Hectic uni, Vac work and exams

Hi all,

Well last semester was a hectic one to say the least. It seems that they really pile on the workload in second year. I had a massive group project and a new computer systems subject that really put the pressure on.

This semester is a little lighter, but supprisingly it's the first year physics cource that it is giving me the most grief. I supose thats a word of warning - dont underestimate first year courses cause they might come back to bite you.

This time of the year everyone should be applying for vacation work and I was the same. I was lucky enough to get some with BMA at Hay Point Coal terminal last year so this year I've decided to take a bit of a different tactic and try something more in the research and design field.

My take on vacation work is that you should try and get as much exposure to as many different industries and workplaces as you possibly can. There arent many jobs that you can get where they let you in for a couple of months and then let you go. It's engough time to get a good taste of the business, and if you dont like it you're not stuck there for a couple of years.

Another word of advice on vacation work is to apply everywhere and anywhere. Try the big companies, but if there's a sparky down the road or a small civil contractor in town it cant hurt to go have a chat and send them a resume and a cover letter. It show's your keen and you're more likely in the small places to get a real hands on experience and see how things are done on the small scale. Plus it never hurts to practice writing cover letters.

Exams are just round the corner so it looks like I'll be living my SWOTVAC life of hermitude until then. Until next time,

Jack.

AusIMM New Leaders Conference

Hi all,

Over the mid semester break I was fortunate enough to be sent to Kalgoorlie in WA for the AusIMM New Leaders Conference (thanks QRC).

Had to travel there on the monday, attend the conference on the tuesday and wednesday and return on the thursday night. I went with a couple of other QRC students, Justin and Andrea.

The travel over there seemed to fly by and before I knew it i was in Kal. We stayed at the Best Western, which wasn't a bad place at all. I called shotty in the double bed and so ended the monday.

On the Tuesday we started the confernce. We got there a little late only to find that our registrations had not been processed. Thankfully everthing was sorted and in we went.

The confernce itself consisted of a whole bunch of speakers on a whole bunch of different topics, all related to the mining industry. The Presentations were pretty interesting, with lots of insight.

While we were there, we met Rhett Gover from Schnieder Electric who happened to be staying at the Best Western asa well (Kal is a pretty small town). We managed to get a ride back to the hotel so that we could prepare for the welcome function at one of the pubs in town.

The welcome function was a good night, with an open bar and everyone socialising. I called it an early night but the party continued well into the wee hours of the morning.

The wednesday saw us back at the seminar, with a few of the other atendees still recovering from the welcome function. Wednesday saw similar topics covered in the presentations, and by 3 it was all over.

After the seminar we went for a look at the Super Pit, a large open cut gold mine. Supprisingly a big hole in the ground is quite a sight.

After the pit, we went to the airport and 17 hours later I was back in Mackay.

The trip was a good experience, and thanks again to QRC for sending me there!