She never thought about being an author, but Nukgal Wurra Elder and Hope Vale artist Wanda Gibson, flanked by some of her family members, now has a message to share after winning a prestigious literary award for her first book last month. Turn to Page 5 to find out what her message is.
Weipa’s marine rescue volunteers say they may need rescuing themselves amid concerns a new vessel is not fit for purpose to operate in the western Cape’s vast waters. Full story – Page 3
PAMPHILON Richard (Rick)
William Henry
20.8.1949 - 19.3.2025
Loving father of Reanah, Grandfather of Blake and Devon (NZ)
Brother of Peter and Elizabeth Resident of Edmonton, formally of Cooktown and Coen
Privately cremated
Donations to Gordonvale Palliative Care Unit appreciated
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By LYNDON KEANE
THE four-day search for a man who went missing on a hunting trip near Aurukun is over after he was found alive and well on Thursday morning by a Weipa contractor travelling to the community.
The man, 52, whom the Cape York Weekly has been unable to contact for comment and chosen not to name, was reported missing at about 12:30am on 23
March after going hunting with a family group some 70 kilometres north-east of the remote western Cape York community.
The search and rescue operation involved Queensland Police Service officers, Aurukun Shire Council staff, APN Cape York rangers, community members and aerial assets.
On 27 March, Cape Pest Control owner Hardus Van Wyk was flagged down by a man on the side of the Aurukun Access
Road and said he quickly realised it was the missing man.
“I was travelling to Aurukun this morning and at about [8:20am], I saw him on the side of the road, about 15km west of the Watson River Station turnoff, on the Aurukun side of that,” he said.
“He flagged me down – he had no shoes, just his socks, and I could just see that he was in need, and he said he’s been missing since Sunday and asked
me if today was Tuesday. I said ‘today’s Thursday mate and everyone’s been looking for you.’”
Mr Van Wyk said he gave the man some water and then used his satellite phone to advise authorities that he had found him.
“I let the operator know I’d located [the man] and that he was in good spirits and just happy to be rescued,” he said.
“At the end of the day, he rescued himself – I just picked him up.”
LAND management was on the agenda when more than 80 prescribed bodies corporate (PBC), Aboriginal corporations, land trusts and ranger groups from across Cape York converged on Cairns for a workshop.
The workshop – Cape York Conversations: Pathways to Partnership – was attended by over 100 delegates from First Nations organisations who manage Cape York land and water resources, and Cape York Natural Resource Management
(NRM) chief executive officer Pip Schroor said it provided a platform to share aspirations and experiences in sustainable land management.
“We have brought in Indigenous landholders from across the Cape to hold initial discussions on sustainable land management,” she said.
“This is the first gathering of its kind in the region, opening doors to new partnerships and collaboration on key initiatives.
“By fostering conversations
with Indigenous landholders, this workshop will lay the foundation for future projects, drive collaboration and create meaningful pathways for sustainable land practices On Country.”
With more than 60 per cent of land on Cape York held under Aboriginal freehold or native title, Cape York NRM First Nations engagement and project officer Lachlan Bassani said it was important to get Indigenous land management leaders in the same room.
“We kept the agenda as open as we could to allow for wideranging discussions about what opportunities are out there and where our challenges lie. It was also a great opportunity to talk about funding and the possibilities for coming together on our issues,” he said.
A Cape York First Nations Community of Practice was formed, something Mr Bassani said would allow stakeholders to work together on a wide-ranging agenda.
By LYNDON KEANE
WEIPA’S marine rescue volunteers say they are worried they may need rescuing themselves amid concerns a new vessel is not fit for purpose to operate in the vast waters off western Cape York.
The vessel, which is currently at the Maritime Rescue Queensland (MRQ) base in Cairns until the Peninsula Developmental Road opens, was funded through the State Government’s $22.3 million Vessel Replacement Program and is intended to replace Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Weipa’s current boat, which is now more than two decades old.
However, two veteran marine rescue volunteers have flagged concerns about the range of the vessel, as well as its appropriateness for multiple crew members to undertake multiday search and rescue missions.
Peter Graham, who sits on the MRQ State Council as Gulf Zone president and has more than 35 years’ experience in marine rescues, said he was concerned the vessel’s single fuel tank supplying twin outboard motors and a maximum range of
about 300 nautical miles meant volunteers could end up putting themselves at risk on operations.
“The vessel itself, for east coast operations, is fine, quite suitable, other than the fact that it only has the one fuel tank that feeds two engines, and that sort of defeats the purpose of having two engines,” he said.
“If one fails, you can still get home safe and sound on the other one, but with this vessel, with a single tank, if you’ve got contaminated fuel or whatever it may be coming out of one tank feeding both engines, you’re dead in the water.
“Around the Gulf, where you have a massive coastline, equiv-
alent of Brisbane to Townsville, we have four boats, whereas on the east coast, you have 60 boats, plus water police and so on.
