The past and present came together to secure the future of Wujal Wujal’s storytelling through dance – including one not performed for nearly 40 years – during a four-day camp last week. Story – Page 2
Call for inquest into disappearance
‘Doesn’t
The sister of the woman convicted of a 2012 murder in a remote part of Cape York is petitioning the Queensland Parliament for an inquest into Bruce Schuler’s disappearance. Report – Page 3
Photo: Thomas Salpietro
2pm
Region to pause for Anzac Day services
AT the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
Communities across Cape York and the Torres Strait will pause on Friday to commemorate the incredible contributions of military personnel when a range of Anzac Day events are held across the region.
Weipa RSL sub-branch president Lloyd Williams said the day’s events would start with the traditional march from the skate park to Memorial Square for the dawn service, before the barbecues were fired up for a gunfire
breakfast the entire township was welcome to attend.
“The gunfire breakfast on Anzac Day is our major fundraising effort,” he said.
“Everyone is welcome to take part.”
Mr Williams added he believed Cape York’s proximity to south-east Asia meant it was even more vital the efforts of past and present military personnel were acknowledged every 25 April.
“The area is of vital importance to the defence of Australia, both militarily and with respect
to biosecurity. Protection of the Cape is vital, and history tells us the efforts that were made to keep it this way; the local Indigenous people went out of their way to help where they could –some served,” he said.
A big crowd is expected at the Weipa Bowls Club in the afternoon for the annual two-up showdown, with the club set to match fundraising efforts of the sub-branch during the event.
“It’s just an important day to commemorate and the club’s definitely happy to help out where it can,” operations man-
ager Karen Phillips told Cape York Weekly
“The club will open from 1pm, and we’ll kick the two-up off from about 2pm.”
In Cooktown, a dawn service will be held at 6am in William Daku Park, with the those wanting to participate in the main service march asked to assemble at the Cooktown RSL Memorial Club at 10:15am before a second service in Anzac Park at 11am.
To find out what’s happening in your community, check out your local council’s Facebook page.
Traditional dance revival gives voice to Wujal kids
By CHISA HASEGAWA
WHEN it comes to healing and reviving culture, speaking isn’t the only way you can have a voice – it can be heard through dancing, too.
Wujal Wujal’s children reconnected with their culture last week during a four-day dance revival camp, where they learned a traditional dance – which hasn’t been danced since 1986 – with Sacred Creations Dance Troupe choreographer Tamara Pearson.
HAMBELL PLUMBING
The activity was part of the Kuku Balkal Kaykayanda (Giving Words to All the Children) project, which kicked off last year in an effort to foster resilience and promote healing after Tropical Cyclone Jasper through creative engagement.
Part of that, Wujal Justice Group youth justice program coordinator Susan Bonaccorsi said, was strengthening and maintaining young people’s interest and connection to their culture.
“It’s very important that we try and keep it strong, because especially after the cyclone, we were realising that they were losing that connection. We’re really concentrating on learning the language, and learning the old songlines and the dancing,” she said.
Ms Bonaccorsi said engaging the older youth was always challenging, but focusing on the younger children was helping to break the cycle of cultural disconnect.
“It’s been happening for a long time that they’ve slowly been slipping away, because the
young ones are losing interest,” she said.
“Now, the little ones are very keen; you see their eyes come alive, they’re so excited.
“They’re so happy, and not only that, but the Elders are also extremely happy that they’re learning this song and dance.”
Kuku Balkal Kaykayanda, led by the Creative Recovery Network Tropical North partnership, including the Regional Arts Services Network, has delivered multiple creative activities to keep Wujal Wujal, Rossville and Cooktown youth engaged during the school holidays.
Wujal Wujal children reconnect with their culture through a traditional dance that has been forgotten for almost 40 years. Photo: Thomas Salpietro.
Palmerville murderer’s sister calling for inquest
By LYNDON KEANE
THE sister of the woman convicted of the 2012 murder of Bruce Schuler in a remote part of Cape York is petitioning the Queensland Parliament for a coronial inquest into the disappearance of the gold prospector.
Mr Schuler, 48, was last seen on Palmerville Station, about 70 kilometres south-west of Laura, on 9 July 2012 while searching for gold with fellow prospectors
Daniel Bidner, Tremain Anderson and Kevin Groth.
The leaseholders of the 134,000-hectare property, Stephen Struber and his wife, Dianne Wilson-Struber, were arrested and charged with the prospector’s murder days after his disappearance, but were released after a “forensic examination did not reveal any evidence of interest to police”.
On 30 October 2012, the pair was rearrested and charged with the murder of Mr Schuler and misconduct of a corpse, despite the missing man’s body having never been found.
Nearly three years later, on 24 July 2015, Mr Struber and Ms Wilson-Struber were convicted in the Supreme Court of Queensland in Cairns and both sentenced to life imprisonment.
One of Ms Wilson-Struber’s four sisters, Mareeba resident Sharon Ferguson, said she had started the online petition –for which she hopes to garner 10,000 signatures – because she believed there were too many questions about the disappearance, the prosecution of her sister and brother-in-law, and a subsequent 2016 non-coronial inquest.
“I don’t accept the coroner’s report,” she said.
“She (Northern Coroner Nerida Wilson) said he (Mr Schuler) died of a shotgun wound, but there wasn’t even a shotgun involved, plus, I think she just went off the court findings.
“I’m not trying to stir anyone up, but I thought this can’t hurt, because we all want answers to what happened to Bruce, and I hope it can get some closure for them (Mr Schuler’s family) and bring him home, and for us as well – it must be hell on earth for them.”
In her findings, Coroner Wilson said Mr Schuler was “likely to have died from shotgun wounds inflicted by Stephen Struber and/or Dianne Rose Wilson-Struber” and “likely to have died at Palmerville Station”, “likely … on 9 July 2012”.
“The precise circumstances of his death are unknown,” the report reads.
Ms Ferguson told Cape York
Weekly she believed the only way to provide closure for those involved was for the State Government to approve a coronial inquest nearly 13 years after Mr Schuler’s disappearance.
“To me, I don’t know too much about the law, but I thought their job was to find the truth, and a lot of stuff just didn’t add up,” she said.
“I believe in my sister’s innocence and I’m just trying for whatever I can, and I want to know what happened, and I’m sure the Schulers, I don’t know them, but I’m sure they would want to know as well.”
Cape York Weekly reached out to Mr Schuler’s wife, Fiona Splitt, who did not respond to
inquiries about whether she supported the petition.
Former detective and the podcaster behind Where is Bruce Schuler, Graeme Crowley, echoed Ms Ferguson’s sentiment about the need for a coronial inquest and criticised the convictions of the former Palmerville Station leaseholders.
