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Enews

September 2009

In this edition

Welcome to the September edition of the GEDC e-newsletter.

Governor travels north

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The GEDC's Pip McCahon (left) and Robert Hicks (right) greet the Governor Dr Kenneth Michael and his wife Mrs Julie Michael.

The diverse Northern Goldfields region was shown off to Western Australian Governor Dr Kenneth Michael.

The Governor and his wife, Mrs Julie Michael visited Leonora, Laverton and Menzies from September 21-23.

The visit was co-ordinated by GEDC Northern Goldfields Senior Project Officer Pip McCahon.

The Governor and Mrs Michael toured extensively across the region.

This included a tour of Mt Margaret Community School, St Barbara's Sons of Gwalia Gold mine and Lake Ballard.

While in Leonora, the Governor officially opened Leonora's Loop Trail.

The Governor also visited Menzies Remote Community School;the Great Beyond Visitor Centre; Laverton District Hospital; Menzies Visitor Centre, the Laverton - Leonora Cross Cultural Association Art Gallery and Marlu Kuru Kuru Women artists.

He was also able to meet with a variety of local leaders from the Northern Goldfields region at a number of civic receptions and welcome functions.

The Governor told the GEDC he was especially impressed with the community spirit evident in the shires, and the breathtaking beauty, great facilities and vibrant spirit in the region.

New faces on GEDC board

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Recently appointed GEDC board members Wayne Rodgers and Larry Hamilton

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls has announced the appointment of two new members to the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission (GEDC) board.

The two new members are Larry Hamilton, the Director of Schools, Goldfields Education District for the Department of Education and Training and Shire of Esperance councillor Wayne Rodgers.

Mr Grylls said that Mr Hamilton had a passion for the Goldfields - Esperance region and was focused on quality of life issues, social and structural support to the community and intergenerational projects for the region.

" I am very pleased to appoint Mr Hamilton to the board of the GEDC. His extensive experience in the education and training sector will be invaluable to the board and the Goldfields - Esperance region," he said.

Apart from being a councillor, Mr Rodgers is also a business owner and currently serves as chairman of the Goldfields and Esperance Regional Road Group.

" Mr Rodgers is an active community member and is keen to contribute to the future of the region," the Minister said.

Minister Grylls said the appointments of Larry Hamilton and Wayne Rodgers to the GEDC board would deliver a strong representation of the regions interests including industry, health, education, mining, community and local government.

Show me the money

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As part of GEDC's commitment to help community groups and various organisations obtain funding through grant applications, GEDC will be hosting a series of grant writing workshops across the Goldfields-Esperance region.

The workshops are designed to provide grant writers with the skills to develop high quality submissions when applying for grant funding and how to manage those funds, with a specific emphasis on the Royalties for Regions Goldfields-Esperance Regional Grants Scheme.

Workshops will be held throughout the region during October and November 2009, presented by Geoff Pearson, Director of Agenda Communication Pty Ltd.

==Workshop Overview==

==Workshop Locations==

COST: AU$25.00 per person

All workshops are held from 10.00am to 4.30pm (lunch provided)

Numbers will be limited, so early registration is essential

For registration or further information contact Janice Kendall Ph: +61 8 9080 5009 or email

Welcome to the bush

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Esperance practicum teacher Josie Robinson and education psychologist Sven Jamfold.

The Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission was recently invited by the Department of Education and Training to meet with seven teaching and education psychology students. These students are in the region for the practical component of their qualifications and are working in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Esperance, Ravensthorpe and Leonora.

With a strong interest in showcasing the benefits of living and working in the region the GEDC enjoyed meeting Millissa Harton, Alison Miller, Shannon Watts in Kalgoorlie, Geoffrey Dewar in Leonora, Claire Connor at Laverton and Sven Jamvold and Josie Robinson in Esperance. The GEDC gained an understanding of their motivations in education and regional work and also passed on tips about making the most of their practicum and future working experience both as educators and as valued members of the Goldfields-Esperance community.