“I’ve made it really crystal clear at the last volunteer marine rescue state meeting in Brisbane that these boats, don’t send them – they do not have enough fuel.”
As of March 2025, MRQ now falls under the jurisdiction of the Queensland Police Service, and VMR Weipa president Brendon Fay said he was worried the suitability of the new vessel could create workplace health and safety issues for local volunteers.
“For me, I want to be able to make a decision to send my volunteers out there to go rescue people knowing the boat is capable of what’s needed,” he said.
“It’s hard for me to send people out knowing the boat may not be fit for purpose; at the moment, we’ve got a good range on the current vessel, but it’s still limited – if there’s a rescue halfway to Karumba, we can’t come back to Weipa, we have to continue to Karumba to refuel [and] the new vessel will limit that even further.
“It’s definitely concerning –is the range going to be there?
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“It’s also not equipped for long, overnight operations; there’s no shower, no bathrooms and if you’re going to put four people on a boat for four days, that’s not going to be good for hygiene.”
The issues raised by volunteers appear to have fallen on deaf ears, with neither Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie nor the government seemingly willing to engage on the suitability concerns.
A spokesperson for MRQ told Cape York Weekly the new vessel was “compliant with Australian Maritime Safety Authority regulations”.
“MRQ consulted with Volunteer Marine Rescue Weipa volunteers regarding its new vessel,” the spokesperson said.
“The MRQ-funded vessel is approved to the national standard for commercial vessels survey category 2C and can operate anywhere in Queensland.
“[The] VMR Weipa president attended seas trials in Yamba … and accepted the vessel in February 2025, and it’s expected to be delivered to Weipa within the next month, weather permitting.”
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MORE than a year after Tropical Cyclone Jasper hit, a hidden Bloomfield beach is finally free of hundreds of kilograms of marine debris.
As part of Tangaroa Blue’s Tropical Cyclone Jasper cleanup project, volunteers and staff members collected 329 kilograms of rubbish from Cedar Bay earlier this month, taking on the advice of Traditional Owners and local rangers.
Tangaroa Blue chief executive officer Heidi Tait said it was the 11th clean-up since August 2024 undertaken as part of the project.
“We did an aerial survey by
helicopter, and we had the Traditional Owners or nominated members of their ranger team fly to a section of their Country,” she said.
“We’re excited to continue to work with all the Traditional Owners and ranger groups, because it’s really important to support where we can, but also take guidance on where those priority areas are from a cultural perspective.”
With Cedar Bay inaccessible by road, Ms Tait said the wet weather had made it a challenge to access the area while debris built up.
“We’d been trying to get to
Cedar Bay for ages, but the weather didn’t allow us to get into the site; you need perfect weather, and we needed a boat that was suitable,” she explained.
The project, which was funded through the State Government’s community sustainability action grants programs, has collected four tonnes of rubbish from beaches across Far North Queensland.
At Cedar Bay alone, 3,101 items of hard plastic, 577 lids, 70 polystyrene remnants and three GPS buoys were found.
Ms Tait said that even 15 months later, the aerial surveys
revealed the environmental effects of Tropical Cyclone Jasper were far from gone.
“The thing that shocked me the most when I was in the helicopter doing the flight was how much mud and landslides were around the Bloomfield area, and how muddy the waters were, and that would’ve all smothered the reef,” she said.
“Those kinds of things are going to take much longer for the reef and for the environment to heal, but it’s good to be able to remove that additional pressure of plastics and rubbish and the rest of it.”
– story by Chisa Hasegawa
By CHISA HASEGAWA
THE beautiful tale of a Hope Vale Elder’s life growing up and her message to the younger generation has taken the top prize in one of Australia’s biggest literary awards.
Nukgal Wurra author and artist Wanda Gibson’s first book, Three Dresses, was announced as the winner of the $100,000 Victorian Prize for Literature category of the 2025 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards earlier this month, making history as the first children’s book to claim the prize since the award’s establishment in 1985.
“I’m still trying to get my head around it at the moment,” the debut author said.
Growing up on the Hope Vale mission, Ms Gibson said her family did not have much, but cherished what they did have, and that gratitude was the message she hoped to share with the younger generation.
“In our time, we didn’t have bikes or phones or TVs or all those kinds of things,” she said.
“Nowadays, kids, they get everything what they want, but the most important thing is, be thankful with what you got.”
Ms Gibson said the book, which also won the $25,000 Children’s Literature prize at the awards, was based on her fond memories of receiving three dresses at Christmas each year.
“We didn’t have money, we lived on rations, and those three little dresses were very precious to me,” she said.
“One particular dress I got at Christmas, it was a little blue dress with yellow flowers, and it fitted me really well, and I cherished it.
“That’s why even today, I don’t throw clothes away or anything, I’ll wear it until it’s all in threads.”
