This win is the ninth for the Wambo Mine Rescue Team, the sixth that Kirk has been involved in and his first as captain.

“I’d like to thank the Wambo team for their dedication and support, we only had five team members on the day, when every other team had six,” he said.

“We are very much looking forward to competing in the Australia titles.”

The fact that Ravensworth underground is on care and maintenance enables the training to be conducted as close to real life as possible in the underground workplace, Mines Rescue regional manager David Connell said.

“Having the brigadesmen respond to scenarios in the underground workplace, with all the environmental risks to account for, like roof and rib instability, gas changes, and operational equipment, certainly puts their skills to the test,” he said.

This year the teams also celebrated Ashton colliery deputy Steve Burns’ 34 year career working as an active Mines Rescue brigadesman.

Burns will retire from Ashton colliery in August 2015.

“We are very proud that many of our brigadesmen like Steve maintain their skills and competencies right throughout their mining careers,” Connell said.

“Even today, almost 60% of our brigadesmen in the Hunter Valley region have been with us for over five years.”

The Wambo team will compete at the Australian titles in October 2015, which will be held in Newcastle.