Tas: Miner's mark rockfall anniversary at Anzac dawn service

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2007
Tas: Miner's mark rockfall anniversary at Anzac dawn service

By Jamie Duncan and Glenn Cordingley

HOBART, April 25 AAP - Miners Brant Webb and Todd Russell have marked the first anniversary
of the rock fall that trapped them underground and killed workmate Larry Knight by attending
Beaconsfield's Anzac Day dawn service.

The pair were rescued after spending 14 nights trapped in a tiny cage a kilometre underground
after a rock fall on Anzac Day last year at the Beaconsfield gold mine near Launceston
in Tasmania's north.

Today, they stood with about 100 of their friends and neighbours at Beaconsfield's
cenotaph - within sight of the mine and above the spot where they were trapped.

"That's probably why I was a bit edgy, you know. We could see the (mine's) head frame
from where we were and everything," Brant told the Nine Network.

For Todd Russell, the day was an emotional one.

"Anzac Day is a day for the remembrance of the returned servicemen, the Diggers and
that, but for Brant and me it's an even bigger, sadder day because of the loss our fellow
workmate Larry, so there's a lot of mixed emotions for us today," he said.

The Beaconsfield community and the RSL marked the day by honouring Australia's servicemen
and women as they had done in years past, but West Tamar mayor Barry Easther said the
mine was on everyone's mind.

"Anzac Day brings back unforgettable memories of what happened at 9.23pm on April 25
last year," he said.

"It is difficult to forget.

"Later today, after the Anzac remembrance service and lunch that normally happens here,
the thoughts of many people will turn to the accident at the mine.

"They will start to reflect on the experiences of the 14-day rescue."

Mr Easther said Beaconsfield was coping well a year on.

"We are a vibrant community and we have been blessed with large numbers of visitors
coming here because of the mine and what happened.

"People from all over the world have been touched by the story that came out of Beaconsfield
and they feel a real need to visit the place where it all happened.

"It's unbelievable. The mine shut after the accident, but the increased visitor numbers
have certainly helped the local economy."

The scars of the rescue remain. Brant admits he has trouble sleeping, while Todd said
he began seeing a counsellor three weeks ago.

Recently, he warned Brant not to see the film World Trade Centre, which depicted two
policeman trapped under the wreckage of New York's twin towers after the September 11
terrorist attack.

"I actually sat and howled and howled and howled because it gave me a perspective of
what (wife) Carolyn and the kids and mum and dad were going through," he said.

Todd said his thoughts were with Larry Knight's family today.

"There's not a day goes by when you don't think about Larry but it's probably going
to be a bit harder today because because you've got Jackie, his wife, and Thomas, his
little son and (son) Addison and (daughter) Lauren and all the family," he said.

"It must be so hard for them."

A memorial service for Knight and a concert to celebrate the rescue will be held in
Beaconsfield on May 9 - the anniversary of the rescue and of Larry Knight's funeral.

AAP jrd/ks/bwl

KEYWORD: BEACONSFIELD NIGHTLEAD

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.