Continuing our series of profiles on local heroes for NAIDOC Week (July 1 - 8)
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EDUCATION is key, says local NAIDOC 'hero', general manager of Mount Isa Copper Operations, Mike Westerman.
Born in Port Hedland, Mr Westerman had his sights set on a mining apprenticeship, but the master at the mine saw his test results and encouraged him to keep on with his schooling.
His parents sent him to boarding school for years 11 and 12, then he went on to do an engineering degree at Kalgoorlie.
In 1995 he worked at Port McArthur in the NT, which was owned by Mount Isa Mines, and the next opportunity was Mount Isa where he worked for 3 1/2 years, spent two years at Ernest Henry as general manager, and has been two years back in Mount Isa, heading up the copper operations.
He credits his parents with a good work ethic and educational opportunities.
His father, who was white, left school at the age of eight and worked as a ringer on stations in WA.
His mother, of the Myamal people, left school at 13.
"My parents worked on the land; they worked very hard and understood the importance of education."
His mother gained her citizenship rights in 1964 and he still has her papers.
"Prior to that, Aboriginal people were deemed part of the flora and fauna of Australia."
When Mr Westerman was a boy, his family moved from the land into a fishing village called Useless Loop ("People find that hard to believe!") where they had a constant source of income and were closer to schools.
"Education is a funny thing," he mused.
"People can't see it as a long term investment."
His parents could.
He remembers his mother scolding his four sisters:
"If you don't do well at school, you'll end up marking cans in the supermarket."
It worked. All of them have done well and younger sister, Dr Tracey Westerman was scholar of the year for NAIDOC Week a few years ago.
She is one of the leading experts in the country on suicide amongst Indigenous people and will be coming to Mount Isa soon.
NAIDOC Week is important, an acknowledgement or recognition of the significant history of the Indigenous people in Australia.
"Without NAIDOC we wouldn't have that; it acknowledges the rich history and achievements such as the Tent Embassy and for me, it's a time to remember that,"Mr Westerman said.
