St Barbara is the patron saint of miners and geologists. Her feast day is celebrated each year by mining communities throughout the world. For many years the WA Mining Club has also celebrated this day by organising the St Barbara’s Day Miner’s Memorial Service (previously the Bench Dedication Ceremony) which is followed with a special luncheon presentation. This is now considered to be one of the major events of the year by many WAMC members. It’s an opportunity to quietly consider and remember those unfortunate members of all mining communities who lost their lives during the year - and to celebrate the rich endowment of mineral wealth that underpins much of our economy and holds such great hope for our future.

In 2009 St Barbara’s Day is being held on Friday December 4th and commences at 11.00 at the Tropical Gardens, UWA. This is where the Miner’s Memorial service is held which includes the traditional Bench Dedication Ceremony - a bench seat was donated by the WAMC in 2000 to provide a place where family members and friends of people who have lost their lives working in the mining industry can rest to take some private time remembering their loved ones.

After the remembrance ceremony the WA Mining Club holds its annual luncheon to commemorate St Barbara’s Day at the Grand Ballroom, Perth Hyatt Hotel. This year Jim Netterfield, Director of Operations, Oakajee Port and Rail will be the guest speaker. After this there is entertainment provided for the 350 or so members who will be attending... as well as the much-anticipated drawing of the prize-winners from the club’s annual fund-raising raffle by Dr Stephen Langford from the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Proceeds from the raffle are presented each year to the RFDS. Last year the Club donated $10,000 to the RFDS and also made a donation to the West Australian School of Mines.

Members enjoy the annual St Barbara’s Day as it provides much fun, socialising and catching up with friends, competitors and suppliers on this most important day for the mining industry in Western Australia.

Despite her being the figment of someone's imagination, Santa Barbara became one of the most revered saints in Europe during the Middle Ages. Festivals are still held each year in Europe to honour the mother of mining.

She was young, beautiful, intelligent, virgin. Her name was Barbara and she captured the attention of many men, especially those in dangerous occupations. Her rich and doting father was hopeful of making an advantageous marriage for his daughter. Instead, she defied him, became a Christian, and refused to marry. Traumatized, he killed her and was himself struck dead by lightning.

That is not the plot of a new soap opera. It is the melodramatic story of a Turkish teenager who was martyred in the third century but lives still as patron saint of mining.

Santa Barbara is portrayed with a tower (where she lived), often with a crown (as a queen of heaven), a chalice (symbolizing a happy death), a sword (by which she was martyred), lightning (which killed her father) and, occasionally, with a peacock (symbol of youth and beauty). She is sometimes represented floating on clouds with miners, hoists, ladders, and ropes below.

Prayer to Santa Barbara

As I now descend into the dark bowels of the earth, I beseech thee, sweet Barbara, that I be kept safe from harm, for it liketh me not that I rush unbidden into God's presence.