Exploration Team

Director of Exploration – Dr. Peter Jackson BSc (Geology), PhD, MAIG

Dr. Jackson is a Geologist who lectured for many years in Geology at Victoria ’s renowned La Trobe University. He has over 21 years practical experience in the Eastern Victorian Goldfields and has conducted 100’s of field studies on old mining operations in the Woods Point area including economic geological assessments. He is intimately acquainted with all of the key mines & dyke structures within Morning Star’s tenement package. He has written and co-written several books and academic texts on the area and the occurances of gold in Victoria. Dr Jackson is based between Melbourne & Woods Point. Peter has particularly close knowledge of several of Morning Star's regional assets such as the Dempsey, Hunts, All Nations and Rose of Shamrock mines and the company's current key drilling target (Waverly dyke).

Chief Mine Geologist - Greg Curnow BSc (Geology), MAusIMM

Morning Star has appointed Greg Curnow as its Chief Mine Geologist. Greg has over 20 years of experience in many parts of the world in mine geology. He has worked in the field and in underground gold production situations in Australia also. Greg spent several years with Western Mining and is intimately experienced in narrow vein gold mining situations. Greg is well known to some of MCO's Directors having worked on other projects with them in the past. Most recently Greg was a senior consultant with the respected Geos Mining - Mineral Consultants. He also has advanced skills in microcomputing, is familiar with MCO's geological modelling software and has plenty of experience in water resources and interface with governement.

Technical Director - Peter Hepburn-Brown BSc (Eng), Grad Dip HR, MAusIMM

Morning Star Gold has appointed an experienced Technical Director overseeing all mine planning and operations.

The company has appointed Peter Hepburn-Brown in the role of Technical Director. Peter will oversee all operational aspects of getting the Morning Star mine and surrounding potential ore sources into production. Peter holds a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering and a Graduate Diploma in Human Resources. He holds First Class Mining Certificates in Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland and has over 25 years of diversified mining industry experience from greenfields right through to production. Peter has worked for large-scale gold producers including WMC, Harmony, Niugini Mining, Great Central Mines and St Barbara on a plethora of very successful gold projects such as Bronzewing, Jundee and Leonora. We are delighted to have someone of Peter’s experience and reputation on board with us to take the Woods Point Gold Project to the production stage.

Mine Foreman – Max Towe

Max has lived and worked in and around Woods Point for 16 years. He is a key underground point man assisting the team of miners all other aspects of underground exploration and mine development. Max has also been invaluable on the drill rigs during the 'Morning Star South' surface diamond drilling program and drilling underground into the Gap Zone. Max is married with 4 daughters and lives in Woods Point, enjoying a spot of mining at nearby Perkins Creek in his time off.

U/G Leading Hand/Miner – Scott McDonald

Scott was born and raised in Woods Point and works at Morning Star Gold with his father Don, one of MCO’s winder drivers. Scott is a key underground mining and explorations operative and was also heavily involved in shaft sinking and refurbishment operations for the past 3 years. Scott is a keen X-Terrain mountain biker in his time off, loves long drives through Victoria and lists his hobbies as ‘very single’.

Workshop Supervisor - Bernie Johnson

Bernie is a key cog in the Morning Star machine keeping all of our mechanised gear running smoothly in the work sheds at the Morning Star mine. Bernie works at surface at the Morning Star mine site and has extensive mechanical nouse on all forms of mining related equipment.

Driller/Mining Offsider – Craig Liddell

Craig has worked at Woods Point with the Morning Star team for around 4 years. He is certified by MCO as a winder driver, diamond driller and air-leg mining offsider. Craig likes to spend time with his teenage son and in his spare time is a long-suffering Carlton Blues supporter in the AFL. He is a keen movie buff and loves music.

Winder Driver/Braceman – Don McDonald

Don is MCO's key Winder Driver and in a former life, conducted the Mansfield to Woods Point mail run with Stewarts. Don’s son Scott works for Morning Star, as does wife Lisa and daughter Leonie. It's certainly a family affair for the Woods Point based McDonalds. Don has worked in a winder driving capacity with several other local operations for over 20 years, previously at the A1 Mine in nearby Gaffney’s Creek. Don is still keen to talk about Hawthorn’s VFL 1991 Premiership to anyone who will listen - now he has another one to celebrate in 2008!

Drilling/Mining Offsider – Tim Cribbes

Tim is a Matlock local who is the newest addition to the team at Morning Star Gold. Tim worked most recently with the Victorian Dept. of Sustainability and Environment as a fire spotter at their Matlock Fire Tower and also with Stewart’s on the Mansfield mail run. Tim is now assisting with all day-to-day aspects MCO’s drilling + mining programs. A motorbike freak, we hope he doesn't lose another bike on the mountainous roads around Woods Point.

 

Drilling/Mining Offsider – Jamie Scott

Jamie Scott is a member of the locally renowned ‘Scott Clan’, who have been miners at Woods Point and other hard rock mines in the district for some 60 years. Jamie’s father and he both mined the rich A1 Mine near Gaffney’s Creek during the 1980s. Jamie has been involved with MCO on and off since 1992. His responsibilities range from drilling at surface to assisting air leg miners’ underground.

 

Adminsitrative Assistant - Leonie McDonald

Leonie is the youngest member of MCO's team and assists at the Woods Point mine site office in all forms of administration. Leonie supports Peter Jackson with on site geological data input as well as assisting Dennis Clark our Operations Manager in a PA capacity. She is being trained in Gemcom 3D geological modelling and has a bright future with Morning Star.

Site Assistant - Lisa Scott

Lisa is another one of the ubiquitous Scott Clan who have mined the Morning Star for 4 generations and are a cornerstone family in Woods Point. Lisa helps out with all manner of things at the Morning Star mine from site visits, catering, work with core, gardening and cleaning.