Grief stricken members of the Paxton community have laid floral tributes at the entrance of a mine this morning where two men were killed last night.
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The men died following a wall collapse at the Austar Coal Mine south of Cessnock about 9.15pm last night.
A former employee of the mine and Paxton resident Sheree Burdett laid a bunch of flowers for the men - one of whom attended school with her husband.
"Everyone will rally around, my deepest sympathies [go to the miners' families]," Mrs Burdett told the media.
"I couldn't in a million years comprehend what they are going through, but with any luck everyone will rally around them."
Mrs Burdett said her father was a miner for 40 years.
"Everynight you pray that they will come home."
Another bunch of flowers that was laid by a man shortly after was left wit a small card that read: "To the two families of the most genuine, hard-working blokes, our deepest condolences to you all. Thoughts are with you all."
Police believe it could take several days to retrieve the bodies of the two men, who are yet to be formally identified.
