PROFILE - AS AT SEPTEMBER 2013
Name/ Nickname: Alan Mellor
Age: 50
Family? (Marital status?)
Married with 1 son
Current job/Role?
Mine Surveyor
Angus Place Colliery
What's the best advice your parents gave to you?
If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well
What's your claim to fame?
Correctly guessing the volume of the coal stockpile at AIMS Annual Conference one year - been trying ever since to repeat this, close but never quite close enough
What's your personal motto?
It's nearly the weekend
What makes you happy?
When the plan comes together
What makes you angry?
People who don't understand the importance of surveying in a project until it's too late
CAREER HISTORY
Career to date?
1986-1991
Graduate Surveyor, Craven, Elliston & Hayes Pty Ltd
1991-1992
Construction Surveyor, Clarke Surveys Pty Ltd
1992-1996
Graduate Surveyor - Mining, Craven, Elliston & Hayes Pty Ltd
1996-2004
Assistant Surveyor, Springvale Colliery
2004-Present
Mine Surveyor, Angus Place Colliery
Career influences?
All the surveyors I have worked with who have been my mentors
Career highlights (biggest achievement)?
Gaining my Certificate of Competency, surveys associated with Springvale Colliery air-shaft connection
Career shocker?
So far so good
Career goals?
Retire happy and healthy
Survey Work / People
What is the best piece of survey equipment/technology/software that you have used & why?
Geodimeter 610 (EDM measures distances underground for miles) then Leica 1102 Plus (Automatic Target Recognition makes traversing so much easier)
What is the oldest piece of survey equipment that you have used?
Wild RDS for measuring coal stockpiles - things have changed a bit since the 1980's
Who is the strangest/funniest/unorthodox survey character that you've met so far (and why?)
Too numerous to mention
What's the most contentious survey issue in your workplace at the moment?
(eg Hours of work, $$, career path, poor planning/scheduling, technology/equipment improvements,field experience, housing, training ...???)
Together with more time set aside for training a greater appreciation of the role of Mine Surveyors with respect to the overall mining process
If you were the boss for a day - list 3 things you would change?
Own survey vehicle, more time dedicated to training for all surveyors, working less hours
APART from $$, what factor attracts you to work in the mining industry as opposed to other survey disciplines?
I still enjoy the challenges encountered and the people you work with in the industry
Would you recommend a career in surveying to a grade 12 school kid?
If not what career would you recommend?
Yes, mine surveying is a profession that encompasses a wide range of disciplines including new technologies, legislation while working within a team environment.
Sports/Hobbies
How do you relax?
I like to travel and spend time with family and friends
What sports do you play/watch?
Formula one motor racing, have not quite got enough money for my own Ferrari .... yet
What are your other hobbies outside work?
Watching sport
Where would be your ideal retirement location?
North Queensland, somewhere around Cairns or the Whitsunday Islands, anywhere near the beach
Favourite food/drink?
Favourite food is anything Italian, favourite drink is a cold beer ... Peroni Beer to go with the Italian food
Finally, if you were down to your last $10 what would you spend it on?
A lottery ticket
