Twenty-six years of representation through the eyes of political cartoonists was unveiled by the subject of the colourful commentary, former Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch, at the Cairns Museum on 4 July. Turn to Page 6 to see which one is the veteran MP’s favourite depiction of his time in Canberra.
Weipa revs up
Western Cape York will be running on adrenaline and the smell of two-stroke this weekend when Weipa welcomes drivers from across the country for the 2025 FNQ Dirt Kart Titles. Find out how you can watch the action on Page 22.
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Telstra promises to do better ahead of $16m FNQ upgrade
FRUSTRATED Cape York
Telstra customers are expected to be provided with a reprieve over the coming months as the telecommunications giant begins a $16 million upgrade program.
Community concerns about service coverage and reliability, especially around Cooktown and Lakeland, have been growing since 3G was switched off, with several Telstra customers telling Cape York Weekly they believed their complaints were falling on deaf ears.
“I’ve used Starlink to ring them multiple times to say Telstra service had dropped out, but
they don’t seem to give a stuff,” said one Cooktown resident, who asked not to be named.
“How bad does it need to be until the problem’s fixed? Does someone have to die because they couldn’t ring out for help on their phone?”
On 1 July, Telstra announced the $16m local investment program, which will include Coen and Aurukun, as well as “other opportunities in the region to further expand … coverage”.
Regional general manager for North Queensland Rachel Cliffe said a new base station was already being constructed in Cooktown to improve coverage.
“Construction is under way for a new 4G and 5G mobile base station in Cooktown, and we expect to switch it on in the coming weeks,” she said.
“Once online, it’ll help improve the coverage and capacity in town, especially in and around the west.
“Telstra’s 4G coverage is also available in and around Lakeland, but it can get congested at
Despite the announcement, Cape York Weekly understands Telstra has quietly scrapped plans to build a 4G small cell at Musgrave Roadhouse amid funding concerns.
times and performance fluctuates due to heavy data use in the area.”
Ms Cliffe added Telstra had met with Cook Shire Council last week to discuss delivering 5G to Lakeland for the first time.
“We visited Lakeland and met with Council last week,” she said.
“We have plans in the pipeline to upgrade the mobile site to deliver 5G to the area for first time, which should increase capacity and improve customers’ speeds and experience; we hope to have the upgrade complete and delivering better performance in the next few months.”
Annual Weipa port dredging shifts over 405,000m3 of sediment
NORTH Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) has completed maintenance dredging at the Port of Weipa for 2025.
Dredge vessel TSHD Brisbane and its supporting vessels have left western Cape York after completing a 32-day program, which included bed levelling at Amrun on behalf of Rio Tinto.
About 405,000 cubic metres of natural sediment was removed from the Port of Weipa and placed at the approved dredge material placement area in Albatross Bay.
NQBP thanked the Weipa fishing and boating community for their patience and understanding during the annual project.
Throughout the dredging, NQBP engaged with key stakeholders, including the Weipa Technical Advisory and Consultative Committee (TACC), which comprises conservation groups, Traditional Owners, scientists, community, port users, and federal and state government representatives.
An NQBP spokesperson said environ-
mental management had been at the forefront of operations over the 32 days the dredging vessel was in the region.
“Environmental monitoring and management measures were implemented throughout the campaign to minimise the
risk of any potential impacts on the marine environment, including areas of identified cultural value,” the spokesperson said.
NQBP has managed the annual maintenance dredging program at the Port of Weipa for more than 35 years.
North Queensland Bulk Ports has completed maintenance dredging at the Port of Weipa for another year, with TSHD Brisbane removing about 405,000 cubic metres of sediment.
Telstra is promising to address community concerns about service reliability in places like Cooktown and Lakeland with a number of upgrades planned over coming months.
Cape special economic status concept has merit: Smith
by LYNDON KEANE
WITH his political induction now behind him, new Leichhardt MP Matt Smith says he is supportive of the potential establishment of a special economic zone (SEZ) for Cape York being investigated.
Catching up with Cape York Weekly after completing the induction for new MPs about the ins and outs of life in Parliament House, Mr Smith said he was ready to hit the ground running as he finalised his electorate office and team.
“Let’s go with political preschool – it’s a great name for it,” he laughed.
“A lot of it is learning the processes and the protocols; the Westminster system is steeped in tradition, and they’re very keen on having that tradition, and then explaining why it’s important and what we do, the way we do it and all those kind of things, and then just getting our heads around how to structure your sentences, how to structure your speeches, to make sure that the Speaker doesn’t sort of give you the big heave ho and send you on your way.
“And then we did a lot of work on just being a good parliamentarian and being a good member; what I’m trying to encourage more people to do is to get in touch with our office when you’ve got an issue, to see where and how we can help.”
On the topic of Cape York becoming a SEZ to boost investment, and provide tax and regulatory incentives for businesses to operate in the region on a more equitable playing field, Mr Smith said he believed the idea was worth looking at.
“Absolutely, I think that’s a really good idea to get that economic development diversification into the region,” he said.
“A lot of these places need to have more than that one string to their bow, and if we can create a special economic zone that may-
be brings those sort of things in, then that’s fantastic.
“I’m more than happy to take any ideas up to the relevant ministers, be it the Treasurer, or the Prime Minister, or Catherine [King] in infrastructure, to make sure that our voices up there are being heard.”
The new Leichhardt MP said he believed his Canberra colleagues were starting to see the realities of life on Cape York, and committed to keeping the region on the radar of the Federal Government.
“I think they’re beginning to
understand both the remoteness of the challenges, but also the opportunities,” he said.
“The first thing they’re going to hear about from me is ‘Cape, Cape, Cape’, because I think that there’s a bit of a blank canvas up there.
“And just from my week there a couple of weeks back, in and around Weipa, the amount of really good people with really great ideas, we just need to get in behind them to see if we can make some of those a reality.”
Mr Smith said he was eager to liaise with Cook MP David
Kempton to ensure the economic prosperity of Cape York and the Torres Strait was approached with a united front between Brisbane and Canberra.
