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SKA-Low field technicians begin important work on Wajarri Country
from Contact 15
BY SEBASTIAN NEUWEILER (SKAO)
The team tasked with the enormous technical challenge of building and installing the more than 130,000 antennas of the SKA-Low telescope have started their critical work in Western Australia.
The initial group of field technicians are the first employees hired in technical roles to build the antennas on site at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory.
A particular effort has been made to encourage Wajarri Yamaji applicants, and currently 70% of the field technicians are Wajarri employees.
They are part of a unique 12-month programme, co-designed and delivered by the SKAO with CSIRO, representatives from the Wajarri community and Central Regional Technical and Further Education institute in Geraldton, which provides the field technicians not only with the skills to build the telescope but also ensures the technicians will have long-term benefit through skills applicable to the telecommunications and mining industries, which are highly active in the area.
SKA-Low Field Technician Lockie Ronan said working in the region where his parents and grandparents are from has helped him feel closer to his heritage.
“It’s very meaningful for me to work out here. I feel close to the land and my culture,” he said.
“I think it opens a lot of doors for young Indigenous people to come out here and connect with the land and maybe appreciate the Country a bit more.
“My parents and grandparents are proud to know I’m out here working on this project on my pop’s land.”
SKA-Low Head of Engineering Operations Angela Teale said: “It’s just so exciting to have our field technicians actually on site working, putting antennas together and installing them to become part of the telescope. I am over the moon that Wajarri make up over 70% of the team.
“One of the field technicians’ grandfathers told me that once the Wajarri get back on the land, the land will begin to bloom. I just thought that was one of the most beautiful things.”
