AUSTRALIAN authorities including Border Force have been teaming up with Indonesian and Papua New Guinean counterparts in operations safeguarding the Cape and Torres Strait from threats such as organised crime, illegal fishing and cross-border trafficking. Full story Page 3.
FORMER ELITE SOLDIER ON CANCER FRONTLINE
COOKTOWN senior medical officer Doctor Shane Sadleir rose through the ranks of the Army’s Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), but a taste of healthcare in the field changed everything. The ex-soldier is now tackling one of the nation’s deadliest cancers through a pilot program. Full story page 6.
Australian Border Force (ABF) patrolling with Indonesian authorities. Photo: Supplied.
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APUNIPIMA Cape York Health Council has urged men to take charge of their mental health and speak up if they need a hand as part of Men’s Health Week.
The community health organisation is hosting a range of activities at its Health Care and Wellbeing Centres this month, with the aim of helping men connect and improve their social and emotional wellbeing.
Some simple ways men can look after themselves during men’s week (15-21 June) and into the future include getting a health check, staying active, attending a men’s group or yarning circle, and talking openly about issues.
were still barriers, but attending a men’s group could prove useful.
“For a long time, men have felt like they need to be strong by keeping things to themselves, but real strength comes from speaking up, coming to a men’s group and supporting each other,” he said.
“When men start having those conversations and looking after their health, it has a ripple effect — families and communities become healthier together.”
Napranum Elder and men’s group coordinator Vincent Barkley said the group helped individuals by creating a safe space where men could come together and yarn, share knowledge and experiences.
Doctor James Doran, the organisation’s executive manager of clinical services, said when men feel well socially and emotionally, it can make a big difference to their physical health, family life and connection to the community.
“Men play an important role in shaping healthy, strong and connected communities,” he said.
“From working in communities over the years, when men are taking care of their social and emotional wellbeing, the bene ts to their health, families and communities are very visible.”
Apunipima Napranum men’s support worker Jefferson Tamwoy said he saw the biggest improvements to his physical health when he began looking after his social and emotional wellbeing.
“If you take care of your mental health, you start to take better care of your body – they go hand in hand,” he said.
Mr Tamwoy made changes to his lifestyle when he left the mining industry and focused on his mental and emotional health, reducing alcohol use and becoming more active.
“I had a good look in the mirror and made some changes. I started training, going to the gym and looking after my mental health,” he said.
“I lost about 22 kilos and now I’m more active and feeling the healthiest I’ve been in years. You’ve got more energy and you just feel stronger in yourself.”
Mr Tamwoy said stigma and shame
“Even if a man is having a bad day, men’s group is always here if they either want someone to talk to or want to just come have a sit down and get away from somewhere,” he said.
“For myself, men’s group has given me support and taught me accountability, it has always allowed me to connect with my other countrymen in the community of Napranum, who understand me because we had similar life experiences.
“I have learnt a lot of knowledge from my elders and community leaders and built a lot of con dence in becoming a better father and a role model.”
Contact an Apunipima Health Care or Wellbeing Centre to get involved in this month’s men’s health activities.
Need to talk to someone now? Phone Mensline on 1300 78 99 78.
Apunipima Napranum men’s support worker Jefferson Tamwoy (second from left) with Napranum Men’s Group, coordinated by Vincent Barkley (third from left) and Tristan Dick (far right). Photos: Supplied.
Apunipima Napranum men’s support worker Jefferson Tamwoy and Apunipima Mapoon men’s support worker Willie Clark.
Aussies join Indo, PNG in cross-border crackdown
by LUKE MORTIMER
FEDERAL authorities including Border Force have been jointly patrolling with international officers from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea as part of a crackdown on organised crime, illegal fishing and cross-border trafficking.
Criminal syndicates have been trying to exploit remote coastlines, according to ABF Assistant Commissioner James Copeman.
