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Bruce McKensey (1917-1986) - Chief General Superintendent, Coal & Allied. Recorded 5 April 1982. Part 1/2.

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Summary173A Bruce McKensey
Recorded 05 April 1982.
Part 1 of 2.

Bruce is the son of the late Mr. Stan McKensey, Manager of the Hebburn Group

1:25
Jack explains his research. He interviewed Cleve Bridge (sinking of Kalingo shaft) and Dai Price (beginning of Aberdare extended)
Mathieson family - granddaughter married Gilbert Spence (now at Toronto) - Hilda Spence nee' Mathieson

2:47
Born in Hamilton in 1917. His father was manager, Hebburn No. 1, Came to Weston at the age of two or three

3:26
His father served an engineering apprenticeship under Robert Alfred Harle, Mr Hindley, Hebburn No. 2, 1918, Stan McKensey first worked in Hebburn No. 1 having gained his mining engineers degree in England

4:46
Bruce completed a mining engineers degree and did 12 months as a soldier, then after the war he joined Hebburn group

5:39
Started as a cadet. Powerhouse at Hebburn No. 1, D.C. Powerhouse built at Hebburn No.2, A.C.

7:31
Others of that era: Tom Mather, Bert Brown

8:57
The A.A. (Australian Agricultural) Company books with history of the coalfields. How and where to find the company records.

12:15
Weston-Elrington miners train - Bruce doesn't know much about it

13:23
Amalgamation of Hebburn/East Great collieries into Coal & Allied. Boral owns Hebburn collieries, changes in industry

15:58
John Brown and the Unions, cost of coal, demand for coal, recession in the industry

19:20
Peak production years at Hebburn, profit and production, 'black diamonds', records of tonnages 'always up and down', Hebburn No. 2 employee numbers

22:10
Coal cleaning plant at Hebburn around 1932, the cost of it and they don't get any more for clean coal. The coal washery plant at Abermain was near three shaft. Hebburn powerhouse used to burn 2nd grade coal. Caledonian Coal supplied Cockle Creek power station.

25:42
Recollection of Weston street lights going out on moonlit lights. Problems and "breakdown" of machinery. Capacity of generators at Hebburn (1500 kw) and Richmond Main.

27:51
Exchange of power supply on grid - Cockle Creek and Richmond Main. Hebburn stayed isolated. Supply of electricity to Weston. Hebburn ceased to supply power

29:38
Hebburn pit cottages "shacks". Hebburn School. Free access to the land but had trouble accessing water, etc. Restoration of open-cut areas by Coal & Allied, costly but 'a real good thing'. Slag heaps unsightly. Difference between coal resource/reserve. Definition of coal "reserve"

36:48
End (Tape 173/Side A) Part 1 of 2 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

SubjectMcKensey, Stanley Bruce, 1917-1986 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Coal mines and mining Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Hebburn No. 2 Colliery (N.S.W.) Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Caledonian Coal Mining Company Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Australian Agricultural Company Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Hebburn No. 1 Colliery (N.S.W.) Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Weston (N.S.W.) Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

PersonJack Delaney Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Depicts or Relates ToDavid "Dai" Price Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Tom Mather Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

CreatorMcKensey, Stanley Bruce, 1917-1986 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

CollectionVoices of the HunterDate Created5th April 1982 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Location^[1]England Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

^[2]Hebburn No. 1 Colliery, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

^[3]Hebburn No. 2 Colliery, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Identifier173A Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

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