“I’ve got very great concerns, grave concerns, about these convictions; I think there is a problem with these convictions. I don’t think they were honest or fair convictions, based on the research I’ve done,” he said.
You can sign the petition by going to www.parliament.qld. gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/ Petitions/Current-EPetitions.
Sharon Ferguson says she is “not trying to stir anyone up” with her petition to the Queensland Parliament for a coronial inquest into the disappearance of 48-year-old Bruce Schuler (inset) on Cape York’s Palmerville Station, for which her sister Dianne Wilson-Struber (main picture) is currently serving a life sentence for murder.
Join RDA Tropical North and TMR for an open forum and Q&A session about Stage 2 and to share your views on Stage 3 road package priorities.
3 – 5pm Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Dowling backing Palmer party to promote change
By LYNDON KEANE
HE’S tackled some fearsome challenges on the paddock, but Greg Dowling says nothing will be as hard as the fight he will put into representing Cape York and Torres Strait voters if they give him the nod as the new Member for Leichhardt.
The former rugby league prop, who was capped 11 times for Queensland and 12 times for his country, now also has more than 25 years’ experience as a small business owner on his scorecard and said he would be on the ground in the northernmost part of the seat battling for residents and businesses crippled by cost of living pressures.
Weipa Town Authority –Council Chambers, Hibberd Drive, Weipa REGISTER HERE or contact Lainie Poon Ph 07 4041 1729 engage@rdatropicalnorth.org.au
C O O K T O W N S E S
OPEN DAY
“I know what it takes to make a small business successful but, mind you, it is getting harder and harder,” he said after being announced as the candidate for Clive Palmer’s new Trumpet of Patriots (TOP) party.
“We need to work together with the local council and the state, and me as federal, and work together; we need to get the local businesses involved as well and … try to get some solutions – you can’t stay in Cairns and abandon them (the Cape and Torres Strait) because that’s not really having your interests at heart.”
Mr Dowling, who contested the electorate of Herbert for the United Australia Party in 2019 and 2022, said he was now challenging in Leichhardt and said he believed the region needed a shift from the two major parties after almost three decades of stewardship by former MP Warren Entsch.
“I’ve moved back up here and I’m back in Cairns, so I just thought I’d throw my hat in the ring because I think I’ve got something to offer the people of Leichhardt,” he said.
“I think after 26 years of Liberal reign, they need someone to fight for them; all the things that get promised stay in the city and this is what’s going to happen again – we’ve got to try and stop the two-party monopoly.”
Mr Dowling said he believed key infrastructure – including improved health facilities, sea walls in the Torres Strait to combat rising sea levels and a sports academy in the Northern Peninsula Area – was critical to stabilising the region and stimulating economic growth, as was the development of agricultural alternatives like biofuel.
He slammed former federal and state gov-
ernments for neglecting the Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) and said “enough was enough” when it came to remote infrastructure being relegated to the bottom of the priority list.
“That’s one of the things I want to bring to the Cape, the infrastructure needed,” he said.
“It (the PDR) definitely should have been completed; we’re in 2025, not 1930, that’s the sad part.
“They’ve been overlooked for so long –enough is enough.
“It’s a great area up there, and its only getting busier and busier; the world’s your oyster on the Cape.”
When asked about the criticism surrounding Mr Palmer and his colourful political past, Mr Dowling praised the TOP party boss and said he believed tall poppy syndrome was to blame for much of the opposition aimed at the outspoken billionaire.
“It’s the typical Aussie agenda with the tall poppy syndrome, and that’s where Clive flirts it to the hilt – he loves it,” Mr Dowling said.
“He’s got Australia’s fate at heart, he really has, that’s why I’m running – I’ve got faith in him.”
Mr Dowling will bring up the rear on the ballot paper after drawing 10th spot in the 10-man race for Leichhardt.
ANZAC DAY
FRIDAY APRIL 25
WEIPA DAWN SERVICE
March to leave Weipa Skate Park at 0525 for Memorial Square, with the ceremony to commence immediately after the march has been completed
There will be a gunfire breakfast following the ceremony, with all Weipa residents and visitors invited to attend
Former rugby league player and business owner Greg Dowling is having his third tilt at federal politics and is representing Clive Palmer’s new Trumpet of Patriots on the Leichhardt ballot.
Aurukun artist to share legacy at Canberra exhibition
THE legacy of an Aurukun family will travel to Canberra after a community artist was selected to present his work at one of the country’s most prestigious First Nations exhibitions.
Sculptor and painter Alair Pambegan has been named one of 10 artists unveiling their work at this year’s iteration of the National Indigenous Art Triennial.
Hosted by the National Gallery of Australia, the exhibition has showcased more than 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists since its inception in 2007.
The fifth iteration, After the Rain, will present new immersive projects that resonate with the idea
of rebirth and cycles of cleansing, and celebrate inter-generational legacies and cultural warriors of the past, present and future.
“This is the biggest opportunity Alair has had since his father and he collaborated with contemporary artist Tony Albert back in 2016,” Wik and Kugu Arts Centre manager Gabriel Waterman said.
“This is big for Alair and his children; culture needs to be practiced and handed down to the next generation, which is another great outcome of this exhibition; Alair’s son has been involved in helping with production, along with Tony Albert, who is the lead curator for this year’s Triennial.”
Mr Pambegan, whose works are based on sculptural and painting traditions passed on by his father, said he would be going all out for the opportunity.
“I will be exhibiting the flying fox story in a big gallery in Canberra,” he said.
“This will be the largest artwork that I’ve ever done, and could be the largest of its kind in Australia.
“The flying fox story is about ceremony, and the ancient traditions passed to us from our old people since the dawn of time.”
Mr Waterman said the artist’s unique work, driven by the teachings of his father, got him the spot in the flagship exhibition.
“Alair’s father was a famous lore man and artist; he travelled the world with his art and taught Alair the ins and outs of what it takes to practice and share culture in the 21st century,” he said.
“Alair’s art practice is unlike any form in Australia or the world; the colours and particular carvings of the totemic flying fox and bonefish are only found on Alair’s Country.
“This, along with his father’s legacy, is why he has been selected as an artist in this year’s Triennial.”
After the Rain will open on 6 December and tour nationally after its presentation in Canberra.
– story by Chisa Hasegawa
Hope Vale fashion makes catwalk
By CHISA HASEGAWA
A FASHION collaboration seven years in the making is helping Hope Vale community members of all ages feel proud to wear their culture.
Since 2018, the Hope Vale Arts and Culture Centre has worked in collaboration with the Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) fashion department, bringing together students’ design skills with community Elders’ artistic prowess.
For the first time, QUT was able to bring students to Hope Vale to watch the artists work on their garments as they prepared for the 16 April community fashion show.