The ABF announced in recent days it had finished a four-day coordinated maritime patrol involving Indonesian aircraft, boats and officers from the Directorate General of Surveillance for Marine and Fisheries Resources in waters off Ashmore and Cartier islands as part of Operation Horizon Watch.
Indonesian anglers have been a key focus for the ABF as part of Operation Broadstaff, which was launched in February to deter, detect and disrupt illegal foreign fishing across northern Queensland and the Torres Strait.
Dozens of the nation’s anglers have faced Australian courts for illegal fishing, many off the Cape and in the Torres Strait, with some jailed for repeat offending.
The eighth joint Horizon Watch patrol between 22 and 25 May targeted illegal fishing and other civil maritime threats.
Commander of Maritime Border Command Rear Admiral Brett Sonter said Australia and Indonesia were standing together to protect their waters, fisheries and marine environments.
“Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is a complex regional challenge that can only be combatted through a cooperative approach,” he said.
Director General of the Indonesian Directorate General of Surveillance Pung Nugroho Saksono (Ipunk) said the organisation was “committed to enhancing collaboration with ABF and AFMA (Australian Fisheries Management Authority) to promote sustainable and responsible fishing practices in the waters of both countries”.
AFMA CEO Wez Norris said AFMA worked closely with the ABF and Indonesia to uphold fisheries laws.
“These coordinated patrols demonstrate our shared responsibility to stop illegal fishing and reinforce our collective commitment to protecting marine environments and fisheries resources for future generations,” he said.
Crews intercepted four Indonesian vessels. One was found to be operating outside of approved permit conditions and ordered to return to Kupang for further investigation.
Another vessel experienced engine failure and was towed to Kupang by Indonesian authorities.
The remaining two boats were operating according to permits and in the clear.
Earlier, between 20 and 24 April, Australian and Papua New Guinean authorities pa-
trolled the Torres Strait and PNG’s Western Province to protect communities.
The patrol involved border officers, police, fisheries and immigration staff from both nations. They visited Daru Island, Jarai and Mari villages in PNG, as well as Saibai Island and surrounding waters in the Torres Strait.
The Torres Strait sits less than four kilometres from the PNG mainland at its closest point.
Mr Copeman said criminal syndicates were trying to traffic drugs, weapons and other illicit goods between the two nations.
“The Torres Strait is one of the most unique environments we operate in and partnerships are key to our joint success,” he said.
“These patrols send a clear message that Australia and PNG are working together to stop criminals exploiting remote communities and border vulnerabilities.”
Papua New Guinea Chief Migration Officer Wellington Navasivu said the cooperation helped with “deeper understanding of each other’s operational environments, making each patrol more effective than the last”.
Australian Federal Police
(AFP) Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough said:
“The AFP has strong ties with our Pacific family and is committed to facing strategic challenges and finding tangible solutions to the unique threats at the border between PNG and North Queensland”.
“Organised criminals have consistently sought to find vulnerabilities in our region to exploit for profit. This joint activity shows our joint intelligence, resources and capabilities are poised to effectively target illicit operations,” she said.
“Our PNG colleagues are valued and trusted partners for the AFP, and together we are resolute in protecting our region from threats which undermine community safety and security.”
Queensland Police Far North District Chief Superintendent Kevin Fitzgibbon said patrols bolstered the strong police presence in the Torres Strait.
“These joint patrols are an important opportunity to strengthen our ability to respond to emerging threats in a geographically challenging area,” he said.
Joint Australia-PNG crossborder patrols have taken place since 1997.
The Australian Border Force has been partnering with Indonesian and Papua New Guinean authorities to target organised crime, illegal fishing and cross-border trafficking. Photo: Supplied.
Delivering emergency communication between Cooktown and Cairns
• Delivering new classrooms at Cairns State Special School
• Upgrading six community halls in Far North Queensland
• Upgrading the lighting at Cooktown Oval
• Upgrading Jeff Pezzutti Park Youth Activities Space
• Upgrading Cairns Western Arterial Road
Find out what else we’re delivering for you.
