‘A great man from a wonderful family who has been an invaluable service to our club’

Learmonth footy club has called on the Ballarat community to do everything it can to support talented player Connor Smith, who was left fighting for life when the town’s gold mine collapsed.

The Ballarat football community is rallying behind the young miner who was left fighting for life after last week’s deadly gold mine collapse.

Connor Smith, 21, was one of two miners pinned under a rock during last Wednesday’s tragedy that claimed the life of 37-year-old father Kurt Hourigan.

The gun footballer, who cemented himself in Learmonth’s senior team in the back half of the 2022 season, remains in a serious but stable condition in Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital.

He had been fighting for life until the hospital confirmed his condition had improved slightly last weekend.

In a statement released on Friday night, the Learmonth Football Netball Club said it was offering its full support to Connor and his family, who have been well connected to the “Lakies” for years.

Connor Smith received the award for the most determined player in the Learmonth seniors in 2022. Picture: Learmonth FNC

“The Learmonth Football Netball club would like to express their utmost support for Connor Smith and his family,” the statement read.

“As most are aware Connor has been injured in a mining accident recently and has a tough battle ahead.

“A great man from a wonderful family who has been an invaluable service to our club for many years.

“A GoFundMe has been created to help Connor, we encourage the Learmonth community to rally behind him by keeping Connor and his family in your thoughts and prayers.”

The 21-year-old strung 13 senior games together in 2023 and was named among the best on ground on several occasions.

He was deemed the ‘most determined’ footballer in the senior side in 2022.

His football teammates continue to rally around him as they try to focus on their upcoming season which kicks off on April 13.

The 21-year-old, who graduated from St Patrick’s College in Ballarat in 2020, also featured prominently in his school’s illustrious rowing team.

He also featured heavily in the St Patrick's College rowing team. Picture: St Patrick's College

He was named as one of the team’s vice captains in year 11 and 12 and finished third in the 2020 division one Head of the Lake final.

The fallout of the collapse continues to expose several major safety concerns raised by both union representatives and former workers.

Australian Workers Union had earlier begged the owners of the site to stop allowing miners to work on “unsupported” ground.

Union chief Ronnie Hayden demanded the air-legging mining technique be stopped, as revealed by the Herald Sun on Wednesday.

Learmonth FNC is rallying around its number 10. Picture: Learmonth FNC Facebook

Mr Hayden also called for the site’s manager to be “immediately stood down” in the wake of the deadly collapse.

Last week’s tragedy led Beaconsfield mine survivor Brant Webb to feel “history was repeating itself” as he heard the news that rocked the regional city.

But Mr Webb, who was trapped underground for two weeks in northern Tasmania in 2006, said the safety of today’s mines was far better than those in his working days.

Mr Webb said the tight-knit mining community would need to support each other in the wake of Mr Hourigan’s death, recalling how his colleagues came together after the death of his mining mate Larry Knight.

WorkSafe Victoria continues to investigate last week’s tragedy.