Hedland stalwart marks milestone

Almost as iconic as the West End itself, Hedland resident Arnold Carter was joined by family and friends as he celebrated his 90th birthday at Port Hedland Yacht Club recently.

A long-time local, Mr Carter arrived in the Pilbara more than 50 years ago and has watched the region, and the town of Port Hedland specifically, transform in that time.

It was a job at Lang Hancock’s iron ore mine site at Mt Tom Price that first brought Mr Carter to the area.

For 18 months, he worked on site before Government restrictions on the export of iron ore internationally ended the project.

However, it was on his way back home to Perth that a chance meeting at Port Hedland’s Esplanade Hotel over a cold beer landed him a job at Goldsworthy Mining Company.

And from then on, Mr Carter remained.

In that time, he has taken up roles on the Chamber of Commerce and the Hedland Ratepayers Association as well as spending more than 30 years on the local council — something he joked you had to be “mad” to do.

It’s taken a solid resolve to be in so many important positions in the town and when talking to family and friends about it at his celebrations, Mr Carter said it was his confidence and ability in his decisions and recommendations that had served him well in his lifetime.

“Have faith in your own judgment, never stop listening to other people,” he said.

“It’s most essential that you have your judgment but at the same time other people have other ideas and I think ... even though you don’t agree .... when you walk away, I’m sure that both of you have received a satisfactory answer to your argument.” Mr Carter also took a special moment to thank his wife, Franny, who he said had been a great partner to travel through life with.