February 2, 2025
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By Michael Worthington, Director of Worthy Group
The Kalgoorlie Goldfields is full of people who are passionate about our town. I see it every day in business, in sports, and in our community groups. But lately, that passion has started turning into something much more divisive and toxic. Our leaders, both new and experienced, are being dragged down by personal attacks and relentless criticism.
I’m just as frustrated as anyone when it comes to the challenges our town is facing—especially the ongoing antisocial behavior. It’s making it harder for people to want to live and work here. For too long, this issue has been impacting our safety, businesses, and sense of community. I understand that frustration. But if we’re serious about improving Kalgoorlie and the Goldfields, we need to stop tearing each other apart and instead focus on hard, thought-out solutions. It’s a line-in-the-sand moment: we need real change, and we won’t get there by hurling blame or insults.
Recently, our new Kalgoorlie Mayor, Glenn, has found himself under fire. He’s been an employee of ours for several years before taking on the mayor position, and I’ve seen firsthand how dedicated and passionate he is about this community. The criticism he’s receiving comes with the job, sure, but the personal attacks and negativity online? That’s not helpful. He’s stepping into a tough role at a challenging time, and rather than throwing stones from the sidelines, maybe we should be asking him directly to explain some of these issues or decisions which have been made. I’m not defending any of these issues, but I assume you’ll find it probably has some complexity to it.
This problem isn’t just about Glenn. Other leaders in our community, like John Bowler, Ali Kent, and James Trail, are also facing the same kind of backlash. I’ve worked closely with John on several community projects, including more recently on the board of the Goldfields Giants Basketball team. He gave years of service to Kalgoorlie and has copped years of abuse online, but had the courage to push forward bold ideas, like a man-made beach/lake. Many mocked the idea, but think about it—creating more livable spaces for families could have huge potential for our future. It’s the kind of thinking we need to attract people to live here long-term. I’d encourage anyone to meet John and chat to him before you make claims or assumptions about him.
Ali Kent, our local member of parliament, faces constant criticism over antisocial behavior in town, recent gun law changes, and the South Coast Marine Park. I’m not saying I don’t feel just as passionately about some of these issues as others, but these are obviously complex problems involving far more stakeholders than just Ali. Despite that, she’s fought to secure funding and support for Kalgoorlie, which we can’t ignore….yet she then gets criticised for “trying to buy votes” – You’re dammed if you do, you’re dammed if you don’t!!!
James Trail, the CEO of the Coolgardie Shire, is also under fire amid complaints made about him. I don’t know any of the specific details in the matter, so I will reserve the right to wait and see what comes from it – But regardless of these recent claims, in my own experience I’ve seen the positive impacts of his passion and hunger for developing the Coolgardie Shire – Plus his involvement in the Goldfields Cricket and Soccer community over the years. He might be at times controversial, but from what I’ve witnessed he’s driven critical infrastructure projects that have supported local businesses and the wider community.
Here’s the thing: I know how passionate people are about improving our town. I’m just as invested in Kalgoorlie’s future as anyone. But no one wins when we’re constantly at each other’s throats. Our leaders are human. They’re not perfect, but they’re trying to steer us forward in an environment where tough decisions have to be made. Criticising from the comfort of a keyboard is easy—actually working for change is not.
Kalgoorlie’s challenges aren’t unique. I’ve been fortunate enough with work to travel around the world, and the towns that succeed do so because their communities come together to solve their problems. Livability is key. If we want families to move here and stay, we need to make Kalgoorlie a place where they feel safe and supported. That won’t happen if all we do is fight amongst ourselves.
This isn’t about avoiding tough conversations—we need to have them. But it’s about the way we have them. We can be direct without being destructive. We can hold leaders accountable without tearing them down. Let’s ask ourselves: how are we contributing to the solution? Are we building or just complaining?
We’ve got big opportunities ahead. The million-dollar Golden Saddle slot race is a huge coup for our town, and set to bring a surge of visitors and tourism to Kalgoorlie. Other major events, the Coolgardie Rodeo and the Kalgoorlie Desert Race, have become national success stories thanks to the hard work and dedication of local business owners and organisers. It’s proof that when people work together, something truly special can be created.
But here’s something to reflect on: some of the loudest critics are key players in our town. I respect everyone’s passion, but I’d also remind them of the importance of mutual support. I don’t think any of us are without our own problems. We all have our own struggles or issues we are dealing with, maybe just not so public. So maybe it’s time to think twice before casting stones without genuine solutions.
Kalgoorlie has the potential to be so much more. Let’s harness our passion to drive progress. Let’s focus on solutions and come together to build a brighter, stronger future for our town.
See below the man made beach with shops, restaurants and bars in the Brisbane CBD – Not such a ridiculous concept for our town surely??