Centre manager Melanie Gibson said artists, students and faculty had met before, but that it was special to have them in community and show them the workspace.
“I actually felt proud that they came to our community and to our arts centre, and kind of see that we have so little, but such beautiful things come out of here,” she said.
Third-year student Lillian MacNevin said the community visit inspired her, and helped her feel the connection between clothing and art.
“It’s a very different experience learning about it online and learning about it from a teacher, versus coming here and meeting the artists, and hearing about the stories
that the art actually comes from,” she said.
“Being able to interact with them is so special and so inspirational, and you feel more connected to, also, your own work by getting to know the artists personally.”
Ms MacNevin said these kinds of meaningful collaborations could also help people understand the value and importance of clothing in a fast fashion era.
“I do think that a lot of people
have no idea how much effort actually goes into the clothing we make,” she said.
“Having the importance of the art even without the garment, and then turning it into a garment, I think, shows that story and the importance of it, and how much work is put into the clothes from both the artists and the students.”
QUT pro vice-chancellor entrepreneurship and regional innovation Professor Rowena Barrett said the visit helped to break down bar-
riers and encouraged students to step outside of their comfort zone.
“For our guys, none of them have been up here, I think the furthest one of them have ever been was Cairns; they don’t know the stories of an Indigenous community like the one here in Hope Vale,” she said.
The pieces made in this collaboration, along with some that were already made at the art centre, were modelled by Hope Vale’s youth during the fashion show.
“They were so proud to wear the dresses, and they came out of their shell, too, because some were shy,” Ms Gibson said.
“We also wanted boys on the runway, but we didn’t have any boys stuff left, so we put them in our T-shirts and hats, and afterwards, they asked, ‘can we keep our T-shirt?’
“I thought that was so lovely for them to want that T-shirt, and be proud to wear their Elders’ designs.”
Jaziel Gibson wearing a design by Queensland University of Technology student Marco D’Ambrosio with artwork by Wanda Gibson.
Aurukun artist Alair Pambegan has been selected to showcase his cultural stories at this year’s National Indigenous Art Triennial.
New adventure beckons for Cape’s ‘bible’ author
By LYNDON KEANE
SHE’S the exuberance and passion behind Cape York’s unofficial travel “bible”, and Tracy Sands has some exciting news for fans of her work – exploring the region is about to become her full-time addiction.
After launching the Explore Cape York website and first publishing the must-read guidebook of the same name four years ago while holding down a “proper job”, Ms Sands has announced she will be turning her focus towards developing the resource tens of thousands of tourists rely on each dry season as they embark on their northern adventure.
“I’ve chosen to do Explore Cape York full-time,” she told Cape York Weekly
“While I’ve been working for other places, I haven’t had time to do Explore Cape York anymore than I do now; I haven’t had time to visit everybody each year – I’ve been too busy.”
As she prepares to hit the road for the 2025 dry season with her trusted road trip companion, Cape York Kevin – a “cattle dog pug cross with a tonne of personality” – Ms Sands reflected on her catalyst for creating the website and guidebook now synonymous with trekking around the Cape.
“I just wanted to build a website because I felt sorry for people,” she said.
“They were coming up here for a holiday and just didn’t know anything about the place; there are some people who only want to go to the tip, that’s it, but they really miss out on so much.
“I think they don’t realise how much is up here; they get so confused and there’s so much misinformation out there on Facebook, so when they get the book, they’re just blown away, because they can read it and see it and get the facts.
“I absolutely love it, and it’s
not an ego thing for me, but I absolutely love it when people come to me and tell me they’ve bought the book and love it; the fact they’ve been to places they would have never been to and seen without the book is great.”
With plans for new eBooks, blogs about the Cape’s colourful history and exploring the region on the cards, Ms Sands urged locals and visitors to stop for a yarn if they saw her and Cape York Kevin out and about.
“Look out for us,” she said.
“My plan was to spend a month driving up; I want to be
approached and I want people to feel like they can come up and ask questions, take photos, and share photos.
“We’ve got a new Facebook page being launched this month as well – Cape York Kevin; Kevin’s the cutest dog in the word; everyone falls in love with him, and he’s allowed to give a dog’s eye view and perspective of the Cape I can’t.
“Basically, I just love the Cape and love sharing the Cape.”
And where does someone so passionate about an area as diverse as it is spectacular single
out as her favourite spot? “I call the NPA home, so it’s the NPA,” Ms Sands said.
“If I go away for six months or 12 months, or however long it is, it’s hugs, it’s excitement and it’s ‘I haven’t seen you in so long’ when I arrive back,” she said.
If you’ve been hiding under a rock while planning your Cape York adventure, you can get a feel for Ms Sands’ passion for the far north of the state – and get your hands on a copy of the book – by visiting www.explorecapeyork.com.au.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Cape man’s Cairns charges
POLICE have charged a 50-year-old Cape York man following an incident on McLeod Street in Cairns on 16 April.
It is alleged that at about 7:50pm, the man approached two 17-year-old girls sitting inside a vehicle and attempted to remove the key from the ignition.
Police further allege the driver tried to stop the man taking the key, when it broke off in the ignition and the man walked away.
Patrolling officers located the man walking along Florence Street at about 8pm. It is further alleged at the time of his arrest, the man had of a quantity of cannabis and a pair of scissors in his possession.
He was charged with one count each of unlawful entry of a vehicle, possess dangerous drugs and possess utensil used in connection with the administration of a dangerous drug. The man will appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on 1 May.
Symposium tickets on sale
WITH a red hot program and diverse range of business, industry, government and community leaders set to be in attendance, the 2025 Western Cape Futures Symposium is shaping up to be one of the must-do events of the year.
Delegates will converge on Weipa for the biennial event on 7-8 May, with plotting a vibrant, sustainable path forward for the western Cape York front and centre on the agenda.
Weipa Town Authority Chair Jaime Gane said the interest received from presenters and participants was “a clear indication of the strong appetite for this event and the value it brings to the region”.
A limited number of special locals rate tickets are available by using the code WCFSLOCAL when purchasing your ticket. To view the program, or to purchase your ticket, visit www.westerncapechamber. com.au/symposium.
Stolen vehicles, Cooktown
POLICE are calling for public assistance regarding two vehicles stolen in Cooktown over the past month.
On 29 March, a 2000 Toyota LandCruiser wagon – Queensland registration 32AO9 – was stolen from the south-eastern Cape York town, with a 2014 Great Wall utility –Queensland registration 091TST – stolen a week later on 6 April.
Anyone with information about either vehicle is urged to contact Cooktown police or Policelink on 13 14 44.
Explore Cape York creator Tracy Sands and her four-legged navigator, Cape York Kevin, are urging locals and tourists to stop and say hello to the pair as they embark on an epic northern road trip this dry season.
