For Jaru man Aldo—more formally known as Eldean Macale—returning to live in Halls Creek with his partner Dilly and five children was a dream come true. "This land is where I want my children to grow up, it's special to me," he says, reflecting on the move back to the East Kimberley.
Aldo grew up in Kununurra and Wyndham and embarked on his career with a carpentry scholarship at the Argyle Diamond Mine immediately after high school. His ten years with the mine saw him transition from carpentry to plant production, a shift that later led him and his family to Port Hedland, where he took up a role with the mining giant Fortescue. — in Halls Creek.
However, the pull of his homeland in the East Kimberley was strong. After seven years, Aldo and his family returned to Halls Creek. "I wanted my kids to grow up on their country, their land; I wanted them to be home," he explains.
Leaving the mining industry, Aldo began a new chapter as a field worker for the Department of Communities. This led him to domestic violence prevention roles with Yura Yungi, where his natural leadership abilities eventually saw him rise to the position of manager. "Helping my people, guiding them through tough times, has always been my calling," he says.
Now Aldo is starting a new chapter as the Manager of Sports and Recreation for the Shire of Halls Creek. The role will allow him to mentor local youth, steering them away from crime and into constructive activities like hunting, fishing, sports, and games. A well-known local footy coach, he is looking forward to the formal reopening of the Oval next year. "I can’t wait to see the kids out there, playing, growing stronger." he says.
