Miners Free!

[iceman (Mike)]

They're out!

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/...940478162.html

Well done to the rescue teams, an incredible effort in very trying conditions.

Commiserations still to the family of the man who died, his funeral is today.

[h0ughy (David)]

excellent result, reality will hit them soon, especially at the funeral of thier mate

[shelly]

This is the best news. Well done to everyone working so hard to get them out.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Larry Knight.

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Well done to the rescue teams for bringing them out safely

What a bittersweet day for the town, with the funeral of the fellow who didnt make it being on the same day

[acropolite (Phil)]

Great news, it's fitting that they're out on the day of their mate's funeral and are able to attend.

[davidpretorius]

it was great to watch live at 6am, i had an early morning meeting in town and even then people were starting to line up around the hospital and en route.

i have a feeling the funeral will be more good than bad, there is a great team spirit / mateship around at the moment. A respect for fellow man.

I hope i am not being cynical in all the crap that will follow with the television stations. Up until now, it has been dealt with a sense of respect, and I hope it stays that way

[iceman (Mike)]

I can't wait for the tele-movie. Like the Stuart Diver TV show, it will be a great show.

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

As expressed by others, I'm glad they are out and safe...and I feel for the family of the miner who did not make it.

I was wondering how long it would take comedians to begin to make jokes about this terrible/joyful event...I heard the first jokes about it this morning around 9:30 AM...as DP mentioned, I hope the media don't get carried away now...

[Photon]

It's certainly been a rocky road all round (pardon the pun) for everyone. Our thoughts go out to everyone and we hope that Todd and Brant fly through their medicals with no hiccups this morning.
I've never seen such media coverage in Tas before which has led to emails and calls from friends and relatives in other states. It's great to see such support from the nation. Beaconsfield is only 15 minutes from where myself and Acropolite reside, about 40 mins from Launceston where davidpretorius resides so our emotions were pretty high when we heard the good news this morning, the culmination of such an extraordinary effort. I saw an interview with the chief powder monkey and he had been working a 29 hr shift!! Thats dedication at its best. The really sad part is yet to come, the funerals for Larry and of course Richard Carlton.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I read that the local Church rang it's bells for the first time in 61 years to celebrate their return to the surface.
The dedication of the rescuers cannot be commended high enough.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

For most of the town it's just a great excuse to get wasted! The whole town must be completely off their faces by now. Acc to reports on the ABC they've been at the pub drinking since 5am!

[xstream (John)]

Congratulations to the rescue teams and medical personal that have bought them out safe and well.
It's certainly been a monumental effort of human courage and skill.
But let us stop and have a thought for Larry Knight and his family at 1:00PM

[matt]

Was a very heartening morning to be working as a radio newsreader

Not sure how the media can "...get carried away now"?

These sorts of yarns tend to have a life of their own and the market (the general population) pretty much dictates when its shelf-life has expired.

It will run for a while yet, though. There'll be plenty of fresh angles to explore as more details come to light. Different networks (commercial, ABC etc) will handle the material in their own style so you have a choice of what to "consume".

Mike will no doubt get his wish of a tele movie. The guys will be paid a hefty sum for their story in some TV network/magazine deal, and then we'll all move on to the next Big Story. We all have to pay the rent.

Such is life.

[ving (David)]

so glad they are out and well. feel sorry for the family and freinds of the guy who didnt make it tho


but maybe now the media circus can bugger off and leave the ppl of the town to greive the loss of one of thiers in peice!

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Originally Posted by ving

but maybe now the media circus can bugger off and leave the ppl of the town to greive the loss of one of thiers in peice!

But that would be just plain Unaustralian!

[matt]

Nah. Lot more good ol' fashion dinki di heart-warming good news yarns out of Beaconsfield yet, boys

You'll be watching, reading, listening.

And then you can come back here all pious and indignant and bag the media for serving it up to ya

Doesn't get any more Australian than that!!!!!!!!!! Onya mate

[mickoking]

I rejoyce at the news of the 2 freed miners (As we all did at work today). My heartfelt commiserations to Larry Knights family and friends.


The media are now going into meltdown so I am respectfully avoiding the Idiot Box for a few days.

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

Having worked in the mining industry for the past 20 yrs & having seen my share of tragedys & triumphs, I feel a sense of comradare with the people of Beaconsfield.
I take my hat off to the people who work "down the hole" every day of their working lives, I have been there breifly on various sites & made a decision to stay "out in the light".
A bittersweet triumph for the people of the obviously closeknit community.

[ving (David)]

you know, every time the news comes on with info about the mine we (the household collectively) say, give the poor town a rest already!
the media have started a bidding war on an exclusive interview with the ex-trapped miners.... is there no limit to what they will do for a story? invade ppls lives, fork out huge sums of cash... gah!

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

In the words of Lionel Hutz: "It's time to ching ching, cash in on this tragedy!"