Dedicated to Larry Knight   

Dedicated to Larry Knight (Deceased) Todd Russell & Brant Webb

Poems From The Lyons Den
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Bravery At Beaconsfield
 
I have felt the scars of battle,from the war in Vietnam.
I have seen brave acts of courage in Australias' fighting man.
I have lived through real disasters both natural and man made,
I have felt the fear of dying,and yes, I've been afraid.

Of all the acts of courage,that disasters have revealed,
courage was abundant, in the mine at Beaconsfield.
Anzac day two thousand and six, the word got passed around
an earthquake caused a cave in, three men trapped underground.

A miracle was needed to save them, from under the rubble down there,
and people all over our nation, gathered in deep solemn prayer.
Hopes were slowly fading, the townsfolk anxiously waits.
Miners moved in for the rescue, they wern't giving up on their mates.

Night hung over the goldmine and lights shone out in the dark.
The media took up positions from the gates across to the park.
Everyone watchfully waiting for news coming over the line,
on the rescue of Todd, Brant and Larry from the rubble, deep down in the mine.

Hours were long, hard and many for rescuers paving the way,
finding a path through the rubble and hours soon turned into days.
Day three, and sadness was realized a silence fell over the ground.
Hope started slowly declining when the body of Larry was found.

Fear now for Todd and for Brant, that they to, had met the same fate.
Was there a chance of survival? or the rescue a little too late.
In traditional true Aussie spirit, the rescuers never showed doubt.
They worked against time, odds and hardship, determined to get their mates out.

Into day six of the rescue, at this rate they'll never survive.
That doubt became jubilation when word came back... they're alive!!
Trapped in a cage under rubble, and pinned by boulders of rock,
safety and time were important so the rescuers worked 'round the clock

Twelve metres of hard rock and boulders now faced by the rescue crew,
they pushed a small tube through the rubble, and food was finally passed through.
Phase one was clearly then over, the next phase had only begun.
More danger for crew and survivors before they declare they have won.

A rescue tunnel was needed, so a raise borer had to come in,
and drilling commenced on that tunnel some metres below the two men.
Progress was hard, slow and tiring, the rock was terribly dense.
but the rescuers kept up the drilling to give Brant and Todd a good chance.

When the raise borer task was completed the rescue was in its twelth day.
Diamond blade chainsaws were needed and hand tools would now blaze the way.
The rock, much harder than concrete the operation extremely so slow
with the use of low grade explosives, progress soon started to show

with only a metre remaining from the men and rescue crew,
a test probe was pushed that last metre, and they saw the probe coming through.
With the use of a hydraulic splitter, came the break through that ended the task,
rescuers, Todd and Brant were finally together at last.

On the ninth of May, at six AM while sirens wailed out loud,
Todd and Brant punched the air when they faced the waiting crowd
A nations prayers were answered, at last the Church bell pealed
For Brant and Todd and Larry and the town of Beaconsfield


Copyright © M C Lyons
2 Sep, 2006






 

    

 

 

 

 

 

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