Cape York Weekly Edition 228

York

EAGLES SOAR HIGH TO CLAIM CUP

Tagai State College’s primary campus Eagles were all smiles after they claimed the Northern Peninsula Area and Torres Strait Crusader Cup in impressive fashion on Thursday Island. Event wrap – Page 23

Agenda set for Weipa symposium

Beyond Infinity

There will be blue sky thinking about the region’s future when the Western Cape Futures Symposium goes To Infinity and Beyond in Weipa next month. Turn to Page 3 to discover more of the program.

No potable water blues in Cook Shire townships

THERE will be no cases of the blues in the hunt for clean drinking water in Cooktown and Coen this tourist season.

Cook Shire Council has lifted the lid on new self-serve water stations in the towns, which are easy to spot, thanks to their striking royal blue paint job, simple to use, and will provide businesses, residents and visitors with easy access to potable water.

The water stations are set to prove especially convenient for visitors in the lead-up to the 2025 dry season, and provide for a one-time purchase with a cred-

it or debit card without the need for an account with the council.

The cost of water will be $4.40 per 1,000 litres in Cooktown and $8.80 per 1,000 litres in Coen.

Cook Shire Mayor Robyn

Holmes said the new stations would ease the annual headache of tourists seeking to access safe drinking water on their travels around south-eastern Cape York.

“These new water stations provide a practical and fair way for everyone, especially visitors, to easily access clean drinking water,” she said.

In Cooktown, the current

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Avdata fob station on Charlotte Street, outside the SES building, will be deactivated on 28 April, with public access to water available at the new station at 21 Hope Street.

Anyone with a fob for the old Avdata system is asked to return it to the council’s customer service centre.

The Coen system will be up and running by the end of April.

Mayor Holmes reminded users that they needed to bring their own hose and fittings to utilise the stations, which support 25 millimetre hose and 80mm Camlock fittings.

Discovery Festival to be headlined by survivalist

By CHISA HASEGAWA

WITH just 10 weeks to go, planning for the 46th Cooktown Discovery Festival is in full swing, with organisers announcing a survival expert will headline the special guest list for the 20-22 June event.

Renowned survivalist, adventurer, former military pilot, author and filmmaker Mike Atkinson – aka Outback Mike – will join the festival entertainment line-up this year to take locals and visitors on a thrilling journey of resilience and selfreliance.

Best known for pushing the limits of human endurance as a contestant on Alone Australia, Atkinson will showcase the handmade dugout canoe he crafted and used to sail through the treacherous waters of the Great Barrier Reef, armed with nothing but his survival expertise.

Cook Shire Council regional development manager Sally Eales also teased a book unveiling and special documentary screening would coincide with the festival, both of which are reportedly gripping accounts of Atkinson’s extraordinary solo

expeditions as he battled the elements and survived entirely off the land and sea.

“Imagine paddling up the Great Barrier Reef in a handmade dugout canoe, battling the elements with nothing but your wits and survival skills,” she said.

“That’s exactly what Mike Atkinson did, and now festi-

val goers will have the chance to hear his incredible story and meet Mike firsthand.”

Attracting thousands of visitors each year, the unmissable weekend is a major economic driver for local businesses, with a significant boost to tourism, hospitality and retail in Cooktown.

“The Cooktown Discovery

Festival is more than just an event – it’s a chance to bring our community together, celebrate our unique history, and drive economic activity that supports small businesses across our region,” Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes said.

“Whether you’re a local or a visitor, this festival has something for everyone.”

Survivalist, adventurer, former military pilot, author, filmmaker and contestant on Alone Australia Mike Atkinson – better known as Outback Mike – will headline the special guests at this year’s three-day festival.

Cook Shire Council says the new self-serve water stations in Cooktown and Coen will make it easier for businesses, residents and tourists to access potable water.

Symposium promises to bring star-studded cast

By LYNDON KEANE

A PROGRAM designed to facilitate a “two-way learning experience” will provide delegates with an exploration into the long-term social and economic needs of the region when the 2025 Western Cape Futures Symposium is held in Weipa next month.

Hundreds of delegates are poised to converge on the region for the biennial event, and symposium co-ordinator Jennifer McHugh said the program – which was released late last month – would allow a mix of external expertise and local innovation to flourish on 7-8 May.

“This year’s program has been intentionally designed as a two-way learning experience,” she told Cape York Weekly

“While we’re eager to hear fresh ideas from external presenters, we’re equally focused on showcasing local innovation and programs; the format promotes interaction rather than passive listening – we’ve limited presentations to 10 minutes to ensure they are concise and impactful, and we’ve built in dedicated time for audience questions and discussion.

“We’ve also deliberately included long breaks and networking opportunities, knowing that some of the most valuable conversations often happen informally; our aim is to avoid a ‘talkfest’ and instead create a space where genuine dialogue, exchange of ideas, and collaboration can flourish.”

Weipa Town Authority Chair Jaime Gane said the calibre of speakers asking to present at the symposium reflected its importance to planning for the sustainability of communities on western Cape York.

“As a not-for-profit event operating with a limited budget, we’ve had to adopt a creative and resourceful approach,” she said.

“None of our speakers are paid to present, which makes the level of engagement and willingness to contribute all the more powerful.

“The interest we’ve received from both presenters and participants is a clear indication of the strong appetite for this event and the value it brings to the region.”

The To Infinity and Beyond session on the final day of the symposium is expected to draw a strong crowd of delegates, and Space Centre Australia chief executive officer James Palmer, who will feature on the panel with company non-executive director and former prime minister Scott Morrison, said he believed the topic would drive substantial outside-the-box thinking when it came to economic alternatives for the region.

“There’s a real sense that the

region is ready to take bold steps beyond the traditional reliance on mining,” he said.

“Delegates will be looking for tangible pathways into emerging industries and space, I believe, is one of the most exciting and transformative of those.

“Infrastructure will also be front and centre – roads, bridges, and digital connectivity are all enablers of growth, and if we’re serious about building a diverse and resilient economy, these issues need clear strategies. I expect a strong focus on community voice; the future of Western Cape York must be shaped by the people who live here.”

Western Cape Chamber of Commerce president Jai Christie urged local business operators and interested stakeholders to register for the event, and echoed Mr Palmer’s sentiment

the panel Q&A would be one not to miss.

“I think it’s very important for local businesses members and stakeholders to come along and really have their say, as well as get first-hand information from the decision makers that will be at the event.

“I’m very excited to see all of the speakers at the event, the opportunities for growth and industry diversification; Dennis Fay from Salty Monkeys in the Communities and Economies and Opportunities session, as well as the To Infinity and Beyond session featuring James Palmer and Scott Morrison representing Space Centre Australia, are just a few of the great speakers in the lineup.”

To register for the symposium, go to www.westerncapechamber.com.au/symposium.

Space Centre Australia boss James Palmer, who will feature on a panel session with non-executive chairman and former prime minister Scott Morrison and other key stakeholders on the final day of the 2025 Western Cape Futures Symposium, says the region’s sustainability hinges on the community’s ability to have its voice heard.

$10.8m funding boost to combat climate changes

By CHISA HASEGAWA

HIGH tides, strong winds, corrosion and damaged infrastructure are just some of the consequences of climate change noticeable in the Torres Strait today, with community leaders claiming much of the region’s infrastructure will become unusable if action is not taken.

On 2 April, the Federal Government announced $10.8 million would be shared between Torres Shire Council, Torres Strait Island Regional Council and Gur A Baradharaw Kod Torres Strait Sea and Land Council Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Corporation to help them better adapt to the impacts of climate change.

“Our island home is affected everywhere up in the Torres Strait,” Torres Shire Mayor Elsie Seriat said.

“Every day, we’re facing climate change that are happening in and around our community; our houses are going underwater, our wharves are going underwater from king tides, our international airport that’s situated in the jurisdiction of Torres Shire Council is at risk of closing down.