She said the three dresses also
reminded her of her family holidays to the beach.
“We used to go to the beach on holidays, and our mum told us to get three dresses – one to wear, one to spare, and one to wash,” she said.
“We rolled it up like a little swag, so we can carry it on our backs when we walk to the beach camp.
“The two days we spent down there, it was beautiful.”
Ms Gibson is an established First Nations artist, but said she had no plans of adding author to her resume before two people from the literary world noticed her work.
“They seen my prints and what I write about it, and when they read it, they said to themselves, that would be good for a child’s storybook,” she explained.
“They called me one day and told me about it, and I didn’t know what to say to them at first, then I told them that I had a little script written on paper, just mucking around writing stories.
“They asked me to read it to them, so I read it to them, and they said that’s the kind of thing we want, so that’s how it all started.”
COOK Shire Council is inviting families to start their Easter school holidays the right way for a fun-filled morning of activities this Saturday.
Easter in Ayton will be held at the Ayton library on 5 April from 9am-12pm, with an Easter egg hunt set to kick off a fantastic line-up of events.
One of the highlights of the morning will be the Mad Hatter’s recycled hat making workshop, where participants can craft a one-of-a-kind hat made with upcycled materials to then show off in the Easter hat parade.
There will be games and giveaways for all ages, as well as a morning tea and live music.
For more information, check out the council website or Facebook page.
THERE will be barramundi on the line, dancing on display and culture being shared when all roads lead to Mapoon for the community’s Paanja Festival in September.
Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council has announced this year’s festival will be held from 26-28 September and will offer a diverse mix of fishing, sport, food, culture and song. One of the highlights of the three-day event will be the cultural dance competition, with performers from across Cape York and the Torres Strait tipped to converge on Mapoon to compete for $10,000 in prizemoney.
For more information, call the council on 4082 5203 or check out its Facebook page.
ALL public and state schools across Cape York and the Torres Strait are on the path to being free following the Queensland Government signing a new funding agreement with its Canberra counterpart last month.
As part of the agreement, the Federal Government will provide an additional 5 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) to Queensland, lifting its contribution from 20 to 25 per cent by 2034.
The federal funding will be tied to reforms needed to lift education standards across the state, including more individualised support for students.
Premier David Crisafulli lauded the agreement which would put Queensland students “on the path to a better education”.
By LYNDON KEANE
CAPE York and the Torres Strait have missed out on funding for vital infrastructure projects and social initiatives in the Federal Government’s 2025-26 budget.
Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers unveiled the Labor government’s pre-election budget on 25 March but there was little joy for residents and business operators in the northernmost part of the country, with the region not mentioned once in the 356-page budget strategy and outlook.
Cost of living relief in the form of minimal tax cuts has been promised in the budget, with a worker on average earnings set to get a tax break of $268 in the 2026–27 financial year – about $5 per week.
The Treasurer said the government was “investing more than $120 billion in infrastructure in every state and territory over the decade”, however, nothing has been committed to the co-funding arrangement with the State Government to proceed stage three of the Cape York Region Package.
There were hopes of a pre-election commitment from both major parties to the $240 million required to kickstart the third stage of the Peninsula Developmental Road
(PDR) sealing but there appears to be little interest in Canberra for the project.
Outgoing
after 26 years’ representation on 28 March when Prime Minister
described the budget as a “profound failure”.
“It was clearly an election budget,” he said.
“A $5 a week tax cut’s not going to do anything for our workers in Weipa and Cooktown and places like that – it’s not going to benefit any workers anywhere.
“What are you going to buy for 73 cents a day?”
Mr Entsch said he was expecting to see a commitment to funding the PDR in the budget and said it was disappointing the region “didn’t get a mention”.
“It’s profoundly disappointing –I was expecting to see it at least get a commitment,” he said.
“Leichhardt’s supposed to be up there for the take, but I’ll tell you now, if that’s the way they treat Leichhardt, they don’t deserve to get their hands on it.
“It didn’t feature anywhere we didn’t get a mention.”
With his Parliamentary office now packed up, the outgoing MP said he was retiring with no regrets as the electorate geared up to determine who would replace him in Canberra.
“I’m ready, mate,” he said.
“I think I’ve made it very clear I don’t intend to retire, but I will be retiring from politics.
“I’ve got plenty of things I want to do.”
FIVE Cape York councils are amongst nine across the state to have celebrated their 40th birthday on 30 March.
According to Queensland Government community history data, the Hope Vale, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Napranum and Pormpuraaw Aboriginal shire councils notched up the milestone on Sunday, an achievement Kowanyama Mayor Territa Dick said reflected the contribution and efforts of previous Indigenous elected members.
“As leaders, we want to create pathways for our future generations to learn and thrive and bring that knowledge back to community,” she said.
Minster for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson congratulated the councils, which she described as “the backbones of their communities”.