Monthly Community Update
Message from the Chair
Hi Weipa
I hope everyone had a great long weekend, whether you got out to do some fishing or camping, catching up with friends and family, or just enjoyed the time off (and maybe an Easter egg or two).
I feel like I say this every month, but it’s been a busy time for me over the last month.
Our Community Easter Markets and Showcase were a standout. Thank you to everyone who came along to get their phone with the Easter bunny and for supporting our amazing stall holders and community groups. Events like these really highlight what a special community we're part of.
We also wrapped up a hugely successful School Holiday Program. Over 130 kids got messy at the Slime session on the cricket oval, and 90 signed up to compete in the Handball Competition. The Library Ladies were also very busy, hosting a range of interactive programs and activities that kept the kids busy and creative throughout the
break. A big thank you to all the WTA staff for a huge effort.
The 8 Week Challenge also came to a close, and it was the most popular one yet, with all 60 spots selling out on day one. A massive congratulations to all the participants who gave it their all, especially our winner who made impressive strides with their fitness goals. The presentation night was a great way to celebrate everyone’s hard work, and we’re already looking forward to making the next round in late 2025 even better. Shout out to the WASP staff for hosting such a great event.
I participated in the Rio Tinto Community Forum, which gave residents the opportunity to ask questions and share feedback directly. I always appreciate members of the community taking the time to reach out and share their thoughts, so if there is something you’d like to raise or chat about, please don’t hesitate to do so, my door is always open.
The Western Cape Futures Symposium, hosted by the Western Cape Chamber of
The Weipa Aquatic and Sports Precinct (WASP) is excited to announce the launch of its brand-new Customer Portal, which went live on Tuesday, 15 April 2025. Powered by Xplor Recreation, the portal allows users to easily manage bookings, appointments, and memberships from their mobile, tablet, or computer.
Through the portal, you can book tennis and squash courts, poolside tables, group fitness classes, holiday programs, and more — all with real-time availability. You can also request facility hires, book body scans, and manage your crèche or Learn to Swim sessions. It’s your one-stop shop for everything WASP!
Get Ready to Roll for Ride2School Day
Students across Weipa will be putting their pedals to the pavement for Ride2School Day on Tuesday, 14 May. Just like last year, students are encouraged to ride, scoot, or walk to school, competing in a fun class-vs-class challenge. The class with the highest percentage of participants will be in the running to score awesome prizes!
The event is all about promoting healthy habits, physical activity, and a strong sense of community spirit. Whether on two wheels or two feet, it’s a great way for students to start the day active and connected.
Ride2School Wednesday 14 May
National Simultaneous Storytime @ Kumrumja Centre | Wednesday 21 May 10am - 12.30pm
6 to 8 – to chill out with a Pizza & Movie Night on Friday 23 May. Think good vibes, tasty pizza, and a movie with your mates. Whether you're after excitement or a night to relax, the WASP has your Friday sorted!
With something for everyone, these youth nights are shaping up to be the go-to events for Friday fun in Weipa!
CHAIR JAIME GANE
Recycled exhibit has RAW energy
By CHISA HASEGAWA
FROM lonely old shoes to the never-ending supply of plastic waste found on beaches, Cooktown School of Art Society’s (CSAS) second rendition of RAW is keeping unwanted junk out of the local landfill and turning it into art.
Taking on the theme of Flotsam for this year’s exhibition, CSAS partnered with environmental organisation South Cape York Catchments (SCYC) to encourage upcycling in the art space.
In early March, artists participated in a Walker Bay beach cleanup day led by SCYC, collecting materials to bring their environmentally conscious ideas to life for the exhibition, which opened on 11 April.
“I like to think of it as a collaboration, that we can help them by bringing awareness, and the artists
get to cherry-pick the rubbish for their work,” CSAS president Jane Dennis said.
“I think the not-for-profit groups are trying to work together, because there’s less and less volunteers to run these groups.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Weipa update on PDR
COMMUNITY members interested in having their say on priorities for stage three of the Cape York Region Package (CYRP) are invited to attend a taskforce meeting in Weipa on 6 May.
The meeting will allow the CYRP taskforce and Department of Transport and Main Roads to provide a project update, and seek input from attendees on what parts of the Peninsula Developmental Road should be prioritised once Federal Government funding is secured for the third stage. The meeting will be held at the Weipa Town Authority office on Hibberd Drive from 3-5pm.
To register to attend, email engage@ rdatropicalnorth.org.au or call 4041 1729.
Cooktown armed robbery
A 20-YEAR-OLD Cooktown woman and 46-year-old Cooktown woman have been arrested for an alleged armed robbery and other charges on 11 April.
Police will allege the pair had been involved in a physical altercation with two other females on Cooktown’s Webber Esplanade, at which point the pair attacked the two females by assaulting them and stealing one of the female’s phones before leaving the scene.
The pair was arrested a short time later and taken to the Cooktown watchhouse.
The 20-year-old woman was charged with one count of serious assault, one count of armed robbery, two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm domestic violence offence, one count of contravention of police protection notice and one count of assault police.
The 46-year-old woman was charged with one count of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed/in company domestic violence offence. They will face Cooktown Magistrates Court on 30 April.
Record quarter for bauxite
RIO Tinto is celebrating a record first quarter for bauxite production and a monthly production record for March.
The mining giant released its Q1 2025 production figures last week, which showed 15 million tonnes (Mt) of bauxite were extracted in the first three months of the year, a 12 per cent improvement on Q1 2024. Bauxite production guidance for the full year remains between 57-59Mt.
The Elizabeth Guzsely Gallery was also brightened up with a costume party for opening night, allowing Cooktown residents to get creative with their wearable art amongst the work on the walls.
“When I got here 10 years ago,
art exhibitions; there used to be a kind of fashion parade event, and there’s been a lot of talk about getting it back together,” Ms Dennis said.
“I thought it’d be great to do a
costume party, so people who perhaps don’t make art that would hang on a wall could also get involved. South Cape York Catchments is a large group, and we’re very small, but I guess in some way, we can help each other out rather than trying to stand alone.”
Ms Dennis said another aspect of RAW was its inclusivity and safe space to explore and go wild, no matter an artist’s background.
“Last year was the first one, and I think it captured the imagination of people who feel like, ‘I haven’t gone to art school, I’m not trained so I can’t,’ but at the end of the day, we’re all self-taught,” she said.
“I went to art school, but I’m still learning; there’s various ways to access knowledge, so it’s a selfdriven learning process.”
RAW Flotsam will be on display at the Charlotte Street gallery until 26 April.
Can’t
make it on Election Day?
If you can’t vote on Saturday 3 May, you may be eligible to vote early.
