A tradesman’s journey into mining

Just two weeks shy of his fifteenth birthday, William (Bill) Owen began a trade apprenticeship with Mount Isa Mines (MIM), embarking on what would become a remarkable 35-year career in the underground mining industry, a field that quickly became his passion.

Raised in the small town of Irvinebank on the outskirts of the Atherton Tablelands, Bill completed Year 10 at Herberton Secondary Department before moving to Mount Isa to begin his trade as a Diesel Fitter.

Upon finishing his apprenticeship, Bill accepted a permanent position as an underground Diesel Fitter at R62 lead mine, where he worked until the end of 1998.

It was during his time underground that Bill developed a deep interest in mining. He transitioned into a fitter/operator role, contributing to the development of the first portal decline down to four level. In this role, Bill demonstrated his adaptability, gaining experience in truck driving, loader operation, jumbo drilling, and face charging.

In 2001, Bill moved to the George Fisher Mine (GFM), starting as a mucker on the decline. After its completion, he took on a ring firing role before returning to the X41 copper mine in late 2004, where he further honed his skills as a miner. By 2006, Bill had become a full-time jumbo operator.

Over the following two decades, Bill took on multiple roles including Workplace Trainer/Assessor, 2IC, and often stepped up as relief supervisor. However, he never pursued permanent supervisory roles, preferring to stay connected to the hands-on work he loved, operating jumbos underground.

Among his proudest achievements were his contributions to the development of the surface declines at both GFM and R62.

“Mount Isa Mines was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Bill reflects.

“It set me up for life. Being able to live close to work, do a job I loved, and provide a comfortable life for my kids, I couldn’t have asked for more.”

He continues, “I never imagined the Mount Isa Copper Operations (MICO) would come to a close, but I’ve made some great mates and lifelong friends along the way.”

Jamie McCavanagh, Superintendent at X41 North, MICO, describes Bill as a natural leader who maintained composure in high-pressure situations.

“He earned the trust of everyone around him and consistently delivered results,” Jamie said.

Jim Faulkner, Manager at MICO, echoed these sentiments:

“Bill brought a strong work ethic and genuine care for his teammates. People like him are the backbone of the underground copper mine, it’s people like Bill who made it such a successful and rewarding place to work.”

On 31 March 2025, Bill officially concluded his time with MIM. Remarkably, at the time of his departure, fourteen of his family members, including his two daughters, were employed by MIM, either in town or at GFM.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Bill for his outstanding service and his role in safely and successfully closing the underground copper operation.