Matthew Gill was the general manager at the Beaconsfield Gold Mine since its inception until March 2007, having arrived at the old mine in 1995 when it was still flooded and prefeasibility. Matthew oversaw the dewatering and shaft refurbishment program, the initial underground development, diamond drilling, feasibility study, construction and commissioning, and the first gold bar pour in 1999.As if these challenges were not enough, the JV companies went into administration/receivership mid 2001, but Matthew and his team held firm to return the operation to a profitable venture, repay creditors and achieve the re-listing of the companies.And then the events of 25 April 2006 occurred. What followed would become a part of Australian mining history as, for 14 days, the world watched every step of a complex and hazardous mine rescue operation to save two trapped miners 925 m underground. Matthew will share some of those experiences - the technical challenges, the human challenges, crisis management, emergency preparedness, leadership, and media management._x000D_
*This is an abstract only. No full paper was prepared for this abstract._x000D_
CITATION:Gill, M, 2012. Beaconsfield - Never think it won't happen to you, in Proceedings International Mine Management 2012, pp 1-2 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).