As well as delivering emergency communication between Cooktown and Cairns, here are some of the ways the new Queensland Government is delivering for Far North Queensland:
• Upgrading Barlow Park and the Manunda Sports Precinct for 2032 and beyond
• Delivering public transport for Babinda, Dimbulah and Ravenshoe
• Upgrading Cairns’ Queensland Ambulance Service Operational Centre
• Upgrading the Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service Facility.
‘Don’t give up’: Push to end child safety crisis
by LUKE MORTIMER
THE Queensland Government is taking “swift action” after the Cape York Institute told a damning inquiry the region was at the centre of the state’s child protection and youth justice “crisis”.
Cape York Institute (CYI) CEO Kirsty Davis and founder Noel Pearson welcomed the tabling of the Child Safety Commission of Inquiry’s report in Queensland Parliament earlier this month.
They hoped CYI’s proposals could help provide a practical framework for turning the tide and sparking reform.
Key inquiry findings include that about 67 per cent of reported incidents of sexual abuse of children in care involved kids placed in residential care, and the number of young people in residential care surged by 229 per cent from March 2015 to March 2025.
The inquiry found the annual cost of residential care jumped from around $300,000 per child in 2019-20 to about $500,000 per child in 2024-25.
Not a single child has been adopted from state care in Queensland since 2019.
It was also revealed Queensland has almost as many children in residential care as every other state and territory combined.
The Crisafulli Government said in a statement it was “carefully considering” the inquiry’s 52 recommendations.
Mr Pearson said the report was
significant because it acknowledged child protection began long before a notification, a court order or removal of a child.
“The commissioner (Paul Anastassiou KC) was right to conclude that governments have repeatedly addressed the visible manifestations of system failure while failing to attend to the factors and conditions that continue to produce such horrendous rates of child removal,” he said.
“Queensland cannot remove its way out of this crisis. The future of child safety depends on strengthening families before harm escalates and confronting the causes of dysfunction that continue to draw children into the statutory system.”
Mr Pearson said endorsement
“The moral logic of the current system has become inverted. When governments refuse to use proportionate, early responsibility mechanisms, coercion does not disappear. It simply arrives later in harsher forms like child removal, residential care, youth detention and imprisonment.”
Mr Pearson said change required a different philosophy of reform.
“Do not give up on these families. If they are held to their responsibilities, and they are supported with opportunity, the lives of their children can change for the better. We have seen too many families turn the situation around, when they are supported,” he said.
of the CYI Family Responsibilities Commission was important.
“We have a proven working and practical mechanism with the Indigenous-designed and Indigenous-led Family Responsibilities Commission [FRC], where local elders and respected leaders hold parents to account through structured support backed by legislative authority,” he said.
“An FRC acts as a circuit breaker before dysfunction hardens into destiny and children are removed, before courts and prison become dominant institutions in a family’s life.
“The FRC is child protection at the point where families can still be stabilised, children can still remain safely at home, and responsibility can still be rebuilt.
“The state must meet responsibility with opportunity. It must create real pathways into meaningful employment, support educational success, expand economic participation and rebuild the conditions in which families and communities can build capability.
“Responsibility can only be sustained when effort is matched by genuine opportunity.”
Ms Davis said addressing social issues was key.
“The commissioner has been prepared to speak plainly about the realities driving child harm. Alcohol abuse, drug abuse, domestic violence, chronic truancy and welfare-fuelled instability are not peripheral issues. They sit at the centre of the child protection crisis,” she said.
“Alcohol policy is child pro-
tection policy. When alcohol becomes the organising feature of household life, children pay the price through neglect, violence, disrupted schooling, family instability and lost opportunity.
“Children have an absolute right to grow up in a safe, loving home, with food on the table and their educational needs met.