“I am very keen to work with the state in the areas that cross over, and a lot of it does cross over on the Cape, particularly around that connectivity, around transport, health, things of that nature,” he said.
“The Cape is too big for us to be dividing and conquering; we need to be pulling in the same direction to actually get the results for the people up there.”
The Batavia Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (BTOAC) has commenced compliance patrols across Batavia Country, including Batavia National Park, as part of its annual dry season land management program.
This program will run from June-December 2025 and is aimed at protecting the land, enforcing cultural and environmental protocols, and supporting safe visitor behaviour during the critical fire season.
The rangers will also be carrying out hazard reduction burns and traditional fire management practices with other stakeholders during this period.
To ensure transparency, accountability and the safety of all involved, the rangers will wear body-worn cameras while undertaking patrols.
For more information about the program, contact the General Manager on 0438 880 289 or visit www.batavia.org.au
Fresh from completing his new member’s orientation in Canberra, Leichhardt MP Matt Smith catches up with Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn.
DELIVERING QUEENSLAND’S TOURISM FUTURE
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Creating ecotourism experiences in our unique natural environment
Connecting our regions by road, rail, air and sea
Attracting events featuring the world’s biggest names in music, art, sport and culture
Search ‘Destination 2045’ to find out what it means for you.
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Concerns $200m Cooktown Hospital project diagnosed with
by LYNDON KEANE
THE State Government will not comment on rumours the longoverdue Cooktown Hospital redevelopment is already bracing for a “significant” cost blowout beyond its $200 million budget.
With $9m of the project cost in the 2025-26 Queensland budget, the upgrade is not due for completion until the 2029-30 financial year, however, there are concerns the $200m will not be enough to get the job done.
A senior health source, who approached Cape York Weekly on the condition of anonymity, said they believed it was “incredibly unlikely” the hospital upgrade would be completed on budget.
“There’s concern already about what it’s actually going to cost,” the source said.
“The government’s still beating the $200m drum, but we’re hearing scuttlebutt … about that not being anywhere near enough.
“I had one (project manager) throw a $50-100m blowout figure around; if that’s the case, it’s going to be significant for Cooktown from the viewpoint of what the end redevelopment will look like.
“In meetings behind closed
doors, it seems incredibly unlikely it’s ($200m) going to get it done.”
Major Cape York infrastructure projects have been plagued
by cost overruns recently, with the new Archer River bridge ultimately costing $131.252m after an initial budget of $32.3m.
It is understood the Cooktown
project scope remains unchanged, and that the government still believes, at least publicly, the upgraded hospital will be delivered for $200m after a design team was
recently engaged to progress the redevelopment.
A spokeswoman for Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls would not comment on the budget blowout rumours, but said the condition of the hospital was due to a “decade of neglect” by the former Labor government.
“The Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service deteriorated under Labor’s decade of neglect,” the spokeswoman said.
“This redevelopment is crucial for the local community, and the Crisafulli government is committed to delivering it; in this year’s budget, $9m of the total $200m projected cost has been allocated to ensure things stay on track.”
Cook Shire Council Mayor Robyn Holmes said she expected the project to exceed its $200m budget, adding the council was waiting for the government to unveil a detailed design.
“I believe it will blow out, but it’s probably not something that we have any control over,” she said.
“It will be disappointing if we don’t see construction commence on the hospital as it was initially planned for early- to mid-next year.”
Phase one of the upgrade is due to commence in 2026.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls had a firsthand look at
$200 million Cooktown Hospital redevelopment was during a site visit in May.
AFTER putting his predecessor’s politics to paper for the past 26 years, cartoonist Harry Bruce has a simple request for new Leichhardt MP Matt Smith: please don’t be boring.
The veteran cartoonist’s work features prominently in Politically Spruiking, an exhibition of more than 70 political cartoons spanning the 26-year reign of Warren Entsch, which was unveiled to media on 4 July ahead of its official opening at the Cairns Museum at the weekend.
“The three politicians that
I’ve had most to do with are George Christensen, Bob Katter and Warren Entsch, and each and every one of them is just like a walking caricature,” Mr Bruce told the Cape York Weekly
“Just the things they get up to and, you know, there’s even the way they look –they just suit themselves to cartoons really; Warren, in particular, he’s not boring.
“A lot of politicians are pretty boring and they toe the line, and they don’t really stick their heads up, but the ones we have up north, they just have no fear, basically.”
Depictions of Cape York
and the Torres Strait issues are hard to miss in the exhibition, and Mr Entsch said his affinity for the cartoons, which until recently had adorned the walls of his Parliament House office, had ruffled some feathers.
“There’s a rule in Canberra in Parliament House that nothing goes on the walls without [permission]; they’ve got a department that comes up [to do it],” he said.
“A couple of years in, the guy that’s responsible for this in Parliament comes around with a ladder and a box with a small hammer
and hooks and everything else; he parked it in the foyer of my office and said ‘you’re on your own’.”
Cairns Historical Society executive officer Dr Sandi Robb said it had been a coup to secure the cartoons to ensure they could be enjoyed locally by Leichhardt constituents.
“I was really excited to be able to secure this fantastic exhibition and this donation from former member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch,” she said.
“Because, in the north, we do things very differently, and that is reflected in these beautiful cartoons.
“But, also, this collection as an entirety, is something that normally would be in the Parliamentary collection, and local people wouldn’t have access to it.”
Curator Sarah Morgan praised the team behind the visually striking exhibition and said an oral history on the story behind each cartoon had been captured as part of the process.
“Warren was kind enough to give us an oral history and account of each of the pictures there, which we’ve transcribed, and used a lot of that as the background,” she explained.
Reflecting on his depic-
tions of Mr Entsch over the years, Mr Bruce said he dreamed of a world where it was mandatory for politicians to have colourful backstories, adding he held high hopes – literally – for the seven-foot former Taipan who has taken on the fight for Leichhardt.
“Another thing with Warren, he’s got a good backstory as well,” Mr Bruce reflected.
