When film student, Jeff Bird, decided to make a video of Wonthaggi's black coal mining era he didn't envisage any particular problems.

Eight years on, Mr.Bird has has his appreciation of the struggles of the miners reinforced by his own battle to complete the film.

At a special preview of his film, 'Black Gold, Kindred Spirits' in Wonthaggi Town Hall last week, Mr.Bird acknowledged that he often wondered if his project would ever be completed.

From the moment he decided the subject deserved full 16mm treatment in preference to his original idea of recording it on video, he ran into financial problems. Between 1987 and 1989 the Wonthaggi Borough and Wonthaggi traders contributed $5,400, in the hope that they might end up with a video for promoting tourism. But other money was scarce. In fact it was virtually non-existent.

"Most ABC quality documentaries cost between $200,000 and $300,000 and I'd been through every funding possibility and couldn't get any money. I had no track record, so nobody would fund it", Mr. Bird said on Tuesday.

He continued to inject his own money into the film, and he borrowed equipment on the never-never, believing that eventually someone would provide the money needed.

But after several years of work, the project was part finished and he was deeply in debt. Despite support from friends, including the unstinting encouragement of former Wonthaggi miner, Fred Brown, it appeared he would not be able to continue.

The two years ago he decided to put in one last effort. He showed potential backers what he had acheived, and the national miner's union, the CFMEU, put in $15,000 and the Borough of Wonthaggi, about to be amalgamated, contributed $5,000 on top of its original handout.

Mr. Bird said the ABC deal would enable him to pay his debts, which was a great relief. He said he would now enter the film in festivals, and negotiate for its release in the US and UK.