McArthur River Mine steps in to help apprentices

OUT of the sad demise of long-time Darwin business Mobile Electrics, a tale of good fortune has emerged for young apprentice Blake Cooper

Darwin’s Blake Cooper has scored a job with McArthur River Mine after losing his job with Mobile Electrics when it closed.

OUT of the sad demise of long-time Darwin business Mobile Electrics, a tale of good fortune has emerged for young apprentice Blake Cooper.

Left with no employer the second-year electrical refrigeration apprentice faced an uncertain future.

Apart from fearing he would not be able to finish his apprenticeship, he had bills to be met. He was even contemplating selling his boat and leaving Darwin.

READ MORE: MOBILE ELECTRIC GOES INTO LIQUIDATION

That all changed when he got a call from McArthur River Mine (MRM) offering him the opportunity to finish his apprenticeship at the mine site, flying in and out of Darwin.

“I thought I’d get another job but I didn’t think it would happen so quickly,” Blake said.

Blake is one of two former Mobile Electrics apprentices who have been picked up by McArthur River Mine.

For Blake, it was a double bonus. Not only is he able to finish his apprenticeship, but he is doing it in an industry he always wanted to work in.

“What I really wanted to do when I started was something in mining,” he said.

“But it didn’t work out at the time.”

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Blake moved from Tasmania to Darwin two years ago because he saw opportunities in the Territory that were not available for young people in his home state.

“My mum was living in Darwin and said this was the place to be,” he said.

“I’m glad I am able to stay here now.”

Blake said while he was getting used to working 12-hour days, he loved the friendliness of the people he is now working with at MRM.

“I’ve only been here a short time but everyone has been great,” he said.

Blake started with MRM in September working two weeks on, two weeks off.