“I’d like to congratulate them on their drive and self-determination to improve the lives of their residents,” she said.
“I’ve met with many mayors and council members, either in person, on Country or remotely, since the LNP formed government, and I was inspired by the pride they have in their communities.”
THREE of the six candidates currently announced in the race for Leichhardt had their environmental priorities put in the spotlight in front of a full house at a Cairns forum on 19 March.
More than 100 community members attended the Reef, Climate and Energy Forum at Hemingway’s Brewery, during which the candidates in attendance presented their policies on climate action, reef protection and energy affordability.
Labor’s Matt Smith, Greens runner Phillip Musumeci and recently announced independent Munganbana Norman Miller took to the stage at the forum, which was hosted by Far North Queensland conservation and community groups.
Mr Smith said he believed strong policy around climate change and reef protection were vital from both environmental and economic perspectives.
“The reef is the reason all of us are here,” he said.
“You look at Cairns, you look at the Far North in general – the reef is both a major social driver and economic driver.”
Mr Musumeci said Leichhardt families were worried about rising energy bills, extreme weather events and threats to the Great Barrier Reef, and took aim at the coal, gas and nuclear policies of the major parties.
“Both (parties) take millions in coal and gas corporate donations to fund their election campaigns,” he told the forum.
“We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result.”
Australian Marine Conservation Society campaigner Tanya Murphy said the strong turnout at the forum demonstrated how important the environment was to voters.
“Leichhardt voters are deeply invested in the future of the reef and the climate policies that will protect it,” she said.
“The packed room and engaged discussions last night show that people want real commitments, not just promises.”
By CHISA HASEGAWA
A REVOLVING door of staff is an issue in many sectors in a remote community, but when it comes to educating the future leaders of tomorrow, consistency is key.
A new study by the Edith Cowan University has found building community connections is one of the most important factors in attracting and retaining teachers in rural and remote areas.
Two Weipa teachers agreed that after leaving behind their support networks for their careers in the classroom, finding their place in community was vital in succeeding as a teacher.
Fifth-year St Joseph’s Parish School teacher Emily Ridgley said she originally only planned to stay in Weipa for less than a year, but a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to her finding a community.
“I moved here two weeks before COVID; I had a plan to be here for nine months to finish 2020, but that’s obviously turned into a lot longer,” she said.
“I’ve met my partner since being here, so that’s keeping me here as well.”
Ms Ridgely said one of the great things about being a remote teacher was being able to interact with parents, students and colleagues outside of the school environment.
“I met a lot of people just going to community events, and you
see parents and your kids there, and they like to see you outside of school and that you exist outside of school, which I think is nice,” she said.
“I think you can make quite strong relationships with students and families, because they know you as the teacher, but also as a whole person outside of school.”
Lead author of the study, Dr Mary-anne Macdonald, said most rural and remote teachers who moved from an urban life had left behind their support network.
“Successful rural teachers value
the social capital in their communities and connect to the community social space; they use their understanding of place to contextualise learning,” she told Cape York Weekly
“The tyranny of distance is often perceived as the greatest challenge for teacher retention in regional and remote schools in Australia.”
Teacher Matthew Bakes, who joined the St Joseph’s Parish School team this year, said he had felt welcomed and supported since moving from Melbourne with his young family in January.
“There’s so much available in the community, so provided you’re able to put yourself out there and get involved in things, there’s absolutely the opportunity to connect with a broad range of people,” he said.
“People have been absolutely welcoming, but I think it’s a balance.
your comfort zone to develop those connections.”
Ms Ridgley said she understood it could be hard to leave everything behind and start over, but encouraged younger graduate teachers to embrace a beautiful new lifestyle.
“I think there’s a certain amount of hand-holding you can have to try and encourage you to put yourself out there, and the school has done that for me, but it also goes back onto yourself to get out of
“I think the advice would be to just embrace it, try to show up to everything, and try to find the good parts of it if it’s feeling tough,” she said.
“As time goes on, it sort of becomes very natural and easy, and you feel like you belong and you feel at home.”
ARE you an experienced ranger looking for the adventure and opportunity of a lifetime?
Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) has launched a search for two dedicated project managers to lead its ranger program, a vital initiative aimed at preserving the Torres Strait’s unique ecological and cultural knowledge, and mentoring future generations of environmental leaders.
The “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” invites passionate individuals to work with Traditional Owners to care for sea and land Country by harnessing both traditional knowledge and modern science.
In the stewardship role, which is expected to last two to three years, select candidates will play an integral role in enhancing local capacity and supporting the aspirations of the Torres Strait communities.
Program manager for environmental management Dr Billie Roberts said TSRA had faced challenges in recruiting mainland talent in the past, and urged suitable candidates to look beyond the remote nature of the role.
“This work goes far beyond the turquoise waters and vibrant marine life,” Dr Roberts said.
