Halfway through and a vacation employment opportunity of a lifetime!

Hey everyone,

A while since my last post, but here I am to give you the run down of the (sometimes crazy) events that have occured since I last wrote.

Well, I'm halfway through my degree! From the start of year I've always pictured breaking through the half way barrier and it feels awesome. Although saying goodbye to the guys I've spent this rollercoaster of a year living with in college, forming bonds that will last a life time, was one of the sadder moments of 2010. However, three months break from the hectic schedule of college and uni won't go too underappreciated!

Speaking of the holidays, I managed to get Vacation Employment with coal mining giants BMA (BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance) and am currently working in the Goonyella-Riverside mine near Moranbah in Central Queensland. The experience has been amazing, it's been impossible NOT to learn, and getting this hands on practical view of my degree has been invaluable.

The first couple of weeks were full with... less than stimulating inductions and fimiliarisations but since then I've got up close and personal with everything electrical in the minesite. It's great because a mine has everything that's relevant to electrical engineering - from 11 kV distance transmission to the smallest 4-20mA loop powered circuits as well as the programming that is involved with the PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) that keeps the mine running electromechanically.

I've had quite a few projects while out here, however my main one would be the restoration/replacement project of all the UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supplies, basically backup generators) that have been malfunctioning for quite a while and working on a new maintainence plan for them. I've had to talk to, and work things out with consultancy engineering companies, the senior electrical engineer at the Goonyella site and the Electricians that will be installing the backup power supplies to my designs that I have given them. It's been crazy fun and the knowledge that I have done something really useful for this huge company and that the standards that I employ will last long after I leave, is priceless.

Only another 4 weeks here before my work with BMA ends and I go back to being a normal teenager enjoying some (much desevered :P) holidays before starting my third year back at uni. It's also my third year back at Emmanuel College in which I am, for the second time, going to be a student leader. That all starts on the 14th of February, I will be sure to keep you posted.

Well, I best be getting back to my projects, I'll be sure to write again soon, until then this is goodbye from me, wishing you a happy new year.

Cheers!

Adam.