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These are the 29 men who were lost in the Pike River
coal mine disaster.
To view the whole Pike River Remembrance Service, click
here.
Conrad John Adams, 43, Greymouth
Deputy and shift-boss at Pike River Coal mine. Worked in gold and
coal mines for more 25 years. He moved to Greymouth two years ago
and has two children. Peter Whittall told
Sunday Conrad was a natural leader because of his
experience and qualifications. "He was a big affable guy, and he'd
done a lot of training in South Africa. He was always up for a job,
always up to take charge of things, always volunteering and a very
nice guy," Whittall said.
Malcolm Campbell, 25, Greymouth
(Scotland)
Just weeks away from his wedding to fiancee Amanda Shields,
Malcolm was originally from St Andrew's, Fife, in Scotland.
His wedding date was set down for December 18 and
The Express
reports that his parents Malcolm and Jane were due to fly to
New Zealand for it. He had been working in Australian gold
mines for two years before moving here.
Glenn Peter Cruse , 35, Cobden
Came from a family of miners and worked in a mine most of his
life.
Allan John Dixon , 59, Rununga
The second oldest miner caught up in the disaster. Father of
two.
Zen Wodin Drew, 21, Greymouth
Mine building apprentice. His father Laurie spoke out to
Sunday , saying he would give his life to go in
and get his son.
After the confirmation of the second explosion, Laurie told TVNZ
he wants closure.
"I'm so proud of him but as a Dad I feel as though I've let him
down because I couldn't protect him. It's hard it's really hard and
damage control we just want our loved ones so we can get closure
now.
Christopher Peter Duggan , 31, Greymouth.
Had not been working in mining for very long and had moved from
forestry because he wanted a change.
Joseph Ray Dunbar
, 17,
Greymouth
Turned 17 last week, the minimum age for working in the mine.
Before news of the second explosion came out, his mum Phillipa
Timms
told Close Up he was due to start work in the
mine this week but was so keen he was allowed to go into the mine
on Friday.
He had had three months training and asked Gary Campbell, who
is his mother's partner and also works at the mine, if he could go
down early and have a look. He enjoyed it and was allowed to start
a shift straight away.
Philippa wants other people to take inspiration
from Joseph's story and efforts to turn his life around.
She called her son rebellious but "lots and lots of fun" and said
she was incredibly proud of him.
John Leonard Hale , 45, Ruatapu
John Hale loved his home by the sea and his
family is devastated he will not be home again. Hale's job was to
drive the men in and out of the mine and it was terrible timing
that he was deep inside when the explosion happened, his partner
Brenda Rackley told ONE News. His mother Joy has had a bad three
months - she lost her home in the Canterbury quake.
Daniel Thomas Herk , 36, Rununga
Acted as a regular sparring partner for Commonwealth Games boxer
Nathan McEwen. McEwen had heaped praise on Herk, saying "you
wouldn't find a better fella". Grew up in Auckland, New Plymouth
and Greymouth and had worked in mines a long time. Friends told ONE
News he was a family man with two children. "He's a staunch
hard-working sportsman, an all round good guy," said friend
Stu Gray
.
David Mark Hoggart , 33, Foxton
Described by his mother as a talented artist and jade carver, who
enjoyed tinkering around on old cars, according to a report in the
Dominion Post. He worked on dairy farms and in forestry before
starting at Pike River Coal in May.
Richard Bennett Holling , 41, Blackball
Had been married for just over a year and had been working in the
mine for three months as a trainee. His friend Allison Harris told
TVNZ his nickname was Holls.
Andrew David Hurren, 32, Hokitika
Friends described him as "a quiet guy with a huge heart who
would do anything for anyone". One friend told ONE News that "No
one could say a bad word about him". Andrew Hurren was
known as "Huck" to his friends. He was a great outdoors
man, a keen hunter and fisherman.
Jacobus (Koos) Albertus Jonker, 47, Cobden
(South African)
Married to Christelle Jonker. Originally from South Africa, did
not like working in the mine because he felt it was unsafe. Reports
said he had applied to transfer a day before the explosion.
William John (Willy) Joynson, 49,
Australia
From Queensland. Married to Kim with two young children aged 10 and
13. He moved to NZ a year ago and was planning to return to
Australia in January.
Riki Steve Keane , 28, Greymouth
Riki played in the
Blaketown Rugby Club's senior team along with Michael
Monk and David Sims .
