THE LIVES of the 26 Collinsville miners who have died since mining began in the area in 1919 were commemorated on 13 October 2009.
Minister for Natural Resources Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson attended the annual Collinsville Miners Memorial Day ceremony.
Robertson says Collinsville has much to be proud of in the history of Queensland's coal industry and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the development of the industry should be remembered.
The Minister claims Black Wednesday - 13 October 1954 — is particularly a day of great significance for the people of Collinsville. He says the disaster was the worst in Queensland since the 1921 Mount Mulligan disaster some 33 years earlier and was to remain so for 18 years till the underground explosion at Box Flat near Ipswich on 31 July 1972.
Robertson claims all mining deaths, no matter how long ago, have a lasting impact on the community.
The Minister says the industry, unions and government will always remain vigilant about protecting the safety and health of Australia’s coal mine workers.
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