Ian is an old hand on mine sites and is currently the mobile maintenance supervisor for GEMCO (Groote Eylandt Mining Company operation). He tells Howard Shanks about the time he spent in New Guinea’s mine sites in 1973. There were no telephones or television in the camps, and the only form of entertainment were outdoor movies. He laughs as he recalls the occasional ‘safety film’ (an oblique reference to blue movies), screened to help pass the long hours. Compared with those days, Groote Eylandt is like a holiday resort.

His responsibilities include overseeing the workshop area for the mobile plant used at the mine. Ian came to the island a little over three years ago after spending 20 or so years in the mines of New Guinea and Indonesia.

Originally from “somewhere in northern Queensland”, Ian says the constant challenges mining presents have kept him in the mines for over two decades.

“It’s a very rewarding job,” he asserts. “This is the good life.”