Clark joined Coalex in 1977 as mine electrical engineer at the Hermitage-Fernbrook Collieries in NSW after moving to Australia. From 1985 he worked for BHP, first at the Stockton Borehole Colliery until 1988 and then at Tower colliery until 1992.

He spent the next 12 years with the Powercoal (now Centennial Coal) operations in a range of roles that encompassed equipment specification and selecting capital equipment. He was most recently involved with developing specifications for the newly commissioned Mandalong operation in NSW.

Clark’s hobbies are soccer, either watching his son play for Newcastle Uni or watching the local Newcastle team, and when all else fails watching satellite television.

ILN:What is your earliest mining memory?

BC: I came from a small mining village called Annbank outside Ayr in southwest Scotland and my childhood memories were of the spoil heaps and the smell from them burning at times. All landscaped and grassed now.

ILN: What made you choose mining as a career?

BC: At that time the NCB provided good training and a four year apprenticeship. I have been involved in the coal industry ever since.

ILN: When was your first underground visit?

BC: In 1965. I was about 14 years of age and I went on an underground visit with my father and a cousin. I remember getting onto a cage deck and dropping down 700 metres.

ILN: What was your favourite job in a coal mine?

BC: I enjoyed being an apprentice where you were continually learning and working on different jobs, this has followed me through my working life where I like to move to different roles.

ILN: What was your least favourite job?

BC: Electrical fitter on a 1.4 metre high longwall, wearing elbow pads and knee pads and dragging a tool bag

ILN: Who, or what, has most influenced your mining career?

BC: My technical education was from the UK but the biggest influence was coming to Australia and being exposed to different mining methods and equipment and having the freedom to make your own decisions and provide leadership.

ILN: What do you consider your best mining achievement?

BC: As I have moved form one position to the another leaving behind improved standards of equipment, less problems and more competent people

ILN: What do you see as being the greatest mining development during your career?

BC: Overall gas management, eg gas drainage, controlling and monitoring the mine environment, and reducing the frequency/ probability of gas outbursts.

ILN: Do you hold any mining records?

BC: Records are tomorrow’s targets and all mining records are team results.

ILN: Do you have any unfulfilled ambitions?

BC: My ambitions relate to my current job and they are not to be bored

ILN: What was your most embarrassing moment in a coal mine?

BC: It relates to the instance below as I was the electrician who kept restoring the power to the faulty cable.

ILN: What was your scariest time in a coal mine?

BC: When I saw methane burning after a cable flash in a longwall main-gate.

ILN: What is your worst memory of coal mining?

BC: I have been at mines when there have been fatalities, these are my worst memories and you always ask yourself could I have done something more to prevent it happening.

ILN: Do you think that the day of the fully automated remotely operated face is near?

BC: Full automation is not a priority. The technology is such that it is achievable, existing automation controls are providing improved productivity, more consistent results and a safer work environment and operator involvement is contributing to the improvements.

ILN: What major improvements would you like to see on longwall operations?

BC: Increased focus process improvements and reliability by training and involving the longwall crews.