October 24, 2013
by Keith Kratzmann
Two former Wondai school students – who also attended Kingaroy High – now work side by side with two mining giants in Western Australia.
Brothers Daniel and Jesse Kratzmann would have had no idea as recently as four years ago that they would qualify as plant operators in the booming mining sites of WA.
The lure of the mining industry took Daniel to employment at the Kimberley Metal Group some two years ago on a site south-west of Kununurra.
The mine, which is owned by Chinese interests, produces iron ore which is channelled by four-trailer road trains to waiting ships at Wyndham Harbour.
The employment hours at Kimberley are from 5:00am to 5:00pm, giving operators the chance to see brilliant sunrises where the rays against the coloured rocks produce masses of purple and orange. The work arrangements are two weeks on and two weeks off.
Jesse is an employee of the historic Argyle diamond mine which is quite a different operation to Daniel’s open cut Kununurra mine.
He is part of an operation that examines the extracted raw material which ultimately leads to the precious diamonds.
Jesse can be remembered as an outstanding junior sportsman, particularly as a cricketer in Wide Bay circles before being employed by Queensland Cricket as a coach.
Also at Kununurra is a compatriot from the South Burnett, Wooroolin identity Brad (Noodles) Weller.
Both Daniel and Brad are back in Kingaroy at the moment for Brad’s marriage to Hannah Francis on Saturday. Daniel will be the best man.
