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COVER

Editorial thoughts: past and present

Ross ond fiddle to GMJ but as non-gold mar- Paul
kets became more important the roles
Louthean reversed and GMJ changed from month- Garvey
ly to quarterly coverage.
The company’s focus on conferences
saw some of these programmes become
peer events, including Africa Down Un-
der, NewGenGold in JV with its founder
aydirt was born in a healthy era for Keith Yates and the Australian Nickel hen I first walked through the doors of
Ptraditional media when printed materi- Conference through all its various price WPaydirt more than 17 years ago, I had
al dominated and there were no iPhones troughs. no idea I was starting a job that would change
for young people to be glued to as they Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest was linked to my life.
crossed the street, sometimes oblivious those early Nickel Conferences through I was 20 years old and straight out of uni-
to the traffic. Murrin Murrin, where he learned lessons versity. I had always wanted to be a journalist
The resources sector ebbed and on financing and junk bonds that led him but had never given the slightest considera-
flowed, and it was a timely period 25 in his next corporate life – the develop- tion to writing about mining or business more
years ago for Gold Mining Journal ment of corporate upstart Fortescue broadly.
(GMJ) and then Paydirt to launch, with Metals Group Ltd. The next few years at Paydirt, working
a new strong phase for gold and evolving The Nickel Conference also charted alongside some brilliant people, opened
phases for copper, uranium, diamonds the creation of Mincor Resources NL, my eyes to a dynamic, exciting industry that
and other minerals. Independence Group NL and Panoramic would captivate me for the next two decades.
GMJ placed its focus on Australian and Resources Ltd which all benefitted from Looking back on those early days, it’s funny
new African gold projects, helped by the the end of WMC’s love affair with Kam- how much some things have changed and
association with Diggers & Dealers Fo- balda. how much some things haven’t.
rum creator in Kalgoorlie, the late Geoff In those days, nickel was all-consumed One of the first stories I recall writing was
Stokes, who was one of its backers. by stainless steel but as with other com- about a new push to unlock the potential of
The first edition was strong on dia- modities it is now greatly affected by the the West Musgraves. Almost 20 years on, the
monds, as it geared up for its first World rise of the EV market. It is interesting to industry is still trying to unlock it.
Diamond Conference, attracting pre- see that the Greenbushes tin-tantalite A host of mothballed West Australian nickel
senters and delegates from around the mine – once a second string for failed mines were being dusted off in anticipation of
world, including De Beers, which was still gold miner Sons of Gwalia – is now a a spike in demand (sound familiar?) but gold
smarting from wearing geological blink- global leader in the supply of lithium for was a vastly different beast. Gold was fetch-
ers when its team walked over Argyle. that same market. ing less than $US300/oz at the time, and the
As a new publisher in what was be- Since Paydirt’s creation many com- idea of a magazine dedicated exclusively to
coming a crowded mining media the then peting mining media groups – both do- the gold industry seemed an extraordinary
Louthean Media (now Paydirt Media) mestic and global – have disappeared extravagance. So too did the first Africa Down
decided to follow the Australian compa- or shrunk. While Paydirt experienced Under conference, where only a few dozen
nies venturing abroad, and the strongest tough times – that also saw many explo- people attended.
path was to Africa. ration and mining companies vanish – it Joining Paydirt forced me to learn on my
The company supported the Africa has proven to be an industry mainstay. feet and exposed me to every facet of the in-
Mining Indaba conference from its sec- It has survived because it persisted dustry, and certainly fast-tracked my develop-
ond forum and saw the event grow dra- with good journalism, not advertorials. ment as a journalist.
matically. It is an example for some existing media But by far the best thing about my time at
The World Diamond Conference con- groups on not going into generating fluff Paydirt, of course, was the people. All of
tinued for many years, helped in the and in penny pinching by not sending its them were wonderful. Some of them were
latter stage by the arrival of Bill Repard journalists around Australia and to far crazy. I was lucky enough to start the same
as Executive Chairman to Paydirt. Bill reaches of the world to show what com- week as Barry Avery, a veteran journalist
lured his friend Gordon Gilchrist to pre- panies are doing. who was fresh off the plane from South
sent on behalf of Argyle. But the quest Also, unlike some of the major me- Africa. He taught me how to be a jour-
for diamonds outside of Argyle and the dia outlets now under stress and suf- nalist, I tried my best to teach him how
shorter-lived Ellendale mine petered as fering from musical chairs, Paydirt has to be an Australian. Barry, I’m eternally sorry
the high-risk side of diamond prospect- had only four editors – this writer, Barry for introducing you to the Fremantle Dockers.
ing overtook the image of high rewards. Avery, Michael Cairnduff and incumbent Bill Repard and Ross Louthean took a great
New booms evolved for nickel, copper, Dominic Piper. chance on me, as a young, untried reporter.
tantalite (later linked to lithium) and there Despite what the climate change Every day I still use the shorthand they made
was a continual interest in gold and sil- marchers and some of their more ex- me learn. Their tutelage and encouragement
ver. Out of these changes, the focus of treme protestors say, Australia’s eco- was vital.
Paydirt and GMJ varied to meet the high nomic future still needs the backbone of Ultimately, Paydirt was the stepping-stone
and low points. exploration and then mining. to a journalism career that would take me to
At the beginning Paydirt played sec- every corner of the world and into the best
newsrooms not only in Australia, but in the
world. For that, I will be forever grateful.

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