Test Feb 2021

AROUND THE INDUSTRY EDITOR’S COMMENT

This is au revoir but not goodbye

T o everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. I have been putting off writing this, my final comment in a magazine I started up for Crown Publications in 2007; a magazine that has been a privilege to edit and an industry that I love and which has been an honour to serve. As many of you know, I have been contracting to Crown as editor of Modern Quarrying for the past five years, after relocating to Britannia Bay in the Western Cape; something that I was very fortunate to be able to do, and I thank Crown for enabling me to do this. There are several reasons behind the change, one of these being that Crown has taken the deci- sion to bring the magazine back in house for eco- nomical reasons. I understand this completely and fully support them in their decision – which I have been told was a difficult one to make. That aside, it is also time for me to refocus on my family and my husband in particular, who last week fell off a ladder, severely damaging his shoulder and arm, and breaking his pelvis. This has been an incredible shock and has made me realise that it really is time for change. He has had an operation and is due for pelvis reconstruction as I write this comment with the outlook being a long and difficult path ahead for both of us. So how does one put 30 years onto a single page? It is impossible. But what I want to do is firstly thank Crown for supporting me in starting up this quarrying magazine and its complete faith in my editorial direction. It has been wonderful being part of the Crown family and this after hav- ing established another quarrying journal some 20 years prior to this one for another publisher. What a career and what a pleasure it has been. Looking back over the past 11 years of editing MQ , I have made many friends – people without whom I could never have achieved the status that this magazine has earned in the industry. So many of you have opened up your doors and your hearts to me, welcoming me and trusting me to write with honesty and integrity (with many ‘off the record’ confidences), which I really valued. I can’t possibly name you all but you know who you are and I will always be grateful for the trust and effort you have made in teaching me about this wonderful industry. You have shared so

much with me and on many occasions, just like the quote above, we have wept and laughed, mourned and danced. Literally! We have travelled together throughout the country, across borders and abroad on many occasions, times I will always remember with a happy smile. We have also lost colleagues and wonderful members of our industry over the years – people I still think of often and miss dearly. Sadly, I won’t be able to attend the IQSA confer- ence later this month, something I was looking for- ward to doing, and wish both the IQSA and Aspasa much success for this year’s event. Incidentally I have attended this event from as far back as 1989 and look back at many wonderful times with incredible characters over these last 30 years. I have had the honour of interviewing many founders of the quarrying sector during my time as an editor, who have opened up to me about their experiences behind establishing this incred- ible industry. That is another tale to tell and I sincerely hope that the history of the quarrying sector is not lost to future generations. I have been fortunate enough to have expe- rienced the development of this sector and the growth of small companies into leading role play- ers. It was me who was responsible for the term ‘cowboy miners’ which is what some of you were many years ago and many of which have today become global, industry-leading entities. I am so proud of you all. I am handing over the reins to Munesu Shoko, an excellent journalist with some 14 years of experience. He has been in the business-to-busi- ness space for the last eight years, having worked for two years on another quarrying title. Some of you may possibly have met him during that time, and he is also the editor of another successful Crown title, Capital Equipment News . I know that he thoroughly enjoyed working in this industry previously and he is truly a quality journalist, of whom Crown is proud. So please welcome him as you have welcomed me. Finally, and with a sad heart, I must say adéu. I have no doubt that the friendships and strong links we have made will continue for many years to come. You have my contact number and my email address will shortly revert back to dalekelly@mweb.co.za. I will be contributing from time to time in MQ , so please stay in touch. May this industry grow from strength to strength and I wish you all much success for the future.

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MODERN QUARRYING

Quarter 2 / 2018