“A lot of the politicians were accountants or lawyers, or all this other sort of stuff, whereas Warren, he was a crocodile hunter –that gives you stuff to play around with; you can use that sort of stuff to colour the cartoons you come up with.
“I think it’d be great if it was like that; I mean, Bob
Katter threw eggs at the Beatles, so all that sort of stuff plays into it.
“The more interesting the character is, the easier it is to draw a cartoon on.”
Mr Entsch gifted a copy of the final drawing in the exhibition, which depicts the Liberal National Party losing its long-held grasp on Leichhardt at the May election, to his successor, and said he believed the future of colourful far northern political cartoons was safe.
“Surely to goodness inspiration can be found from Harry by having somebody like Matt, a seven-foot tall bloody ex-basketballer,” he said.
“Surely, they can get something out of that.”
It would appear as though some political fights continue, even after almost three decades.
Former Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch talks journalists through his favourite depictions in the Politically Spruiking exhibition, which will showcase 26 years of Far North Queensland representation through the eyes of political cartoonists at the Cairns Museum for the next four months.
Powerful Erub duo to be CIAF highlight
by
THE bond between an Erub Island father-and-son duo will be shown through a remarkable collection of new and restored works at the 2025 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) from 1013 July.
Renowned Torres Strait Islander artist Dr Ken Thaiday
Snr, affectionately known as Uncle Ken, unpacked several of his older works with the help of his son Paul, who is assisting his father in restoring and maintaining the works.
The pair will also showcase six new pieces, including three hammerhead shark masks and three dugong sculptures.
“This is my gift, my hands are
my gift,” Dr Thaiday said.
“I’m doing hammerhead shark headdress, that’s my totem, that’s why I love doing it.” Paul, who currently lives in Western Australia, returned to Cairns to ensure his father’s work did not end with him – an increasingly important task as Dr Thaiday’s mobility has declined.
Still, the veteran artist proudly demonstrated how he cuts plywood on his lap, resting sheets on the armrests of his wheelchair, which are now worn with saw marks.
CIAF exhibitions and development manager India Collins said the pair demonstrated a powerful intergenerational collaboration which went much deeper than the works themselves.
“Their story speaks to more than just the artworks – it’s a generational exchange of cultural knowledge, skill and deep commitment,” she said.
“Uncle Ken, a respected mentor to many artists who now exhibit regularly at CIAF, including Grace Lillian Lee, Brian Robinson, Toby Cedar and Obery Sambo, continues to create and inspire.
“This story is bigger than him just being an artist exhibiting at CIAF – it’s a living legacy of Torres Strait art and identity being passed from father to son.”
CIAF will kick off with the traditional opening night celebration at Tanks Arts Centre on Thursday.
Fuel option returns to Jardine River roadhouse
THE Northern Peninsula Area is celebrating the long-awaited return of fuel to the Jardine River ferry roadhouse after it not being an option for locals and tourists for almost six years.
After thorough cleaning and testing, the diesel and unleaded bowsers were returned to service on 30 June in a move Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) Mayor Robert Poi Poi said helped strengthen the northernmost part of Cape York.
“We are stronger as a region when we all work together,” he said.
“Moving forward, the return of fuel to the Jardine Service Station really helps to support our Cape York communities and other travellers with more security, less stress, and keeping us all on the move with our plans, commitments and daily lives.”
The self-service terminal is available
24/7 for card purchases only, and Mayor Poi Poi said significant behind-the-scenes work had been undertaken to ensure fuel quality for motorists.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Stolen vehicle, Seisia
POLICE are calling for public information about a vehicle allegedly stolen from the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) community of Seisia on 30 June.
The white 2009 Toyota LandCruiser – Queensland registration 23XJL – was reported stolen last Monday, and is one of more than 365 to suffer the same fate in the Far Northern policing region so far in 2025.
While the Queensland Police Service is yet to officially commented, Cape York Weekly understands several other vehicles were allegedly stolen from the NPA in the early hours of 1 July and driven dangerously through communities.
Anyone with information can call Policelink on 13 14 44.
Wujal celebrates NAIDOC Week
THE Wujal Wujal community will unite to celebrate NAIDOC Week 2025 tomorrow (Wednesday) with a day of culture and fun activities.
The event will be held from 10:30am4pm on 9 July in the church car park, and will include a smoking ceremony, traditional barbecue, damper baking, decorated floats and plenty of activities for the smallest members of the community.
For more information, email communityservices@wujal.qld.gov.au.
Remote job funding available
ELIGIBLE organisations are invited to apply for Federal Government funding to assist jobseekers in remote communities across Cape York and the Torres Strait through the new Remote Australia Employment Service (RAES).
RAES will replace the Community Development Program (CDP) from 1 November, and will allow communities to have a greater say in locally tailored solutions for job readiness, and better equip providers to support remote jobseekers to develop their skills and connect with work.
“Tanks were cleaned out several times in preparation, and checked by safe fuel storage and handling specialists Nqpetro and Marano’s for fuel quality, confirming that the fuel was super clean for sale,” he said.
The council said it had served plenty of “happy campers” since the bowsers were turned back on, including motorbike tour operators, who could now carry less fuel due to its availability between Bramwell Junction and Injinoo or Bamaga.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said “we know the old CDP program left First Nations people stuck in cycles of poverty and failed remote communities”.
The RAES grant process will be open until 28 July.
To apply, visit www.niaa.gov.au/remoteservices.
Dr Ken Thaiday Snr and Paul Thaiday will showcase what it means to pass on cultural knowledge through generations at this year’s Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.
CHISA HASEGAWA
The Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council team celebrates the return of fuel services to the Jardine River ferry roadhouse after an absence of almost six years.
Power of equine engagement evident on Wolverton Station
by CHISA HASEGAWA
AS a new Australian study shines a spotlight on the healing power of horses, on Cape York, two organisations are leading the way in helping community members overcome difficulties and improve their lives with a bit of equine intervention.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Queensland’s Jos Middleton and Swift FNQ’s Emma Jackson have collaborated over the past three years to deliver the free Horse Wisdom program, an overnight camp on Wolverton Station during which participants learn key mental health skills while working with horses.