“We encourage the government to heed the commission’s advice and reject any move to weaken alcohol management plans in order to satisfy adult demand at the expense of children’s well-being.”
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the report exposed shocking consequences of a decade of neglect and failure.
“Queensland’s child safety system was failing the very children it was supposed to protect,” she said.
“The commission’s findings are deeply concerning, particularly the evidence that a significant proportion of reported sexual abuse incidents in care involved children placed in residential care.
“We will carefully consider every recommendation alongside the Child Death Review Board’s In Plain Sight report, as we work to rebuild a child safety system focused on protection, accountability and better outcomes for children and young people.”
The government has established a Cabinet Sub-Committee to oversee consideration and implementation of the report’s recommendations.
Queensland has almost as many children in residential care as every other state and territory combined, the inquiry revealed. Photo: Helena Lopes/Unsplash.
From special forces to Cape medicine
by LUKE MORTIMER
A CAPE York doctor who made the considerable leap from an elite Army special forces unit to practising medicine in his hometown of Cooktown has led a pilot program to reshape how remote communities access bowel cancer screening.
Bowel cancer is the second deadliest cancer in Australia (after lung cancer) and screening rates have traditionally been quite low across the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) district.
An estimated 5235 people died of colorectal cancer last year alone – about 10 per cent of all national cancer deaths.
Cooktown senior medical officer Doctor Shane Sadleir shared his story during the annual Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.
He spent a dozen years in the Australian Defence Force and rose through the ranks to join the Special Air Service Regiment.
However, a taste of medicine on the job inspired the soldier to take a new direction.
“I’d completed a two-month advanced battlefield medicine and trauma course,” Dr Sadleir said.
“When we were working away in another country, we’d take medical equipment and with the support of our military medics, provide basic primary health care to local communities.
“I kind of got a taste of being a health worker. We’d give antibiot-
ics and treat wounds. I noticed the small impact this made and it gave me a lot of personal satisfaction.”
Dr Sadleir studied a degree in paramedical science and upon passing a graduate medical school assessment test, gained entry into the University of Notre Dame Australia’s School of Medicine in Freemantle.
“I was 33 years old and one of the oldest in the class – we’d had my eldest daughter by then,” the dad-of-three said.
“My military career was vastly different, but I could change and adapt the skills I’d learnt in the force and apply these successfully.”
Dr Sadleir finished an internship and moved from Perth to Far North Queensland with his wife Kim in 2019.
Landing in Cairns, Dr Sadleir spent a couple of years working as a registrar in Cairns Hospital’s emergency department.
Dr Sadleir later learned about an opening at Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service, where he worked with a respected rural generalist, helping him develop as a doctor.
“Being back here and working in the community I grew up in, it’s a full-circle moment,” he said.
“By providing this care closer to home for communities like Cooktown, we are going to increase early detection and ultimately save lives.”
Dr Sadleir worked on a new low-cost endoscopy service aimed
at remote communities to better educate people and boost participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
He reduced patient travel to Cairns for endoscopic procedures and surveillance from days to a few hours.
“Bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in Queensland, yet is highly curable if found early,” Dr Sadleir said.
“Previously, patients faced significant barriers, travelling hours to Cairns to do bowel prep and staying in shared accommodation.”
Bowel cancer testing has significantly lower participation rates in rural and remote areas compared to the rest of the state.
The pilot program involved a partnership between Cairns and Hinterland and Metro South Hospital and Health Services to help close the gap.
Endoscopes used for visual inspections arrive vacuum-sealed and cleaned, meaning expensive sterilisation stations and specialist cleaning staff are not needed.
Patients can complete preparations at home with the support of local community health services, come in for a couple of hours and return home the same day.
Dr Sadleir said: “This program solves three major problems at once: staffing, equipment and time.
