Unique gender reveal a 'blast' for mining couple who struggled with IVF

A WA couple who fell pregnant after 11 years of IVF treatments have celebrated their baby joy with a unique gender reveal, in the form of an explosive blast at one of Australia's biggest gold mines.  

Lance and Kristy Richards both work at Kalgoorlie's Super Pit, about 600 kilometres east of Perth in Western Australia's Goldfields, as a dozer operator and truck driver, respectively. 

The couple wed in 2014 and are due to welcome their first baby in late January, following what they described as a "rollercoaster" journey with infertility.  

"When we started IVF 11 years ago, we had high hopes and got pregnant straight away, but had a miscarriage at seven weeks, which really rattled us," Mr Richards said.  

"It's hell. It was a lot of rollercoaster rides ... mentally, physically, emotionally, financially. 

"Towards the end, we just accepted it wasn't going to happen, so we went to IVF appointments with no expectations of getting pregnant, but always the hope that maybe this time will be the one." 

Pretty in pink

Mrs Richards, who is 22 weeks' pregnant, said they were in "disbelief" after discovering they had conceived on a European holiday to Spain. 

After sharing their baby joy with colleagues, they were convinced to stage a unique gender reveal incorporating the daily explosives blast at the Super Pit.  

"We were incredibly private about it at the start, but there's a bit of a stigma around the whole IVF process, so hopefully this helps others to talk about it," Mrs Richards said.

"We live on the opposite side of the country to our family.  We came here from Queensland for the work and so our work crew is our family."

The couple pushed the button to trigger the blast on Wednesday and a thick cloud of pink smoke told the couple, and hundreds of onlookers, they are expecting a baby girl.  

"It was great to share that moment with everyone," Mr Richards said. 

"The IVF journey is such a hard one for anyone to go through and for us, sharing that journey with workmates and friends, to hear that cheer, that support, it's amazing."

"It was overwhelming," Mrs Richards said.  

Blasts for special occasions

Wednesday was not the first time the daily routine of explosive blasts has taken on a bigger meaning at the Super Pit.  

Since 2018, explosive crews have turned blasts pink for International Women's Day as part of a campaign to grow the mine's female workforce.

About 35 per cent of the 1,800-strong workforce at the Super Pit is female, according to Northern Star Resources human resources manager Nicole Musgrave.   

In 2019, crews went a step further by using 250 kilograms of pink powder and 100kg of high explosive to mark up the blast in the shape of the Venus symbol.

Ms Musgrave said the gold miner had also previously blasted blue powder to raise awareness for men's mental health. 

She said she was pleased to approve the special request for two employees, but admitted there were no plans for further gender reveals at the mine.  

"We have a lot of things come by our desk but this was a great one to endorse," she said.  

The Super Pit has been operating since 1989, measures 4km long and 1.6km at its widest point and is expected to continue operating until at least 2050.