Rahim bin Hitam - Tour Guide

Tell us a little about yourself...

Well, I am a local indigenous man, born in Derby but have now spent most of my life living in Broome. My family has always been around this area and like many other Indigenous people from Broome I have a strong connection to the pearling and the old shelling industries. A lot of my older relatives worked within both trades so it was fitting that I would end up working with pearls as well.
 
As a Tour Guide in Broome, what does your job entail?

This is a hard one to narrow down as over my 9 years with Willie Creek I have done just about everything there is to do within the business. Currently I would say my main role is a Tour Guide but if need be, I could comfortably step into any one of several roles.
 
This could lead to me having a day selling pearls in one of our showrooms, answering calls on the company bookings phone or my personal favourite, chipping shell with the pearling crew out on our sea lease.
 
Tell us how you started working for Willie Creek Pearls?

I almost fell into the job to be honest; I had graduated High School at the end of 2011 and was not sure what I wanted to do. Then one day I had a call from the Broome Clontarf Football Academy, which I was involved with in school, around the middle of the following year. They had told me there was a possible part time job available at our old Pearl Luggers Café and I thought I would give it a go. Nine years later I am still here having worked my way up through the business and still enjoying it just as much.
 
What is the best part about your job?

This is another one that is hard to narrow down, doing tours is always so fulfilling especially seeing how much people have enjoyed themselves and the faces when we harvest an amazing pearl are priceless. From a more personal point of view, I would say that being involved with the pearling side of the business has been the most interesting part of my time here. That includes everything from going out to sea with the boats to looking over the technician’s shoulder and seeing some amazing pearls being harvested.
 
What is the toughest part of your job?

I would have to say it is having to think very quickly on your feet and adapt to certain situations because things can change very quickly within Tourism and in Pearling. I would say this is not necessarily a tough thing, but it can be a challenge as to how quickly you can adapt and still give an amazing experience.

What is your favourite thing about working with pearls?

I think I have answered this above.
 
What do you find so special about Australian South Sea Cultured Pearls?

I partly answer this below.
 
What is the most surprising thing you have learnt about Pearls or Pearling?

I think it would be how unique each one truly is. Before id started with the company and even in my early months here, I would have been guilty of thinking they all looked the same. Also, just how much work goes into running and maintaining an operating pearl farm, I’m constantly amazed at the effort it takes to look after our oysters so that we can get the best possible product.