Forwards Coach Wayne Stanton said of the three of them: "They
really looked after the younger guys in the team becuase you know
the best way to bonding is having a beer and organising functions.
Every sundown after football Mike was here and Ricky was here and
all their wives and kids would come along too." The club said "a
coach on any team on the coast would love to have these boys in
their team."
Terry David Kitchin
, 41, Rununga
Had finished his shift before the explosion, but opted to do two
hours overtime.
Samuel Mackie, 26, Greymouth.
Sam grew up in Prebbleton, 20 minutes out of
Christchurch. 20/20 reporter Beth Bates lived next door to him for
15 years and watched him grow up. She said he was nice wee boy who
just loved to play with trucks and trains. She said there
were lots of times he got into mischief with her two younger
brothers Shaun and Ryan, as they are the same age and played
together all the time.
Sam always had a cheeky grin on his face but he was a lovely guy
who didn't change as he grew up.
Before he worked in the mines Beth understands he was working in
Japan on the trains. She said her family was really saddened
at Sam's death and that their thoughts were with his mum. Rest in
peace Sam. From Beth, Liam, Shaun, Ryan, Emma, Holly and Merryn
Roche.
Francis Skiddy Marden , 41, Rununga
Francis was originally from Masterton in the Wairarapa and attended
Rathkeale College. He was married.
Michael Nolan Hanmer Monk
, 23,
Greymouth
Once a prefect at St Bede's College in Christchurch, where he was a
boarder. A West Coast rugby rep, Michael played as a lock in his
school's Second XV, according to its 2004 yearbook.
Monk's family released a statement saying they were devastated by
the tragic loss of a young man who would be remembered as a loving
son, brother, partner and friend.
"For such a young man this 23-year-old had many ambitions and big
plans for a bright future.
"He was a great saver and was paying off a section and looking
forward to building his own home and travelling overseas with his
long-term partner, Gemma."
Michael had been passionate about rugby from an early age and,
following a proud family tradition, played representative
rugby for the West Coast.
He was a proud member of the Blaketown Rugby Club and for the past
three years had played in the Heartland Championship.
"A versatile player who made a significant contribution to West
Coast rugby, Michael played at the highest representative level in
the Heartland Championships and will always be remembered by his
local Blaketown Club as a man who never gave up without a fight,"
his family said.
As well as attending St Bede's College, Monk spent a
year as a house tutor at Ireland's Rockwell College in 2005.
He returned home to undertake a building apprenticeship, which he
completed in January this year. He worked at the Pike River mine as
a building contractor for past six months and also regularly worked
behind the bar in his family's Paroa Hotel.
"He was always there for his family and his mates and his
unswerving loyalty and wicked sense of humour will never be
forgotten."
Michael is survived by his parents, Bernie and Kath, siblings
Olivia and Alan, and partner Gemma.
Stuart Gilbert Mudge , 31, Rununga
Born in Whangarei, Stuart moved with his family to the West Coast
around five years ago. His father Stephen Rose said his son enjoyed
life on the Coast, and outdoor activities such as hunting and
fishing. His friend
Stu Gray
said Mudge only
recently started going down the mine.
Kane Barry Nieper , 33, Greymouth
Married to the daughter of a local contractor and had a young
family.
Peter O'Neill , 55, Rununga
Has been reported by the Otago Daily Times as being involved in
the rescue of miners trapped in floods at Black Reef Mine two years
ago. Peter was also a West Coast league identity.
Milton John Osborne, 54, Ngahere
Grey District councillor who worked as a contractor for the
company.
Brendan John Palmer, 27, Cobden
Brendan's father, Marty, also worked at the Pike River mine. Marty
said he reported gas problems when he finished his shift at 8am the
morning of Friday's explosion.
Benjamin David Rockhouse, 21, Greymouth
Younger brother of
Daniel Rockhouse
, 24, who
escaped from the mine blast. Benjamin's father Neville is a health
and safety training manager for the mine. Daniel's grandfather Ray
"Rocky" Rockhouse died of a heart attack four hours after the
explosion. Two years ago, Benjamin had resuscitated his granddad
after an earlier heart attack.
Benjamin's mother Sonya
said her son was bright and knew a lot about safety from
his father. Benjamin wrote on his Facebook page just hours before
going into the mine that he was sick of being accident prone.