“It calls for resilience, adaptability, and a true commitment to
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on-the-ground conservation; we are not just filling positions – we are extending a national invitation to help us bridge worlds.”
Acting ranger operations manager Alice Manas said the ranger mentors would play a vital role in strengthening local operations now and into the future.
“Mentoring is important for the strong future of the ranger program in the Torres Strait,” she said.
“Our next generation is going down a path where cultural knowledge and western science works together.
“Rangers do the fun field work, but also work hard in the office with the monitoring side and understanding the importance of reporting to management, board and funding bodies.”
To apply for the role, visit www. hiddenpearl.com.au.
THE flood event caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023 cannot be described as anything but a tragedy, but it also showed the true camaraderie of Cape York and the resilience of its people as they got on with recovery.
Cleaning up and trying to return to normal came with a big price tag, but financial help like the Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant, administered by the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA), eventually came, and is still available to primary producers, small businesses and nonprofits until 30 June.
The grant kept the doors of the Lion’s Den Hotel open after floodwater and mud overtook the iconic pub.
“The pub filled up like a bucket with holes,” publican Judy Fry recalled.
“It was very, very helpful to receive the assistance; without it, I would have had to
close the doors and walk away from the Lion’s Den Hotel.”
Ms Fry said the grant covered significant re-establishment costs and allowed her to keep essential staff on, all of whom worked tirelessly to ensure they could welcome back the watering hole’s loyal patrons.
“The grant went towards keeping a cook on and keeping cleaners on; it went to a lot of wages,” she said.
“Every ceiling in the back part of the building was gone and we had to redo all the ceilings in the pub; in the kitchen, everything had to go out.
“My family and I did it together with a lot of help from local people; they wanted their local pub up and running again.”
QRIDA area manager Sam Spina said the grant gave people the lifeline they needed to keep going, and encouraged anyone who needed it to apply before the June deadline.
By CHISA HASEGAWA
WEIPA and Napranum’s next generation of leaders, athletes and photographers are one step closer to their goals after attending the Youth Entrepreneurship Regional Summit earlier this month.
Pacific Australia Youth Association (PAYA), which runs leadership summits for young people across the country, came to the Cape for the first time on 22 March to empower local young people by building their skills in leadership, sport and digital technology.
Weipa’s Malachai Clements, who previously attended PAYA summits in New Caledonia and Tonga, shared his expertise.
“We held a series of workshops on leadership, teamwork and resilience building,” he said.
“We also did digital skills, like how to use a high-level camera, because a number of the kids there expressed that they wanted to become a photographer when they were older.”
The entrepreneurship summit was originally to be held in Weipa, but due to passings in community,
THE Northern Peninsula Area is again in the nation’s tourism spotlight after Cape York Peninsula Lodge (CYPL) won gold at the 2024 Australian Tourism Awards.
CYPL claimed the top award in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences category of the prestigious awards, going one better than the silver it picked up last year.
It was one of six gold, three silver and three bronze awards claimed by Queensland tourism operators in the state’s best-ever haul.
In a social media post, CYPL thanked Bamaga Enterprises Limited and its board of directors, as well as the guests.
WEIPA residents, staff and community groups are being urged to attend a forum being hosted by Rio Tinto this week.
The community forum will be held from 5-7:30pm on 3 April at the Carpentaria Golf Club, with Rio Tinto Weipa general manager Steve Dunstone set to provide an operational update as well as look at future planning and the key findings of the recent socioeconomic impact assessment.
An open Q&A session will follow the presentation.
POLICE have charged a 30-year-old Bamaga man with 10 offences.
It is alleged at about 10am on 21 March, police sighted a vehicle being driven with no registration along Joy Street in Umagico.
Police attempted to intercept the vehicle, with the driver allegedly continuing in its direction of travel before he was issued with a verbal direction to stop.
The man eventually pulled over and was arrested by officers at the scene.
It will be further alleged the man failed to comply with requirements issued by officers after multiple warnings and was transported to the Bamaga watchhouse, where he allegedly further failed to comply with instructions.
The man was charged with three counts of contravening a direction or requirement from a police officer, two counts of obstructing police and one count each of an evasion offence, driving a motor vehicle without licence, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving an uninsured vehicle and fail to appear in accordance with undertaking.
it was moved to PCYC Napranum and shifted to focus on sport and skills.
“We had a number of people pull out last minute, and it became a situation where we had to go, alright, how do we still deliver something for the community that’s beneficial, despite it not being our
original plan,” Mr Clements said.
“Something we did think about was the fact that a lot of the skills are translational between entrepreneurship and excelling in sport.
“Even the digital skills workshop, the youth were probably a bit young to be starting on their entrepreneurship journey, but know-
ing how to use a high-level camera could definitely lead to side businesses down the path, so it was a good starting point.”
Mr Clements said the community was eager to have the PAYA mentors back to do the intended entrepreneurship summit and provide more opportunities for youth.