“We welcome this funding and this announcement, because it will allow us to create jobs in community to raise awareness for people in community around climate resilience and climate change.”

While there was limited detail about how the three organisations would spend the $10.8m, the Torres Strait leaders and Labor politicians spruiking the announcement said it would help educate community members and empower locals to make decisions for their own Country.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website states “adaptation actions” backed through the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area (NPA)

Climate Resilience Grant Program “might include community education on climate change science, protecting cultural values being impacted by climate change, collecting local knowledge on climate and developing regional climate adaptation actions” without specifying how recipients would actually acquit the millions in public funding provided.

Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson, who was in Cairns to make the announcement, said the funding would be managed “with proper co-ordination and proper input and leadership from the communities that are affected”.

“The climate resilience grant program will deliver on-theground capacity in these communities, so you’ll end up with

climate resilience officers that can lead education work, community engagement, project prioritisation, local problemsolving,” he told media.

“What this climate resilience funding is about is making sure that rather than doing it in a sort of hand-to-mouth ad hoc basis, we do it with proper co-ordination and proper input and leadership from the communities that are affected.”

The funding is part of a $15.9m program originally committed to the Torres Strait and NPA by the Albanese government at the 2022 federal, however, the Assistant Minister said it had been delayed to ensure community leaders were consulted through a “careful and proper process that was locally led”. He assured that the funding would go ahead this time,

regardless of the outcome of the 3 May election and the timing of the announcement during a campaign.

Torres Strait Island Regional Council chief executive officer James William said the funding was crucial in planning ahead and being transparent with community members.

“Communities have got a lot of built systems, and those systems, where they’re placed now may not be convenient and strategic in the long term, because you’ve got changes that are going to impact community now, well into 50 years, 100 years,” he said.

“If we don’t take our community members along in that journey, then you’re going to have massive challenges, socially, economically and environmentally.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Interim safety appointment

THE State Government has appointed an interim commissioner for Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) and launched a comprehensive review into the state’s health and safety regulatory framework.

Ken Singer will lead the organisation while RSHQ’s effectiveness is put under the microscope.

The review will look at the role of the regulator, and whether any modifications to the existing model, or any alternative model, would be more effective in ensuring and improving resources safety and health outcomes.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last said the review and Mr Singer’s interim appointment would “fix the mess left by Labor on worker safety”.

Cooktown chamber AGM

THE Cooktown Chamber of Commerce and Tourism will select a new executive for 2025 when it holds its annual general meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).

The meeting will commence at the Cooktown Events Centre on May Street from 9:30am on 9 April, and is set to include a full agenda, including the election of a new management committee and a review of the region’s business directory.

The AGM will be followed by a networking event over coffee. All chamber members and any other interested businesses are encouraged to attend.

Regional population soars

NEW data reveals the nation’s regional renaissance is showing no signs of slowing down, with the population of regional, rural and remote Australia nudging almost 10 million people.

Analysis of recently released Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) shows the number of people living in the regions, including areas like Cape York, increased from 9.78m in 2023 to 9.91m last year – a growth rate of 1.3 per cent over the past 12 months and 6.3 per cent since 2019.

“RAI chief executive officer Liz Ritchie said the statistics build on a “fascinating narrative” that had been evolving over the past 20 years.

“Australia’s migration patterns are changing and more people are choosing a life beyond the boundaries of our largest cities,” she said.

“We need regional Australia to be a focus, rather than an afterthought.”

Queensland Senator Nita Green, Leichhardt Labor candidate Matt Smith, Torres Shire Council Mayor Elsie Seriat and Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson at the Cairns announcement of the $10.8 million in funding for Torres Strait climate adaptation activities.

KEY achievements including the removal of more than 4,500 feral pigs and the monitoring of almost 4,000 marine turtle nests have been celebrated at the Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance’s (WCTTAA) annual postnesting season meeting.

The meeting, which was hosted by Cape York Natural Resource Management (NRM) in Cairns in late March, brought together 50 representatives from six WCTTAA member groups, and state and federal government agencies, along with other organisations, stakeholders and contractors committed to turtle conservation and feral pest management in the region.

Cape York NRM’s WCTTAA co-ordinator, Dr Manuela Fischer,

emphasised the importance of the annual gathering.

“We hold this meeting each year after the turtle nesting season on the western Cape ends,” she said.

“It’s an opportunity to report

findings, discuss challenges and solutions of each ranger group individually, and plan for the next season and future opportunities as an alliance.”

Pormpuraaw Land and Sea

Ranger Kiren Tarpencha said it was fantastic to hear feedback from each ranger group about the WCTTAA program.

“’We’ve heard from other groups, how they’re doing and how their programs run differently or similar to ours,” he said.

“At the end of the day, we’re all doing the same job, but there’s a bit of difference between the groups.”

Marietta Matasia, who made history in 2023 by becoming the first female ranger co-ordinator for Nanum Wungthim Land and Sea Rangers, said the meeting provided a centralised opportunity to share knowledge and processes.

“We are always happy to share our ideas and learn from each other,” she said.

“Listening to the other groups and their on-ground experiences helps us work together on the issues and challenges that we all face, improve the way we do things and share our success stories.”

The achievements of the WCTTAA program were recognised at the 2024 Australian Biosecurity Awards, where it received the inaugural First Nations Award for Excellence in Biosecurity.

The WCTTAA is a partnership of six Indigenous land and sea managers from the Northern Peninsula Area, Mapoon, Napranum, Pormpuraaw, Aurukun and Kowanyama, who work together for the protection of marine turtles from nest predation along the western Cape York coastline.

No election promises to seal PDR

By LYNDON KEANE

NEITHER major political party will commit to funding the next stage of sealing the only road link between Cape York and the rest of Queensland ahead of the 3 May federal election.

There was no money in the Albanese government’s 2025-26 budget for stage three of the Cape York Region Package (CYRP), so Cape York Weekly asked Labor

candidate Matt Smith and the Liberal National Party’s (LNP) Jeremy Neal whether they could get their respective parties to commit to the project should they be elected and their party hold power for the next three years.

The third stage of the CYRP, which would continue sealing the remaining 164 kilometres of the Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR), hinges on Canberra agreeing to provide 80 per cent of the

money required for the project –$240m – to green light work on the ground.

The State Government last year committed its $60m share of the 80:20 joint funding arrangement for the project.

Mr Smith said Labor was “definitely taking Cape York seriously”, however, admitted there was more that could be done and dismissed the suggestion both major parties would view the region more fa-

vourably if it comprised more than a single electorate.

“There’s always more to be done, and coming from a candidate perspective, there are limits to the levers I can pull,” he said.

“Should I be elected, it’s (funding the CYRP) something I’m going to be on all the time; they’re not going to hear the end of it.

“The Albanese government is definitely taking Cape York seriously, but as I said, there’s more

to be done; I understand the argument (about the political appetite for Cape York) – I don’t necessarily agree with it; I think it’s about the will to actually fight for it to be honest, to have the will to get in the game and lose some skin.” Cape York Weekly received no response to requests for comment from Mr Neal and the LNP about whether a coalition government would commit to funding the Cape’s critical road infrastructure.

Mapoon Land and Sea Rangers at the WCTTAA meeting with organiser and Cape York NRM biodiversity project officer Dr Manuela Fischer, and Cape York NRM chief executive officer Pip Schroor. Photo: Christine Howes.

Neither major party will make a pre-election commitment to fund the $240 million required to progress stage three of the Cape York Region Package to seal the road to Weipa.

Tickets on sale for Classic’s 20th

By LYNDON KEANE

THEY may not be the golden tickets that granted access to Willy Wonka’s chocolate kingdom, but platinum keyrings have started to cause a buzz on western Cape York ahead of one of the region’s biggest annual events in June.

