His team, which included members from Mandalong, Ashton, Myuna and Austar, will now represent New South Wales at the Australian Competition to be held later in the year in Queensland.

Squires has been a part of the Mines Rescue brigade for the past 16 years and has competed in every Newcastle competition since joining.

This will be Squires’ fourth time he has captained a team at the Australian championship.

The Newcastle competition format forms composite teams where brigadesmen from mines across the district are formed into teams on arrival at the event.

“It’s really important that you gauge pretty quickly the experience of all of your team members. You need to ask lots of questions, then set tasks based on experience,” Squires said.

“I generally also try to flank these more experienced brigadesmen with the newer trainees, particularly for those who have not competed before.”

Mines Rescue competitions give brigadesmen, and in particular new trainees, an opportunity to apply their training, according to Newcastle Mines Rescue Regional Manager Peter Cornford.

“New trainees joining a Mines Rescue brigade complete an intensive induction training program,” he said.

“They gain a lot of information and knowledge in a short period of time. We do really encourage our new trainees to participate in our annual competition.”