This is a micro cache in the form of a small bison tube in a high muggle area during the day. Please its important that you show stealth and place back where found.
The Miners Memorial was erected to commemorate twenty miners who lost their lives 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. Bede McCosker (21) was the first victim of a mining accident in Gunnedah & Steve Rennick (25) was the last (1986).
All the mines are now closed in the Gunnedah district except for the Whitehaven Mines near the now closed Vickery Mine site.
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 stoppagge 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.