Ms Middleton, who is RFDS’ Far North mental health manager, said the program focused on seven key elements – the calm state, awareness, boundaries, thinking, relationships, feelings and facing life challenges.
“We bring together Emma’s skills as an equine-assisted learning facilitator, as well as her background as a teacher and a degree in psychology, with my clinical mental health skills,” she said.
“We found that we get people from all over the Cape coming, but we also get people from the Tablelands as well, which is pretty exciting.
“So far, everyone’s taking away a lot of positives, and I have actually just done a
bit of an evaluation for our board, which highlighted significant improvement across the areas we measure in the evaluation.”
She said outcomes from last year’s participant feedback indicated reduced stress levels than on arrival (reduced by 67.12 per cent), improved understanding of feelings (improved by 42.37 per cent), improved connection with their bodies (improved by 32.09 per cent) and improved ability to cope with and manage challenging situations (improved by 58.18 per cent).
Ms Middleton explained a horse’s ability to mirror human emotion made them a great partner for self-reflection and finding a sense of calm.
“If you approach the horse in an angry manner, for example, the horse will react to that, and the horse won’t come to connect with you,” she explained.
“We have to find our sense of self and our grounded self to get that interaction with the horse, and it is all on relationships.
“Horses are really good at demonstrating their boundaries ... they can communicate to us just by moving their head or by walking away, so we’re able to leverage off that, and show people, you know, how do you communicate your boundaries.”
Though the University of South Australia study focused on equine-assisted therapy for children, many of the benefits were similar to what was being achieved with youth and adults on Wolverton Station.
Social work graduate Morgyn Stacy, who led the study as part of her honours project, said many children did not respond to sitting in a room with a therapist or clinician, which could be intimidating.
“But give them the space to be outside, to connect with a horse, and something powerful happens; they begin to feel safe, calm, and ready to open up,” she said.
“The benefits go beyond mental health; children often gain confidence, improve communication skills, and build stronger emotional resilience.”
Masig, Iama tank upgrades offer fuel security boost
REMOTE store operator Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ) has significantly improved fuel security and supply capacity for two Torres Strait communities following the installation of new highcapacity fuel tanks on Masig and Iama islands.
The new 14,000-litre tanks will replace the existing 5,000L storage units to almost triple fuel availability to help the communities better manage peak demand periods, including cultural events and crayfish season.
CEQ chief executive officer Michael Dykes said the investment addressed longstanding supply challenges faced by island residents.
“For communities like Masig and Iama, fuel is not just about transport – it’s about food security, economic independence, and safety,” he said.
“These are fishing communities where fuel powers boats, vehicles, and livelihoods.
“Increasing capacity ensures that people can keep working, feeding their families, and travelling safely.”
CEQ said the larger tanks were expected to reduce the risk of fuel shortages and eliminate the need for risky inter-island travel when supplies ran low, with a twoor three-week buffer now in place if resupply vessels were unable to deliver due to adverse weather conditions.
“Islanders won’t have to worry about running out during critical periods, whether it’s the busy fishing season or a major community gathering,” Mr Dykes said.
CEQ said the upgrades formed part of the organisation’s commitment to support regional and remote communities with reliable infrastructure and essential services.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Nominate a great Aussie
CAPE York and Torres Strait residents are being encouraged to nominate individuals whose actions inspire, lead, and strengthen communities for the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards.
The awards are driven by public nominations presenting an opportunity for special Queenslanders to be recognised with one of the nation’s highest honours. There are four national award categories – Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year (65+), Young Australian of the Year (16-30) and Australia’s Local Hero.
The local recipients of the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards will represent Queensland at the national awards on 25 January 2026.
Nominations close at midnight on 31 July and can be made at www. australianoftheyear.org.au.
Riders show off big hearts
THE Mulligan Highway will be awash in a sea of fluro colours in September when hundreds of competitors clip in their riding shoes for the 2025 QSuper Cardiac Challenge.
The annual 333-kilometre event, which fundraises for the purchase of life-saving equipment and services for cardiac care throughout Far North Queensland, will have riders making the trek from Cairns to Cooktown on 20-22 September.
In 2024, more than $300,000 was raised by riders and their armies of supporters.
Riders will stop at Mount Carbine on the first night and Lakeland on night two before making their final push into Cooktown on the Monday morning.
Gambling super grants open
THE State Government has launched the latest round of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund (CGBF), with grants of up to $100,000 on offer to help not-for-profit organisations deliver services and assist natural disaster recovery efforts.
Approximately $30 million is available to support a wide range of community projects and services.
The super round of the CGBF closes on 18 July.
For more information about the grants, or to apply, go to www.justice.qld.gov.au/ initiatives/community-grants.
Team member Amos Baragud (right) helps customer Jeffery David fuel up on Iama Island.
Jos Middleton and Emma Jackson are leading the way in equine-assisted intervention on Cape York.
Trust doubles down on reduced hours for Cooktown Museum
by LYNDON KEANE
A WAR of words has erupted over a decision by the operator of the Cooktown Museum to leave the facility open for just 12 hours each week.
The museum is run by the National Trust of Australian (Queensland), and is now only open from 10:30am-2:30pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, despite Cooktown being in the middle of peak tourist season.
The Cooktown Chamber of Commerce and Tourism has
slammed the move, with secretary Bill Peck describing it as “extremely disappointing” for both locals and visitors.
“The history is one of our key attractions, and a lot more people than you realise are interested in the history, and interested in seeing it,” he said.
“When we have the museum and history centre and Waalmbal Birri [Heritage and Culture Centre], it’s a great sort of threesome; take out the museum, and you’ve taken out about 50 per cent of the spectacle.”
Mr Peck added he believed having the reduced hours over consecutive days also risked Cooktown missing out on some history-loving visitors opening their wallets in the town.
“The other mistake is that Cooktown’s not a weekend destination,” he said.
“People are here constantly through the week, and they spend two or three days here; that could be Monday to Thursday, or it could be Thursday to Saturday.
“So, a lot of those people are missing out on seeing the museum because it’s not open when they’re here.”
