Insights

Gudamulli (Hello in Darumbal language), my name is Jacob White. 

I am a proud to share my story and history with Aurizon for this year’s NAIDOC celebrations. 

I’m a proud Darumbal/Iman man who currently works as a Network Controller on Darumbal Country in Rockhampton, Queensland. 

My grandmother is a Darumbal Elder from the region of Rockhampton whose totem is the Green Tree Frog, and my grandfather is an Iman Elder from the region of Taroom with the Freshwater Turtle being his totem. It is a privilege being a part of two tribal groups with so much history which I will be able to pass down to my children.

I started my career with Aurizon in 2009 as an Operational Maintainer for two years in Mt Isa which is the traditional land of the Kalkadoon people. 

I was then lucky enough to obtain a traineeship as a train driver based in Brisbane where I worked for seven years. 

After working in Brisbane, an opportunity came up to work as a Cultural Heritage Officer West of Taroom on Iman country. 

In 2021, my wife and I were blessed with our first child, and I took an opportunity that came up in Aurizon’s Network Control Centre in Rockhampton so I could spend more time with family at home.

While working in the Control Centre I was given an opportunity to be a part of Aurizon’s Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) where I have been able to meet new and interesting people while also being able to share traditional knowledge and understanding to fellow colleagues. 

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is ‘For our Elders’, where we want to celebrate and honour our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders for being our cultural knowledge holders. It is a week to celebrate what our Elders have passed down to future generations. 

This year I will attending various events around Rockhampton for the week and of course attending the NAIDOC March for this year’s festivities.

I would like to encourage everyone to take some time and reach out to attend NAIDOC Week celebrations across the country.