Ben Sinclair

Carolyn, Ben, Jason and Lisa.
Carolyn, Ben, Jason and Lisa.

I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life when I left school. I did a B.Sc. at Griffith University because I got into it. I was fighting for jobs that were worth $14,000 a year and struggling. I decided to chase the money in mining and did a Grad. Dip. in Mineral Science through Murdoch University in Perth. I worked mainly as a Metallurgist in Mount Isa, Fremantle, Charters Towers, Gladstone, Moura, Dysart, Emerald and Blackwater (from Gladstone to Blackwater with BHP Coal).

My move to Moura in 1996 forced me to bump into Carolyn. I could not avoid it because she hunted me down. I have always been very shy, so she had to work at it. Much against my better judgement (I must have been ill) I proposed later that year and we married in January 1997.

While working with BHP I completed my MBA through Central Queensland University. I quit BHP to become Manager of a coal lab in Moranbah, which I did as a challenge as it had never made a profit. I turned it around in my first 12 months to record a good profit. On that note I decided it was time to get back to city life and quit.

I completed my B.Ed. in June this year to have a total change of career as a Business and Maths Teacher. Do not know if it is the right move yet.

My ill-judged marriage proposal has turned out to be a good move after all, as we have a very happy marriage (who says it is bad luck to propose in a TAB). Earlier this year (Valentine’s Day) we were blessed with the birth of Jason and Lisa after 8 years on IVF.

Email Ben at sinclairbg@aapt.net.au.