Hi Everyone!
How cool is it that a rocket ship is about to blast off into space from our region?
I am so excited to see this incredible project finally take-off (literally!) and I think it will be a game changer for not only Bowen, but our entire region.
It will invigorate a new stream of tourism, create a bunch of highly-skilled jobs and put Bowen on the map both nationally and globally.
I was chatting with our Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, earlier this week and he is absolutely pumped to see a project that he first supported when he was Whitsunday Mayor, finally come to fruition.
I also had the opportunity to talk to the Director and Founder of Gilmour Space Technologies, James Gilmour, this week and it was great to hear that he loves the region as much as we do – in fact he is in the process of moving to Bowen!
For somebody so incredibly intelligent and innovative, a leader of the biggest space tech company in Australia, James is a really down to earth guy and easy to talk with.
10 years ago, he started the company with just 12 staff and it now employs almost 200 people and is worth $605 million – what a ride it must have all been for him and his brother Adam!
What I really liked about James when I spoke to him is that Bowen is not just somewhere with the right geography for his Orbital Spaceport, it is also somewhere he loves and a place he wants to immerse himself.
Wherever possible he uses local suppliers, he has already invested more than $10 million in the town and works closely with the Juru Traditional Landowners.
For him, doing business is more than just numbers, ambition and results – it’s about a deeper meaning, creating a legacy and bringing everyone along for the ride!
Rach
Quote of the Week: “We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise, why else even be here?” (Steve Jobs)
