Hunter Region Branch: August 2025 Chair Update

Dear Hunter Branch members,

Our Committee owes a great deal of thanks to outgoing Chair Hennie du Plooy who for many years has guided our committee with purpose and excellence. Hennie has committed many hours to our Branch and we will miss his insight and wisdom a great deal.

We have an exciting and packed programme for the remainder of the year.

On 27 August, the Hunter Region Branch is delighted to be hosting AusIMM President Chris Carr at the Newcastle Club for an evening of celebration of our new President. We will also be handing out awards for long standing members who have been with the Institute for many decades. Please join us for canapés, gourmet food and drinks from 6:30pm.

We are delighted to be hosting the Jameson Lecture at the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club on 30 October. To give the lecture this year we are excited that Professor Seher Ata from UNSW will be with us. This is a free event for members so please register and get involved.

Our Student Committee are as busy as ever with local and interstate events including the New Leaders Summit and Mining Games in Perth. Please get out to support our student events if you can.

Welcome to our new committee members for 2025, Shane Holmes, Colette Blake, Shikara Dragut and Paul Ahern.

We hope to see all members at an AusIMM event sometime soon.

Hunter Region Branch Longstanding Members 2025

Each year The AusIMM issues certificates to recognise longstanding membership for those members who have belonged for multiples of ten years. We intend to have the AusIMM President present these certificates to those members with the highest years who are able to attend the President’s Dinner. This year, AusIMM Hunter Region Branch congratulates the following of our members as at 2024.

60 years

John Dwyer FAusIMM

50 years

Gordon Atkinson MAusIMM(CP)
Paul Hensley MAusIMM
Geoffrey Pitkin MAusIMM CP(Ret)
Ian Reid MAusIMM

40 years

Peter Bellairs MAusIMM
Barry Wright MAusIMM

30 years

Gregory Bernasconi MAusIMM
Nat Burgio FAusIMM(CP)
Philip Shields MAusIMM
Gregory Thomson MAusIMM

20 years

Aaron Baensch FAusIMM
Peter Graham MAusIMM
Jacqueline James MAusIMM
Paul O'Loughlin MAusIMM(CP)

10 years

Chris Bayliff MAusIMM
Beth Bent MAusIMM
Phillip Breese MAusIMM
Nicholas Cox MAusIMM
Steven Ditton MAusIMM
Alison Freeman MAusIMM
Scott Graham MAusIMM
Stuart Hawke MAusIMM
Noel Lambert MAusIMM
David McCormack MAusIMM(CP)
Kent Mctyer MAusIMM
BJ Milsom MAusIMM(CP)
Andrew Raal MAusIMM
Brian Roach MAusIMM
Andrew Roxburgh FAusIMM
Tracey Snedden AAusIMM
Michael Stadler MAusIMM
Dan Taylor MAusIMM

Best Regards,
Tim Baitch
Chair, AusIMM Hunter Region Branch