Tickets – in the familiar form of numbered, fish-shaped keyrings – have gone on sale for the 2025 Weipa Fishing Classic (WFC) and president Lisa Lui said she believed the eye-catching design of the 20th anniversary offering would quickly become a collector’s item for event diehards.

“The first keyring sales spark excitement for the Weipa Fishing Classic, marking the beginning of

the event’s build-up. We had a fantastic day at the Weipa showcase for the initial sales, and there’s already a lot of enthusiasm for the Classic,” she said

“The keyrings are collector’s items; I know people who have one for every year they’ve been in Weipa; others, who have moved away, often have friends or family buy their tickets and send them after the Classic.”

The $70 keyrings provide entry to the three-day event, random draws and the coveted top 30 prize draw on the final night of the WFC.

Ms Lui said some Weipa residents wanted the same numbers

each year and that they had developed a technique to monitor keyring sales to ensure they could bag their preferred numbers.

“Some people have their numbers that they want every year,” she said.

“We put the keyrings out in batches of 100, and you will have people track the batches we sell to make sure they are there when that batch of numbers is laid out and search through them to find their numbers.”

The WFC committee will be selling the keyrings every Saturday, with the exception of the Easter long weekend, on the grassed

area beside the Woolworths car park from 9am-12pm until they are sold out.

Ms Lui said those from out of town could also get in on the action ahead of their arrival in Weipa for the milestone edition of the event.

“For those from out of town, tickets can be purchased remotely and will be held until they arrive for the Classic,” she explained.

“Tickets are non-transferable, so we will hold them in case of any unforeseen circumstances; if they can’t make it, they can be reimbursed, or designate a local friend or family member to pick up the tickets as a proxy.”

Forum provides Rio Tinto a platform to share vision

SOCIAL and community services, impact assessments, employment and the viability of Weipa were all on the agenda when Rio Tinto hosted its first community forum for 2025 on 3 April.

The forums provide an opportunity for the community to engage directly with Rio Tinto management and find out what is happening with the miner’s local operations and the Weipa township.

Key topics raised at the event,

held at the Carpentaria Golf Club, included an update on Rio Tinto’s operations, projects, capital works, planned mine closure and expansion plans, economic development and local employment.

The preliminary findings of last year’s socioeconomic impact assessment (SEIA) were unveiled at the forum, with data coming from more than 400 staff surveys, 132 surveys in Weipa, 331 surveys in local Indigenous communities,

32 structured interviews and four workshops.

The need to advance the future governance of Weipa – normalisation – was one of the major factors highlighted by respondents, and Rio Tinto Weipa general manager Steve Dunstone said the SEIA findings would play a vital role in directing future planning.

“The community participation in the SEIA survey has been very encouraging and we thank every-

NEAL Jeremy

one who took part, as it has provided us with a better understanding of what is important,” he said.

“We value the community’s feedback, and these initial findings will assist to inform our future planning and identify opportunities to ensure that any community impacts from changes in our operations are managed into the future.

“Bringing the community together strengthens our connections to the Weipa community, so it’s

really important we take the time to meet, share information, answer questions and provide a platform to hear concerns and feedback.” Freight costs, housing availability and affordability, and the difficulties faced by non-mining businesses in attracting and retaining staff were also discussed, as was the perception mine closures would lead to “outmigration of residents and investment loss in Weipa”.

Rio Tinto Weipa general manager Steve Dunstone talks about the mining giant’s local operations and the township during the community forum held at the Carpentaria Golf Club on 3 April.

The 2025 Weipa Fishing Classic keyrings are now on sale.

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Artists left overwhelmed

By CHISA HASEGAWA

AS their first duo exhibition comes to a close, the artists behind Imagine say they are still overwhelmed by the positive feedback from the Cooktown community after it opened at the Elizabeth Guzsely Gallery on 29 March.

Gisela Whithear and Tracey Blumer are now back to pulling out the blank canvases at their weekly Sunday painting sessions with the aim of bringing more of their wild and off-beat style to local art community.

When speaking to Cape York Weekly before the exhibition unveiling, the artists said they were nervous about the community response, given their non-traditional style, but said it turned out there had been nothing to worry about.

“I’m amazed and I’m really pleased that it’s well received,

because some of it’s a little bit out there,” Ms Whithear said.

“Another artist that does more traditional stuff said she was really pleased that we were sort of going out to try something new, and ventured out of what you normally see in Cooktown.”

Ms Blumer said she was proud to bring something differ-

ent to the gallery walls, adding the exhibition gave her confidence to continue producing art.

“To me, the most important thing is that people engage with the gallery, and they enjoy a change of things that are on the wall,” she said.

“We are raising a few eyebrows, but I quite enjoy that.”

A driftwood piece by Ms Whithear went home with a cruise ship tourist last Thursday, with many more visitors coming through the gallery doors to admire the unique works in the exhibition.

“Tourists are basically where a lot of the business comes from, so a cruise ship of a few hundred people makes a big difference to the town,” Ms Blumer said.

“It’s just been a stream of curiosity and people who want to have a squiz.”

With their newfound exhibition experience and confidence, the pair said they hoped to inspire other artists to push boundaries and put themselves out there.

“It’s definitely motivated us to just keep going, and I’m also hoping we inspire some other artists to get involved or just try something new,” Ms Whithear said.

Piano Joe loses his locks for a good cause

THE trademark look of a regular Lion’s Den Hotel performer is no more after his long hair and beard were shaved off in support of “Den Baby” Ingrid Newman.

Rossville locals came together on Sunday afternoon to give Piano Joe a new look after well over $2,000 was raised to help Ingrid’s family with the costs of her brain tumour treatment, which she has been fighting since she was just 14 months old.

The clean-shaven result came after Piano Joe smashed the $1,000 goal at which

he pledged to shave his hair, and the $2,000 goal at which he pledged to say goodbye to his beard.

Mum Belle Newman thanked Piano Joe and the community for their support, which will help the family with out-of-pocket costs while travelling to Cairns for ongoing scans and treatment.

“$1,140 [was donated] through the PayPal fundraiser pool, Joe donated his hire fee and collected $400 of donations walking around Cooktown [on Saturday], plus more that got

NEWS IN BRIEF

Sponsorship program open

COMMUNITY groups, clubs and organisations can now apply for a financial helping hand following the opening of the first round of the Rio Tinto Sponsorships and Donations Program.

The program provides funding for a range of initiatives and activities that better the region around Weipa, Napranum, Aurukun, Mapoon and the Northern Peninsula Area.

“Our Sponsorships and Donations Program provides funding for local programs and events that enrich community life and contribute to making the region a vibrant place to live and work,” a Rio Tinto spokesperson said.

Round one closes on 31 May.

For information, email RTAWeipaFeedback@riotinto.com.

AEC postal vote warning

THE Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is warning voters about using unsolicited postal vote application forms from political parties, including via SMS prompts, in the lead-up to the 3 May federal election.

While it is only ever the AEC that distributes postal vote ballot papers, unsolicited application forms received via SMS, email or a voter’s mailbox are sent by a political party or candidate, not the AEC.

The applications are reportedly used by political parties to collect data about voters, and Australian Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope urged Leichhardt electors to remain vigilant.

“If you receive an application form for a postal vote in the mail, or an SMS encouraging you to apply for a postal vote, it hasn’t come from the AEC,” he said.

Report’s ‘shocking’ insight

QUEENSLAND’S police minister says the Crime Report Queensland 2023-2024 has exposed the “shocking trajectory” of the state’s youth crime crisis.

The report reveals the most common age of an offender in Queensland was 15 years old, with 12,268 offenders of that age charged in the 2023-24 alone.

handed over the bar over the weekend could have added up to $3,000, but definitely over $2000,” she said.