In a statement, the Trust said it acknowledged the concerns of the Cooktown community, but that it had no intention of reversing the decision.
“The decision to revise the opening hours at Cooktown Museum was made after careful consideration of visitor numbers, staffing resources, and the need to ensure long-term sustainability,” the statement reads.
“This change was informed by on-the-ground insights, attendance data, and operational performance trends, and followed discussions that have already been held with Cook Shire Council and
the Cooktown Chamber of Commerce.
“While we understand the concerns of local businesses and tourism operators, we must balance community expectations with the operational realities of running a not-for-profit organisation and the importance of aligning hours with demand to remain financially sustainable.”
However, Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes disputed the Trust’s claims and said the council had not been consulted.
“We weren’t consulted on the change,” she said.
“The National Trust says it was an operational decision.
“We’re disappointed the museum’s hours were cut right at the start of tourist season; it’s a key part of our history, and the largest bricks-and-mortar attraction we have in Cook Shire; any reduction in services can impact local businesses and the economy.
“We’d welcome the National Trust sitting down with us to find ways to keep the museum more accessible during our busiest months.”
Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell urged the Trust to engage with the council and tourism operators to come
up with a solution to better respond to the needs of the Cooktown community.
“We appreciate the hard work of their (the Trust’s) staff and volunteers in preserving and highlighting Queensland’s natural and cultural heritage,” he said.
“We encourage them to liaise with the regional tourism organisation, Tourism Tropical North Queensland, and the local council to highlight the importance of visitor access to significant heritage assets like the Cooktown Museum.”
Not the sort of welcome visitors looking to explore the region’s rich history are wanting to be greeted with when they arrive at the Cooktown Museum.
The National Trust of Australia (Queensland) is being accused of turning its back on the rich history of south-eastern Cape York by reducing the Cooktown Museum’s operating hours to just 12 per week.
Interim exemption in place for roadworthy certificates in Weipa
DESPITE confusion and what appears to be bureaucratic oversight, Weipa residents will not have to obtain a roadworthy certificate for buying and selling vehicles for the next 12 months after an interim exemption was put in place last week.
In Queensland, vehicle ownership can be transferred without a roadworthy certificate if the seller resides in an exempt remote area, such as Cape York.
This exemption was believed to include Weipa and has been treated as such by vehicle owners and local State Government staff until it was discovered last month the Weipa Town Authority (WTA) area, as well as some other communities outside the Cook Shire Council boundary, were not eligible under current legislation.
WTA Chair Jaime Gane said there had been plenty
of confusion on the ground after government staff suddenly started telling Weipa residents they needed to obtain a safety certificate.
“It definitely caused a bit of head scratching trying to figure out what had changed, but after doing some digging, it appears that it’s just another case of our unique existence that makes us different to the rest,” she said.
“When you look into it, Weipa have never been listed as exempt according to the legislation, but I think some people in [the Department of Transport and Main Roads] down south were under the impression that Weipa was part of Cook Shire, until someone recently questioned it.”
In a social media post on 26 June, Ms Gane told the community she had received confirmation the exemption
would take effect from 1 July for 12 months, “during which time they (the government) will make the necessary changes to legislation to make it permanent”.
A TMR spokesperson confirmed to the Cape York Weekly a review of the situation was now under way.
“The Department of Transport and Main Roads can confirm that Weipa is not currently an exempt area for the purpose of safety certificates or certificates of inspection (COI), nor has Weipa ever been legislated as an exempt area,” they said.
“TMR has recently been made aware of the widely held misunderstanding that … Weipa is an exempt area within the Cook Shire local government area.
“TMR is currently undertaking a review of Weipa’s current status as a non-exempt area.”
Despite the long-held belief Weipa residents were exempt from obtaining roadworthy certificates for vehicle purchases and sales, the Department of Transport and Main Roads has confirmed this was never the case, and has launched a review into creating an exemption zone like other parts of Cape York.
New visitors guide adopts whole-of-Cape attitude
by LYNDON KEANE
THE Cooktown Chamber of Commerce and Tourism has embraced a “print it and they will come” mentality for the latest edition of the town’s visitors guide.
The new-look Cape York Visitors Guide was formally unveiled this month, and encompasses not only Cooktown, but the length of the northernmost part of the state in a bid to give the region’s tourism sector a much-needed boost.
Chamber secretary Bill Peck said he believed incorporating other parts of Cape York – as well as some of the major Torres Strait islands – would pay dividends for all tourism operators.
“There’s a lot of fabulous places in the Cape, which is not just Cooktown,” he said.
“It’s not just the drive to the tip – the trip to the tip – so, we have got sections on Portland Roads, Lockhart [River], on Weipa and on Mapoon, on Thursday Island, and then on Bloomfield and Cape Trib.
“I think the view is, if we get people to the Cape, they’ll come to Cooktown usually.
“It took a lot of time in
the making, but I think that the end product’s very good; we had a lot of really good support from up and down the Cape.”
The colourful 48-page guide is packed with local information, handy hints and must-see spots across Cape York, including several Mr Peck urged visitors to make time to experience.
“The more you understand about Iron Range (Kutini-Payamu) National Park, it is one of the top birding locations in the world and a beautiful spot,” he explained.
“As you go north on the Cape, I think Chilli Beach and then Weipa; a lot of Australia’s wealth is in places like Weipa and many people have never been to a mining town.”
The guide is available at The Lure Shop and Marine RV in Cooktown, as well as at selected distributors across Cape York, including Weipa and Bamaga.
“We’ve sort of tried to distribute it around,” Mr Peck said.
“The job of the guide is to get people to the Cape; once they’re here, they see it for themselves and the guide becomes somewhat secondary.”
Nina Kaye and Russell Bowman from The Lure Shop show off the new Cape York Visitors Guide, which the Cooktown Chamber of Commerce and Tourism says takes a more whole-of-Cape approach to informing tourists.
Gallery marks 20 years of First Nations representation
by CHISA HASEGAWA
OVER the years, UMI Arts in Cairns has been responsible for bringing many talented Cape York and Torres Strait artists to the forefront, with this year marking 20 years of First Nations art celebration at the gallery.
