Governor visits Kalgoorlie-Boulder

The Governor spent three days in Kalgoorlie-Boulder (1st – 3rd May) as part of his Regional Visit Program.

Pictured: At the Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Super Pit.

This was the Governor’s fourth regional visit, with trips to Bunbury and Greenbushes in April, and the East Kimberley and Albany last year.

During the visit, the Governor met with representatives from local schools and organisations and received updates on plans for community and industry.

The Governor was sworn-in as the State’s 33rd Governor on the 1st May 2018 and marked his one year anniversary in the role during this trip.

“I wanted to come to Kalgoorlie particularly to send a note to myself about what is important in this State because this is my first anniversary as Governor.

Back before WWII there were two power centres in Western Australia, one was Perth and the other was Kalgoorlie.

Kalgoorlie really badged the State even then. In the private sector, all that there really was, outside branches of eastern states companies, was mining. And that’s still vital – it is our badging as a State.

Now we have got to do other things that are attractive, that employ folk. We’ve got to focus on the tourism industry, we’ve got to focus on education matters, and we’ve got to focus on cultural life. All these things are what makes any community liveable and are important here in Kalgoorlie.

You (Kalgoorlie) should be proud because you’re going to get another generation of mining relevance. You’ve had it with gold for years and that will continue for the foreseeable future.

You are now getting the technologies of the battery and magnet components of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. And we are going to be, as West Australians, as vital to this revolution as we have been to the development of the East Asian societies with our iron ore, with our gas, our coal and the minerals and energy materials that we’ve been supplying.

Well, now we’re supplying the minerals for the next technology – lithium, nickel and cobalt. The next technology, interestingly enough, is going to be much more environmentally friendly.”

The Honourable Kim Beazley C, Governor of Western Australia

Media

Governor’s Solid Gold Visit Kalgoorlie Miner, Friday 3rd May

Governor praises resources, future Kalgoorlie Miner, Saturday 4th May

ABC Radio Goldfields-Esperance Interview on Breakfast with Ivo da Silva (scroll to 37:25)

Itinerary

Wednesday, 1st May 2019

Bega Garnbirringu Aboriginal Health Services
Tour and briefing with CEO and Board representative.

City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Civic Function
The Governor met with and addressed a broad selection of community leaders and representatives, hosted by Deputy Mayor Allan Pendall.

Thursday, 2nd May 2019

Briefing with Goldfields Esperance Development Commission

C.Y. O’Connor Men’s Shed, South Kalgoorlie
Tour of local facility and opportunity to meet members.

East Kalgoorlie Primary School
Tour and briefing by school leaders, and opportunity to speak to students.

Goldfields Individual & Family Support Association
Tour and briefing hosted by the Chair and CEO.

Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Presentations from business community members, with topics including personnel and workforce issues, real estate, infrastructure, banking, through to minerals and energy.

Carey Group Holdings
Briefing on operations of the 100% Aboriginal owned mining company, and their associated training company, education trust, and other initiatives.

Royal Flying Doctor Service of Western Australia, Kalgoorlie Boulder Airport
Tour of facilities with CEO and staff.