“The next MRI is the end of April, with check-ups with her doctor to see how it’s all going. The money helps so much with food, taxis and accommodation costs, plus Ingrid’s dad takes time off work or less hours to look after Ingrid’s siblings, so keeping up with the regular bills.

“Ingrid loved having a go with the clippers, and the atmosphere was great.”

The State Government muscled up its Adult Crime, Adult Time legislation to include 33 youth crimes in Parliament last week, and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the statistics painted a grim picture of Queensland’s youth crime situation.

“These shocking numbers are exactly why we are expanding Adult Crime, Adult Time to start making Queensland safer, delivering exactly what we promised,” he said.

Artist Tracey Blumer and Helen Clarke let their imaginations run wild at the opening of Imagine in Cooktown on 29 March.

Before ... Ingrid Newman takes to the clippers on Piano Joe at the Lion’s Den Hotel on Sunday afternoon.

After ... a new-look Piano Joe embraces Ingrid after he shaved his beard and hair to help fund her brain tumour treatment journey.

Wet season throws up challenge

By LYNDON KEANE

AS campaigning for the federal election hits full swing, Leichhardt candidates have provided insight into if and when Cape York and Torres Strait voters can expect to see them on the ground before 3 May.

The timing of the election has been criticised by several of the six candidates currently vying to become the Leichhardt MP, with the wet season and five public holidays throwing a spanner in the works of multiple plans to campaign on the Cape.

Liberal National Party candidate Jeremy Neal, who is looking to keep the seat in coalition hands, admitted it would be a struggle to fully canvas the region during the five-week campaign.

“With multiple trips to Cape communities already, my campaign for all of Leichhardt started many months before the election was officially called,” he said.

“I’m disappointed that Albanese called the election for 3 May, as this campaign period has five public holidays and eight days of prepoll; this drastically reduces the ability to get to every town in that time again.”

Greens candidate Phillip Musumeci, who was in Weipa for the Rio Tinto community forum on 3 April, said the party’s “Cape York strategy is to visit regions where we can find the time and money, so we can engage directly with local

communities to listen and to learn, and also to explain our policies”.

Independent Munganbana Norman Miller told Cape York Weekly he would target as much of the region as he could during two planned trips.

“I am very keen to be on the ground in Cape York,” he said.

“Due to being an independent meeting my own costs, my plan is to do one trip to Cooktown,

Hopevale and Wujul Wujul, and one trip to Weipa and Thursday Island; I have team members going to Bamaga and the [Northern Peninsula Area]; if finances come in enabling me to do more visits, I certainly will.”

Les Searle, who is flying the Family First flag in Leichhardt, said he would “not be able to be on the ground personally before the election”, but committed to hav-

Arrests made after alleged vicious attack in Lockhart

A PAIR of women from the eastern Cape York community of Lockhart River have been arrested following an alleged vicious attack on a boy and girl late last month.

Police allege that at about 10:30am on 27 March, a 19-year-old Lockhart River woman, 20-year-old Lockhart River woman and a group of other people intentionally surrounded a 17-year-old Lockhart River girl and 16-year-old Lockhart River boy on Ilway Street.

The 19-year-old and 20-year old, along with the group, allegedly assaulted the two victims, knocking them to the ground while repeatedly kicking and punching them.

The 17-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy

both received injuries requiring treatment at the Lockhart River health clinic.

Police were informed and, shortly after, located and arrested the 19-year-old woman and the 20-year-old woman.

The 19-year-old woman was charged with one count of assaults occasioning bodily harm while armed or in company.

The 20-year-old woman was charged with two counts of assaults occasioning bodily harm while armed or in company. Both women are due to appear at the Lockhart River Magistrates Court on 11 April.

Any members of the public with information about the alleged incident are asked to contact police.

PUBLIC NOTICE

JARDINE FERRY MAINTENANCE

CLOSURE: 23 APRIL – 23 MAY 2025

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.

ing supporters campaigning on his behalf.

One Nation runner Rob Hicks said he was hitting the road from 13 April and had already lined up meetings with the Weipa Town Authority, Western Cape Chamber of Commerce and Cook Shire Council.

Labor candidate Matt Smith said he and his campaign team were aiming to head north over the

Easter long weekend, adding he had been in regular contact with stakeholders since making a Cape York trip in late 2024.

“I promised the kids in Weipa I’d take them for a basketball shooting clinic, and I’m going to honour that commitment to them,” he said.

“I was in Cooktown just before Christmas, and I’ve been in touch with [Cook Shire Council] since.”

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.

NPARC T: (07) 4090 4100 or (07) 4090 4120 W: www.nparc.qld.gov.au

Lew Rojahn

ACTING CEO

Cape York Weekly has spoken to Leichhardt candidates to find out how they intend to approach campaigning on Cape York and in the Torres Strait in the lead-up to voters going to the polls on 3 May.

community connect

March/April 2025

Welcome to the first edition of Community Connect for 2025! We have an exciting year ahead with a lot happening both in the communities across the Cape and within our operations.

To make working for Rio Tinto more accessible for current and future employees in our remote communities, we are launching an Air Charter Community Commute service from Aurukun to Weipa.

Our teams have worked tirelessly over the past few years to make this happen and are now working on extending this service to other communities soon. Kudos to everyone involved in making employment more accessible in the Cape!

On April 3, we held our first community forum of the year. These sessions are a fantastic opportunity for me to connect with local residents and business owners, providing updates on our operations and answering any burning questions.

A big thank you to Weipa Town Authority and Queensland Health for also providing updates at the forum.

Our Communities and Social Performance team is gearing up for a busy year of engagements across our local communities. Our Indigenous

Employment and Development team has already hosted several work-ready workshops, with more planned in the coming months. They will be out and about in communities from Aurukun to NPA, conducting employment information sessions where you can learn about employment pathways and upcoming job opportunities. Keep up to date with their movements via our Facebook page.

The Communities team is also busy organising a range of engagements, including local events in Aurukun and Napranum, Amrun and Andoom Family site visits, and several careers expos across the Cape. If you are a Rio Tinto employee and would like to volunteer at an upcoming event, please reach out to the Communities team.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the SEIA survey late last year. In this edition, we are excited to share some key findings from our work so far. We continue to undertake feasibility studies into the expansion of our Amrun operations and look forward to sharing more updates on this work in the coming months.

Our commitment to community engagement and development remains strong. By fostering connections and providing valuable opportunities, we aim to build a thriving and supportive

Highlights from this edition..

environment for everyone. Stay tuned for more updates and events throughout the year, and let’s make 2025 a year of growth and success for communities across the Cape.

Stay safe, Steve Dunstone

Engagements

If you would like to speak to one of our friendly team members, you can catch us at the following events:

April

8-9 - PCYC Aurukun Youth Week

14-16 - IED Aurukun Visit

23 - IED Mapoon Visit

28-30 - IED NPA Visit

May

13 - Tagai Career Fair

14 - Bamaga Career Fair

15 - Napranum ECC 50 Year Celebrations

24 - Amrun Family Site Visits

June

5 - WCC Careers Market

Are you a Rio Tinto employee and interested in attending or volunteering at some of these events? Please reach out to the Communities and Social Performance for more information.

Peer Support

The Rio Tinto Peer Support Program is a team of passionate volunteers united with the vision and philosophy to help others in their workplace. Available in many Rio Tinto locations around the world, the Peer Support Program provides our people with a trained colleague who will listen and support them in times of need.

Research shows that during times of stress, people are more inclined to speak to a friend or peer than someone in a more formal position. Our peer supporters understand their workplace, have respect and rapport with their colleagues, and often have a very good appreciation of the stressors colleagues may be experiencing.

Recently, 25 employees from Weipa started their training to become Peer Supporters. This is a fantastic step towards strengthening our employee support network across our Weipa Operations.