Titled Freshwater Saltwater, 20 legacy artists with 120 works were handpicked for the special milestone exhibition, showcasing the culture and art of Far North Queensland’s diverse communities.
The exhibition, which opened late last month and is currently available for viewing at Mulgrave Gallery, features a range of well-known Cape and Torres Strait names.
Kel Williams, master carver and retired shipwright, unveiled an intricate pearl lugger he had been working on since 2013.
“My grandfather, he was a skipper on the pearl luggers, and he was a diver,” he said.
“When I was a young fella, he’d sit down and tell me stories all about pearl lugging and his diving experience, and he was the one that taught me how to do wood sculptures.”
Mr Williams said he only had photographs to work off, measuring the heights of crew members on board, the mast and the length of the boat, and spending almost an entire day mapping out and drawing the boat.
“Everything’s all to scale, like if I was going to build a real one,” he said.
“The boat itself, you can sail it in the water; it’s got a little rudder, and you can hoist the sails up and down the mast.”
Hope Vale’s Shane Gibson, who has been a member with UMI Arts for 15 years and did his first solo exhibition with them just under a decade ago, said it was an honour to be invited to showcase his work for the special exhibition.
“I feel privileged to actually exhibit some of my paintings for this one,” he said.
Mr Gibson, whose works are inspired by the stories passed down to him through generations, said UMI Arts had helped him to explore a more contemporary style while honouring his culture.
“With the help of UMI Arts giving us the idea of being contemporary and using all these bold and bright pink colours and reds and all that sort of stuff, I stepped out of my comfort zone, and I think it was a great fit for me,” he explained.
“The sea country is pretty, it’s vibrant, it’s colourful, so I use those colours to showcase my culture.”
UMI Arts chairperson Connie Rovina said the exhibition was all about bringing the freshwater and saltwater people together and celebrating their differences.
“What this exhibition does is it promotes that difference; we have our own stories, just like everybody else, and we’ve got such cultural strength still up in this region,” she said.
RESCHEDULEDEVENT
Ugar Island and Guugu Yimithirr carver Kel Williams unveils a pearl lugger model he has worked on since 2013 at UMI Arts’ 20th anniversary exhibition.
IF you want to bring out the worst in people, hand them a keyboard and leave them unsupervised on social media.
The erection of a replacement for the bullet-riddled Pajinka sign last month that includes a reference to the northernmost part of the continent’s Traditional Owners has been like the proverbial red rag to some social media users, who have spewed forth a sea of racist commentary thinly disguised as genuine opposition to the change.
While I have a sneaking suspicion the aforementioned Traditional Owners knew exactly what they were doing and may have had political motivations in mind when they ordered the new sign, the online response has been nothing short of abhorrent, and a sad peek behind the curtains of how social media has become a happy hunting ground for mindless muppets who believe every waking thought they have should be shared for the benefit of humanity.
One of the comments proffered by a member of the social media brains trust suggested taking an angle grinder to the sign and lobbing it into the ocean in an act of defiant protest, while several users said they were planning to take duct
tape to cover up the new wording when it was their turn for a Pajinka happy snap.
Fun fact: if the wording of a sign is your primary focus when you’re standing in what truly is one of the most remarkable spots on the planet, it says more about you than it does an acknowledge-
It’s been interesting – in a sad clown kind of way – to look at who’s been making most of the vile, overtly racist comments to photos of families beaming at the iconic tip of Cape York after completing the journey of a lifetime. Sadly, it’s not
We Have Moved To
The Waterfront
just southern city dwellers having a crack at anyone who’s a different colour to themselves – I’ve spotted more than a few well-known Cape York names amongst the throng of online haters.
It’s not just the racists who have found themselves at home in the Cape’s social media backyard.
On 29 June, a popular Facebook page with more than 300,000 followers posted an update that the beleaguered Jardine River ferry was again out of action. The problem is that there was – for once – nothing wrong with the vessel, with the fake news post seemingly created for no other reason than to stir shit and fuel the flames of racial division through a contentious topic.
Unfortunately, the near-250 shares of the post and more than 1,800 comments on it are hardly the sort of crap likely to help our struggling tourism operators, who are already behind the eight ball for 2025 after actual ferry breakdowns caused hordes of early dry season visitors to postpone or cancel their Cape York odyssey.
It seems like some of our top performing online trolls and carrot danglers don’t care their comments have genuine and extremely tangible impacts on businesses, communities and individuals. As long as they feel powerful, clever and justified from the relative anonymity of their lounge room, these online cockroaches don’t care who gets caught up in the crossfire of their actions.
It’s got to stop.
Cape York has enough social and economic challenges as it is without our magical part of the world becoming a stomping ground for division, racism and those looking to actively antagonise just to let a thread burn.
Editor Lyndon Keane says the change in wording on the new sign at Pajinka is causing more than a few keyboard warriors to get hot under the collar as their protests for the old icon’s return barely cloak the underlying racism driving their engagement on Cape York social media pages.
ment of Frangipani Beach’s Traditional Owners.
Cape York Weekly Puzzles Page
210619
Fit the numbers 1-6 once into every hexagon so that where the hexagons touch, the numbers are the same. No number is repeated in any single hexagon.
2025 LAURA RACES,
Celebrating the faces, excitement of Laura’s 2025 social showcase
THERE was no way we were going to be able to fit the hundreds of photos we took at the races, rodeo and campdraft in Laura on 26-29 June into one edition.
We’ve had plenty of readers asking to see more, so here’s a bit of a peek at some of the snaps the Cape York Weekly team captured of the faces and action of Laura’s biggest social event of the year. Did we spot you or someone you know? To request photos, email editor@capeyorkweekly.com.au.
Emelia Rockliff, Wayne Missingham and Laura Grey check out a few of the on-track hopes.
Tim McAuley had plenty of crowd support during section one of the steer wrestling.
Ian and Lorraine Murray.
Peter and Pia McKeown.
Dianne Dennis and Helen Healy.
