July 30, 2024
With our General Election now concluded, we are farewelling some long-term officials and welcoming some new faces who have already hit the ground running to serve members and build our union.
I wish our departing South Western District President Graeme Osborne on his well-deserved retirement. This comes after decades of service to the Union and our members.
A lifelong Lithgow resident, Graeme started his career over 40 years ago as an underground miner at Angus Place Colliery. In 2004, he was elected to serve as the Vice President of the South Western District, and he succeeded Andy Honeysett as District President in 2019.
Embodying the MEU values of standing up for miners and mining communities, Ozzie has earned widespread respect as a champion for MEU members and a person always willing to talk through the issues at hand.
In addition to his work directly with the Union, Graeme serves on the boards of Westfund and Coal Services. In these positions Ozzie has consistently advocated for the interests of mining and energy workers, their families, and communities. Ozzie is perhaps best known as a local Rugby League legend and long-time coach of the Lithgow Workies Wolves’ Group 10 team. I know that he will continue through his on-going involvement with industry bodies and advocacy for Lithgow’s economic future.
On behalf of the Mining and Energy Union I wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.
Graeme is succeeded as District President by Bob Timbs, who is already well-known to many across the union after serving as South-West District Vice President based in the Illawarra.
Our Queensland District has seen the most significant changes, with several new officials elected to take up full-time roles. Heath Timmins from Moura Lodge has taken up the Senior Vice President role that was vacated by Mitch Hughes following his election to District President, while Jeff Pearce from Peak Downs and Brodie Brunker from Broadmeadow have been elected as District Vice Presidents. I will miss Heath and Jeff’s contribution on our Central Council but it is great to see them step into full-time union roles.
We are also farewelling our long-term Queensland District Vice President Steve Pierce, who has served the Union as an official for 24 years after a long career in the Central Queensland mining industry including leadership roles at our Saraji Lodge. We wish Steve all the best in his retirement.
In the South Western District, Mark Jenkins has been elected to take up the role of Vice President based in Lithgow. Mark has a wealth of experience throughout the mining and energy industry, starting his career at the Wallerawang power station and working as a contractor in the attached prep plant before moving to Springvale mine where he was a long-time leader in the Lodge and on the District Board of Management.
We have some new faces on our Central Council as well, having a constructive first meeting on 1 July.
In particular, we now have dedicated positions for two women on our Central Council to ensure the growing number of women in our industries and our union are represented. Welcome Clare Bailey from Mt Pleasant in NSW and Logan Muller from Moura.
Central Council is our Union’s highest decision-making body and it’s very encouraging to see members stepping up to represent mining and energy workers with pride and enthusiasm. Our Union prides itself on our democratic structures and values and we thank everyone who took the time to vote on your representation.
Grahame Kelly is the General Secretary of the Mining and Energy Union