“Ultimately, it’s helping us catch potential cancers sooner,” he said.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 PROPOSED NATIONAL HERITAGE LISTING: BINTHI WARRA CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
The Australian Heritage Council is assessing Binthi Warra Indigenous Heritage Places ‘Thaman’ and ‘Yirmbal’ (Binthi Warra) for possible heritage values that may be included in the National Heritage List.
Have your say and contact us
Submit your response online by 5.00 pm AEST on 31 July 2026.
Written comments can be submitted via: Email: heritage@dcceew.gov.au.
Post: Australian Heritage Council, GPO Box 3090, Canberra ACT 2601. All comments will be provided to the Minister for the Environment and Water for consideration. If submissions contain sensitive information, the AHC may consider such material confidentially without public disclosure.
The pilot ended in April, but its methods have now been adopted by TCHHS.
For five years, Dr Sadleir ended each working week by driving the 320 or so kilometres from Cook-
town to
and daughters.
Earlier this year, the doctor’s family moved north and fell in love with Cooktown’s laidback, tight-knit community.
and
Cooktown senior medical officer Dr Shane Sadleir served in the special forces before his career change. Photos: TCHHS.
Dr Sadleir with anaesthetist Dr Dan Hook.
Dr Sadleir
his family.
Cairns to be with his wife
Billion-dollar hospital expansion underway
by LUKE MORTIMER
A MASSIVE $1 billion hospital upgrade is shaking up healthcare across the Far North – and is set to provide almost 4000 jobs during the height of construction.
Queensland Health has released the tender for the head contractor to deliver the next stage of the Cairns Hospital Expansion.
The expansion is the biggest healthcare investment in the region and a key part of a wider masterplan for Far North services delivery over the next 30 years, according to the State Government.
While some healthcare services can be delivered throughout the Cape and Torres Strait by Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service, many in need are referred to Cairns Hospital.
The expansion features four new operating theatres, 16 day surgery spaces, 40 overnight beds, a specialist outpatient department, clinical trials facilities and simulation and training spaces
Coen trio facing fraud allegations
THREE people from Coen have been accused of defrauding two Cape York Peninsula Indigenous organisations.
Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) detectives have charged two men and a woman following “a protracted fraud investigation”.
It’s alleged the 44-year-old man, 56-year-old man and 48-year-old woman dishonestly used more than $400,000 from Cape York Land Council and Kalan Enterprises between 2021 and 2025, according to Queensland Police.
Police believe the money was used to buy private suites and catering at rugby league games in Brisbane, as well as international airfares and luxury accommodation, fishing charters and hosting private social events.
The 44-year-old man has been charged with 15 offences, including eight counts of fraudulently producing or using any record which is false, five counts of fraud by dishonest application of property and two counts of fraud by dishonestly gaining benefit/ advantage.
He is due to face Coen Magistrates Court on 8 July.
The 56-year-old man has been charged with 22 offences – 10 counts of fraud by dishonest application of property, 11 counts of fraudulently producing or using any record which is false and one count of fraud by dishonestly gaining benefit/advantage.
He is due to face Cairns Magistrates Court on 21 July.
The 48-year-old Coen woman has been charged with five counts of fraud by dishonest application of property and two counts of fraudulently producing or using any record which is false.
She is due to face Cairns Magistrates Court on 21 July.
Know more? Phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Leena Singh said the expansion was transformative for the region’’s healthcare.
“This investment will provide additional clinical capacity, modern facilities and new opportunities for innovation, training and research, helping us meet the healthcare needs of Far North Queensland for generations to come,” she said.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the release of the tender marked a milestone in strengthening health care services for Far Northern communities.
“The Crisafulli Government is getting on with the job of delivering easier access to health services and the facilities patients, families and health workers deserve,” he said.
Barron River MP Bree James said the project would provide certainty for future healthcare needs.
“This expansion will support local jobs,
strengthen healthcare services and ensure local families have access to the care they need in a modern, world-class facility close to home,” she said.
Mulgrave MP Terry James said the investment demonstrated the government’s
commitment to the region and would make sure “growing communities have access to the infrastructure they need”.