Tim and Darcy Ralph.
Mac Cureton gets sideways as he attempts to bring down his steer.
Will Hilder and Logan Giuffrida.
Katie Swanston and Iona Fitzgerald.
Laura Cup-winning jockey Ivo Fry is understandably pretty happy with himself after piloting the Janel Ryan-trained Choir Boy to a dominant win in front of a big crowd of excited punters.
Front: Mia Smith and Ashkee Michelle, back: Taylor Byrne, Maddox Smith and Gabi Spence.
Chloe and Ocean Brooks.
Some of the rising stars of the Far North Queensland rodeo scene delivered some impressive displays during four days of action at Laura. Kaylahny, Zahlieka and Hayley Royee.
Jockey Rachel Shred helps Missy Lyn get her head in front of Lichfield Angel and Ballroom Boss in a heart-in-mouth finish to the Bill Ware Maiden Plate over 1000m.
Jenna Archibald and Eleni Winkelmuller. Jess and Darren Myles, Caroline and Trevor Crisp, and Jess Murray.
We’re pretty sure the stewards will want to have a look at some of the contacts in the straight during the novelty jockey sprint.
Nominations open for milestone rodeo celebration
by LYNDON KEANE
BRAYDON Wellby will be aiming to go one better in the showcase open bull ride at the 20th Weipa Rodeo next month after nominations for the milestone event opened on 1 July.
Wellby is a rodeo stalwart and will return to Weipa on 22-23 August to captain one of the Cape of Origin teams with fellow pro riders Zane Hall and Eli Hunter, who will be desperate to impress after injury prevented him from coming out of the chute last year.
Ky Borghero, Byrn Francis and Josh Alexander will bolster the pro rider ranks and Wellby will have Borghero in his sights after the cowboy claimed a one-point win to put his name on the 2024 open bull ride buckle.
Wellby, who triumphed with his Northern line-up in last year’s Cape of Origin, urged cowboys and cowgirls who were still undecided about nominating to give the event their best shot.
“Just have a go,” he said.
“The committee’s great up there and they will help you out in any way they can.
“With the atmosphere, it’s awesome up there; everyone gets behind the event, and it’s really good for the community; everyone comes in from everywhere.”
With a range of events on offer, from the open bull ride to saddle bronc, whip cracking and steer wrestling, there is guaranteed to be something for every competitor, including the crowd favourite Ringers Ironman Challenge.
Anyone with nomination inquiries for the 20th Weipa Rodeo can contact Tammy Tierney on 0437 170 433 or nominations@weiparodeo. com.au.
Once you’re ready to throw your hat in the ring, go to www.weiparodeo.com.au to submit your nomination.
Pro rider and Cape of Origin captain Braydon Wellby, pictured riding Spider during the 2024 event, is urging budding cowboys and cowgirls to nominate to be part of the milestone 20th Weipa Rodeo.
Excitement at redline for dirt kart titles
THE Weipa Dirt Kart Club will be the only place for motorsport fans to be this weekend as competitors from across Australia descend on western Cape York seeking driving glory.
The club is hosting the 2025 FNQ Dirt Kart Titles from 10-13 July, with drivers going head-to-head in nine classes on Friday and Saturday as they vie for some of the silverware on offer.
Club president Dave Hancock said the committee was putting the finishing touches on the track and program as competitors made last minute tweaks to their racing setups.
“We’ll have nine classes up for contention for a plate,” he said.
“We’ve got the junior class through to the 125s as the competitive classes, as well as the midgets and rookies racing in exhibition classes.”
Mr Hancock said while the action on the track would be red hot, he was expecting the visiting drivers would help add to the camaraderie the sport is known for when the chequered flag is waved.
“In the past, the involve-
ment that our local drivers get out of racing with the likes of current and ex state plate holders, or Australian national plate holders, is extraordinary,” he said.
“The experienced guys don’t come up here to, you know, wipe the slate clean of
the local drivers; they come up and actually help out the local drivers; they really get involved and help them with their kart setups and that sort of stuff.”
With many of the interstate drivers set to arrive on Friday morning, Mr Han-
cock said excitement was building for the dirt track showdown.
“By what I hear, the community is getting pretty excited,” he said.
“I know I’ve been getting messages from all the racers and people that are coming up to be involved with it, and they’re all getting pretty pumped.”
Gates open at 4pm on Friday and 10am on Saturday, with adult tickets $5 and admission free for racing fans aged under 16.
Weipa netballers celebrate bumper season
AS Weipa’s junior netballers celebrated their success with a well-attended presentation night, more than 180 adult social players continue to help the sport go from strength to strength in the community.
Weipa Netball Club president Kini Rokosoi said the 2025 season was the club’s biggest yet and attributed the sport’s growth in popularity to multiple factors, including a 20-week season across three school terms, varied membership options and a competitive-yetsocial atmosphere on and off the court.
“Every year we get bigger and bigger, this year being our largest season; we’ve got an extremely well organised committee, who all encourage a fun, competitive-but-social competition,” she said.
The club recently held its junior presentation night, and Ms Rokosoi said it had been an “fantastic” success due to some committed handling of the end-ofseason trophies.
“The majority of our players were able to attend, along with their families; we
all enjoyed a lovely dinner, dance comps and the handing out of medals, trophies and a netball pack,” she said.
“A special mention to HCJ, in particular Lauren Haines and Jimmy, their fitter and turner from Toowoomba; Jimmy met my mum at Brisbane Airport at 4am to carry the medals up to Weipa the morning of the presentation night.”
The club also raised nearly $5,000 with a musical bingo netball raffle at the Albatross Bay Resort and Ms Rokosoi said the event had been a tremendous opportunity to connect with Weipa business operators.
“The connections we made with all the different Weipa businesses from all their amazing donated gifts was priceless,” she said.
The 2025 social netball season will finish in 10 weeks, but the club is offering a range of casual competitions for players to get their fix.
For more information about the casual competitions, keep an eye on the Weipa Social Netball Club Facebook page.
