Parents of man tragically killed in explosion to honour their son and his fellow fallen miners
After a tragic mining explosion killed Scott McPherson, his father Maurice made the decision to go underground to see the place where his son spent his final moments.
“To see the devastation, they wouldn’t have had a chance,” he said.
Scott was one of 12 people killed in the Moura No.4 disaster in 1986.
His parents Maurice and Lorna have since travelled the state on 19 September each year to attend Miners Memorial Day Services to honour Scott’s memory.
This years’ service will be particularly meaningful for them as it’s being held in Moura.
“You never forget, and you feel you need to go,” Mrs McPherson said.
Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) is encouraging people who would like to honour fallen miners to join the annual Miners Memorial Day Service, in person or online.
“Loss of life to mining accidents is unacceptable,” event organiser RSHQ’s Robert White said.
“Though decades have passed since these disasters, the impact remains. We must continue to remember them and the unacceptable cost of lives, if we are to avoid future disasters.”
The Moura No.4 disaster is one of three large-scale mining accidents that impacted in the Central Queensland community over 20 years. In 1994, the Moura No. 2 mine was also rocked by a catastrophic explosion - of the 21 miners underground, only 10 escaped and survived.
“This year also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Kianga No.1 mine disaster in 1975 where 13 miners tragically lost their lives,” Mr White said.
“We lay a wreath as a tribute to each of the 1,510 people who have died in workplace accidents in Queensland mines. The service is a time to formally pause and honour their memory.
“We hold the service on 19 September on the anniversary of the state’s worst mining disaster where 75 miners lost their lives in a coal mine at Mount Mulligan in 1921.”
The service will be held at the Kianga Memorial Hall in Moura on Friday 19 September from 10.30am. It will also be live streamed on the RSHQ Facebook page and YouTube page.
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ENDS
Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) is the regulator of safety and health legislation across Queensland’s mining, quarrying, explosives (including fireworks) petroleum and gas industries. RSHQ’s priority is the safety and health of workers and the communities they operate in, with a vision of zero serious harm.
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Last updated: 15 Sep 2025