Sonya also
told Close Up
after the
remembrance service that Daniel is suffering greatly from the
tragedy.
Peter James Rodger
, 40, Greymouth (Scotland)
Peter was originally from Perth in Scotland and moved to New
Zealand two years ago to be closer to his mother and sister. He
lived with his Kiwi girlfriend, Dianne Morris. A former oil rig
worker, he worked as a mechanic at the mine and was stuck
underground for eight hours in another mine incident this
year.
Blair David Sims
, 28, Greymouth
Married with two children. Played in the
Blaketown Rugby Club's senior team . He was the
West Coast's rugby league player of the year, two years running.
Sims was an EPMU delegate at the Pike River mine.
The coaching staff said Blair was"a real star in union and
league as well." They said he had a fantastic sporting record,
scoring numerous tries.
The club, which lost three players in the disaster,
called all of them were "resilient young men who made their
families proud. A coach on any team on the coast would love to have
these three boys in their team."
Blair's sister Rachel Coleman said her brother was "fun-loving"
and a popular guy with lots of friends. "He always had a smile on
his face - bit of a hard-case too," she said.
Joshua Adam Ufer
, 25, Australia
From Townsville, Queensland. Joshua was expecting a baby in May
with Rachelle Weaver, his Australian girlfriend who has lived
in Greymouth for 10 years. The couple had been together for almost
five months. Josh's sister Kymberley and mother Joanne flew
over to Greymouth from Australia when the accident happened
and attended the remembrance service.
Joanne says Joshua's unborn baby will come at the right time, and
will be like having a little piece of the man they loved so much.
"I think deep down I still wanted to hope that Josh could get out.
But we kind of know that's not it anymore...so we just have to stay
strong."
Keith Thomas Valli
, 62,
Wairio
Oldest of the miners. His nickname was Koj. His friend and
co-worker for almost four decades,
Bruce Allan
, said: "You would
have to go a long way to find a guy so sincere as a worker and as a
mate. Koj would go that extra mile to do anything." Adams said
Valli was among a group of men who earlier this year
pulled a dying driver from his car in Wairaki. "He
was strength upon strength as a team worker." Valli liked to
go to the RSA in Ohai and play darts. He was an ex-rugby
man who played for Nightcaps. Adams said that his friend did
not actually like working in the Pike River mine, despite his long
career in mining. Valli's two younger brothers
Richard and Geoff
told ONE News their brother was Southland born and bred
but headed north when the Ohai mine closed - commuting from
home. They described their brother as strong and solid
but said they were bracing themselves for the worst.
Click here for information on how to donate to the Pike River Miners' Relief Fund Trust.
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lost in the Pike River Mine, on our messageboard
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Add a Comment:
Post new commenttit4tat said on 2010-12-03 @ 18:25 NZDT: Report abusive post
condolences to the families, concern about the industry that allowed these men to work in unsafe conditions, mines are dangerous thats true but none can put their hands on their hearts and claim they have gone above and beyond what is lawfully required of them to ensure their "mates" safety. Glenn Grindly could lead the way by ensuring his mine workers and his local community are 110% protected people b4 profit yeah right!!!
tropicalkiwi said on 2010-12-02 @ 23:35 NZDT: Report abusive post
To the families of the miners, my condolences. My thoughts have been with over the last 13 days, I have shed tears for your loss and hope that the support you have been shown in some small way helps. You will remain in my thoughts.
james q said on 2010-12-02 @ 17:17 NZDT: Report abusive post
Tragedy has brought Australia & New Zealand together yet again. My thought are with the West Coasters in NZ from the west coast of Australia.
wellthatsafinemess said on 2010-12-02 @ 13:50 NZDT: Report abusive post
when your here your here when your gone your gone there is nothing to be said there is nothing can be done and when the bell tolls your on the final run to your maker you may fly upon wings of mercy sigh forever you will be in our hearts & our minds eye Rest in Peace Gentlemen.
turret said on 2010-12-02 @ 13:27 NZDT: Report abusive post
to hear your voice,to see you smile to sit and talk to you a while to be together the same old way that would be our greatest wish wish today.....to hear you laugh,to hear you cry on just a chance,to say goodbye to say the things we didn't say that would be our greatest wish today But all we can dois throw flowers on the water look fo the sun through the rain Lay a little flower gentle on the water Remember how we loved you to comb you hair,to lace your boots buy some beer ,let you choose .