Inside Out With… Allan McPhail

How long have you been with Glencore and Oaky Creek?
Approximately 20 years. In that time, I’ve been back to Oaky North three times – I’m a bit of a homing pigeon.

What’s your current role?
I’m an Explosion Risk Zone (ERZ) Controller on the Process crew. It’s a statutory safety role in underground coal mining.

What are you responsible for?
Safely setting up the panels (a section of the underground coal seam) before the Development crew comes underground.

What does a typical day look like for you?
I’m up at 3:45 then off to work, starting with the Process crew meeting. Then it’s into the best part of the day: Bob Cady’s meeting and the fun and banter that comes with it. From there, I head underground and try to keep Longwall 603 on schedule.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
Working with all types of different characters.

What’s the most challenging part?
Trying to keep all those different characters singing the same song.

Have you always worked in the mining industry?
No – I started work at 15 as an Apprentice Fitter working at a power station. I asked for some time off to go to Europe, but that request got knocked back, so I pulled the pin and went anyway. 

When I got back home, I was lucky enough to get a job at Angus Place Colliery, NSW in 1982. I started as a Fitter then moved to Queensland as a Miner. In 1994, I earned my Deputy certificate and have worked as a Deputy or Shift Supervisor ever since.

What attracted you to the mining industry, Glencore and OCC/Tieri?
Back in the 80s working in the mines was a natural progression when you lived in Lithgow. I ended up at Oaky after I was retrenched from Gordonstone and was working with Allied at the old Maywin mine at number 1.

If you weren’t working as a Deputy, what would be your ideal job?
A tour guide.

What do you like to do outside of work?
Travelling, riding motorbikes and playing golf.

Who do you spend your time with?
My wife and family, and the lads at coffee club.

What’s a little known fact about you?
I have 11 grandkids!

What movie have you watched and rewatched the most…and why?
Zulu – purely for the steely determination of the British and Allied soldiers not to give up.

What song will you always turn up louder?
‘Back in Black’ by AC/DC – I watched them when they came back to Australia, brilliant!

Favourite quote?
“I will come down and cast my eye over it” or “Am I speaking Russian?” – they are my own quotes.