Governor Kim Beazley becomes first sitting governor in nine years to make to visit to Katanning

WA Governor Kim Beazley visited the heart of the Great Southern last week, paying tribute to Katanning’s proud history and multicultural community.

Mr Beazley was in Katanning on Tuesday and Wednesday last week, meeting with leadership teams from local councils, local Noongar groups and having dinner with the local Hazara community.

The Governor visited sites including the Katanning mosque on Wednesday morning, where he was given a tour by Imam Alep Mydie.

He received two gifts at the mosque recognising the Cocos Island ancestry of many of Katanning’s original Muslim migrants: a miniature sailboat and a wooden sailfish.

Mr Beazley told attendees the Great Southern had benefited greatly from the Island community’s decision to come to Katanning.

“Not only have you been hard workers in a difficult industry, you have also added an understanding to the community of what the wider world around us is,” he said.

Mr Beazley told the Herald he was impressed by his visit to Katanning.

“As I would expect, it is fabulous,” he said.

“This is a powerful town, and it always has been. The Great Southern is so important to the State.”

A highlight of the visit for the Governor was his trip to the Katanning Historical Society Museum, where he took particular interest in a letter written by wartime Labor Prime Minister John Curtin.

“When you look at all the elements of (Katanning’s) history, there are a lot of people who have truly lifted themselves up by their bootstraps and created something,” he said.

Mr Beazley was also impressed by the work done on the Premier Mill Hotel, where he was shown around by Dome chief executive Nigel Oakey.

He described the renovated heritage building as “beautiful”.

“Every room that I’ve walked into is fascinating,” he said.

“It truly tells the story of the building and the town.”