“It empowers young people in remote communities; I think very often, remote communities get forgotten in Australia,” he said.
“I’m a Weipa local, so I can attest to the fact that we miss out on a lot of the opportunities that the rest of the youth in Australia get access to.
“There’s no lack of skill on the Cape, but just because of our geographical location, it’s a lot harder for young people on the Cape to shine and show their prowess.”
Because that’s what facts do. They get in the way of wild theories, sensational headlines, and stories that are just too good to be true. And that’s the point.
Real journalism isn’t about chasin g clicks or stirring outrage. It’s about accountability. It’s about getting the story right, not just being the first to talk about it.
It’s about knowing your community and knowing what matters most.
Because when the truth matters, shortcuts don’t cut it.
We believe facts make stories stronger, not weaker. That’s why everything we publish is grounded in independence, integrity and an unwavering commitment to accuracy and the community we are part of.
Truth isn’t a single person’s point of view.
It’s a responsibility. And it’s one we take seriously.
Trust journalism to deliver you the truth.
I DON’T know what to be more disappointed in – Premier David Crisafulli’s assertion last week his government’s blueprint for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games would “deliver generational infrastructure for every square inch of the state”, or that, for a brief moment, I naively thought it would include Cape York.
Seriously though, no one north of Cairns expected to benefit from the estimated $7.1 billion infrastructure spend it’s going to take to get Queensland ready to host athletes from across the globe in a little over seven years from now.
Also, that’s $7.1b in political speak, which will undoubtedly equate to more than $12b or so once government construction blowouts are factored in.
Those in far-flung parts of the state like Cape York were not holding their breath for a single razoo when the government unveiled its 2032 Delivery Plan on 25 March, but the fact the Premier’s top lieutenant, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, described it as a strategy that “sets Queensland up with generational road and rail infrastructure” makes you painfully aware you aren’t deemed part of the state by our political overlords. What could possibly go wrong
when the lunatics are holding the purse strings at the behest of experts in exaggeration, masters of misdirection and sultans of spin (sorry, Warney) looking for their two weeks basking in the global spotlight in mid-2032?
Oh, that’s right – Olympic rowers testing themselves in Fitzroy River while trying to avoid meeting some of Rockhampton’s more prehistoric residents, that’s what.
In the spirit of being a team player and to assist the government in bringing the best athletes on the planet to regional audiences across the state, I’m going to offer up a few events I think the Cape
is well positioned to host once the flame has been lit and the bevy of bin chickens released into the sky at the opening ceremony in July 2032.
Event 1: Cartography a la Crisafulli
Sorry, athletes, I know you’ve been training for a lifetime, but this new Olympic sport is for the politicians and bureaucrats only.
Given the Premier’s assertion his Brisbane 2032 vision would encapsulate “every square inch of the state”, this event involves our elected leaders and their minions inside 1 William Street sketching a map of Queensland without visual
aids. Expect to see a big blob that is the south-east corner at the bottom of their efforts, with a narrow band running north to Cairns representing the northernmost part of the state.
Mount Isa? Never heard of it. Longreach? Long-where? Pajinka sign? We’ll relocate it to the base of the Kuranda Range.
Event 2: Diving at Archer River
This one’s a no-brainer. The government has already blown the budget on the new Archer River bridge by about $100 million, so why not get some genuine bang for buck and use the 9-metre deck
as the home of Olympic diving events? The river should be running at a suitable height by the time athletes arrive on the Cape, and they can feast on the famous Archer Burger between dives.
Event 3: Delayed freight weightlifting
We’re going to have some exceptionally strong humans in Queensland for the weightlifting events, so why not put them to work as they compete at loading and unloading barges to help with the current backlog of delayed non-essential freight destined for places like Weipa?
Event 4: PDR marathon
The Olympics are being held in late July and early August, which is peak tourist season on Cape York. The average pace for the current men’s marathon world record is about 21 kilometres per hour, which is coincidentally the same speed many find themselves doing behind a dusty convoy of caravans at that time of year.
Nothing says you’ve earned Olympic marathon gold like being covered in dust and overtaking Jim and Norma as they complete their Cape adventure at the speed at which paint dries.
If you want to make it a multidiscipline offering, we can also let the hurdlers leap over roadwork signage left behind while we wait for Canberra to stump up its share of the stage three Peninsula Developmental Road upgrade.
Fill in the blank cells using numbers from 1 to 9. Each number can only appear once in each row, column and 3x3 block.
Fit the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 into the hexagons so that where the hexagons touch, the numbers will be the same. No number is repeated in any hexagon.
*
Whillier
1163 | A BN 22 965 382 705
Weipa Peninsula People Native Title Group
The Cape York Land Council (CYLC) lawyer assisting the Weipa Peninsula People Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (WPPAC) in relation to the below will hold a consultation meeting on Thursday 10 April 2025 in Napranum about a proposed roadhouse located within the Sudley Pastoral Holding (on part of Lot 1 on SP30578 and indicated with a green dot on the map below with the words ‘Proposed Roadhouse’).
