Apprentice mechanic Keenan Matsumoto hits milestone as younger brother Nathaniel starts work on same site

Two brothers from the Beagle Bay remote community are on the road to becoming mechanics, training with Kimberley Regional Service Providers in Broome. Keenan Matsumoto has hit a significant milestone in his apprenticeship after receiving his first toolkit as his younger brother Nathaniel starts work experience on the same site. Keenan started his mechanic apprenticeship a year ago with KRSP, which provides essential services such as power and water as well as municipal services to many remote communities around the Kimberley. But this isn’t Keenan’s first time spinning a spanner, as he has been around and worked on cars his whole life. “Back at home, growing up and hanging around with the older cousins and uncles and doing some bush mechanic work on their cars and seeing all of that gave me an interest in it,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to do it for years and finally have gotten the opportunity to do it, starting last year in October and now I’ve just finished my first block of TAFE. “It’s really good here; you’re not just stuck in a workshop — we’re always doing something different or going to different places.” KRSP associate director Rob Imber said there were plenty of opportunities to learn different mechanic skills during an apprenticeship with KRSP. “He might be working on a loader and then the next day he might be working on a 20-tonne digger or a generator that provides power to an entire remote community,” he said. “There’s an opportunity to do more than just work on light vehicles.” Nathaniel, 16, is following in his older brother’s footsteps by starting his work experience program for school on the same KRSP site as Keenan. “I’m enjoying it so far,” Nathaniel said. Keenan said Nathaniel, who also grew up working on cars in Beagle Bay, would likely go on to become a mechanic as well. “Nathaniel is going down the same track after watching me start my apprenticeship,” he said. Mr Imber said KRSP had mechanics based in remote communities all over the Kimberley. “We employ lots of mechanics, not just Broome-based mechanics but mechanics in the field as well,” he said. “In Beagle Bay, we in fact have two Aboriginal guys that are both mechanics already, so they can provide mentoring to Keenan.” Mr Imber said it was a great opportunity to train up new apprentices while keeping them in their home communities where they could provide service to their community. “That’s where the opportunity to take someone like Keenan on as an apprentice comes in and we can keep him based primarily in his community,” he said. “Which brings different challenges but it lets us go to him rather than the age-old thing of bringing him into town to study. “And that works for him and works for his family network, so that’s what we’re trying to achieve.” Keenan said he looked forward to finishing his apprenticeship and seeing what other opportunities were out there.