 992C loaders and other equipment mostly, plus some Terex trucks to haul dirt and he got them because of the contract he had with Newmont for removing overburden from the ore body. All air conned of course and us on the field maintenance crews used to reckon the operators were a bunch of fairies who couldn't live without nice soft conditions in their cabs.
Living conditions and lengthy time away from home weren’t what todays snow flakes could or would have put up with. Try about 13 weeks on with a week plus weekend off. Drove some people troppo.
There was one phone box for our camp where we all queued up to call home maybe once a week. Hot as hell inside that glass box. I remember a girl whose Mum worked for Telstra or whatever they called themselves back then, and she used to gob off for hours for free with no regard for others who wanted to speak to the wife and kids.
Good food there and many great **** ups on shift change weekends. Ray used to reckon "Keep 'em ****ed and keep 'em happy" and we were happy to go along with that. :) Bad cooks never lasted long there either.
Gambling was done via the on site booky Jim G who happened to be the 2IC for Quest.
One of my mates Michael C said one day “Lend us your radio Alan, mines broken". 'No Michael, I know why yours is broken".
I’d seen his radio come flying out his donga door a few times when his horse lost a race. He used to lose most of his fortnightly pay to the booky.
TV never came to Telfer until sometime about mid ‘82 and I remember staggering back from the pub one night full of **** and seeing this strange greenish glow just off the track to camp. As I got closer I could see all these people sitting around in a half circle peering intently at a TV of all things!
It had been hooked up to the satellite system which was soon to go through to all the camp rooms and they were watching the FA Cup final. I was so intent on looking at them I fell straight down a hole which had been dug for something or other and they rushed to rescue me.
I got a bollocking the next day from the then manager of Quest for using foul language. :)
The road in from the Marble Bar/ Hedland Road was all dirt back then but that never deterred us from weekend trips when possible to drive to Carawine Gorge or the "town" Marble Bar for some good fun when we could between shifts. Quest even used to provide BBQ pack to sustain us during these times.
I got the sack eventually after falling asleep on night shift when my room aircon had packed up on a 40C day and I got no sleep.
Such is life as they say but it was one of the only places I regret leaving.
AlanH.

[V8Ian]

The thread that keeps giving. [biggrin]

[ATH]

People told me it was a rough place when they knew I was off up there but I didn't find it bad at all. Anyone fighting or causing trouble soon got moved out... so quick you never realised they'd been flown out until they didn't turn up for work. Out of bed and on the plane.
The manager made me do about 6 weeks of nightshift on end because he reckoned I was a problem at one time but relented when he thought I'd been punished enough. Never bothered me actually and it wasn't until I met another ex Telfer bloke on another site that he told me this twit manager had taken his misgivings about a certain thing out on several others in the same way. Bit paranoid apparently about what happened when he was off site in Perth.
One of my mates, the bloke who lost much money on the horses, used to operate a small blast hole drill at various sites they were preparing to open up and reckoned Pit 6 was the scariest place he'd ever worked. Pit 1 & 2 were the main production areas back then and he'd be taken out to his drill at Pit 6 and he'd sit their drilling the pattern.... surrounded by dingoes with their eyes all lit up by the lights on his drill. He hated getting out to change the bit as he reckoned they may have taken the opportunity to jump on him. :)
Funny area Pit 6 though and many felt uneasy about working there including me. Some of the lads reckoned they'd play a trick on a D9L driver there one night as he pushed dirt around. One dressed up in a white sheet and run around just out of the dozers lights to scare the operator, Jack C from memory. You'd be lucky to scare him with anything, real tough bloke and all the prankster got for his trouble was bloody great dozer chasing him back to the ute.
Hard work, hot and dusty and I still get all sorts of skin cancers cut out after 40 years on from that and all the other jobs I worked on. Not much H & S as tough as it is now.
AlanH.