New leadership for seafarers centre

Port Hedland Seafarers Centre has started a new reign with chaplain Alan Mower stepping down in his leadership role.

New operations manager Chris Towsey has been learning the ropes over the past few months in preparation for Mr Mower’s bittersweet departure.

Mr Mower, who has been chaplain of the centre for the past six years, said he would be sad to leave the organisation he had put so much hard work into but was excited for the future.

He said the mission had got to the stage where he felt it was time to hand over the reins.

“I think it requires another stage of leadership to continue to take it forward and to continue to hang on to it would stifle to growth of the centre,” he said. Mr Mower is travelling with his wife, Maria, seeing both the world and Australia.

Mr Towsey, however, has been putting the skills he has developed in his 40-year mining career to work and finding his place in the well-loved seafarers centre.

“I’m taking over a business that’s in very good shape, has a brilliant future and is on a very good foundation, both financially and in terms of management systems.

“So from that point of view, it’s a good system to come into.

“There’s a future for it (the centre) and there’s also room for improvement.”

The upcoming developments are critical to determining what direction the centre will take next, according to Mr Towsey, but the bottom line is caring for seafarers.

“The seafarers are our prime focus,” he said.

However, Mr Towsey does invite the public to come down to the centre and discover the opportunities available to the public such as mining tours and volunteer positions

“We’re open 365 days a year and we welcome all visitors,” he said.