Weipa’s Collins pushes endurance limits in Japan
by LYNDON KEANE
MOST runners would be content with having a break after pushing themselves in one of Japan’s most gruelling endurance events, but Weipa’s Michael Collins is not most runners.
Collins was among 1,164 starters in the 2025 Kaga Spa Trail Endurance 100 last month and, while he was unable to finish the UTMB World Series event, he said he was thrilled to be able to have laced up his shoes for a challenge “well beyond my comfort zone”.
“Japan appealed to me not
only for its unique and stunning landscapes, but also for the cultural experience and the level of difficulty it offered that was well beyond my comfort zone,” he said.
“This was only one of a handful of years that this event has been held; in the previous year, it was affected by an earthquake in the area; this added to my interest in the event, as I wanted to test myself on some of the world’s most epic terrain, and Japan was the perfect setting.”
After recording his highest ever altitude gain and descent – 3,764 metres and 3,405m re-
spectively – Collins was hit with a did not finish (DNF) at the 57-kilometre mark of the 100km race when he missed the cut-off time for competitors to reach the event’s highest summit.
“It was my first ever DNF, and I was 43km short of my goal,” he reflected.
“Still, it was a massive personal best – 18 hours and 29 minutes of moving time, my longest time in an endurance event yet; the race cut-off time was 26 hours, therefore, my pace to the summit was not on par to reach this projected time at the finish.
“My race was over when a radio call received by a course marshal on the summit gave news that no more athletes were to proceed past this point.”
Only 455 athletes of the original 1,164 starters crossed the finish line on day two of the event.
Despite the disappointment, Collins said he was already contemplating tackling the race again.
“There were a heap of tumbles, stacks and bum slides on the down sections, and I learned a lot and had a blast,” he said.
“I even got to nap for a few hours after midnight within an old shrine on top of the summit, so, it was incredibly satisfying, and I’m already planning on how to come back stronger next time.”
Collins will now return to Australia to prepare for his epic Weipa-Cairns fundraising run with David Tuckwood in August, which will include being among the starters in the 2025 Weipa
Running Festival (WRF) marathon on 20 July.
He said the Weipa effort would be the culmination of three marathons in three weeks.
“The WRF marathon is definitely on the cards as part of the prep, and will be the last of three consecutive marathons over three weeks for me,” Collins said.
“Also on the attack list is the Gold Coast Marathon and the Cairns Marathon.”
Collins, who is an integral part of the Weipa running community, said he relished the challenge of endurance events, adding he believed some of his Japan learnings would be put to good use on the 820km, 17-day run from Weipa to Cairns.
“For me, it’s about pushing limits, both physically and mentally, and discovering how far you can go,” he said.
“I am a believer that the only limits are the ones that you set on yourself; there’s a simple and easily accessible rawness to it (running), and all one needs is a pair of shoes to get going, and sometimes not even that.
“In events like this, where you’re out on the trails or tracks for hours, sometimes alone with nothing but your own thoughts, it’s humbling and energising.
“After everything I learned in Japan with gear, pacing, hydration, fuelling, night trekking, packing, safety and recovery, I’m looking forward to applying these lessons to our upcoming adventures.”
Lucas robbed as consistent Triffitt cleans up
CLOUDY skies made errant shots easier to spot when a field of 15 Dawnbusters teed off at Carpentaria Golf Club on 6 July.
A few solid gross scores were recorded for the 33rd edition of Dawnbusters for the year, but it was Scott Triffitt, the so-called Three-Quarter-Swing Assassin, who cleaned up with 44 off the stick for a round-winning nett 16.
In his 19 games for the year, Triffitt has averaged an impressive gross 42 around the Weipa course.
Jim Lucas (49/20) lodged a protest after receiving his fourth bridesmaid’s bouquet of the year, arguing the handicap system was manifestly flawed before he launched into a tirade about other perceived injustices on the course.
One witness, who described the performance as “out of character”, said they believed journalism was to blame.
“We reckon he had been influenced by the editor of the Cape York Weekly, who had remarked the same when he fell well short of victory last time while carting around with Jim,” they said.
Matt Byrne made the most of a tree ricochet to claim the pin prize, while Lucas and Viv Chan took out the men’s and women’s long drives.
Julie Howard was the weekly Hoffman’s recipient.
Players will contest the back nine from about 6:45am on 13 July, with new golfers always welcome.
SPORT IN BRIEF
League heads to Hope Vale
THE Lockhart Scorpions will aim to extend their undefeated lead at the top of the Southern Cape Cluster rugby league ladder when teams head to Hope Vale on 12 July.
The Scorpions are coming off big 50-10 and 38-4 wins in the previous round and will tackle the Pormpuraaw Crocs at 12pm and the Coen Colts at 3:30pm.
The Colts will face the Warriors on their own turf at 1pm, before the Crocs attempt to overcome Hope Vale at 2:30pm.
The Warriors are winless from four games this season.
Horsemanship clinic
JONO Battle Equine Services is returning to Cooktown to deliver a horsemanship clinic and Emmett treatments for two- and fourlegged participants next month.
Through Cook Shire Council community grant funding, the Cooktown Horse Sports Association has also been able to purchase a mechanical cow that will be used during the clinic.
The 2 August clinic will cost $50 to participate in or $20 to fence sit, with treatments the following day priced at $110 per human or horse.
For more information, or to book a spot, call 0447 296 319.
Hobbs tops small field
WITH an “elite” group of players in Atherton contesting the FNQ Championships, Aaron Hobbs was the best of a small field at Cooktown Golf Club on 5 July.
Hobbs won the Stableford event with 36 points, ahead of runner-up Rick Butler (33 points) and Peter from Coraki, who finished third with 30 points.
Hobbs also bagged the pin prizes on 2/11 and 9/18.
In the Race for the Bay, Brent Hetaraka leads on 4,570 points, with Steve Butler (3,550 points) and Wal Welsh (3,510 points) completing the top three.
COOKTOWN
Michael Collins says tackling events like the Kaga Spa Trail Endurance 100 is about pushing himself physically and mentally to see what he can achieve as an athlete.