Research has shown that a better understanding and earlier connections with a locality can assist in long term choices about workplaces. “We sought to welcome these educators and encourage them to make the most of their time in the Goldfields-Esperance region, hoping that they decide to call the region home in the future”, GEDC Senior Project Officer Sarah Fletcher said.

GEMIA Rock Festival

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GEDC staff Cobie Fryer, Jody Radosevich and Janice Kendall taking an interest in education - GEMIA Rock Festival 2009.

The Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission has a strong commitment to building the skills base of the region. Testimony to this is the GEDC’s involvement with the Goldfields-Esperance Workforce Development Alliance and the publication of the Goldfields-Esperance Workforce Plan through the State Training Board and the Department of Education and Training.

Understanding current and future skills needs are important for educators, trainers, industry sectors and those who support regional development. The State Training Board predictions for the Goldfields-Esperance region 2008 - 2018 indicate that the strongest employment growth is expected in the mining sector, construction / manufacturing, health care and social assistance, public administration and safety, accommodation and food services, retail trade and transport.

The recently held 2009 Goldfields Education Mining Industry Alliance’s (GEMIA) Rock Festival is an exciting initiative that informs and engages young people in science and mining related activities. Careers such as metallurgy, mines rescue, geology, astronomy, wildlife and environment protection and rehabilitation, engineering, drilling and traditional mining techniques were showcased through ’hands on’ career styled experiences with mining professionals and other volunteers.

The event held over two days at the Mining Hall of Fame and which is in its second year was proudly supported by the GEDC through project officer support and GERDS funding. Over 20 primary and secondary schools with almost 1000 students in total attended the event from all over the Goldfields-Esperance region, Perth and the Wheatbelt.

Students also enjoyed school band rock concerts, community art and science competitions and a mining competition demonstration by the Western Australian School of Mines’ WASM Wombats. The GEDC considers the Rock Festival a valuable concept to inspire the education choices of the future workforce of the region.

Analysis of student feedback so far shows there is a strong match between student interests and the high demand industry sectors with many students indicating they may take up a mining, trade, hospitality or health roles in the future.

The workforce of the region looks like it’s in good hands with these young Rock Festival participants.

GEDC donation to Menzies

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Pip McCahon, Northern Goldfields Senior Project Officer with students from Menzies Remote Community School.

There were smiles all round at Menzies Remote Community School recently when students were presented with computers donated by the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission (GEDC).

Pip McCahon, Northern Goldfields Senior Project Officer, said “ the students and teachers were very excited about the extra five computers now located in their school ".

"The computers will help the students develop their computers skills and increase their employment opportunities in the future ".

The GEDC also recently donated a photocopier to the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Volunteer Centre.

Regional Development Council meeting in Kununurra

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Graham Thomson with RDC members in Kununurra.

On 23 September 2009 the GEDC Chairman, Graham Thomson, and CEO, Robert Hicks, travelled to Kununurra in the Kimberley to attend the quarterly Regional Development Council meeting.

The Regional Development Council is the peak regional body that provides advice to the Minister for Regional Development. The Chairpersons of each Development Commission are members of the Council.

As part of the visit the Council toured Lake Argyle, the Ord River and the Ord Stage 2 Development. The State Government has invested significantly in Ord Stage 2 in expanding the canal structure that will provide irrigated water to newly established agricultural land.

Last call for SEGRA registrations.

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Having delivered the resource boom, regional Australia must now look to secure a thriving and sustainable future in the current global economic climate, with the full support of all tiers of government.

Landing this political message and regrouping regional economies will be the core theme of Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia (SEGRA) conference to be held in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia, 27-29 October – ‘exploring new frontiers’.

“Government, business and non-government sectors must work together to make sure spending delivers increased productivity in regional Australia,” said Ms Kate Charters, SEGRA convenor.

