It’s 5.10 am here in Canberra. I woke up and turned on the radio wondering how the rescue of the trapped miners in Tasmania was going, and was delighted to hear they have been freed from the 1.2 metre cage and cavity that they have been in for the last 14 days, a kilometre deep in the earth.
They are not above ground yet, but apparently it’s immiment. It’s just so hard to imagine being in those circumstances. Now they will have the media to contend with.

Updating:
5.22 am: They say the streets of Beaconsfiled are filling with people waiting for the miners to emerge. The church bell has been ringing. It’s wet and windy, and still dark. The media is interviewing anyone they can.

5.27am: Bill Shorten, the Australian Workers Union leader who has been looking after the families and handling much of the media attention has announced the men will be coming out in about an hour. They have been medically assessed as being pretty fit: #3 on a scale where the average is #4. They are cleaning up and then being reunited with their families at a station below ground. People are allowing themselves to cheer!

In a slightly earlier interview, Bill Shorten kept emphasising that it was the families that should remain the focus. He’s right.

Not surprisingly, there is a lot of symbolism involved in this situation. Much emphasis on the miners wanting to walk out if possible, instead of being taken on stretchers, and wanting to move their work tags from the green to the red side of the board that indicates whether you are ‘on shift’ and down the mine, or ‘completed your shift’ and safely up from the mine. Also much speculation about whether the miners will push hard to attend the funeral today of their fellow miner who died.

5.49: announcement that the miners will be coming out after 6am EST. Or in 15 minutes…

The media has staked out everything fromBeaconsfield to Luanceston where the hospital is. A channel 7 reporter is saying that the 40min drive by ambulance to Launceston will be the longest drive in their lives. Somehow I think thats not true and she is projecting some of herself into that comment!

5.54 am: The wives have been seen heading down into the mine to meet their guys.

There will be a guard of honour as the miners leave the mine.

5.58 am : thewy are out! tags taken! families being embraced!

Todd Russel hugging Bill Shorten

Walking proud. If a little stiff!

much hugging, back slapping, hand shaking. Very blokey :-)Brant Webb getting into the ambulances with their families

6.06: Todd Russell hugging his boy and now going to the ambulance

Todd has chucked his boots off and is joking. Kicking back in the ambulance. People milling around. Obviously talkative and humorous. Much clapping and whistles.

6.12 Miners forming a guard of honour. Ambulances driving out slowly. Police car first, then the two ambulances, then a van for more family

6.17am: They are on their way :-)