This is my second last President’s letter as my term concludes at our October AGM. We’re fortunate to have a strong Council in place, and our President-Elect has been identified, pending ratification at the upcoming AGM. The handover has begun, and so I have started to step back to ensure an orderly transition of responsibility.
We’ve been busier than ever in the last three months. Johanna (being the machine that she is), single handedly continues to knock it out of the park with the support of Council – and I encourage you to read our monthly WASMA Update to keep updated on what we have been doing. Once again, every event is at capacity – and importantly more than 50% of those attending our events are Alumni. Afterall, we are a member based organisation, here to support our Graduates. At the same time, we welcome all those involved in the resources sector who share our vision to take part and enjoy the benefits.
I want to highlight two events in particular, the President’s Lunch and the Better Together Quiz Night.
The President’s Lunch was a highlight because 75 of industries most senior representatives, including the Minister for Mines & Petroleum, Hon. David Michael and CMEWA CEO, Rebecca Tomkinson. Whilst my class mate and Councillor, Jessica Bennison introduced the event as one where ‘everyone is here to send you off’ I could not help but recognise that it was because of one person in the room, Odwyn Jones (who is 86 years old) was the reason we could all be in the room together. With nearly 50 years between us, we still share a passion for WASM. Odwyn showed up, as WASM graduates always do for each-other. Da Dextrum Comitubus. Thank you Odwyn for joining us, and for fighting for WASM 30 years ago. You’ve demonstrated what fighting for something you love can do and I hope that generations to come do the same. Like the watchmaker Patek Phillippe says ‘You never actually own a Patek, you merely look after it for the next generation’.
Our Better Together Quiz Night was also a huge success, this year done in partnership with the Camborne School of Mines Alumni Australia, with tables from other mining schools around the world. This event is really important. It brings to the forefront of our mind the 35% of Australians who will suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D) during the winter months – aka seasonal depression. A constant reminder that our own minds can be a battleground on their own, in a high-stress industry that tests us all the time. If you have not heard from a friend recently, please reach out and give them a check in call during this bleak winter. If you don’t have anyone to speak to. I’ve been down that dark hole, I’m happy to jump into it and help get you out.
So what’s coming up?
Diggers and Dealers is by far, the best resources conference available to the public. I’m no longer a Digger at this event, electing to shift to the dark side five years ago and sit on the Dealers side. If you’re wondering what I do for a job…it’s much like a geologist – guessing with confidence. Yeah baby, I’m throwing jabs as I leave.
Outside of the best lineup of speakers on the public corporate mining calendar, Tuesday night at Diggers is the icing on the cake for me. No other event (aside from the WASM Sandvik Gala Ball – 8th November 2025) brings so many WASM graduates together from all walks of life.
There’s also the Alumni v WASM students footy match on Saturday 30 August 2025 at Subiaco Oval – start time still to be confirmed. Our VP, Dean Vallve is coaching the Alumni team, so I encourage you to come along and watch a few veterans kick the oblong ball around.
This year is 20 years since I started at WASM. Which is crazy to think about, I’m now double the age I was when I moved to Kalgoorlie. I’ve been searching for the ‘secret sauce’ to the success for many of us. To be clear, my measure of success isn’t just wealth – it’s richness is ‘life’. Family balance. Energy. Community Service.
Just as a baby has its run of ‘firsts’, Kalgoorlie too had many ‘firsts’ for us. Living away from home. Cooking for yourself (to survive). Mining Games. Yard glasses at 21. The O-week run. First girlfriends and boyfriends. The Rally (no longer done). International field trips. Poker nights. Camping on Esperance’s beaches. Watching footy from the tray of a Ute. Fifty people sitting around a TV watching two blokes walk out of shaft in Beaconsfield in 2007 – a whole town celebrating. It’s a long list… but how could you ever replace an experience like this? How could you ever replace the relationships formed and the TRUST we have with each-other? You cannot. It’s why we exist. What we fight for.
Outside of that long list it’s the seconds, thirds and fourths that makes this institution special. The weekly industry speeches. Chats with lecturers who become mates and mentors. Volunteering at local not-for-profits. Playing footy or soccer locally. Throwing bolts while you study. Learning to speak ‘occa’ to the bar-flies at the pub. Becoming a bar-fly yourself. Hearing the struggles of locals. Becoming invested in the wellbeing of local communities. To read the Kalgoorlie Miner and see the familiar faces every week. Walking down Hannan Street and stopping 10 times to say g’day to acquaintances. This is so much more than a place where you get an education – this is where you get grounded in the reality and expectations of the industry and the community.
Diggers is the event where miners and explorers get to demonstrate their value to global investors. It’s also one of the best opportunities to stand out to students and your pipeline of workers (which is getting tight – as some with poor HR strategy are finding out). Alas, it’s not too late to sponsor and get your brand recognised. It’s no surprise we have sold out of tickets at this year’s Diggers event again (please sign up to our waiting list and we will let you know once tickets become available). Those who have been through this cycle before have already started taking sponsorship spots for the coming years(s) knowing full well the impact of having alignment with the future workforce – and the material and measurable benefits.
WASM and Kalgoorlie is where TRUST is formed. TRUST is the most overlooked value WASM generates. Most of our risks at a tender age were taken together – and it is also why the biggest risks in life, are taken together (like starting mining companies). Our graduates know looking after your friends is more important than self. It’s protection. It’s belonging. It’s love. It is, Da Dextram Comitibus. To extend your right hand to your mate.
See you next week at our home away from home, Kalgoorlie during Diggers,
Kyle
P.S. If you want a refresh, Curtin are also running tours of WASM – it’s amazing what Tanya Chambers has done in Kalgoorlie so I urge you to book now.
Kyle De Souza
President
WA School of Mines Alumni