Back to Resourceful May 2022

Half a century with Mount Isa Mines

Les attended boarding school in Charters Towers in the 1970s and recalls when several major mining companies visited his class just before final exams.

“Mining companies from across Australia were visiting the area. Australian mining was booming, and there was a shortage of industrial tradesmen,” Les says.

“They were literally holding a piece of paper out and asking us to sign up for a job interview with them.”

“BHP, CRA (Rio Tinto) and MIM all came to our school. I came from Julia Creek, so naturally I chose MIM.”

Les began his career with Mount Isa Mines in 1972 at the Zinc Concentrator.

Inside the Zinc Concentrator in the late 60s, a handful of years before Les first stepped foot into the building.

Les began his time with  MIM in 1972, commencing an electrical apprenticeship.

Three years into his apprenticeship, he was offered the opportunity to complete a second trade in Instrumentation. Taking up this offer, Les added an extra year to his apprenticeship, and achieved a dual-trade qualification.

His first stint as a qualified tradesman was at the Zinc-Lead Concentrator in 1975. Six months later, he moved to the Copper Concentrator, where he stayed for four years.

Les later joined the Mines Engineering Training Scheme, a program that trained future technical and supervisory staff. Through this program, he worked in a range of roles across MIM, including technical project officer roles in the Copper Smelter Instrument Tag team, and the Mica Creek and MPS power stations.

Les’ first permanent role as a supervisor was underground at the 19 Level O59 workshops, overseeing crews who maintained underground haulage trains.

Les says that of all the diverse plants across MIM, he thinks the processing plants suit him the best.

After many more electrical, supervisory and planning roles, Les returned to the Zinc-Lead Concentrator in 2008, where he continues to this day as a Short-Term Maintenance Planner.

After 50 years at MIM, Les is still enthusiastic in his career.

“I’ve enjoyed working in all the places I’ve been in my 50 years. It’s been rewarding to watch the apprentices rise to Electrical Superintendent and Specialised Technical roles within the company, and still remain closely related to their base trade.”

“Of all the diverse operations that MIM has, I always found process plants suited me best. I like to see things happening and to play a role in keeping them going around.”

“The work has always been interesting. The people in the company have always been excellent and an honour to work with,” Les says.

After a wide variety of roles and work locations, Les returned to the Zinc Concentrator in 2008.

Curator of Arts on Alma, Allison Bannah with one of Les’ paintings ‘Tranquil Waters’.

Les has been an active member of the community, representing Mount Isa in cricket, local tennis and club NRL.

“My wife and I are past members of Mount Isa Golf Club and are now both strongly involved with the Arts on Alma artists and potters of Mount Isa.”

“I met and married my wife Allison here and consider my greatest achievements our marriage of 46 years, our two children Sam and Scott and three grandchildren Zach, Caiti and Jaime,” Les says.

Fifty years of service at Mount Isa Mines is an incredible accomplishment, congratulations Les!

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