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Gunnedah Miners` MemorialPrint Page 
The monument commemorates twenty miners who died or were killed in mining accidents in Gunnedah over a span of 89 years.
The ages of the 20 men whose names are recorded on the memorial range from 21 to 58. Bernard McCosker (21) was the first victim of a mining accident in Gunnedah and Steve Rennick (25) was the last (1986).
All the mines are now closed in the Gunnedah district except for Whitehaven Mine near the now closed Vickery Mine site.
Location
| Address: | Conadilly & Chandos Street, Brock`s Court, Gunnedah, 2380 |
|---|---|
| State: | NSW |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -30.976417 Long: 150.251016 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Disaster |
| Sub-Theme: | Industrial |
| Designer: | Carl Merten |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Saturday 25th November, 2000 |
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Gunnedah Miners` Memorial
Dedicated to the men who lost their lives in Gunnedah District mines
1897 B. McCosker 21 years Gunnedah
1899 C. White 30 years Gunnedah
1918 E.Sullivan 25 years Preston
1924 A. Saunders 54 years Gunnedah
1925 W. Gardner 20 years Preston
1930 E. Smith 22 years Gunnedah
1933 J. Louis 27 years Werris Creek
1933 S. Summerville 44 years Gunnedah
1935 J. Russell 57 years Gunnedah
1953 S. Ashcroft 52 years Preston
1953 S. Smith 58 years Preston
1956 R. Hayes 42 years Werris Creek
1957 F. Louis 22 years Preston
1966 T. Bond 47 years Gunnedah
1967 A. Gimbet 58 years Preston
1976 J. Burke 31 years Preston
1976 A. Berghotte 29 years Gunnedah
1977 E. Stringer 44 years Gunnedah
1979 R. Price 46 years Preston
1986 S. Rennick 25 years Gunnedah
Officially opened 25 November 2000
Mick Watson, Northern District President
Ross Whitaker, Northern District Central Committee
On Tuesday 15 August 1995, 30 miners voted to take strike action and set up a picket line at the entrance to Vickers Mine which is 28 kilometres north of Gunnedah and was owned by CRA/RTZ. The strike was legal under the country`s new industrial laws known as "Protected Action".
Negotiations broke down regarding an Enterprise Agreement with the company`s insistence of 12 1/2 shift lengths and the elimination of other Award conditions. The picket line was manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During this time the miners and their families received outstanding support from their union (The United Mineworkers Federation of Australia), National and District Officials along with rank and file members of the Union. Other Unions from around Australia and overseas showed solidarity at the highest level. The dispute reached breaking point on 23 July 1996 when eight miners were arrested resulting in a national stoppage and a negotiated settlement.
The workforce returned to work on Monday 5 August 1996. The dispute lasted 355 days, just 10 days short of one year. The
mine was closed in May 1998 due to exhausted reserves.
