DINNER FOR THE BEACONSFIELD MINERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

29 May 2006

My wife Marlena and I are tonight hosting a dinner for Beaconsfield miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb along with their immediate families and the family of Larry Knight.

We do so in recognition of the extraordinary example of courage, mateship and Aussie spirit displayed by the miners, their rescuers and the wider Beaconsfield community in the days following the collapse of the mine on ANZAC day.

The occasion also gives us an opportunity to recognise the contribution that our miners everywhere have made to the Australian economy. Typically these mines are away from the major city centres and it is often only tragic events like these that bring the life of these communities to notice.

As we have noted in recent weeks during our visits to some of the more remote parts of Australia, we owe much to the miners, the teachers, the farmers and pastoralists outside the major cities.

Tonight we recognise the wonderful community spirit in Beaconsfield and in similar communities around the country.