Asia-Pacific

Rescued Australian miners welcomed at Parliament

(Sydney Morning Herald )
Updated: 2006-05-29 15:35

The two rescued Beaconsfield miners arrived to cheers and applause from a large crowd at a formal reception at Parliament House in Canberra.

Australian miner Todd Russell makes a speech at a reception at the Great Hall in Parliament House in Canberra, for those involved in his rescue May 29, 2006. Russell and fellow miner Brant Webb were entombed for 14 days after a cave-in at a gold mine in the island state of Tasmania. [Reuters]

Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Kim Beazley stood side-by-side with miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb as the national anthem was played.

The men were trapped underground for 14 days after a rock fall at the Beaconsfield gold mine in Tasmania on Anzac Day.

Mining colleague Larry Knight, killed in the rock fall, was remembered at Monday's reception.

Mr Howard described the rescue as a great story of mateship.

"We gather in this Great Hall of the Parliament of Australia as a united nation to pay tribute to people who were involved in a remarkable Australian achievement," Mr Howard told the reception.

"An event which has touched the hearts and brought forth the inspiration of millions of Australians and indeed had an enormous impact around the world."

Mr Howard said the mine rescue was an amazing achievement.

"It was an extraordinary act of bravery and strength and will and determination - the like of which this nation has not often seen and indeed something that deserves the honour that I hope is being transmitted by this gathering here today," he said.

"Everybody was working together, differences of occupation and background, religious and political belief were put aside - a whole community was united in its determination to achieve a result.

"And they did it and did it magnificently."

Mr Howard said the dramatic events in Beaconsfield reminded Australians about the importance of life and faith, and, above all, the importance of family.

"It was a reminder to me as a father that at the end of the day, no matter what else you do in life, having a close bond with your children and caring for them is the most important thing," he said.

"I think those two men resonated with the parents and particularly the fathers of Australia in a way that I don't think two men have ever quite been able to do."

The two miners were not afraid to show their softer, gentler side, Mr Howard said.

"We can be as tough as tungsten and as durable as anybody, and nobody has been tougher and nobody has been more durable than these two men," he said.

Mr Howard also paid tribute to all the miners involved in the rescue process, including members of the Australian Workers' Union and the mine's manager, Matthew Gill.

"Through all of it they displayed a tremendous professional skill but, above all, enormous courage and it was a wonderful demonstration of Australian mateship," he said.

"What we saw on display in that community was everything that was good about the Australia that we love and the Australia we want to preserve and the Australia we want to make better."