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.

Empty supermarket shelves in Gladstone and throughout the country (due to Covid) are a timely reminder of how fragile our supply chains can be. Almost everything we eat, buy and use has been produced and transported a very long way using fuels such as diesel and aviation fuel.

One of the Joys of my role at QER is being able to support some wonderful volunteer work in our community, which goes towards making Gladstone the special place it is.

Last weekend I managed to get a leave pass to head off with a few of my QER and ex-QER mates and our trusty steeds for an overnight at the beautiful Royal Hotel at Gayndah. It was a great trip. I’ve never seen the country looking so green.

We recently set off for the Gold Coast for a couple of weeks of well-earned holiday. I’d pictured the idyllic setting in my mind. . . that first morning cuppa beside the van, looking out over tranquil waters under infinite blue skies; connecting with family; enjoying sunset beers at the waters edge with not a care in the world.

Recently we carried out a carefully controlled hazard reduction burn at our Yarwun site. Hazard reduction burning helps reduce the risk of potentially damaging, uncontrolled summer wildfires. Managing a controlled burn is a science and an art, requiring meticulous planning and careful management.