More than 200 people gathered at Appin Memorial Garden on Wednesday morning to mark the 40th anniversary of the Appin Colliery methane gas explosion that killed 14 miners on July 24, 1979.
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The blast may have occurred four decades ago but CFMMEU District Secretary Lee Webb said the fact that up to 300 people attended the memorial service in Appin at 7.30am was a reflection of how the event not only shook the small mining community but the entire Illawarra where many families are still dependent on their men going underground day after day.
The blast, in what was then Australian Iron and Steel and later known as BHP Billiton, was ignited by a rush of methane gas around 11pm in K panel, a remote tunnel of the mine about 3km underground.
Ten miners died in the crib room while enjoying tea and sandwiches, and another four were found varying distances away.
The recovery involved more than 100 volunteers and took 26 hours to recover all the bodies.
Rescuers risked their own lives as they picked through twisted metal and dirt near deadly pockets of carbon monoxide and methane.
At the time of the explosion, 45 men were underground.
The Mercury led the coverage of the disaster in 1979, producing several updated additions on the morning of July 25.
"The loss suffered at Appin is no parochial tragedy," the paper said in its editorial.
"It is a national loss, all the more dramatic for the suddenness and terrifying force.
"The people of the Illawarra will feel bound to share in the ... obligation of caring for those left behind".
After Illawarra Metallurgical Coal hosted the commemoration for the victims of the disaster many present for the anniversary event gathered at Appin Community Hall for morning tea.
During the memorial service relatives of some of the men who died spoke.
The service was also attended by senior officials from South 32 and politicians including the Shadow Minister for Resources Paul Scully.
"There were quite a few community members there as well as many CFMMEU members and most of day shift from the Appin mine," Mr Webb said.
"It is of vital importance that we recognise the sacrifices that these men made during their working career. It also reminds us that safety is a priority when working in a coal mine.
"It was really nice when the young kids from Appin Public School sang a song at the memorial service".
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