Beach remediation works

Rio Tinto works closely with Traditional Owners to ensure that both operational and recreational land use under our agreements respects the country and aligns with its intended purpose.

Starting mid-2025, we will begin remediation work on the beach known as Dead Dog Beach. This project will involve the removal of all aboveground items and rubbish from the area.

We understand that this is a sensitive topic and kindly ask residents with memorial structures to remove all personal items from the area by 30 April 2025.

After the beach has been remediated, the dumping of rubbish and burial of pets will no longer be permitted.

Please direct any queries and complaints to our feedback number on 1800 820 711 during office hours of 8am - 4pm or email us at RTAWeipaFeedback@riotinto.com.

Not all heroes wear capes

Keeping our site and community safe is no small task, but the Weipa Emergency Response Team (ERT) and Emergency Service Officers (ESOs) are always ready to rise to the challenge.

With a dedicated crew of 65 responders across Northern and Southern Operations—and growing—the team is on a mission to develop into highly skilled rescuers, ensuring even greater coverage and capability during emergencies on site and in the community.

This training helps them handle different situations effectively and provide the best support possible. Their dedication to continuous improvement ensures they are well-prepared to support their colleagues in various ways.

These volunteers are great at pointing people towards helpful resources, like our Employee and Family Assistance Programme, making sure everyone gets the support they need quickly. They’re especially important during tough times, offering non-judgemental support when it’s needed most.

Overall, Peer Supporters really are the heart of our business’s support system. They encourage folks to seek formal help when needed, fostering a caring and connected environment. Their dedication and empathy make a big difference, helping to build a stronger, more supportive workplace. By being there for their colleagues, Peer Supporters contribute to a positive and resilient work culture.

Each year, the team undertakes 12 intensive training sessions, mastering critical skills like first aid, road crash rescue, hazmat handling, vertical rope and confined space rescue, and wildfire management. Their commitment ensures they’re prepared for anything, giving us the confidence that, in an emergency, we’re in the hands of professionals.

It’s a demanding role that requires grit, expertise, and an unshakeable commitment to the safety of others. Their efforts often go unnoticed, but their impact is immeasurable.

A huge thank you to our ERT and ESOs for your courage and commitment to our safety.

Rio Tinto Community Relations office closure

The Rio Tinto Community Relations Office will be closed on the following dates:

Friday 18 April (Good Friday)

Monday 21 April (Easter Monday)

Friday 25 April (Anzac Day)

Monday 5 May (Labour Day)

Monday 16 June (Weipa Fishing Classic Public Holiday)

Mapoon Road Ladhu Haul Road intersection

Please be advised that the Mapoon Road Ladhu Haul Road intersection has now transitioned to a fully automatic traffic and boom gate system.

Sponsorships and donations program

Applications for the round one of our sponsorships and donations program are open until 31 May 2025.

For planned power outages and live updates on unplanned outages please visit:

https://weipaelectricity.riotinto.com or our Facebook page facebook.com/RioTintoWeipa

SEIA update

In 2024, we started a Social Economic Impact Assessment to identify community impacts and opportunities from changes to our mining operations, including closures and expansions. This assessment covered various areas such as employment and local businesses, population growth and decline, impacts on key services, the Peninsula Development Road and Mission River Bridge, land usage, and town expansion.

Our teams conducted structured interviews, surveys, and workshops with external stakeholders to gather thoughts, comments, and feedback on the future of Weipa as we extend our operations on the cape.

We have compiled several key findings from this assessment, and here’s a summary of what you’ve said:

Weipa as a Key Service Hub: There are concerns that mine closure could lead to the loss of health services, local retail, and employment opportunities with RTAW.

Housing Challenges: Attracting and recruiting staff remains difficult due to housing shortages and limited childcare resources.

Wage and Cost Issues: Local businesses struggle to offer competitive wages compared to other employers, and increased freight costs continue to be a challenge for staff attraction and service delivery.

• FIFO Concerns: There is worry that a shift to more FIFO (Fly-In-Fly-Out) operations could impact the community, leading to identity loss, fewer residential jobs, and a less family-friendly environment.

Post-Closure Viability: Concerns about the viability of Weipa after mine closure and the potential increase in the cost of living.

Future Land Use: Uncertainty around future land use and opportunities for post-mine closure development, such as tourism.

So, what’s next? These initial findings have provided us with a better understanding of what is important to our community. This will then inform our future mine planning and help us manage any impacts that changes to our operations may have – helping us all to shape the future of the region for the better.

GISTM update

You may have noticed that we have a number of dams across our operations in Weipa, called tailings dams. These dams store the leftover byproduct after we finish mining and processing bauxite from the ground, and they are a crucial part of our operations.

While our tailings dams are very unlikely to cause any problems, we still need to be prepared to respond quickly in case of heavy rainfall that might lead to flooding. Although the chances of this happening are extremely rare—a one in 1000 year event—we need to remain prepared just in case.

Over the last few years, we’ve focused on our highrisk dams, ensuring we have action plans in place. Now, we’re looking at our low to medium risk dams, including the inactive tailings dam behind the Evans Landing industrial estate.

This involves establishing a tailings response plan (TRP) that considers various scenarios, likelihoods, and associated business responses.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about our response plans for our tailings dams, please reach out to the Community Relations team.

Land and rehab

In 2024, our Land and Rehabilitation team had a fantastic year, achieving great success across all their Land Management and Rehabilitation programs. During the rehabilitation season, the team prepared 462.6 hectares of previously mined areas for rehabilitation across the Northern Operations at Weipa. Our in-house nursery thrived, with several improvements leading to better plant health and growth. Over 64,000 native tree seedlings were propagated and planted to boost framework species numbers.

Additionally, the team continued to receive native understory seeds from the communities of Aurukun, Mapoon, and Napranum through the Community Seed Collection program. This year, 32 species of trees and shrubs were collected, totalling 769kg of understory seed gathered by various registered pickers in the communities. Four new pickers joined the program in 2024.

The quality of seed delivery remained high, and the program continued without any safety incidents. Running from April to December, the program enables early engagement with community pickers and the provision of early seed species, such as native grasses. Overall, the team’s efforts have significantly contributed to the sustainability and ecological health of our region.

Bridge and train track safety

School holidays are almost here, and we love the freedom and lifestyle our children can enjoy here on the Cape. However, we’d like to remind parents to please talk to their children about the dangers of trespassing on train tracks, throwing rocks onto the tracks and fishing off the Mission River Bridge.

Sometimes, it can be hard to hear oncoming trains, which can be surprisingly quiet, and it can take

nearly a kilometre—the length of the Mission River Bridge—for a train to stop. This means they cannot stop quickly enough to avoid a collision if people are crossing or walking along the tracks.

If your kids are heading off on their bikes to throw in a line, please remind them to follow the signage about fishing near the Mission River Bridge and to stay clear of the bridge itself and oncoming traffic.

Lastly, we kindly ask everyone to avoid throwing fish frames off the bridge, as we have a team of divers working in the water, and ensuring their safety from unwanted water predators is paramount.

Social investment

Are you part of a local not for profit group or club that is looking for funding or in-kind support from Rio Tinto? We have a number of social investment programs available:

Sponsorships and donations

If you’re interested in applying for funding through our 2025 Sponsorships and Donations program, applications for round one are open now until 30 April 2025. Round two will open from 1 July to 30 October 2025.

RioGivers program

Receive $500 per Rio Tinto employee who volunteers 50 hours for your organisation.

Community Development Fund Expressions of interest opened in March and are ongoing throughout the year.

Conditions apply for each program. to find out more, please reach out to us at RTAWeipaFeedback@riotinto.com.

In 2024, we invested over $580,000 through our Community Development Fund (CDF) and our Sponsorships and Donations Program into communities across the Cape.

From community festivals and events to laser equipment, development workshops, and silk arts, we’ve supported a diverse range of activities.