The tender will remain open until 6 August and it’s expected that a contract will be awarded later this year.
Cairns Hospital is the largest major referral hospital in Far North Queensland, caring for patients from as far north as the Torres Strait, south to the Cassowary Coast. Photo: Queensland Health.
DELIVERED MORE THAN 1,600 NEW POLICE
EARLY INTERVENTION AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK YOUTH
STRONGER YOUTH BAIL MONITORING LAWS
VICTIM NUMBERS DOWN 7.2% 17% SERIOUS REPEAT OFFENDERS DOWN
The new Queensland Government is driving down crime and restoring safety where you live.
Victim numbers are down 7.2%* and serious repeat offenders are down 17%^ under Adult Crime Adult Time, but there’s more to be done.
*Compared to 2024 (Jan to Dec), per capita. ^Compared to 2024 serious repeat youth offenders.
Remix Queens, Yung Cooked Town top show
YOUNG performers took to the stage for the 2026 Cook Shire’s Got Talent competition, with winners given the opportunity to perform on the Cooktown Discovery Festival main stage this weekend.
Performers aged five to 25 years were invited to showcase their talents including singing, dancing, comedy, music, magic and more in front of a live audience at the Cooktown Events Centre on 5 June.
Cook Shire’s Got Talent is a much-loved annual community event which celebrates young creativity and confidence in the lead up to the festival.
The Remix Queens (Chloe, Chelsea, Charlotte and Aurelia) took first place in the Junior Division (5-11 years).
They were followed up by Loic’s Magic Show (Loic Gougeon) in second place and
There’s Nothing Holding Me Back (April Greaves) in 3rd place.
Yung Cooked Town (Jessica, Holly, Eliza and Jade) topped the Senior Division (12-17 years).
Second place was secured by Zee Zee n Ez (Zyra Jones and Ezra Jones), while Down Boy (Julian Slykerman) was the third favourite of the division.
The council praised the performers and said they impressed the audience and judges with their enthusiasm, skill and stage presence.
A special thanks was extended to Cooktown State School for its support of the event, as well as the judges and emcee.
Sophie Corbett was chosen to be a special junior judge this year.
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ABOVE: The Remix Queens (Chloe, Chelsea, Charlotte and Aurelia) won the Junior Division of the 2026 Cook Shire’s Got Talent competition. LEFT: Yung Cooked Town (Jessica, Holly, Eliza and Jade) won the Senior Division of Cook Shire’s Got Talent. Photos: Cook Shire Council.
Cook Shire awarded for disaster resilience
by CHISA HASEGAWA
A COOK Shire Council team’s onthe-ground approach to disaster preparedness and recovery has been recognised with an award at the 2026 Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA) Queensland Awards for Excellence.
The Disaster Management Team’s Community Powered Resilience initiative won the Excellence in Resourcefulness title at the awards late last month, highlighting the team’s collaborative response to ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
Led by disaster management officer Sarah Frew, the team implemented resilience hubs and local area community response officers (LACROs) across Cook Shire communities, ensuring there were first-hand eyes on the situation, and residents in need had somewhere to evacuate to.
“I’m very excited. We’ve put a lot of hard work into it over the last two and a half years, so it’s nice to see the success out of it, and be recognised at a higher level outside our communities for it,” Ms Frew said.
“It basically gave council the ability to know what’s going on in the communities, because as we know, they all get isolated every
wet season, and we can’t access the communities, so we have to take information from a direct source in the town.
“It’s really improved our disaster response, our on-ground knowledge, and just being able to coordinate resources.”
During ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle in March, the Community Powered Resilience was put to the test and produced positive results across the shire.
“Cyclone Narelle was proof that it was successful. We had our dedicated LACROs, we stood up the resilience hubs where we needed to, and if people left communities if they didn’t feel safe, we had the LACROs checking on them,” Ms Frew said.