“Equitable funding arrangements must be made for regional Australia including incentives for regionally-based business investment. Regions must look at a range of new frontiers that will impact future development, such as the potential of green industries, and how to respond to a decreasing reliance on oil and the shift in agricultural patterns resulting from climate change, for example.”

Ms Charters has overseen the SEGRA conference for the past 12 years and she says it is timely the conference is held in Kalgoorlie this year.

Mayor Ron Yuryevich said “Kalgoorlie-Boulder was the ideal destination for the conference, with a proven capacity to host large scale events.”

“There is strong community support for the SEGRA conference, and the benefits it will have for Kalgoorlie-Boulder are immeasurable. Although our local economy has slowed, the diversification of our mining industry means that Kalgoorlie-Boulder is weathering the current economic situation better than many other regional centres.”

“By having this opportunity to showcase our City to a wider and more varied demographic, we can make significant inroads into changing the nation’s perception of Kalgoorlie-Boulder from an outback mining town to the thriving cosmopolitan centre that it is. We want more and more people to realise that our City is a great place to live, work and play.”

“SEGRA is the only national forum for regional development professionals, policy-makers and academics to get together, share experiences and ideas, and to send a message to governments that regions can’t be ignored.”

The GEDC and the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder worked closely to win the bid to host the conference, the first time it's been to Western Australia. The GEDC encourages regional stakeholders to register now for this important conference.

To regsister please contact Jessica Shelton 07 3210 0021 or email

Tourism in the North

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GEDC Manager Policy and Projects, Janice Kendall with Kevin and Margaret Pusey,Carol Mann Network Development Officer for Desert Knowledge Australia and Joselyn Pesci Small Business Centre Goldfields at the Kookynie Hotel.

Representatives from the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission (GEDC), the Small Business Centre (SBC) and the Desert Knowledge Outback Business Network Program visited the Northern Goldfields in August.

The visit focussed on gaining an understanding of the tourism potential in the region. It was also a great opportunity to promote the new Desert Knowledge Outback Business Network Program to which GEDC is providing significant in-kind contribution.

During the tour Janice Kendall of GEDC, Joselyn Pesci of SBC and recently appointed Development Officer for Desert Knowledge Carol Mann, spent time in Menzies, Leonora and Laverton. They met with accommodation and service industry providers, general stores owners, visitor centre staff and local artists to gain first hand knowledge and feedback on the range of tourists visiting this remote region of the state.

Some interesting facts came to light during the trip such as an increase in tourist numbers since the production of the Northern Goldfields brochure and website early in the year. It also provided an opportunity for the Small Business Centre to enlarge its network and create an opportunity to conduct future workshops and information sessions for business owners, thus assisting business development in the Northern Goldfields. The Outback Business Network program will also benefit from the new contacts made during the visit.

This trip was an excellent example of cross-agency collaboration with an emphasis on economic development of the Northern Goldfields. Some of the main issues remain the shortage of both unskilled and skilled labour and there is a definite focus on skilling locals and attracting suitable workers to the region into the future.

The general consensus is that tourism is an important industry with untapped potential for the future development of this region.

Community Resource Centres (formerly Telecentres)

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GEDC CEO Robert Hicks with CRC representatives from accross the region.

Royalties for Regions has delivered a funding boost to the State’s Community Resource Centres (CRCs). There are eleven CRCs in the Goldfields-Esperance region stretching from Hopetoun in the south to Warburton in the north. CRC representatives from other regions met recently in Kalgoorlie-Boulder for a workshop to discuss mutual cooperation and to share their experiences with other CRCs.

The GEDC CEO, Robert Hicks, and Manager Policy and Projects, Janice Kendall, were given the opportunity to address the 40 plus CRC representatives on the role of Development Commissions and the commitment to work together into the future.

CRCs will be an integral part of the regional network that will identify local projects that need to be advanced and/or funded, and it is expected that the region’s CRCs will play an increasingly important role working alongside the GEDC.

Page last reviewed: 13 March 2009

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