All Australian citizens aged 18 years and over are required by law to vote.
So, if you can’t make it to a polling place on election day, you may be eligible to: · vote early at an early voting centre, or · apply for a postal vote.
If you’re travelling, working or will be outside the electorate where you’re enrolled on election day, you can vote early.
To check early voting options and eligibility, visit aec.gov.au/early
Your vote will help shape Australia.
To learn more aec.gov.au/early 13 23 26
Cooktown art enthusiasts attend the RAW Flotsam opening night costume party at Elizabeth Guzsley Gallery on 11 April.
Cape could be cannabis hub: LCP
By LYNDON KEANE
WITH more than 25,000 uses for the cannabis plant, the candidate flying the flag for the Legalise Cannabis Party (LCP) says it is time for voters to stop viewing it as a “joke” and instead consider the economic potential it could help unlock.
Nicholas (Nic) Daniels is a cannabis advocate and political activist with more than three decades’ experience under his belt, and said he was proud to be representing the LCP as its Leichhardt hopeful.
“Now, more than ever, there are many people who are prepared to openly show their support of our party,”
Mr Daniels told Cape York Weekly
“Our drive is to make positive green change for Australia; with cannabis, we can grow houses, create fully biodegradable plastics, and grow biofuel for auto-
motive and aviation industries. With more than 25,000 uses of the one plant, it is time for real change.”
Mr Daniels said be believed the LCP and its supporters were misunderstood by the mainstream voting public, and said the party valued body autonomy and freedom of choice, as well Cape York and the Torres Strait being supported and included more frequently in the political debate.
“My priorities for the Far North are inclusion and support,” he said.
“We all know how little we are included in state and federal budgets – you just have to look at the lack of services and remoteness of
where we live. I would like to see tax breaks for FNQ businesses, so that food and other products are not nearly as expensive, perhaps have the freight costs billed to the state; I also want to encourage, include and support any and all business or communities that wish to make a start in the cannabis industries.
“I feel most people misunderstand the LCP; as soon as many people hear the word ‘cannabis’, they tend to treat us as a bit of a joke; we … stand for body autonomy and freedom of choice. Yes, we have members who are all about recreational consumption, and that’s okay for them; I’m more
about the common sense of the whole thing – cannabis has not killed anyone in recorded history, [but] the same cannot be said of alcohol, tobacco, coffee or even driving a vehicle.”
Mr Daniels said he believed a thriving cannabis industry across Cape York could help deliver untold social and economic benefits to one of the remotest parts of the Leichhardt electorate.
“Cannabis grows everywhere that is not arctic environments,” he said.
“The Far North, as we all know, is like living in a giant greenhouse – plants positively thrive up here.
“In the Cape, I’d like to see community-owned and
Time for solutions: NITV prepares to take election pulse of Leichhardt residents
THE wants and needs of Cape York and Torres Strait voters will take centre stage next week when NITV brings The Point to Cairns ahead of the federal election.
The popular political show will film in Cairns on 23 April and feature a panel of leaders from across the Leichhardt electorate highlighting what the 10 candidates battling to replace long-serving MP Warren Entsch should be focusing on as voters gear up to head to the polls.
Host John Paul Janke told Cape York Weekly he was “really excited” to be filming in Cairns and bringing the challenges faced by communities in the northernmost part of the electorate to a national television audience.
“[The show is] a real opportunity to take the pulse of Indigenous communities in Leichhardt in the lead-up to the election,” he said.
“The seat of Leichhardt, both parties are saying its in play, [and] we’ve got a long-term retiring member up here.
“I’m excited to come up, given it’s my hometown as well.”
Janke said he was expecting the panel to “really spell out what they hope to become election issues for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait”.
“It’s vital,” he said of using the
episode to put key remote challenges on the radar.
“You’re talking about 16 per cent of the electorate that identifies as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, so it’s a huge base of First Nations people.
“They face some unique problems, so I’m looking forward to elevating those … [including] heart disease, diabetes and mental health.”
The affable host of The Point said he believed the daily challenges facing Indigenous Australians, especially those on Cape York and in the Torres Strait, needed to be recognised by the rest of the country as the First Nations issues that needed to be prioritised.
“The rest of Australia seems to be caught up with welcome to country ceremonies and the voice referendum,” he said.
“I think … [Cape York and Torres Strait residents] want to see some solutions … to the conditions they face in the communities across Cape York.”
The episode will air on NITV on 29 April at 7:30pm.
operated cannabis farms; the remoteness of the Cape would be a benefit to this idea, instead of being left out.
“We could replace cotton and pine forestry with cannabis, reducing the water, fertilizer and pesticides that are used; we could also crop three times per year; we could also jump onboard the cannabis tourism market sweeping the world and cash in on some of those cannabis tourism dollars.”
Mr Daniels secured the coveted number one spot on the ballot paper following the candidate order draw on 11 and said he was thrilled to appear ahead of his nine political opponents.
RDA wants PDR funds
WHILE Cape York is yet to receive a cent in direct infrastructure election promises from candidates on the Leichhardt campaign trail, a regional advocacy group has spelt out what projects it believes should be prioritised.
Improving road connectivity, expanding the Cairns aviation and marine precincts, and a regional agricultural masterplan were among the federal budget priorities for Regional Development Australia (RDA) Tropical North.
Chief executive officer Sonja Johnson said the priorities identified in the Tropical North Queensland Economic Development Strategy 2024-2029 were the focus of the organisation’s submission for the 2025-26 federal budget, with funding yet to materialise as campaigning hits top gear across the north of the state.
Of the eight priorities identified, $240 million for stage three of the Cape York Region Package to seal the next stage of the Peninsula Developmental Road was the biggest ticket item, with RDA Tropical North also calling on Canberra to extend the national land transport network, which ends in Cairns, to the Port of Weipa.
Strait Islanders across Cape York and Cairns, and into the Torres
The political wants and needs of Cape York and Torres Strait residents will be in the spotlight ahead of the federal election when John Paul Janke and the NITV team bring news and current affairs show The Point to Cairns on Wednesday, 23 April. Photo: Supplied.
Legalise Cannabis Party’s Leichhardt candidate Nicholas (Nic) Daniels.
Police graduate making a beeline to Strait
HISTORY has been made in remote policing as the Torres Strait prepares to welcome the first graduate officer to be posted there.
Forty-two recruits, aged between 19 and 50, graduated from the Queensland Police Service academy in Brisbane on 17 April, including Constable Jacob Murphy, who is set to make a beeline to Thursday Island.
It is the first time a first year constable has been posted to the northernmost part of the state.
A former data technician, Constable Murphy said he had sought
out the remote posting to serve in a rural community and experience new challenges.
