Published on Monday, 25 May 2026 at 5:30:13 PM
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder was proud to welcome 2026 Australian of the Year, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, to Kalgoorlie-Boulder today for a series of community visits and a special Civic Reception held in her honour at the Kalgoorlie Town Hall.
Katherine visited a local school and spent time with students and staff at the WA School of Mines, before joining local leaders, business representatives, elected members, dignitaries and community members at a Civic Reception held at the Kalgoorlie Town Hall, where guests heard firsthand about her journey from engineering student to astronaut and her insights into the future of Australia’s rapidly growing space industry.
Mayor Glenn Wilson said Katherine’s visit strongly resonated with the Kalgoorlie-Boulder community.
“Kalgoorlie-Boulder is a community built on courage, determination and big thinking, so Katherine’s story really connected with people here,” Mayor Wilson said.
“Her visit was especially meaningful for young people in our community, showing them that extraordinary opportunities can begin right here in regional Western Australia.”
“She has shown people that you do not have to leave Australia behind to pursue a dream this big. You can grow up here, study here, work here, and still reach for something as extraordinary as space,” he said.
Katherine Bennell-Pegg said it was a privilege to be here as part of her Auspire Australian of the Year tour to meet the community.
“Kalgoorlie-Boulder is incredible. I’ve got out to a local primary school, the School of Mines, and attend a Civic Reception, and I can tell you that the future of space is being written here in regional WA.”
“Out here, we have so much practical engineering and healthy scepticism for the word impossible. And what we need in space to test the limits of our technologies and capabilities comes with how we’ve managed to live and work and rise in our vast and remote land.”
“There are young people here that well before I arrived already had dreams of the stars in their eyes, and it’s been a privilege to help foster that and help them to dream big for themselves and know the future is in reach from right here.”
The City thanks the Auspire team and Katherine for sharing her experiences with our community.
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