Resources Technology Showcase 2021: Hedland high school student John Paul Paningbatan Jr enjoys huge day out

The Welshpool Rotary Club have flown a Year 10 student more than 1600km to this year’s Resources Technology Showcase event.

Hedland Senior High School student John Paul Paningbatan Jr and his father John Paul spent the day at the event at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre yesterday.

John Paul Jr said the experience started after taking a robotics class at school last year.

“I really enjoyed it and I learnt a lot in that class,” he said.

“My teacher came to me earlier this year and told me I had been selected to go to Perth to see the showcase.”

Telstra is one of 23 companies that have an activation at the event and said when they heard John Paul Jr’s story, they wanted to be part of his day.

Telstra Group executive, product and technology Kim Krogh Andersen said kids such as John Paul Jr were the reason the company got involved in events like the RTS 2021.

“We are here so we can engage and teach kids, but also so we can learn from them,” he said.

“Resources are a big part of Australia and we want to inspire and motivate kids to boost the State’s capabilities in future industries.”

RTS2021 is a free event that is open to the public. It finishes today at 4.30pm.