Community feedback and complaints

At Rio Tinto the strength of our relationships with the communities where we operate, and broader society, is fundamental to our business.

Rio Tinto is willing to learn from our mistakes, by listening to understand and genuine partnering, we will deliver better long-term outcomes for everyone. Every complaint will be carefully considered and a written response will be provided. We encourage open communication and collaboration to work towards an agreed resolution for all involved.

If a resolution cannot be reached, your complaint will be escalated to management who will reassess the issue and undertake an internal investigation to confirm the next steps. An independent tribunal may be considered for complaints of a serious or complex nature.

How can I provide feedback or make a complaint?

Complaints can be made anonymously, please let us know if you wish to remain anonymous.

1800 820 711

to speak to our Communities and Social Performance team, Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm. RTAWeipaFeedback@riotinto.com

In person at Rio Tinto Community Relations, Artie Wales Drive, Weipa. Monday to Friday, 8am4pm.

#FindingBetterWays

Sophie,

Last year, Sophie and the team achieved strong results, with 2024 bringing several record-setting production months.

With a focus on proactive solutions, Sophie plays a key role in ensuring smoother operations and improved outcomes.

International Women’s Day

Weipa came alive over the second weekend of March with a vibrant celebration of International Women’s Day, bringing the community together through inspiring and impactful events.

As part of the celebrations, we were proud to support two uplifting International Women’s Day luncheons. Local women gathered to share powerful stories of resilience, success, and empowerment. These events provided a meaningful space to recognize the achievements of women and strengthen connections within the community.

Meet Haydon, Superintendent of operations at our Amrun site in Weipa, Queensland, Australia.

He’s been championing the use of the Safe Production System at the site, resulting in higher outputs.

“It’s the first time since 2020 that we’ve been able to achieve our long term plan,” he said.

Take a listen to the video to find out more.

On Sunday, our We Belong committee hosted a rejuvenating free community yoga and meditation session. This event offered participants a chance to unwind, reflect, and recharge. The session highlighted the importance of self-love and the significance of women supporting and uplifting each other.

By supporting and hosting events where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to be their best selves, we help foster strong, thriving communities. These celebrations not only honored the incredible women in our community but also reinforced the importance of unity and mutual support.

The weekend’s events were a testament to the power of coming together to celebrate and uplift one another. We look forward to continuing this tradition and creating more opportunities for connection and empowerment in the future.

We’re partnering with Indigital, an Australian Indigenous technology company, on an initiative known as “Caring for Country”.

“Caring for Country” is an initiative that combines traditional knowledge with digital innovation to protect and restore Country and strengthen culture, while advancing sustainable mining practices for the energy transition.

The 3 year program will operate across Indigenous communities in Far Noth Queensland, Australia.

Meet

Process Engineer at our Amrun site in Weipa, Queensland, Australia.

Boost for Badu fashion business

By CHISA HASEGAWA

IN a sea of fast fashion and even faster trend cycles, the Badu Art Centre is putting out clothes that tell a story – a story of life in the Torres Strait islands, of female artists and of feeling good in your body.

In support of First Nations fashion designers, the Badu Art Centre’s Bami Thaynamul (Rags to Riches) has received a $60,000 grant to expand production lines and fund vital equipment upgrades.

Badu Art Centre manager Harriet Gaffney said that at the core of Bami Thaynamul was the Sawurr dress, a size-inclusive frock with screen-printed artwork.

“We started our little fashion aspirations last year before CIAF (Cairns Indigenous Art Fair),” she said.

“We put together a little run of a one-size-fits-all frock, which we screen-printed on, and when we took everyone down to CIAF, we sold the last one off my back.”

Ms Gaffney said although the dresses could be worn by anyone, they were created with bigger bodies in mind.

“We were thinking about our own market, like Torres Strait bodies, and the national average body now is size 14, so we were working with that in mind,” she said.

“There’s plenty of clothes for skinny girls out there; we wanted to make some funky, functional

gear that can be dressed up or down with bigger bodies.

“The screen prints we’re using are telling unique stories to Badu, and it’s also really just understanding that women with bodies above a size 12, we like a nice frock as well, so we want to be able to produce them.”

Weipa

Community Feedback and Complaints

Ms Gaffney said the funding would allow the business to continue setting up a textile studio, as well as partner with Publisher Textiles in Sydney to develop new screen-print designs and hone production techniques.

“One of the things we were really aware of, too, is that there’s

In person at R o Tinto Community Relations, Artie Wales Dr ve, Weipa Monday to Friday 8am-4pm

not as many female artists who are known in the Torres Strait,” she said.

“There is this really cottage sort of industry of home sewers in the Torres Strait; women are already out there sewing tablecloths and dresses for their families and their islands, and we wanted to draw

in some of those skills that are already in the local community and provide people with employment opportunities.”

Bami Thaynamul is one of eight fashion businesses in Queensland to share in the State Government’s $418,000 First Nations Fashion and Textiles Accelerator Fund.

Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fashion and textiles was a growing industry within the state’s vibrant arts sector.

“We recognise the need for a thriving fashion and textile industry that is ready for the opportunities associated with the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will be an economic game-changer for artists and creative businesses,” he said.

Ms Gaffney said with the funding and new opportunities this year, they hoped to create a wider variety of pieces while staying true to their size-inclusive and Torres Strait-centric style.

“Our ultimate aim is to come up with a capsule collection, so there’ll be a couple of simple dresses, wide-legged trousers, a tunic top and that sort of stuff,” Ms Gaffney said.

“We’re really excited that they (the government) have faith in our ideas and our program that we’ve laid out, and we’re very much looking forward to getting on with it.”

Badu Art Centre artist Patimah Warria shows off the pink and black Sawurr dress.

CapeYorkWeekly

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Searle pitches Family First policy

By LYNDON KEANE

THE candidate battling for Family First in Leichhardt says he is campaigning to “arrest the attack on traditional family values” and quash “woke ideology” for conservative voters in the electorate.

Retired surveyor, businessman and church elder Les Searle is the sixth candidate set to appear on the Leichhardt ballot paper on 3 May and said he was entering the political fray to provide voters with an option to put a one beside someone with similar values.

“While waiting to vote, I heard many times, ‘I don’t want to vote for any of them’,” he said.

“My motivation for running as a candidate is to offer the voters an alternative to vote for a person who holds a similar Judeo-Christian world view that they do.

“I want to do what I can to arrest the attack on traditional family values.”

Mr Searle outlined a four-tier campaign platform including cost of living relief, removing gender ideology from schools and sport, ensuring freedom of speech and ending the Medicare-funded termination of pregnancies.

“The cost of living is exerting significant pressure on families,” he said.

“A major impact is the cost of energy due to the transition to renewables; it is suggested that reducing the price of electricity, rather than relying solely on government rebates, would be beneficial.

“For a country to remain prosper-

ous it requires cheap, reliable, clean and secure energy; Australia should be leading the world in this area – we have coal, gas, oil and uranium in abundance … yet successive government policies stop us from utilising these resources ourselves, instead opting for foreign provided, expensive and unreliable renewables.”

Family First’s mantra of “family, faith, life and freedom” applied to Cape York and Torres Strait families through taxation, education, and policy supporting family units and local communities in one of the remotest seats in Queensland, according to Mr Searle.

“Families where both parents work benefit from two tax-free thresholds, while families with only one working parent have one tax-free threshold –one proposed solution is to allow income splitting for families,” he said.

“[There needs to be] freedom for faith-based schools and businesses to employ staff who share the values of the organisation.

“The Family First party aims to ensure that policies support family units, local communities and businesses; their vision is that government intervenes only in cases of market failure, performing tasks that the local community cannot manage.”

Mr Searle, who spends time exploring 3D printing and photography while not on the campaign trail, said votes from Cape York and Torres Strait electors represented “a vote for traditional family values and an end to woke ideology”.