Who is invited to attend the meeting?
The consultation meeting is open to all members of the Weipa Peninsula People Native Title Group (as defined in the approved determination of native title made by the Federal Court in Ross on behalf of the Cape York United #1 Claim Group v State of Queensland (No 15) (Weipa Peninsula People determination) [2023] FCA 732). Please contact Cape York Land Council if you would like to confirm whether you are a member of the Weipa Peninsula People Native Title Group and so entitled to attend the meeting.
The meeting will be held as follows:
Time: 1.00pm – 4.00pm
Date: Thursday 10 April 2025
Venue: Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council board room, 320 Wa Tyne Street, Napranum QLD 4874
The purpose of the meeting is for:
1. the CYLC lawyer assisting WPPAC to provide an update on the status of negotiations regarding a proposed Indigenous land use agreement between it and the proponent of the proposed roadhouse; and 2. the CYLC lawyer assisting WPPAC to seek or otherwise confirm instructions from the native title holders in relation to the proposed form of compensation, including the proposed location of any land sought to be transferred for the benefit of native title holders for the purposes of an outstation (as depicted on the above map with a green circle and the words ‘Proposed Outstation’).
If you have queries about this consultation meeting, please contact Parky Wirrick of Cape York Land Council on 0409 548 569 or pwirrick@cylc.org.au. Note that there is no funding available for travel assistance. Video-conferencing Video-conferencing facilities may be made available at the meeting. If you would like WPPAC to arrange a video-conference so you can attend the meeting, whether you live at the location of the meeting or elsewhere, please contact Parky Wirrick on the phone number or email address above well in advance of the meeting date.
By CHISA HASEGAWA
IT has been less than a year since Max Giese started Little Athletics, but he has done himself and Cooktown proud after high achievements at the state championship level.
The 12-year-old competed at the Little Athletics Queensland State Championships in Brisbane on 2123 March alongside Cooktown teammate Isla Winton, where they both set new personal bests (PB) despite the challenges of being remote athletes in their off season.
Max, who is quite the footy star in Cooktown, said he originally started Little Athletics to strengthen for football, but found he really enjoyed the new sporting challenge.
“[My favourite thing is] just hanging out with friends and keeping fit,” he said.
With Cooktown’s Little Athletics season finishing in September 2024 when the pair qualified for states at the FNQ Little Athletics Championships in Cairns, mum Kim Giese said the athletes were deep in their off season when the competition in Brisbane came around.
“The fact that they’re in their off season, and the results that they did actually get, it’s a reflection of their dedication to their sport,” she said.
“Isla got a PB in her 200m and Max got a PB in his 100m, so that’s fantastic.”
Ms Giese also said it was challenging for the athletes to train during the Cape’s wet season, but they did whatever they could to keep their fitness up.
“These guys haven’t done a jump in six months, purely because the jump pits were just mud,” she said.
After an eye-opening experience at the state championships, Max said he was proud of the challenges he overcame, adding that having to adapt to difficult conditions was making him a tougher athlete both physically and mentally.
“I’m probably proud of getting a jump on the board at states, because we haven’t jumped in six months, it’s pretty hard to get your run up and everything for long jump,” he said.
Max and Isla were the only two of nine Cooktown athletes who qualified for the state championships who were able to go, thanks to
the dedication of their parents and the support of local groups, including the RSL Memorial Club, Endeavour Lions Club, Cooktown Little Athletics, and Cooktown and District Youth Association.
“It really came down to finances and availability for the families, because the club wouldn’t be able to financially support all of them to go,” Ms Giese said.
“If it wasn’t for the sponsorships, we wouldn’t have been able to get there, and the fact that there was actually nine that qualified was really great, and a big effort for Cooktown.”
Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) is inviting tender submissions from businesses and individuals seeking to be placed on Council’s Register of Pre-Qualified Suppliers for: supply of trade services – Contract No. 2025-03-01 and
Plant Machinery Hire (Civil & Building Works) – Contract No. 2025-03-02
Interested companies, individuals, and existing Pre-Qualified Suppliers are invited to complete a Schedule for one, multiple, or all of the listed categories in the supplier registers and return it with the completed Tender Response. Existing suppliers must re-tender to be considered for inclusion in the 2025 registers.
Tenderers shall submit their Tender Response via email to tenders@nparc.qld.gov.au by close of business, 5pm Tuesday 29 April 2025.
Tender documents are available to download via Council’s website https://www.nparc.qld.gov. au/tenders-expressions-interest-1. Further information can be obtained by contacting Council’s Operations Department via email to tenders@nparc.qld.gov.au
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aCtiNg CHief eXeCutiVe offiCeR
A HOT, clear day allowed the Carpentaria Golf Club course to break the 11 foolhardy Dawnbusters who teed off in Weipa on 30 March.