“I joined the QPS because I
wanted to be a voice for people who cannot speak up for themselves during vulnerable moments and to be someone they can rely on when they need support,” he said.
“To me, being in a position to be the difference in someone’s life and help others in their time of need is not just a responsibility but a privilege; the experienced instructors, hands-on training at the academy and the tight bond with my cohort made the experience unforgettable.
“My background as a data technician tradie taught me to problem solve under pressure, build strong
communication skills and discipline and stay accountable, skills that will help me every day as I look forward to starting my role as a Queensland police officer.”
Acting Commissioner Shane Chelepy congratulated the new officers on their graduation.
“I commend our new officers for their commitment and the deep sense of duty they have shown by choosing a policing career,” he said.
Eight other first year constables will be deployed within the Far Northern policing region, in addition to Constable Murphy.
Ropeyarn returns to take prestigious judge position
TEHO Ropeyarn’s rise in the Far North Queensland art scene has taken another leap forward after the influential artist and curator was announced as the principal judge for this year’s Gab Titui Indigenous Art Award.
Mr Ropeyarn, who is also the artistic director of the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, will head the judging panel for the 2025 instalment of the art award, and said the appointment completes the full circle of his 16-year involvement with the event.
“I remember my first submission, Ikambala, into the Gab Titui Indigenous Art Award [in 2009],” he reflected.
“I was still a student at [the College of Fine Arts] at the time, and I created an oil painting of a crocodile as part of an assessment, so I decided to enter it into the award that year.
“I was very nervous, so I can imagine many artists completing their works for this year’s award would be feeling that as well.”
He has since collaborated with more than 100 artists and curated over 30 exhibitions, with his own works showcased nationally and internationally.
With his judge’s hat on, Mr Ropeyarn explained what he would be looking for in submissions, and encouraged artists at all levels to participate for the experi-
ence of entering a nationally recognised award.
“Through the award, we get to see a lot of emerging artists coming through the ranks,” he said.
“And that’s a positive thing to see, as that is the passing on of inspiration, knowledge and culture and that is how it continues; I’m eager to see culture and traditional cultural practices echoed in pieces
that tell powerful stories across various mediums.
“The calibre of artists in the Torres Strait will produce some astonishing pieces and we see it all the time when they present at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.”
Torres Strait Regional Authority Chairperson George Nona welcomed Mr Ropeyarn’s wealth of knowledge and keen eye for artis-
NEAL
tic expression in his role as principal judge.
“Teho is a well experienced and highly regarded creative in the Australian arts industry, and a respected member of the community,” he said.
The 2025 Gab Titui Indigenous Art Award will be held on Thursday, 12 June on Waiben (Thursday Island).
CEQ gives NPA servo makeover
INJINOO residents will have to do less travelling for their shopping after Community Enterprise Queensland partnered with the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) to enhance grocery access for locals.
Previously, those living in the NPA community had to travel to neighbouring Umagico and Bamaga to do their shopping, but that has all changed with the council-operated Injinoo service station now selling a range of essential goods.
At the request of NPARC, CEQ’s business development team assessed the store layout and range options, and recommended upgrading the service station to offer an expanded grocery range tailored to the community’s needs.
The project was funded through CEQ’s Good Pasin reinvestment program, which provides financial and in-kind assistance to not-for-profit community organisations and individuals in the remote communities served by the remote supermarket operator.
Good Pasin is the first-ever comprehensive business support package of its kind delivered by CEQ and business development general manager Randal Crabbe said it highlighted the importance of the project in strengthening local retail services.
“CEQ is proud to support NPARC in enhancing grocery access for Injinoo residents,” he said.
“By upgrading the Injinoo service station with a tailored grocery range, we’re addressing and improving the local community’s access to essential goods.
“We also provided council with a list of our top-selling lines to assist with their ordering and ranging. This initiative reflects our commitment to working alongside local partners to improve retail services in remote areas, ensuring residents have convenient and reliable access to everyday necessities.”
Cairns Indigenous Art Fair artistic director Teho Ropeyarn, pictured speaking to media at the launch of the event’s program last month, has been announced as the principal judge for the prestigious Gab Titui Indigenous Art Award.
Constable Jacob Murphy is off to Thursday Island after he actively sought out a remote posting.
Libertarian has funding audit at top of issue list
By LYNDON KEANE
FUELLED by frustration with the political duopoly and with one eye on ensuring funding allocated for service delivery in Indigenous communities actually delivers outcomes, Lloyd Russell will represent the Libertarian Party in the race for Leichhardt.
Mr Russell came out swinging at Labor and the Coalition and said a perceived lack of commitment to the vast electorate was one of the reasons he had thrown his hat in the political ring.
“For too long, the major party duopoly have taken regional Australia for granted and this is especially so for the electorate of Leichhardt,” he said.
“The electorate is one of the most isolated in Australia and is located in one of our most vulnerable economic and environmental locations; add onto this the social isolation factors and you have a region that is not effectively serviced, nor has it been effectively represented.
“As Libertarians, we consider government, as it currently stands, to be a big part of the problem across regional Queensland and the Leichhardt electorate.”
The 65-year-old grew up in central western Queensland and currently runs a family business, and said he was now at the stage he was able to give back to the community that had been “very good” to him.
“I have worked in the private and public sectors at operational and senior man-
agement levels, therefore, I am well positioned to get on the ground to work with people on their concerns and opportunities while understanding how to navigate the complexities of economic and social development,” he said.
“Libertarianism is a principled and practical approach to politics that accepts that government has a role to play in a very defined and focused manner.”
Mr Russell identified a lack of major infrastructure projects, including roads and ports, as one of the most significant challenges impacting the social and economic success of Cape York, as well as environmental vulnerability.
“Jobs are created when major infrastructure projects are undertaken, and the road network in Leichhardt is atrocious to say the least,” he said.
“The area is well suited to be an economic centrepiece with its abundance of water, mineral resources and
as a tourist destination; by focusing on multi-purpose major infrastructure, the region will be attractive to private sector investment, which will flow into sustainable economic development, economic growth and job creation.”
The candidate said he believed an audit into how “billions of taxpayer and private funds” funnelled into Indigenous remote service delivery needed to be undertaken as a priority, and committed to championing the cause if elected.
“The Libertarian Party is very keen to undertake a forensic audit on the billions of taxpayer and private funds spent within the Aboriginal sector, because it is selfevident that the funds are not reaching the most vulnerable, nor are these funds driving self-determination or sustainable standalone economic opportunities,” he said.
Mr Russell will appear in third spot on the Leichhardt ballot paper.
Lloyd Russell says the two major parties have taken the Leichhardt electorate for granted for too long and will fly the Libertarian Party flag in the race to replace Warren Entsch.
