Big turnout for showcase on live TV

Despite the early hour, the Karratha Quarter lawn was a hive of activity at 2.30am on Friday as hundreds of residents turned out to represent their community on live national television.

About 250 people of all ages came along to support a local live broadcast by Channel 7 breakfast program Sunrise, organised by the Karratha and Districts Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in what the visiting crew said was the biggest crowd they had ever had at a town visit.

The segment featured Sunrise weather presenter Sam Mac speaking to a host of local personalities during live crosses, interspersed with footage of Rio Tinto facilities, rock art on the Burrup Peninsula, and the Dampier Archipelago’s scenic islands from the crew’s earlier tour of the district. Mac said it was a rare trip to northern WA for the crew and they had been impressed by the warm reception they received.

“At most places we go people are happy to see us, but to get this amount of people, due to the time difference — people getting here at two in the morning, kids coming down here with their parents and making signs — we love that,” he said.

“It’s good for us, it makes us feel nice that we’re welcome here, but it’s also great for Karratha because it shows that Karratha has a community focus and people who are up and at it and want to showcase the region and are proud of (it).”

Mac said he had found the region had a lot more to offer than only mining and hoped the broadcast would help showcase its tourist appeal to a national audience.

Outgoing KDCCI chief executive John Lally said he was thrilled with the turn-out and thanked everyone who had come along to show their support.

“I think it shows the true community spirit of of Karratha, the fact that people made the effort,” he said.

“Most people just wouldn’t make the effort so it’s been amazing.”