Whether you're on a mine site in the workshop, in the office, in the corporate office, at a hospital, on a construction site, whether you are just about anywhere you've seen the TradeMutt shirts.

They're bright and colourful and they have a very simple message emblazoned on the back: This Is A Conversation Starter.

Dan and his mate Ed started TradeMutt after one of Dan's good mate's took his own life.

TradeMutt is a social enterprise so the duo also started TIACS, a professional mental health counselling service for tradies, truckies, farmers, and blue collar workers that's completely free. 50 per cent of the profit from TradeMutt goes directly to TIACS making it free for anyone who needs it.

On this episode Jess catches up with Dan Allen to talk about where TradeMutt started, how it's going and some of the incredible stories Dan has heard along the way.

For more information on TradeMutt: https://trademutt.com/

To reach out to TIACS: https://www.tiacs.org/ or call or text: 0488 846 988

@ The Coalface story on TradeMutt and TIACS: https://thecoalface.net.au/this-is-a-conversation-starter/

This could be the best episode Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface yet, so make sure you let us know what you think.

If you're a true Newcastle Knights fan, or even just an NRL junkie you'll know this guest. Newcastle Knights old boy Kurt Gidley made his debut with the NRL club in 2001, captained the side between 2007 and 2015, was the captain of the NSW Blues in 2009 and 2010 and was inducted into the Newcastle Knights Hall of Fame in 2022.

There are plenty of other stories in between, from playing for Australia to some pretty memorable tries.

Kurt retired from professional NRL at the end of 2015 having made the second-most appearance for the Knights in the Club's history. He finished his professional career with the Warrington Wolves in the Super League.

These days you'll find Kurt kicking goals in the mining industry as the National Manager - Partnerships and Growth at the Protech Group.

Jess sat down with Kurt to talk all things footy and his time in one of the country's other big exporters... mining.

Previous stories on the Protech Group and Dreampath Recruitment:

https://thecoalface.net.au/proof-is-in-the-pudding/

https://thecoalface.net.au/industry-superstars/

Vicky Pellowe started the FIFO Family Project after moving to Perth, becoming a mum and discovering there was next to no support available for FIFO parents staying at home with the children while their other half went away to work for days at a time.

The FIFO Family Project is a community and a support network for families who are trying to navigate that lifestyle. While there are meet ups in person in Vicky's home state in WA, there is now a FIFO New Parents Guide, online webinars and lots of other support that can be accessed by anyone, anywhere in Australia.

Jess caught up with Vicky for this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface!

Info on the FIFO New Parents Guide: https://www.thefifofamilyproject.com.au/the-fifo-new-parents-guide/

Follow Vicky on Instagram @thefifofamilyproject

Dave Foster's career in mining has come full circle.

He started in 2005 as the Operations Engineer at Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) when the site was owned by Rio Tinto, stayed for five years before leaving to work at some other mine operations. Dave made his way back to Singleton's HVO 20 years later as the General Manager.

It was always a goal of Dave's to make his way back to HVO, and he did. In this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface Jess sits down with Dave to talk about his career and the expansion plans that have been underway at HVO since 2019.

Enjoy this episode, and don't forget to rate the podcast and leave a review wherever you're listening!

Danny McCarthy credits his success in the mining industry to his late father who always instilled in him to "do what's right".

Danny is the Managing Director of TerraCom who run the Blair Athol mine in Queensland. He's been with the company for a few years now which has included some unforgettable travel overseas to their other assets, but now he's fully focussed on running the Blair Athol mine to the best of his ability.

Danny never thought he'd end up in mining, but you just never know what's around the corner.

Enjoy this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface! Don't forget to leave us a rating and a review!

If it wasn't for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (WRHS), Noel Kelly wouldn't be here today. He was working 700 metres underground at Cumnock No.1 Colliery near Singleton on March 26, 1992 when his life changed forever.

Dublin-born Noel was crushed by two 15-tonne trucks, his leg torn off in an instant. The call went from underground to above ground calling for reinforcements including the WRHS that flew Noel to the John Hunter Hospital for treatment.

The WRHS is celebrating 50 years of service to Northern NSW this year and in this episode Jess catches up with Noel to hear his story and one of the most well known faces of the service Richard Jones.

Matt Clarke was behind the wheel of "Debbie" the Bushmaster in 2012 in Afghanistan when he and his crew went over an IED.

Everyone survived, but Matt suffered some gnarly injuries to both of his feet and ankles. The accident marked the end of his time in the Australian Defence Force, and the start of his time in the mining industry.

The Bushmaster he was driving will be in the Anzac Hall currently being constructed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

Jess sat down with Matt to talk about his time in Afghanistan, how he came across the Bushmaster again on home soil and his work in the mining industry.

Don't forget to rate and review Episode 5 of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface!

This episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface is coming to you from Black Rock Motor Resort Park at Lake Macquarie!

Why? This site was once Rhondda Colliery, with an output of 1500 tonnes of coal per day, the mine opened in 1900 and mining ceased in 1971. Rehabilitation was finished in 2008, which included site remediation and revegetation.

Yancoal had control of the former colliery site until it relinquished its mining lease, and a man by the name of Tony Palmer took control renaming it Black Rock Motor Resort. It will soon become Australia's first dedicated recreation resort park for motoring enthusiasts.

The track has already attracted some big names in motorsport including Dakar and Finke Champion Toby Price.

Jess caught up with Toby and Tony for this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface brought to you by NSW Mining, responsibly mining coal for today and tomorrow with experts restoring land after mining at every single mine.