Latest news with #Kalgoorlie-Boulder
West Australian
5 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Japanese star keen for success at Golden Open
Japanese squash professional Risa Sugimoto is hopeful of going one better against a crack field at this weekend's annual Northern Star Golden Open. Kalgoorlie-Boulder's premier squash tournament this year features players from nine different countries who are chasing $6000 prizemoney in each of the women's and men's divisions. Sugimoto is fresh off an epic final of the South Australian Open in Adelaide, when the 30-year-old was beaten in five games by Hong Kong's Toby Tse (9-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8). This week Sugimoto has focused on her recovery before her opening round on Friday, when she will have to win two games to make it through to the semifinals. 'In last week's tournament, I was lucky enough to perform better than I previously had been, making it through to the finals,' Sugimoto said. 'This week, I want to work through my fatigue and try to perform through my fatigue to allow me to perform at my best on the first day of the tournament, which is hard with two matches to win.' Sugimoto is hoping to use the Goldfields event to boost her ranking which will assist her chances in getting a call-up for the 2026 Asian Games. 'I am aiming to get my PSA ranking inside the world top-100,' she said. 'Next year I want to qualify for the Asian Games with the target of winning a medal.' The No.4 seed, Sugimoto will take on Ka Huen Leung from Hong Kong in her first round. Sugimoto is enjoying the contrast between Kalgoorlie-Boulder and her hometown Kyoto. 'It's very relaxed, very quiet (in Kalgoorlie-Boulder) and good for recovery,' she said. 'In Kyoto there is so much traffic and people everywhere.' The top-three women's seeds are Helen Tang (China), Akari Midorikawa (Japan), and Wong Po Yui Kirstie (China). Among a strong men's field, Sri Lanka's Ravindu Laksiri is the No.1 seed from Pakistan's Hamza Khan, and the Chinese duo of Wailok To and Ming Hong Tan. Queenslander Brendan MacDonald is the highest-seeded Australian at No.11. The Northern Star Golden Open gets under way on Friday from 10am at Ray Finlayson Sporting Complex and continues on Saturday and Sunday.
West Australian
23-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Prominent Kalgoorlie-Boulder businessman Ashok Parekh appointed chair of junior explorer OzAurum Resources
Prominent Kalgoorlie-Boulder businessman Ashok Parekh has been appointed non-executive chair of OzAurum Resources, a Goldfields-headquartered junior explorer with projects in the region as well as Brazil. The moved reunites Mr Parekh, also the non-executive chair of emerging mid-tier gold miner Horizon Minerals, with Andrew Pumphrey, who founded OzAurum in February 2021. Mr Pumphrey said Mr Parekh's deep industry knowledge, extensive network within the Kalgoorlie-Boulder region and the wider mining and resources sector, and proven commercial acumen made him an exceptional strategic appointment for OzAurum at this pivotal time. 'I have known and worked with Ashok for many years and his experience in gold exploration and mining will be invaluable as we progress our projects,' Mr Pumphrey, who is the managing director and chief executive of OzAurum, said. Mr Parekh's arrival sees Jeffrey Williams step down as chair, a position he has occupied since the company's inception. Mr Williams will continue in his role as non-executive director. OzAurum has two gold projects 130km north-east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder — Mulgabbie North and Patricia. The company's website said it was exploring 8km of strike at Mulgabbie North, which is next to Northern Star Resources' Carosue Dam operations. The website said gold mineralisation was open at depth and along strike, and Mulgabbie North had all the hallmarks indicating potential for a significant gold discovery. It said a Mulgabbie North gold heap leach 50:50 profit share agreement was signed last September with two companies — Line Hydrogen and BIM Metals, together known as LHBM — to complete the Mulgabbie North heap leach feasibility study, which was being fully funded by LHBM. OzAurum said the study was expected to take up to 12 months and following completion and, if a decision to start production was made, LHBM would operate and be responsible for funding the proposed mining and heap leach operation, with net cash after operating and capital costs to be split 50:50 between OzAurum and LHBM. OzAurum said Mulgabbie North had a mineral resource estimate of 11.6 million tonnes at 0.70 grams per tonne for 260,000 ounces of gold, with 64 per cent in the measured and indicated categories. Patricia, 40km north-east of Mulgabbie North, has an open pit where the company is targeting high-grade gold mineralisation at depth. Historical production at Patricia from 1930-37 generated 5384oz of gold at 41 g/t. The project includes the Heysen's Find Prospect 7.5km south of the Patricia open pit. The company also has two niobium-rare earth elements projects in the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais — Catalao and Salitre, which it acquired last year. Both projects are situated within the Alto Paranaba Magmatic Province that accounts for 97 per cent of worldwide niobium production, all hosted in carbonatite intrusions.
