21 May 1942 – 26 September 2022
Mike Cameron was born in England on 21 May 1942. He migrated to Australia in the early 1970s after working for several years with Val De Travers Asphalte in the UK on various projects within the highlands and islands of Scotland and gaining experience with the asphalt and quarrying industry.
Upon arriving in Australia, Mike continued working with Pioneer and later, with Farley & Lewis which was acquired by the Ready-mix Group.
He then moved from working directly in the quarry and asphalt industry to become an ICI Explosives technical services representative, servicing the Hunter Valley coal mines.
ICI became Orica in the late 1980s and Mike was instrumental in introducing the coal mining industry to new blasting explosives, which made a positive change for the industry.
Mike was involved in establishing ICI’s ‘Rock on Ground’ services in Australia.
To demonstrate his versatility, he started his own executive recruitment business, acquiring clients such as the Quest Apartment Group, as a consultant.
He was directly responsible for recruiting 60 staff for that company along with many successful appointments for other organisations.
Mike made quite the impression at IQA conferences, which in those years, were held annually. He would put so much energy and passion into making sure the partner’s day was a memorable experience for everyone.
Not many know that Mike helped progress what was a relatively brief IQA Victorian Branch newsletter into a substantial monthly newsletter, which later developed into what we all know today as the Quarry magazine.
Mike’s vision in the early 1980s was to expand the newsletter to contain much more informative and educational information, including articles advocating for the industry.
The Victorian Branch newsletter went from a single page to a much larger newsletter that initially was printed at Yooralla Society of Victoria. This required Mike to spend long hours writing articles, editing, and critiquing the newsletter to ensure its accuracy and value to members.
Mike was determined to keep improving the standard of the newsletter and needed funds to have it professionally printed. Therefore, he sought support from the quarry industry suppliers in the way of advertising.
These much-needed funds helped transition the newsletter from being printed by the Yooralla Society of Victoria, to a magazine published by Morgan & Lane. It was eventually sold out to Gunnamatta Media and it was acquired by Prime Creative Media four years ago.
The funds started to accumulate and later were transferred from the Victorian Branch to help establish the Australian Institute of Quarrying Education Foundation (AIQEF). Today, the AIQEF is a committee of the IQA and oversees the management of the fund to invest in education for the industry.
Mike edited and managed the newsletter until the late 1980s. At this time, the national body of the Institute took over the management of the newsletter, which became ‘The Magazine for the Institute of Quarrying – QUARRY.’
Mike’s professional involvement with the Institute started when he joined the Institute of Quarrying (UK) as a member in December 1975, which was extended to the Institute of Quarrying Australia after arriving. As such, Mike was a member of the Institute for approximately 47 years, leading and contributing at the branch and national levels. He was awarded the highest membership grade as Fellow.
Box Hill TAFE engaged Mike to deliver quarry management training and various aspects of his technical knowledge and experience from 2010 onwards. Here too, he found a way to make a difference, mentoring and helping people in the industry.
Mike gained his management training qualifications with a focus on training industry people to manage in a workplace. Mike also set up his own company and website called “Strategically Yours.”
As a business coach and coming out of his management training, Mike published two management books: Effective Leaders and The Emerging Leader.
Mike had a passion for promoting and developing student training and in so doing, passing on his knowledge and experiences. His books reflect this passion.
Besides all that Mike did for the industry, he still found a way to connect with people outside in his leisure time, riding motorbikes with various quarry related people. His passion for large motor bikes, such as his 1200cc Triumph Tiger created many stories that his motorbike mates will testify to.
There are few people in the industry who can claim to have contributed to our great industry as much as what Mike has done. His legacy lives on with the educational material on his website – which will be maintained in perpetuity, through his leadership books and his mentoring of so many people.
May he rest in peace.
This article was contributed to by Chris Terry, Shane Braddy and Shane Turnley.
The post Paying tribute to a passionate industry leader: Mike Cameron appeared first on Quarry.