After the explosion at Pike River mine, an accident that killed 29 men, Peter Whittall became the face of the rescue operation. And I say 'rescue', because in the first few days, he stressed time and time again, that he was determined to bring the men home. He gave shattered families and a grieving nation hope. He had a kindly face and a way of explaining things clearly to the layman and woman.
We warmed to the avuncular Aussie and we trusted him, those of us who knew nothing about mines. If he said there was hope, that this was a rescue operation, then clearly there was a chance those men were alive.
But Peter Whittall turned out to be a hollow man.
Perhaps his unrealistic optimism was his way of coping with a disaster too awful to deal with, but his words and promises turned out to be false. It was left to a grim-faced police officer to break the dreadful news to the families that their men wouldn't be coming home.
We've heard damning evidence in the Royal Commission of Inquiry about the lack of safety procedures and equipment at the mine and although the Commission is still hearing evidence, the Department of Labour has laid charges against Pike River Coal, a drilling subsidiary company and Peter Whittall - the sole individual charged.