The back nine proved a challenge for the group with no good gross scores recorded, while Peter Kenny’s nett 21 was strong enough to claim a narrow one-stroke victory. Handicaps proved the measure to sort out the weekly runner-up, with Viv Dick, Josh
Martin and Dave Sands all finishing with nett 22 to be sent into a countback before Dawnbusters stalwart Sands was crowned bridesmaid.
Kenny said he was thrilled to claim the coveted Dawnbusters polo shirt in only his sixth outing.
Grant Crossley impressed from the tee block to take out the men’s long drive prize, with Sharon Gardner claiming the women’s
honours in what was her first game back for the year.
Martin did not go home without a prize and was the Hoffman’s recipient by a stroke.
All 11 players failed to land a ball on the 18th green to let the pin prize go begging for another week.
Golfers will contest the front nine on 6 April, with the first group teeing off from 6:45am.
By LYNDON KEANE
THEIR uniforms may still be en route, but that hasn’t diminished the growing reputation of the Cooktown Salties on the basketball court.
It has only been 18 months since the sport experienced a resurgence on south-eastern Cape York but players are going from strength to strength as they begin to notch up some impressive victories.
The Salties travelled to Port Douglas on 23 March to tackle
the local Heat A and B teams and put on a basketball clinic with 80-6 and 65-15 wins in their two games.
Coach Junior Viranatuleo credited a strong training ethic, respect and dedication as the drivers behind the club’s success in Port Douglas, and praised players for demonstrating sportsmanship as they ran away with the games.
“It was good to get a win, but if the kids took anything out of it, it was great sportsmanship – they knew when to back off
and let the other team enjoy the game as well,” he said.
“They played in borrowed uniforms – ours are still coming.
“They were just next level; it was a good day trip down, and it’s a good thing when the kids want it as well; they want to have a great time and be successful, but at the same time, respect other teams around them.”
Viranatuleo said interest in basketball in Cooktown has exploded “from five to 82 kids” in the year-and-a-half he has been leading the sport’s local
rebound, and said there was a genuine respect between players and coaches during intense training sessions each week.
“That’s only been from being consistent,” he reflected.
“We’ve got great coaches … and we’ve just had good helpers come on; it hasn’t just been about basketball – it’s been about life skills.”
Viranatuleo thanked Cook Shire Council, Endeavour Lions Club and Gungarde Community Aboriginal Corporation for supporting the Salties.
THE 10 players who teed off for the weekly round of Wackers on 26 March were greeted with fine weather at Carpentaria Golf Club.
Rob Richardson carded a gross 50 for a winning nett 32, with Rhiannan Crossley taking runner-up honours with 60 off the stick for nett 35.
Pete Moore (7) and Crossley (9) were the nearest to the pin winners. Grant Crossley was the week’s Bradman’s recipient.
CAM Venables delivered an all-time best 76/62 for 39 points to claim the chocolates at Cooktown Golf Club on 29 March.
Rick Butler took runner-up honours with 82/64 for 37 points, while Steve Butler squeezed into third spot.
Brent Hetaraka (2/11), Rick Butler (14) and Aaron Hobbs (9/18) were the weekly pin prize winners.
Steve Butler (2,080 points) has catapulted to lead in the Race to the Bay with a 700-point effort on Saturday, with Wal Welsh and Hetaraka rounding out the top three both locked on 1,890 points.
LAKELAND has taken a 2-0 lead in the 2025 battle against the Cooktown Reefs after winning a high scoring encounter at the Cooktown Events Centre on 29 March. The visitors triumphed 7-6 in a futsal thriller to remain undefeated this season. The third game of the year is scheduled for 26 April but is subject to change.
JOSHUA Kelly was the fastest in a field of 59 participants for Weipa parkrun #412 on 28 March.
The parkrun family welcomed three first timers as Kelly greeted the finishers in 21 minutes, 52 seconds.
Hailee Ryan set one of nine personal bests on the day to be the first woman home in 27:06
Scott Easter, Grace Prentice, Alexandra Fetter, Meg Spearritt, Nicola Campbell, Nanthini Kanthan, Inyika Nadredre and Kym Prentice were the other participants to record PBs.
•4786m2 of Industrial Zoned Land in total • AREA 1 - 1911 m2 PLUS 3 x 40 foot containers with workshop/storage space between (that is 2 workshops with power and sewer x 116m2 each) together with Hardstand Area • AREA 2 - 765m2 driveway and plenty of parking plus 330m2 of caretakers accommodation adjoining • AREA 31780m2 fenced and gated. 2 x 20 foot storage containers with 2 x 8m covered workshops/storage adjoining Owners would prefer to lease in one parcel however will look at splitting if required. If you have been looking for this type of property or a block of this size then here is your
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