WEIPA

SATURDAY, MAY 3 & SUNDAY, MAY 4

Les Searle is flying the flag for Family First in Leichhardt and says he is running as a candidate in a bid to “arrest the attack on traditional family values” in the region.

Symposium demands big thinking

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

I’M really looking forward to seeing what left field opportunities for economic diversity and growth are unlocked when delegates converge on Weipa for the 2025 Western Cape Futures Symposium next month.

Organisers of the biennial event have done an incredible job putting together a program of experts to take to the stage and share their knowledge and experiences over the two days, but it’s also tremendous to see the number of locals – whether business operators or residents simply committed to the long-term sustainability of their community – also putting their hand up to participate.

When you’ve got sessions called things like To Infinity and Beyond on the agenda, it’s evident there’s going to be, to steal a phrase from Rob Sitch and the Utopia team, some fairly significant blue sky thinking put forward as our community and business leaders ponder the future of western Cape York and what economic diversity in the region might look like in the decades to come.

Rocket launches, radars, defence upgrades and myriad other unique commercial undertakings are incredibly exciting for the Weipa region and have the capacity to

become another arrow in our economic quiver, but it’s vital we keep our feet on the ground and fight for need-them-now essentials as we peer skyward – literally, in the case of becoming a leading southern hemisphere space hub – for opportunities to add to mining and tourism as local offerings. When I say need-them-now essentials, I’m talking, of course, of

things like more affordable freight options, and an answer to the housing affordability issue causing no amount of grief for employers attempting to attract and retain staff outside the resources sector.

We can’t diversify and grow if we don’t get the basics right, so the symposium must look at the essentials and find solutions for things like getting government to

commit the funding needed to deliver appropriate road and bridge infrastructure between the western Cape and the rest of Queensland, streamline ludicrous land tenure and development processes, and work out who’s actually going to foot the bill for water and sewerage assets to accommodate population growth when the long-awaited normalisation of Weipa finally occurs.

That’s not to say we can’t adopt an outside-the-box mentality when it comes to addressing some of the basics. Freight – especially during the wet season – is a perennial hurdle, so why can’t we take a blue sky view and create the economy of scale the State Government keeps telling us is a major obstacle to non-crippling sea freight bills?

Let’s set Weipa up as a storage and distribution hub and base some of the smaller Sea Swift vessels on the western Cape to service down to Kowanyama and across to the Torres Strait islands.

While we’re doing that, the Queensland Investment Corporation can open its wallet and procure a much bigger barge to travel from Cairns to Weipa.

Bigger barge, more freight, less delays and – in theory, at least –less cost for those up in this part of the world who rely on the service. Tony Woodford and his Nation Building Authority would be all over the plan like a chunky kid on the last party pie at a professional development morning tea.

There is no doubt the unlimited possibilities of the Weipa region’s future will be fully explored by delegates on 7-8 May, but we have to keep ourselves grounded as we reach for the sky in plotting a course to a vibrant, diverse future.

After all, this is real life for those who call western Cape York home, not witty political satire written to amuse a television audience.

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The unlimited possibilities of the Weipa region’s future will be fully explored at the 2025 Western Cape Futures Symposium next month, but editor Lyndon Keane says need-them-now essentials – like improved road infrastructure and freight options – cannot be overlooked for blue sky thinking.

Cape York Weekly Puzzles Page

Fill in the blank cells using numbers from 1 to 9. Each number can only appear once in each row, column and 3x3 block.

Quick Workout

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.

Focus

Crossword

Cooktown celebrates first Peninsula swimming gong Patriarch turns back the clock

By CHISA HASEGAWA

COOKTOWN Amateur Swimming Club

(CASC) is celebrating its first state championship medal and several personal best (PB) performances after members returned triumphant from the 2025 Queensland Representative School Sport Swimming State Championships in late March.

Ten-year-old Maiika Hegamaea brought home bronze in her favourite event, the 200-metre individual medley, at her very first state-level competition.

The young star qualified last year but was too young to compete, a scenario that drove her to come back even harder in 2025 as she qualified for the maximum number of events allowed – nine plus relays.

“I was excited that I qualified for so many events, but at the same time, I was nervous about racing at such a big pool,” she said.

“I was surprised that I won the bronze medal for the Peninsula team and Cooktown, as this was the first medal won by the team.

“It has motivated me to train harder and hopefully make the Queensland team to go to nationals in October in Ballarat.”

In the 13-19 year age groups, Cruze Ryder, Jett Ryder, Haila Hegamaea, Natalie Treloar and Lakea Hegamaea also

proudly represented Cooktown, achieving six PBs and nine placings between top 20 to 40 across nine events and four relays.

Cruze Ryder smashed his PBs for the 100m backstroke and 50m freestyle, Jett Ryder achieved three new PBs in 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 100m butterfly, Haila Hegamaea set a new PB for 50m freestyle, Natalie Treloar finished the 50m freestyle just outside of her PB, and Lakea Hegamaea finished just outside of her PBs for 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke.

“The children were very focused leading up to the event; we added extra morning sessions where they were swimming 3 kilometres per morning, plus their usual three afternoon sessions,” CASC president Melissa Gunton said.

“Making top 20, even top 30 in Queensland, is a big achievement for remote kids.

“Having limited training and access to 50m pools is a big challenge in itself for our members; going from a 25m six-lane pool to a 50m 10-lane pool is challenging, and bringing home a medal to a small community like Cooktown is just the icing on the cake.”

Ms Gunton thanked the local businesses who supported the club in sending the swimmers to Brisbane for the event.

Bamagau Kazil TSI Corpora�on is a community controlled organisa�on located in Bamaga Community providing childcare services including a Long Daycare, A�erschool Care and Vaca�on Care.

EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER

Repor�ng to the Director, the Early Childhood Teacher leads the kindergarten program and is responsible for providing high-quality educa�on and care to children in our early learning centre. For further informa�on, including a posi�on descrip�on please contact the Service Manager directly.

Desired skills: Strong communica�on and interpersonal skills to communicate effec�vely with children, parents and staff, an understanding of the Early Years Learning Framework and Na�onal Quality Standards, an ability to implement programs that supports children’s interests and needs, collabora�ve team member

Qualification & Experience: Minimum qualifica�on of Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Educa�on and at least one (1) years of relevant work experience.

Salary: Educa�onal Services (Teachers) Award Level 2 $76 294.40 to Level 3 $83 059.60 per annum depending on experience

All applica�ons should be addressed as follows: Service Manager, Bamagau Kazil TSI Corpora�on 245 Jacob St Bamaga, QLD, 4876 Phone: (07) 4069 3500

Email: ServiceCoordinator@bamkaz.org.au

Closing Date: Friday 9th May 2025

Bamagau Kazil TSI Corpora�on is a community controlled organisa�on located in Bamaga Community providing childcare services including a Long Daycare, A�erschool Care and Vaca�on Care.

EDUCATOR – AMA LALA DAYCARE

Repor�ng to the Director, the Educator works under the guidance of the Group leader and is responsible for crea�ng a safe, nurturing and s�mula�ng environment for children, planning and implemen�ng age-appropriate ac�vi�es and suppor�ng their holis�c development, while also collabora�ng with parents and other colleagues. For further informa�on, including a posi�on descrip�on please contact the Service Manager directly.

Desired skills: Strong communica�on and interpersonal skills to communicate effec�vely with children, parents and staff, an understanding of the Early Years Learning Framework and Na�onal Quality Standards, an ability to implement programs that supports children’s interests and needs, collabora�ve team member

Qualification & Experience: Minimum qualifica�on of Cer�ficate III in Children Services and at least one (1) years of relevant work experience.

