The world might be turning its back on coal, but for this Queensland town, it is still the lifeblood of the community and residents are determined to celebrate it.
abc.net.au/news/coal-shovelling-competition-moura-country-festival-queensland/102754138For Matt Drysdale, shovelling half a tonne of coal in just 38 seconds takes a combination of "speed, strength and muscle memory".
Festival organiser Kendall Townsend said the event harked back to an era of mining before mechanisation, where workers faced back-breaking work to physically load the coal.Matt Drysdale is Queensland's 2023 coal shovelling champion.Mr Townsend said the fossil fuel had a rich history in the town, as it was home to one of the first coal mines in the state to export in the 1950s.Entrants face the task of loading 500 kilograms of coal into a cart in the fastest time possible.
"Generally, the top winners are around that mid-30 seconds, so if you shovel under 40 seconds, you're very competitive.""A lot of people even that work in the mine don't see much of the coal. They're driving trucks and fixing trucks," Mr Townsend said.In terms of preparation, Mr Drysdale said he was a "rock up and wing it" type of contestant.
"We're cotton farmers and coal shovelling's a little bit of a different game, but we like to get involved," he said.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Midwives rally over ‘unsafe’ conditions and workloads in Queensland’s maternity wardsUnion calls for increased funding, warning that lack of staff is jeopardising wellbeing of mothers and babies
Read more »
Queensland construction insiders dispute costsState-funded construction wages in Queensland have gone up and productivity has gone down, according to industry insiders. They are blaming state government policy and say the government’s ‘Best Practice Industry Conditions’ policy is wasting taxpayer money as state-funded projects increase by 30 per cent.
Read more »
'Inspiration into participation': How the Tillies are changing women's sport in QueenslandThe Tillies have certainly won Australia over, with one capital city gifting the record-breaking team its keys to the city.
Read more »
Missing man called his son, took a selfie, then vanished, as Queensland police launch investigationA police investigation is underway after the vehicle of a missing man was found abandoned at a wetlands reserve north of Brisbane.
Read more »
'We're an afterthought': Traditional owners fear repeat of Juukan Gorge disaster in outback QueenslandIn remote far-western Queensland lies an ancient gorge, scattered with rock carvings, that's rarely visited. Traditional owners fear it could fall victim to the world's insatiable appetite for critical minerals.
Read more »