West Australian
21-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Gibb River Diamonds looks to cash in on gold at Edjudina
Gibb River Diamonds has signed a contract mining agreement with Kalgoorlie-Boulder firm BML Ventures to mine an open pit at its Edjudina gold project north-east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Gibb River told the Australian Securities Exchange on Wednesday the focus would be on realising the commercial potential of the Neta deposit. The company said Neta had a mineral resource estimate of 378,000 tonnes at 1.9g per tonne for 24,000 ounces of gold, with 110,000t at 2.2g/t for 8000oz in the indicated category. Gibb River said BML would be responsible for all mining-related capital and working capital costs, with Gibb River providing no capital for the project. 'BML's role is to cover all aspects of mining and deliver the mineralised material to one of a number of nearby gold processing plants,' Gibb River said. 'Once project expenses have been paid, with costs being reimbursed from operational cash flow, the net surplus cash will be split 50:50 between (Gibb River) and BML.' The companies are working together to obtain remaining approvals, and aiming to start mining this year — potentially as early as August. Gibb River said processing arrangements still needed to be established with one of the third-party processing plants in the region. 'There are no forward sales locked in for this mining operation and all production will be sold into the spot gold market,' Gibb River said. Gibb River acquired Edjudina in a cash-and-scrip deal in 2020, and at the time said historic production figures for the entire Edjudina field up to 1921 were 39,476oz at 41.0g/t. The company also has the Ellendale diamond project in the Kimberley, and in its most recent quarterly report said it was seeking a strategic partner to progress the project, with the ultimate aim being to re-establish diamond production at the site.
West Australian
20-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
Community encouraged to support hardworking SES volunteers on Wear Orange Wednesday
Volunteering with the State Emergency Service is a family affair for one Kalgoorlie-Boulder family. Reidan, Lisa and Layton Ford, 16, are among a team of trained volunteers who assist the community in times of crisis. Mr Ford joined Kalgoorlie-Boulder's SES unit 18 months ago after learning about the organisation's positive impact from his wife Lisa who had volunteered for several years. 'When she would go out on jobs, hearing the satisfaction that she got from helping the community and being involved is what (encouraged) me to jump into it,' he said. The couple's 16-year-old daughter Layton joined as a cadet two years ago and established herself as a key team member. Mr Ford said SES volunteers were often called on to assist during land searches or severe storms. He said the unit worked in treacherous weather and terrain to assist community members in times of crisis. 'There's a lot of different reasons on why (SES is important) but I suppose, who else are you going to call?' he said. 'If your house is leaking profusely at eight o'clock at night, you can't call a contractor to come out and fix a leaking roof. 'The SES are willing to actually come out in their time and help you in those periods when you really do need the help, and it's not costing you a dime.' The SES unit trains weekly at their Forrest Street base in Boulder. Mr Ford said volunteers gained important operational and communications skills. Wednesday marks WOW Day, Wear Orange Wednesday, a time to recognise and celebrate the hard work of SES volunteers across the country. It takes place during National Volunteer Week, which runs from May 19-25. Kalgoorlie town hall, William Grundt Memorial Library, and Eastern Goldfields community centre will be lit in orange in the evening. Community members are encouraged to wear orange to show their support. 'It does feel good to be recognised, but we don't ask for it,' Mr Ford said. 'We don't go looking for recognition, but it does feel really good having that recognition, and it does go a long way.' Mr Ford said the Kalgoorlie-Boulder unit always welcomed new volunteers and encouraged anyone interested to reach out. Information on volunteering can be found on the SES WA website.
West Australian
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Kalgoorlie-Boulder photographer wins photojournalism accolade for candid image of skimpy barmaid
A unique portrait of a Kalgoorlie-Boulder skimpy taking a brief break from her bartending duties has won a regional photojournalism accolade. Local photographer Mellen Burns won the 2025 Galah Regional Photography Prize's excellence in photojournalism award for her work Tilly Time. The winning entry depicts Tilly sipping on a soft drink behind the bar with her name on a skimpy chalk board in the background. It formed part of Burns' series, No photos of the girls, which saw her create candid images of skimpies at work in local pubs and bars. Burns said the award was a 'really nice surprise' and enabled her to showcase a unique part of WA's culture. 'It was good to have an opportunity to show that series outside of the Goldfields,' she said. 'No one (in the Eastern States) really knows anything about that kind of profession.' The $27,000 photography prize was hosted by independent print magazine Galah. A panel of five judges compiled a shortlist of 42 works from more than 1100 entries across regional Australia. Editor-in-chief Annabelle Hickson said Tilly Time's vibrant colours and unique composition helped Burns to stand out from the competition. 'Straight away when the judges saw Mellen's (entry) they said it felt like this fresh perspective, amazing colours and composition,' she said. 'They just thought Mellen seemed like a real talent, and they wanted to connect with her. As part of her award, Burns will receive mentoring sessions with photographers and picture editors from The Sydney Morning Herald's GoodWeekend magazine. The Goldfields photographer said the opportunity would enable her to learn more about the photojournalism industry and grow her network. 'I'm excited about it, especially the mentorship sessions,' Burns said. 'It's always nice having contact with other people in the industry and to be able to pick their brains a little bit.' Ms Hickson said the prize showcased great talent outside of the major cities and helped to connect regional photographers with industry experts. 'There's lots of things I'm hoping will happen because of this prize, but one of them is to connect regional artists with an audience of collectors . . . but also mentoring people,' she said. 'I do think you can live anywhere in Australia and be the best photographer. 'You don't have to live in Sydney, but the more remote you live, the harder networking is, it's just sort of a fact. 'So that really excites me that this (mentorship opportunity) is one of the one of the prizes.' An awards night at Armidale, New South Wales, earlier this month celebrated finalists and award winners. Lisa Sorgini won the $25,000 Galah regional photography prize for her work, The Flood, while the $2000 people's choice award went to Sweetheart, Merriwa, an image by Maitland photographer Therese Maher. Burns' attendance at the awards night was supported by the Regional Arts Fund and City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
