Meet the new North West Telegraph journalist: Xander Sapsworth-Collis’ welcome to Pilbara community

I think it’s important I take the time to say a quick ‘hello’ to the readers of the North West Telegraph newspaper before I continue to report on any local news. You may have seen my name popping up frequently in the past few editions. I am the new reporter based out of Port Hedland and I wanted to formally introduce myself to you. From what I understand, you’ve been without a locally based reporter for some time and this absence was one of the things that attracted me to the role. I believe local news is important. It helps people organise their lives, informs them about what’s happening where they live, and can make people feel like they’re part of a shared community. There are so many great stories throughout the Pilbara just waiting to be told and it will be a privilege to help tell them. With all my reporting, I promise to strive to be accurate, fair and balanced. While I am not local to the Pilbara, it’s for these reasons, among others, that I’m excited about this role. The Pilbara is an important area economically, culturally and socially to both WA and Australia. People keep telling me I’ve come at the perfect time of year, which makes me eager to experience the harsh heat everyone has told me about. I’ve managed to meet quite a few of you already through my reporting and can’t wait to get to know many more. I hope to fit in well within this great region. I am an Eagles supporter thankfully, although I was raised in Fremantle. At the end of the day what I really want is to get to know ‘you’, the Pilbara community. I’m looking forward to going fishing with you, bushwalking and having a drink. Whether it’s Port Hedland, South Hedland, Newman, Marble Bar, Nullagine or Wedgefield. So if you see me taking photos at the side of a footy game, wandering around an event talking to people, or even walking through the shops, please feel free to stop me and have a chat. I’m here to listen.