Murder mystery requires inquest
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
I’M not usually one to throw my signature on a petition, but I couldn’t provide my details quick enough when I saw the ePetition calling for a coronial inquest into the 2012 disappearance of gold prospector Bruce Schuler on a remote station in the southern part of Cape York.
For those unfamiliar with the case, the 48-year-old was last seen on the vast Palmerville Station on 9 July 2012 while prospecting with three others – Daniel Bidner, Tremain Anderson and Kevin Groth.
Despite his body never being found and no physical evidence linking them to the crime, station leaseholders Stephen Struber and Dianne Wilson-Struber were in 2015 tried and convicted of Mr Schuler’s murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
No body and no forensic evidence linking the pair to the disappearance of the popular prospector, you say? How is it conceivable then that Mr Struber and Ms Wilson-Struber have spent almost a decade imprisoned for murder?
That is the million-dollar question, and the exact reason the State Government needs to take the petition, launched by Sharon Ferguson, one of Ms Wilson-Struber’s
sisters, seriously and green light a coronial inquest into Mr Schuler’s disappearance.
Don’t read the trial transcripts and 2016 coroner’s non-inquest findings into the whole mess and expect answers. If you’re like many who have deep dived into the case, you’ll come away with more questions than you went in with. A lot more.
In her 2016 report, Northern Coroner Nerida Wilson found Mr Schuler “is likely to have died from shotgun wounds inflicted by Stephen Struber and/or Dianne Rose Wilson-Struber”, “likely” on the 134,000-hectare Palmerville Station, “likely” on the 9 July 2012. Amongst the legion of “likely”, she casually admits “[Mr Schul-
er’s] body has not been found” and that “[t]he precise circumstances of his death are unknown”.
With so many unknowns in play, how is it possible the Supreme Court jury managed to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt – the standard of proof in criminal proceedings – the couple had murdered Mr Schuler?
Certainly, there are elements of the case which do not bode well for Mr Struber and Ms WilsonStruber, namely, what happened to the missing firearms meant to be on Palmerville Station, and why the latter anonymously called police from a public telephone three days after the prospector’s disappearance and told them they should be looking “12-15 kilometres east” of
their current search location. The anonymous call, and the missing .357 magnum revolver and .22 calibre rifle defy rational explanation, and the couple has never proffered an answer to either conundrum.
Speaking of guns, remember that the non-inquest finding was that Mr Schuler was “likely” killed with a shotgun, despite the absence of a body on which ballistic testing could have been carried out to determine whether the fatal shot came from a shotgun, rimfire or centrefire weapon.
If a coronial inquest is held and new evidence not available to the jury at the trial proves beyond reasonable doubt the couple murdered Mr Schuler, I have no qualms in stating unequivocally they should
spend the rest of their natural lives rotting in prison.
I did reach out to Mr Schuler’s wife, Fiona Splitt, to gauge her views on the petition and ask what would provide her and the Schuler family closure, however, instead of hearing back from her, I received a call from the lead detective on the murder case, despite the file having now been closed for 3,561 days. Will the much-needed coronial inquest be called? One can remain hopeful, but the reality is it has the potential to leave the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Queensland Police Service with egg on their faces if some hard questions are asked and answered almost 10 years after the case was wrapped up with a neat little bow.
The Schuler family deserves closure. They deserve to bring the prospector home and lay him to rest. It is feasible a coronial inquest could help achieve this heartbreaking goal.
Everyone loves a mystery. It’s why true crime podcasts like Graeme Crowley’s Where is Bruce Schuler are so popular. But questions cannot remain when a family continues to grieve the loss of a husband, father and friend, or if there is even the slightest chance two people set to spend the rest of their lives behind bars could be there because of a system that failed them.
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Editor Lyndon Keane says the only way for the myriad questions that remain about the 2012 disappearance of Bruce Schuler to be answered is for the State Government to green light a coronial inquest and provide closure to the gold prospector’s family, and the family of those convicted of his murder. Photo: Australian Missing Persons Register.
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5 Differences
WEIPA GOODLINE PEN
SATURDAY, MAY 3 & SUNDAY, MAY 4
• Open for fresh sandwiches Thursday-Sunday
• Pizzas & Charcuterie plates available Fridays from 4pm
• Glass of Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc & Charcuterie plate $25
TRADING HOURS: TUESDAY TO SUNDAY 8AM – 7PM
GOLF COMPETITIONS THIS WEEK:
• WEDNESDAY: Wackers from 3pm • FRIDAY: Rum Run all day
• SATURDAY 26Th & SUNDAY 27Th: Monthly Medal
• SUNDAY: Dawnbusters from 6:30am
Carpentaria Golf Club WEIPA ~ CAPE YORK Ph: 4069 7332 www.carpentariagolfclub.com.au
An egg-stremely wet Easter edition of Weipa parkrun
PARTICIPANTS were met with egg-stremely wet conditions when a field of 43 turned out for the Easter edition of Weipa parkrun on 19 April.
Before we go any further, there will be more Easter word play before the end of the article – most of it concocted by the parkrun crew –so brace yourself.
Five newbies tackled the 5-kil-
ometre circuit, including Tynan Cox, who recorded a scintillating time of 18 minutes, 12 seconds to be the first male to greet the judges and put a gap of more than three minutes on parkrun veteran Ross Dawson (21:26) in second spot.
Anna Hutchins stopped the clock in an egg-cellent personal best of 22:55 to be the first female to greet the soaked timekeepers.
PUBLIC NOTICE
JARDINE FERRY MAINTENANCE
CLOSURE: 23 APRIL – 23 MAY 2025
Joseph Webb, David Tuckwood, Lincoln Pullar, Hailee Ryan, Hunter Hutchins, Damien Fogarty, Mel Scott and Lyle Daymond chalked up the other PBs on a challenging morning on the circuit.
It was simply no yolk (again, not our original work, so please send the hate mail elsewhere) the event went off without a hitch thanks to volunteers Nicola Camp-
bell, Michael Collins, Susan Tuckwood, Tash Tapper, Tobias Jukes, Meg Spearritt, Nanthini Kanthan and Keira Fogarty.
If you’re a sadist and craving more Easter puns, check out the Weipa parkrun Facebook page –don’t say we didn’t warn you.
You can join in the parkrun fun every Saturday from 7am opposite the Weipa Hospital roundabout.
POSITION VACANT Procurement Officer
Easter win for Chan at Dawnies
DAMP conditions greeted the small field of eight that teed off for the Dawnbusters Easter Sunday Challenge.
Constant showers delayed the start of the second playing group, with both groups forced to duck for cover on the front nine each time a storm passed.
Viv Chan claimed the day with 45 off the stick for a winning nett 22, while Jim Lucas (44/24) and Steve Kennett (53/24) were forced into a countback to determine who would take the runner-up crown, with the former eventually prevailing.
