THE Anglican Archbishop of Perth Roger Herft has announced the appointment of a woman raised in Northam as the next assistant bishop in the diocese.
Kate Wilmot, currently rector of the parish of Bayswater since 2009, will be consecrated at St George's Cathedral in Perth on August 6.
She is the daughter of the late John and Ann Wilmot who still lives at Clackline.
Born in Darwin, Ms Wilmot came to the Northam area with her family when she was 10 and attended school at Bakers Hill and Northam Senior High.
She worked as a computer typesetter at Midwest Print and Impressions West in Northam, before becoming a research student in the English Department at the University of Western Australia.
This was followed by an honours degree in divinity majoring in systematic theology at Murdoch University.
Ms Wilmot was made a deacon in 1999 and ordained as a priest the following year.
Her first appointment was as assistant curate in Northam.
From 2001 to 2009 she was priest-in-charge at Ballajura, before moving to Bayswater later that year.
In 2004, Ms Wilmot became an Army Reserve chaplain, a position she will continue to hold.
She became a canon of St George's Cathedral in 2008.
Her appointment was unanimously supported by the Diocesan Council at its May 7 meeting.
As a bishop, Ms Wilmot will be responsible for the southern region of Perth.
She said she was "humbled and privileged".
"It will be a huge learning curve," Ms Wilmot said.
"I am warmed by people's confidence and trust."
