You might have heard about the two tourists who recently got lost on Cape York and only luckily managed to find their way to safety. I reminded me how important it is to have a back up – a “Plan B” if you like – when the stakes are high.

We have been carrying out lab trials over the last few weeks to test different process conditions which will help to maximise the energy efficiency of QER’s oil production process and minimise emissions.

It’s that time of year again where we revive our New Year traditions. There are some pretty interesting ones around the world.

I’ve recently enjoyed welcoming a number of groups of tourists to our Yarwun visitor’s centre. Two things seem to resonate with them: the fresh homemade scones and that Australia could meet a significant part of our transport energy needs from right here in Gladstone.

QER & our teams in Gladstone and Brisbane had a busy October supporting the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s Oceans to Outback appeal.

I recently received a phone call from the Westowe Rural Fire Service on a Sunday afternoon notifying me of a bushfire adjacent to our site…….it occurred to me that here were a group of volunteers giving up their weekend and time to help protect life and property.

There’s a good quote in the latest John Wick movie: “How you do anything, is how you do everything”. It’s true of life and I think true of running a world class operation.

While QER is not a big organization, we are committed to meeting and exceeding the same high safety standards as any mine or industrial facility in Queensland.

One of the parts of my role that I most enjoy is working with the young people who are, or hope to soon be, taking on roles in the minerals and energy industries.

Most of us have now settled in for another year, with kids excited to be back among their school friends, and mums and dads excited to be back as work (of course we are!). Sadly for many Queensland families, life will never be the same after this summer.

Apparently, the practice of celebrating New Year on 1st January started around 46BC when Julius Caesar introduced the solar calendar. “January” was named after Janus – the god of gateways and new beginnings – who had one face that looked forward and the other that looked back.

A geologist mate told the story of how a taxi driver once asked him what he did for a job. He said he was a geologist and the driver responded: “I always thought that’d be fascinating – studying the ancient Egyptians and that”. Just for the record, of course that’s not what geologists do.

As you might know, QER has a Visitors Centre at our Yarwun Technology Demonstration facility. One of the parts of my job that I really enjoy is sharing QER’s story with the visitors from the Gladstone community and from all around Australia.

This month we’re excited to be commencing some new development work in our Gladstone laboratory. We have upgraded our “MFA Bench” which is a mini benchtop version of our process for extracting oil from rock.

As soon as we are born, we start learning. We learn to crawl, walk, eat solids, and the reactions that a smile or cry can make. As our life continues, we go to school, University, and continue our learning in the workplace.

Recently, we celebrated NAIDOC week – in which we celebrated and recognized the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

QER is once again a proud sponsor of Ecofest – one of Gladstone’s best family events. It will be held at the Toondoon Botanical Gardens on Sunday 5th June from 9am to 3.30pm.

ANZAC Day this year was a timely reminder to be grateful for the hard-won peace and prosperity we enjoy in Australia. We’ve seen from the events in the Ukraine that peace and prosperity can never be taken for granted.

Recently I jumped aboard the Gladstone Region Tours bus with a group of friends to do a bike ride along the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail. For those that don’t know this is a section of rail line that is now a trail that goes from Kalpowar at the top of the Dawes Range…..

This month we’re excited to be commissioning our new, low emissions ore drying pilot plant. Queensland’s kerogen shale contains over 20% moisture and the first step to produce fuel is drying the shale down to 5% moisture.