Ross Craven earned a notable mention for a sharp 43 off the stick. Jake Smith hit straight to bag the men’s long drive prize, while Chan proved to be the biggest hitting woman and added to her overall winner’s gong.
Josh Martin left Carpentaria Golf Club as the Hoffman’s recipient, so we hope he had a stockpile of Easter eggs at home to soften the dubious honour.
Players will be hoping for better weather this Sunday when they take on the back nine from 6:45am, followed by the club’s monthly medal.
Reporting to the Finance Manager, the Procurement Officer is responsible for the efficient and effective purchasing and stores support to Council, including the daily operations of procurement and contracting activities of Council.
The Jardine River ferry will be removed from the Jardine River for essential repairs to the ferry hull to ensure ongoing safe operations.
Closure dates: Wednesday, 23 April to Friday, 23 May 2025.
Annual safety repairs to the Jardine Ferry are under compliance regulations set by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).
Council apologises for the inconvenience caused and thanks you for your patience during this essential repair period.
Tickets purchased for travel during closure period, remain valid when ferry is open.
The Procurement Officer will ensure prompt accurate and reliable service provision of purchasing and procurement activities and maintenance of purchasing and contract arrangements to meet the diverse range of goods and services required by Council.
Duties include but not limited to:
• Supporting Council staff with procurement of services, advice and support for goods, services, plant and equipment
• Assisting with the efficient delivery of purchasing, procurement and delivery functions
• Carrying out financial transactions, cash handling and receipting tasks in line with established procedures
• Preparing purchase requisitions in Practical Plus, ensuring purchase requisitions provided to suppliers and contractors include a copy of Council’s purchase order terms and conditions
• Consolidating all purchasing at Council
Please visit Council’s website to download a full position description and send a resume with 2 current references to HRManager@wujal.qld.gov.au
Position closes on Tuesday 6 May, 2025 at 9am
Umbrellas became mandatory kit for volunteers and more than a few participants when an egg-stremely wet Easter edition of Weipa parkrun was held on 19 April.
Chaos at Cooktown’s Bisque Par event
IF you can picture Fawlty Towers and Monty Python teaming up for 18 holes of golf, you will have an accurate idea of how Cooktown Golf Club’s Bisque Par day played out on 19 April.
The event was scheduled to be a fun hit-out for members over the Easter long weekend, however, golfers forgot the cardinal rule of any game – work
out and agree on the rules before you get under way.
In normal Bisque Par play, golfers decide after each hole, and before teeing off on the next, how many of their handicap strokes they want to use on the just-completed hole.
Unfortunately, every group that made its way around the Walker Bay course on Saturday
played and scored differently, with no one realising the mistake until they got back to the clubhouse to tally the cards.
As a result, no one claimed the Easter winner’s chocolates, and there were no Race to the Bay points awarded for the oncourse shemozzle.
One club source, who was quick to mention he was not in
town for the golfing glitch, said it demonstrated most of the field needed to be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
“You couldn’t make this up,” the source, the Cape York Weekly has chosen to refer to only as SGR, lamented.
“They had one job, literally one job, and they turned it into Bisque-pocalypse.”
Dirt will fly as Weipa revs up to host FNQ kart titles
By LYNDON KEANE
IF you can’t smell the two stroke and feel the excitement yet, you soon will as Weipa prepares to host a motorsport fan’s dream in July.
The Weipa Dirt Kart Club has been selected to host the 2025 Far North Queensland Dirt Kart Titles, which will bring competitors and fans from across the country to western Cape York from 10-13 July.
The four-day karting extravaganza will kick off with a welcome dinner on 10 July, before two days of racing culminate with an awards night on the final day of the titles.
President Dave Hancock said scoring hosting rights was “huge for the club”.
“The club itself is affected by the fact people move in and out of town, which causes memberships to go up and down,” he said.
“This is definitely one that will help spark a bit of interest in the sport and hopefully get a bit more involvement.”
The club has put out a call to action for sponsors and volunteers, and Mr Hancock urged businesses who could not provide financial support to con-
sider donating their time and expertise.
“I understand not all businesses can just hand out money to every single event, but in a lot of cases, in-kind sponsorship makes up just as much of a positive impact on the event and what it does for the club,” he said.
The president said the club
was working with Karting Australia to attract interstate drivers and offer more race classes to keep spectators on the edge of their seat during the titles.
“Between a few interstate drivers I’ve been talking to, and a few past members who are really keen to get involved and get up here, we are hoping that the event is a huge one,” he said.
“We’ll potentially see classes we don’t run here in town –you’ll see potentially KT Twin karts and an Outlaw class, where they adapt a 250 [cubic centimetre] dirt bike engine, bolt that on and hold on.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring the event can contact the club by emailing weipadirtkartsinc@gmail.com.
SPORT IN BRIEF
Sariman fires at Wackers
A FIELD of 16 made the most of great Weipa weather when they teed off to battle for weekly Wackers glory on Wednesday.
Les Sariman made the most of the 16 April outing on the back nine and carded 42 off the stick for a nett 31.5 and victory, with Gary Head (gross 51/nett 33.5) claiming runner-up honours.
Head won the pin prize on the 15th, while no one found the green on the 18th.
The weekly Bradman’s gong went to Mick Cernaka, who seems to have a bright career ahead of him as a magician if this golfing thing doesn’t work out.
Cape York Weekly has it on good authority that Cernaka, who was absolutely disgusted with his performance, did a disappearing act and walked off without collecting his prize, either through sheer embarrassment or the fear of being utterly heckled by his opponents.
Junior footballers RISE up
ASPIRING junior rugby league players on Cape York have the chance to hone their skills with the 2025 RISE program, an NRLbacked development program focused on nurturing performance pathways.
The program provides players with an avenue to obtain specialised training and education through a holistic development experience in the football code.
Eligible age groups are under-13, U14 and U15 boys, and U13-16 girls.
Sessions will be held on 18 May, 8 June, 13 July 10 August and 31 August, with the RISE Development Carnival scheduled to be held in Townsville on 23-25 September. The cost to participate in the program is $165 per player. For all inquiries, email rise@northernpride.com.au.
What’s your sports story?
WOULD you like to see your sporting club or star athlete on the pages of the Cape York Weekly?
We love telling a good local sports yarn, especially if it’s about our Cape York and Torres Strait athletes doing amazing things on the paddock, in the pool, on the fairways or on the back of a horse.
If you’ve got a cracking sports story, email editor@capeyorkweekly.com.au or call 0419 891 666 before 5pm on a Friday.
The Weipa Dirt Kart Club will be the only place for motorsport enthusiasts to be in July when western Cape York hosts the 2025 FNQ Dirt Kart Titles.
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