Push for memorial to honour Mount Isa’s lost miners

Steve Trevor has a deep personal motivation behind his push for a Mount Isa memorial to honour the 149 people killed while working in the city's mighty mining industry. His brother Tony Trevor was just 33 and only two weeks away from seeing his only daughter being born when an accident shunting rail wagons for Mount Isa Mines claimed his life in 1995. "It has had an effect on all our family, as you can imagine, especially his late parents," Mr Trevor said. "I think (a memorial) is important for Mount Isa and also Queensland, because it has affected so many - obviously the families of the 149 killed since the mines opening, work mates and colleagues, rescue staff, medical staff and so on." Mr Trevor, now based in Brisbane, and former long-time Mount Isa Mines employee John Moran are behind a campaign to see a miners’ memorial built in Mount Isa for the city's 100-year celebrations in 2023. Steve Trevor (left) and John Moran with Mount Isa Mayor Danielle Slade recently. "John first called for a memorial via a letter to the editor of the North West Star back in 1998 during the city’s 75th anniversary," Mr Trevor said. "Unfortunately at that time he was unable to get it across the line." Mr Trevor was waiting to see a show at Twin Towns on the Gold Coast in January this year when he saw a more recent letter to the editor on the subject by Mr Moran. "I read this article on Facebook ... and immediately rang John, who lives in Karumba. I said to John at the time 'we have to do this, and make it happen this time', and we both decided there and then to set the ball in motion," he said. So why has it taken so long for a key mining centre like Mount Isa to have a memorial of this kind? "That's a very good question," Mr Trevor said "I’m not sure why it’s taken so long, but what I can say is it is now time. "There are mining memorials all over the country, those towns and cities that have already built a memorial obviously saw the need to pay tribute to those men and woman who paid the ultimate sacrifice and I believe all Mount Isans will support this call, especially when you consider the contribution of Mount Isa and MIM to this great State, and it still today contributes as much or more than any other company in the State's history." Mr Trevor said he hoped to keep the ball rolling via consultation with all stakeholders, including the community, local government, State Government, and mine owner Glencore. "In conjunction with the council, we are hoping to form a local committee who over time can decide on a proper monument and location," he said. Mount Isa Mayor Danielle Slade said the council supported the proposed memorial for local miners who had tragically lost their lives. "It’s an idea that the Mount Isa community will embrace. We will be happy to be involved and we will be hoping for a co-operative effort from other stakeholders to bring this proposal to fruition,” she said.

Push for memorial to honour Mount Isa’s lost miners

Industry Queensland

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