Expect the Unexpected
The last edition of this column was titled “Living Safety” and contained the ominous words “…a busy (and potentially dangerous) time on our roads, so take extra care and be patient”. Perhaps I should have added “touch wood”.
Read More
Living Safety
We’ve recently held a course at QER to keep our people up to date with the many legislated safety requirements that fall on us as a mine and process plant. While the legislation is a bit complicated, the heart of the requirements is very simple: managing risk to an acceptable level.
Read More
Running on Reserve
I’m a classic motorbike fan, and one of the features I like about bikes is the reserve fuel tank which most have. It’s maybe not the most sexy feature on a bike, but it’s always there as a backup and has saved me from many a long, hot walk.
Read More
Being Prepared
As I write this, Cyclone Oma is lurking off the coast, trying to decide whether to visit the Sunshine State. We are on alert and busily working on our preparations – clearing drains; tying everything down; stocking up on provisions and batteries. We want to be ready in case she (or he?) does wander across the coast.
Read More
The Trials and the Blessings of Life
It’s not very long since we were talking about the devastating impacts of drought and fires in this column. Now our friends and families to the North are grappling with the consequences of flooding.
Read More
Mapping Out a Plan
Well we have survived the Christmas – New Year season. The rellies have returned home, we’ve got through the stifling heat, we’ve had way too much to eat, spent too much money and the kids go back to school next week. (Oh the joy!!!!)
Read More
When Being Dense is a Good Thing…
Sometimes people ask me why QER is working to develop new sources of diesel and aviation fuel for transport while other transport energy alternatives – such as electric vehicles – are being developed. The reality is that different fuels have different strengths and weaknesses. And the big strength of diesel is that it has very high ‘energy density’.
Read More
The Peace (and Wars) of Christmas
Well, Christmas is nearly here again and its that time when families get together in (for the most part) peace and harmony. Of course it’s never quite that simple. It always starts out pretty well.
Read More
Our Country… Our Community
We are so fortunate to live in this beautiful part of the world, despite its harshness, as Dorothea Mackellar so beautifully expressed it in her famous poem “My Country”. But the beauty is not just in the landscape. It’s even more so in the spirit of our community.
Read More
Snakes and Ladders
These days, you don’t often see the old game snakes and ladders, which is a shame because there are lessons in that game for life and business.
Read More