Tributes flow for ‘absolute gentleman’ miner killed at Fosterville gold mine near Bendigo
A cable bolter’s death deep in a Bendigo gold mine has devastated colleagues and friends, who remember him as a “genuine top bloke” and loving family man.
A man who tragically died while working deep underground in a gold mine near Bendigo on Friday is being remembered as an “absolute gentleman”.
Hundreds of tributes have been posted to social media for Maldon gold miner Allan ‘Stix’ Ross, many expressing their sadness at the tragic news and paying tribute to a man they knew and loved.
“He was a gentleman and a genuine top bloke, he will be missed by all that knew him, rest in peace, my friend,”one person posted.
A relative wrote: “R.I.P brother-in-law, great man, will be sadly missed but never forgotten.”
“I knew him when he was a fitter at the A1 gold mine near Woods Point from 2009-2012. He was a top bloke who worked hard & it was always a good night whenever he was in the pub with us,” a friend said.
Mr Ross, 53, died after becoming trapped in machinery while working as a cable bolter about 1.6 kilometres underground at Agnico Eagle’s Fosterville mine about 11.30am on Friday.
WorkSafe is investigating the death.
He was the employee of a contractor, with his death leading to the suspension of mining activities over the weekend.
Agnico Eagle said it was working with the contractor to provide support and assistance to the dead man’s family.
“An investigation is being conducted in co-operation with local authorities to determine the cause of the incident,” Agnico Eagle said.
The death is the 53rd confirmed Victorian workplace fatality for 2025, compared to 48 at the same time last year.
In a newsletter to gold prospectors on Tuesday, retailer Lucky Strike Gold described the mining death as “a tragedy”.
“There was sad news out of Central Victoria … it’s a reminder of the risks faced by those working below ground and our thoughts are with the man’s family, friends and colleagues,” it posted.
The Australian minerals industry also expressed its deep sadness at the death.
“The MCA extends its sympathies to family, friends and workmates as well as the broader community,” it said.
“We also thank the emergency services personnel who responded to this incident.”
A Bruthen man was killed after a collapse at the Ballarat Gold Mine last year.
Kurt Hourigan, 37, was pinned underground, with his body not recovered for some hours.
Thirty people were working underground at the Ballarat Gold Mine in Mount Clear when the collapse occurred on March 13, 2024.
While nearly all the workers made it to safety, Mr Hourigan was killed, and 21-year-old Connor Smith was left with life-threatening injuries.
The owner and operator of the gold mine was last month charged by WorkSafe following a 20-month investigation into the fatal rockfall.
Originally published as Tributes flow for ‘absolute gentleman’ miner killed at Fosterville gold mine near Bendigo
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