I'll keep it brief, because Phil would have liked that...
We will forever respect, honour, uphold and continue the mindset of this great man in our thinking going forwards:
Phil, always one for a bit of light-heartedness, had the moat contractor cartoon on his wall for many years "Don't ever be that moat contractor!" he says.
The other cartoon was added shortly after Phil's passing to reflect his general approach to life: "Getting it done and getting it done well ARE THE SAME THING!"
...With respect, and sorrow... The world is a lesser place with the passing of my long time friend. Those of us that remain will 'live a good life', upholding the high scruples and cheerful behaviours that this fine man so clearly established.
Farewell my good friend. Thanks for everything you taught me, and so sorry that the journey wasn't much longer. Yours, in Engineering Excellence!, until we meet again...... Vince Sunter
For posterity, Phil's last, (somewhat outdated!) resumé is included below:
Phil Caldwell
BE (Mech)
Director of Projects / Principal Construction Manager Click to download CV summary .pdf
2001- now POSITION: Director, Calsun & Caldwell Projects Pty Ltd
(12+ Yrs) Responsibilities: Project Management/ Construction Management, design, procurement and construction of major project work in the materials handling and Coal Preparation industry. Including design and construction of materials handling and heavy industry turn key projects.
Projects Include: Business development for beneficiation plant throughput step increase technology, initially in coal and progressively through iron ore and a range of other minerals, and lead construction in implementation phases; Business development of clean coal technology applications.
Wesfarmers Curragh Pty Limited – New 1,200 t/hr Coal Preparation Plant including materials handling of ROM coal and dual products, Qld Bowen Basin. The project had been underway for 10 months on site and was facing major difficulties so I was brought in to complete the construction and manage the interface through commissioning and on to operations. These works included the processing of the first 2M tonnes of ROM feed. The initial tenure was for 4 months to commission and get COAL ON at the plant but the operations management was added for a total contract period of 11 months. Project value approx. $200M (CPG Resources).
Ravensworth North major mining infrastructure construction including materials handling and d d CPP upgrade for Xstrata Coal in the NSW Hunter Valley. Construction Manager for project from feasibility through to commencement of site works. Responsible for entire constructability development of the project both green field and brown field areas of works including total construction methodology development. Project value $450m + (CPG Resources).
Liddell Coal ROM Dump station and sizing system upgrade, Hunter Valley. EPCM contract including dump station and primary and secondary sizing upgrades (Liddell Coal Operations).
MAC 20 Feasibility study development. Construction Manager for project from feasibility through to commencement of site works, Hunter Valley. Responsible for entire constructability development of the project both green field and brown field areas of works including total construction methodology development and budget development to +/- 10%. Project value $200m + (Downer EDI Engineering).
Drayton Coal materials handling upgrade Construction Manager, Hunter Valley. (Downer EDI Engineering).
Indemitsu Boggabri Coal Raw coal $/t receival crushing storage & automated B-Double truck loading facility, Boggabri Mine NSW. Design & construct turkey project + establish $/t system. (Calsun Projects)
Bulga Coal Paste Thickener Construction Manager, Hunter Valley. (Downer EDI Engineering)
Bulga Coal ROM Receival Facility Major Upgrade including incorporation of ABON Feeder, Primary and Secondary Sizers and Conveyor Modifications to allow a 50% increase in raw Coal Feed, Hunter Valley. (QCC Resources)
Bulga Coal Raw Coal Stockpile Upgrade including the installation of five syntron feeders, tunnel extensions and bunker construction and major conveyor upgrades including EPCM of 50% increase in capacity of 3.4km overland conveyor, Hunter Valley. (QCC Resources)
Beltana Raw Coal stockpile Upgrade including the installation of two syntron feeders, Hunter Valley. (QCC Resources)
Bloomfield Washed Coal handling Facility major Upgrade, Hunter Valley (Calsun Projects)
Brambles PCI Plant upgrade including the design and construction of a 1mtpa blending system, BHP Pt Kembla steelworks (Calsun Projects)
2001 POSITION: Project Manager, ROCHE MINING (Director of Caldwell Projects under contract)
(0.75Yrs) Responsibilities: Project Manager
Projects Include: Project Manager for major infrastructure development of the Xstrata Group’s Beltana Mine including all infrastructure, services, and materials handling equipment.
1999-‘00 POSITION: Project Manager, FOX MATERIALS HANDLING (Director of Caldwell Projects under contract)
(1.0 Yrs) Responsibilities: Project Manager for major materials handling projects and maintenance contracts.
Projects Included: EPCM of Ship loading, rail loading and processing installations in oil refineries in Mexico. Major operating and maintenance contracts at Kenmare Mine in the Bowen basin in Queensland including EPCM of a 1.3 km overland conveyor and all underground conveyor installations, extensions and contractions.
1990-‘99 POSITION: Project Director, UNITY GROUP OF ENGINEERING & MINING COMPANIES
(10 Yrs) Responsibilities: Founding Director in charge of all major projects including project management, design, procurement and construction work in the materials handling industry. $15M+pa across multiple projects in coal materials handling including reclaim systems, truck & rail loading systems, conveyors & bulk storage bins, ROM receival & crushing, roads and bridges, washery upgrades and extensions. Responsibilities included development of the business, building and strengthening customer and employee relationships and driving all projects to optimise the outcome for the stakeholders. Over 80 projects undertaken during the companies operations. Fox Materials Handling purchased the Unity business in late 2000.
1988-'90 POSITION: General Manager, MUSWELLBROOK ENGINEERING GROUP
(3 Yrs) Responsibilities: Lead team of 178 (6 project managers/ engineers, 4 managers, 8 administration, 4 board draughtsmen, 100 tradesman, 32 non trades and 24 plant operators) in marketing, tendering negotiation and project management of $25m/ annum of turn key projects in the mining, coal preparation, power and vigneron industries in the Hunter Valley of NSW. Some of the works undertaken by the firm in the Coal Industry, and under Phil's supervision were the Mt. Arthur North 14 km overland cable belt conveyor, the 5.2 km Howick overland conveyor; the Newdell raw coal handling facility, Muswellbrook Coal raw coal handling facility, Bayswater Colliery raw coal handling facility, Mt. Thorley Coal Loader product coal receival facility, Bayswater Colliery product coal handling and Elcom receival facilities upgrades, Drayton Coal Elcom delivery facility, major construction works at Bayswater and Liddell Power Stations, Costain Coal raw coal handling facility and many other construction projects outside the Coal Industry.
1986-'88 POSITION: Project Manager, MUSWELLBROOK ENGINEERING GROUP
(3 Yrs) Responsibilities: Project manage design and construction of A$8M / annum of turn key projects in the mining, power and vigneron industries in the Hunter Valley of NSW. Multiple projects were undertaken at the same time utilising a diversified range of construction disciplines including civil, structural mechanical and electrical.
1984-‘86 POSITION: Project Engineer, MUSWELLBROOK ENGINEERING GROUP
(3 Yrs) Responsibilities: Lead team of 40 (2 engineers, 2 draughtsmen, 2 managers, 22 tradesman and 12 non-trades personnel) with access to engineering contractors to provide a comprehensive general design, engineering & project group.
1978 - '83 POSITION: Mechanical Engineering Degree Trainee - BHP – Newcastle Steelworks
One of Five Mechanical Engineers taken on by BHP in the year of ’78 to study Mechanical Engineering and receive full management and trade level training through the respected BHP Traineeship System.
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