Blackheath is close to an important coal mining area west of Lithgow. The Blackheath Rhododendron Festival every year plays host to coal mining
competitions such as Coal Shovelling and Roof Bolting, the latter of which is the primary method of stabilising the roofs of coal mine tunnels. Since
this technique became universal in the industry, injuries from cave-ins have almost completely disappeared. Here, a large lump of concrete
substitutes for a coal mine roof. Two teams of miners compete to drill and insert a "roof bolt" in the shortest time. They must race to the
pneumatic roof bolting machine, its drill bit and five foot long roof bolt, carry them back into position, drill the necessary hole and insert the bolt.
There's a lot of running, heaving, whirring and crashing about. It can all become quite exciting to watch. Some years, this event is a
national championship, attended by miners from all over the country.

To see a sequence of pictures, shot in continuous mode, showing two roof bolting teams competing. Click HERE