Eighty-three excited Western Australian students have experienced the school excursion of a lifetime, winning an all-expenses-paid trip to BHP's massive Newman Operations in the Pilbara region.
From Classroom to Iron Ore Mine
The adventure began early on Thursday morning when students from Attadale Primary School, Gingin District High School, and Irene McCormack Catholic College boarded a charter flight to Newman, located approximately 1,200 kilometres north of Perth. The students, ranging from Year 4 to Year 8, earned this extraordinary opportunity through a creative video competition run by BHP during the three-day Resources Technology Showcase held back in August.
Gingin District High School deputy principal Carly Bowen described the overwhelming excitement, revealing that some students screamed with joy or cried when they learned they had won. For many country children from Gingin, this marked their first ever flight, making the experience particularly emotional and significant.
Hands-On Learning in a Massive Scale Environment
Upon landing in Newman, the students eagerly collected their safety gear before immersing themselves in the world of modern mining. Their first stop included a laboratory tour where they observed robots with names like Grabby McGrabs performing repetitive tasks, showcasing the increasing role of automation in the industry.
The highlight for many was the journey to Mt Whaleback, home to one of the world's largest open-cut iron ore mines. Students gazed into the enormous pit, stretching 5 kilometres long and 1.5 kilometres wide, where autonomous haul trucks appeared toy-like from the viewing distance. The group witnessed a blast orchestrated specifically for their visit, quickly retreating to buses to avoid the resulting dust clouds.
Back at the workshop, seeing haul trucks and bulldozers up close provided a true sense of the machinery's immense scale. William West, an 11-year-old from Gingin, declared the experience "awesome," particularly enjoying the live blasts and the chance to sit inside a bulldozer.
More Than Just a Field Trip
For the educators involved, the excursion represented far more than just a day away from school. Irene McCormack College assistant deputy principal Stuart Whelan emphasised the importance of such enrichment experiences, while Attadale Primary School teacher Rebecca Armstrong noted the valuable "connections to real world learning" the students gained.
The competition itself was student-driven, with 13-year-old Tiarne Connell from Irene McCormack College writing the script for her class's winning video. "I just wanted to win the trip for our class because I thought it would be a good opportunity," she explained.
Rod Ballinger, BHP Newman Operations general manager, said hosting the students was about sparking curiosity and showcasing potential career paths. "Seeing them take in the scale and innovation of our operations has been a real highlight," he stated. "Their excitement reminds us why these interactions matter."
For the Gingin students, many of whom woke as early as 3 am to begin their journey, the trip carried special significance. Ms Bowen noted it helped dismantle the perception that city opportunities are superior, showing her students that "the options for them are the same" and that they are "just as good" as their metropolitan peers.