Salary: Children Services Award Level 3.1 $53 679.60 per annum with opportunity for over�me

All applica�ons should be addressed as follows: Service Manager, Bamagau Kazil TSI Corpora�on 245 Jacob St

Bamaga, QLD, 4876

Phone: (07) 4069 3500

Email: ServiceCoordinator@bamkaz.org.au

Closing Date: Friday 9th May 2025

A SMALL group of 10 Dawnbusters played in hot and sultry conditions at Carpentaria Golf on Sunday morning.

Patriarch Viv Dick was the best in the field and recorded gross 59 for a week-winning nett 20 as Steven Kennett took bridesmaid honours with gross 49 to finish on nett 21. Scott Andrews may have been the hard luck story of the round after returning to the clubhouse with a handy 42 off the stick.

Dick, ever humble in victory, merely stated “a good scorer will beat a good player any day” as his handicap was shaved to 23 for the next time he steps onto the tee.

Long drive bragging rights went to Andrews, with Sharon Gardiner claiming the women’s prize.

Josh Martin admitted he was actually playing worse than in previous weeks and had to accept the Hoffman’s gong, rather than the coveted Dawnbusters winner’s shirt.

The pin prize remained unclaimed and will wait until 13 April when Dawnbusters tackle the back nine. Players will tee off from about 6:45am next Sunday, with new golfers always welcome.

Registe R of P R e-Qualified s u PP lie R s

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

lew Rojahn

aCtiNg CHief eXeCutiVe offiCeR

Bamagau Kazil TSI Corpora�on is a community controlled organisa�on located in Bamaga Community providing childcare services including a Long Daycare, A�erschool Care and Vaca�on Care.

GROUP LEADER – AMA LALA DAYCARE

Repor�ng to the Director, the Group Leader is the lead educator within the room and is responsible for the overall well-being and development of children in their care including planning and implemen�ng age-appropriate ac�vi�es, maintaining a safe and s�mula�ng environment and communica�ng effec�vely with parents and staff. For further informa�on, including a posi�on descrip�on please contact the Service Manager directly.

Desired skills: Strong communica�on skills to communicate effec�vely with children, parents and staff, a strong understanding of the Early Years Learning Framework and Na�onal Quality Standards, an ability to plan and evaluate curriculum that supports children’s interests and needs, collabora�ve team member.

Qualification & Experience: Minimum qualifica�on of Diploma in Children Services, at least two (2) years of relevant work experience and a Valid Working with Children Check or willing to obtain Salary: Children Services Award Level 4.1 $63 232 per annum

All applica�ons should be addressed as follows: Service Manager, Bamagau Kazil TSI Corpora�on 245 Jacob St Bamaga, QLD, 4876

Phone: (07) 4069 3500

Email: ServiceCoordinator@bamkaz.org.au

Closing Date: Friday 9th May 2025

Ten-year-old Maiika Hegamaea brought home the bronze from her first swimming state championships.

Countdown is on for this year’s Laura race meet

By LYNDON KEANE

IT is shaping up as another year of bumper crowds as Cape York prepares to frock up and go racing at Laura in June.

The 2025 Laura Races will be held on 28 June and Laura Amateur Turf Club president Phil Holloway said the track and facility was already looking in top condition to host the iconic event.

“The track and grounds are in good shape,” he said.

“Fortunately, our onsite

workaholic caretaker Slick Davies works daily to care for our grounds and facilities, and is ably assisted by his son Phillip and daughter-in-law Lyn.

“Our committee consistently works to improve our assets as this iconic Far North Queensland event has a solid history, and we want to see it survive into the future; our race program has been approved by Racing Queensland and is now being distributed among trainers and jockeys.”

In what is always a huge

weekend for the region, thousands of racegoers and rodeo fans are tipped to make the pilgrimage for the races, as well as the Laura Rodeo and Campdraft, a combination Mr Holloway said he believed made the event such a success.

“The combined four-day events of horse sports, races and rodeo are co-ordinated between the two committees,” he said.

“In recent years, we have had full attendance, as approved and supervised by Cook Shire Council; our crowds are of all ages,

are respectful and enjoy the total experience, either daily or over the four days.”

In the lead-up to race day, all eyes will be on nominations for the 2025 Laura Cup to see whether Innisfail trainer Renee Schluenz returns with Forgiato to attempt a three-peat.

Following the eight-year-old gelding’s dominant victory in 2024, Schluenz suggested connections were already thinking about a Cup trifecta.

“I hope we can make it three [in a row in 2025],” she said.

Eagles soar to win NPA-Torres Strait Cup

SKILLS, speed and steps were on show when more than 80 students from nine local campuses converged on Thursday Island’s Ken Brown Oval for the 2025 Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) and Torres Strait Crusader Cup on 28 March.

Junior footballers from across the NPA and Torres Strait islands laced up their boots to showcase their skills on the rectangle field, which has become the unlikely home to the northernmost Australian Rules carnival in the country.

The Crusader Cup is hosted by AFL Cape York and teams excitedly donned the guernseys and team names of AFL favourites including the Bulldogs, Bombers, Crows and Eagles, as well as the Green Machine and Wasps, and scored points through portable mini AFL goals on the rugby league paddock.

AFL Cape York development co-ordinator Kieran Sciberras said many students travelled by ferry, plane and helicopter from as far south as Bamaga on the mainland and north to Saibai

and Duaun for the opportunity to play.

“The Crusader Cup is an opportunity for students in grades 5 and 6 to showcase their speed and skills for a shot at selection in representative teams and trips down south,” he said.

“Schools select students for this competition based on attendance, behaviour and effort,

followed by sporting ability and talent.

“Without any clubs or regular games in the region, the Crusader Cup provides that important first stepping stone into competition-level Australian Rules football.”

The Eagles from Tagai State College’s primary campus were crowned Cup champions on the

day, with Tevern’ya Ketchell and Leviticus Elisala named the female and male most valuable players of the carnival.

Crusader Medallists, who received the award for displaying pride, responsibility and respect, were Elisala, Shakyna Dau-Menegi, Selina Newman, Alexander Aitken, Ronella Woosup and Jowane Motlop.

SPORT IN BRIEF

Weipa

hosts kart titles

THERE will be two days of high-speed thrills, fierce rivalries and two stroke when the Weipa Dirt Kart Club hosts competitors from across the country on 11-12 July.

The club will be the venue for the 2025 Far North Queensland Titles, and president Dave Hancock said the event was “definitely a big one”.

“It’s a blue ribbon event,” he said.

“We’re going to have interstate drivers here for the event; we’re going to have some guys who used to race here coming back for it.”

Pom in Wackers countback

IT was a late tee-off for Wackers on 2 April as the field of 11 had to wait for midafternoon drizzle to dissipate.

Pom (gross 44) and PK (gross 46) returned to the Carpentaria Golf Club bar locked on nett 33, with the former winning a countback to secure weekly bragging rights.

PK claimed the pin prize on the 15th hole, while no one got close to the green on hole 18. Gary Head was the Bradman’s recipient for the round.

Suns set to shine

THERE is still time to register players for the upcoming junior rugby league season in Weipa.

The 2025 Central Cape Suns season will run from 29 April-19 June and 22 July-26 August, with grand final day scheduled for 30 August. Training will be held each Tuesday from 4:30-5:30pm, and players will take to the paddock for games on Thursdays from 4-8pm.

To register a junior player, check out the club’s Facebook page or email centralcapesunsjrl@gmail.com.

Newbies star at parkrun

FIRST timers impressed in their maiden outings to claim honours at Weipa parkrun #413 on Saturday.

Five newbies were amongst a field of 72 to lace up their shoes, with Dylan Young (21 minutes, 5 seconds) and Harriet Biddulph (25:21) being the first man and woman to greet the timekeepers. Eleven participants notched up personal best performances.

The victorious Eagles from the Tagai State College primary campus show off the spoils of their 2025 NPA and Torres Strait Crusader Cup win.

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