Mitchell’s Macmahon journey began in 2021 as a Cablebolt Operator at Gwalia. That early grounding gave him a solid understanding of the company and how it operates, and exposure across different teams and different sites since then has added the breadth that defines his work today. The progression from cablebolting into long hole drilling is the one Mitchell rates highest – a step up in complexity and responsibility, and one Macmahon backed him to make.
“Macmahon has given me the opportunity to learn new roles and develop my skills. Moving from cablebolting into long hole drilling has been a really good progression for me.”
Every shift starts the same way – a pre-start meeting where the crew goes through the plan for the day or night ahead, getting everyone in line before they head underground. From there, it’s about accuracy: drilling holes that line up so the blast works properly and the rest of the mining cycle runs smoothly.
What Mitchell takes pride in is his place in the cycle. Drilling is where the ore starts its journey, and being part of the production side of the mine means his work has a direct line to what the operation delivers.
“Finishing the shift safely and knowing you’ve completed the drilling for the area, ready for the next stage, is really satisfying at the end of my shift.”
Mitchell’s story is the character Macmahon’s underground crews are built on – grit earned over years, accuracy under pressure, and the quiet satisfaction of doing the work that moves the mine forward.