“People knew all the current information for the event, and there was a lot more preparedness across the towns.
“We started putting in a lot of process improvements after Cyclone Jasper, and it’s great to see that we have a team now, because in the beginning, it was just me.
“We are a council covering a huge area with a very tight budget, and we’ve tried to involve our community volunteers to the best of our abilities.”
Cook Shire Council Mayor Ro-
Request for Tender (RFT)
byn Holmes commended Ms Frew and the team for their achievement, adding that the collaboration between council and the disaster management team had brought a sense of comfort and readiness to community members.
“Congratulations to our disaster management officer and her team for all of their work on the ground in making the resilience hubs a reality for the Cook Shire community,” she said.
“Council commissioned a review post-Tropical Cyclone Jasper and associated flooding. We always want to know what went well and areas where improvement is needed, and this is where the concept for the resilience hubs was born. Council subsequently prioritised the initiative and enabled the resilience hubs to be established and staffed by locals.
“The establishment of these hubs was really positive, and leading into tropical low 29U and Cyclone Narelle, allowed us to test the hubs, and actually see the benefits.
“The first wet season after Tropical Cyclone Jasper was an emotional time, with the trauma still very raw. The hubs have added an element of comfort to communities, knowing there is a space that people could go.”
KASC-2026-050
– Kowanyama Cattle Muster
Council is seeking tenders from suitably experienced cattle musterers to perform muster services in Kowanyama, including the catch and transport of cattle from the Land to sale, as directed by the Principal and its nominated Sales Agent.
RFT documentation is available to download via https://www.kowanyama.qld.gov.au/council/ tenders-and-opportunities/
Tenders Close 4:00PM Wednesday 1st July 2026
Tender responses may be submitted electronically to tenders@kowanyama.qld.gov.au or hard copies can be submitted to KASC Cairns Office or KASC Kowanyama Office.
For more information, please contact tenders@kowanyama.qld.gov.au
Alan Neilan, Chief Executive Officer
Led by disaster management officer Sarah Frew (pictured above), the disaster management team brought comfort and preparedness to communities after ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper. Photos: Supplied.
FNQ powerhouse experts appointed Indigenous Land and Sea Corp directors
by LUKE MORTIMER
THE Federal Government has appointed two well-known experts in their fields with ties to Far North Queensland as new directors on the board of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC).
Dr Cass Hunter and Dr Heron Loban have been appointed alongside a third director, Marcus Stewart AM, and new deputy chairperson Jahna Cedar OAM.
A descendant of the Kuku Yalanji and Maluiligal nations, Dr Hunter is senior director at the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance.
She holds a PhD in quantitative marine science and works to advance stewardship practices for sustainable management of landscapes, seascapes and resources.
Dr Loban is a Mabuyag Malu Ki’ai woman with family connections to the Mabuiag and Boigu islands in the Torres Strait.
She is an academic, lawyer and expert in Indigenous law and justice issues and has worked as inhouse counsel with Queensland South Native Title Services, principal legal officer at Gur A Baradharaw Kod Torres Strait Sea and Land Council, CEO with Torres Strait and NPA Legal Service, and
as a solicitor with the Torres Strait Regional Authority.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said: “The Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) plays an important role in supporting First Nations communities to realise the
economic potential of their land and water.
“These appointments ensure ongoing strong leadership and expertise to guide the ILSC’s important work,” she said.
“I look forward to continuing to work with the board, who bring
North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) will undertake
dredging from mid-June at the Port of Weipa.
Dredging will also be completed at Amrun on behalf of Rio Tinto.
The project will take up to eight (8) weeks to complete.
The dredge vessel TSHD Brisbane, as well as support vessels, have restricted manoeuvring capability. Local and visiting boaties are asked to take care and notice of all warning flags and lights.
Maintenance dredging needs to be carried out to ensure that safe, navigable shipping depths are maintained.
Environmental controls and management measures will be implemented throughout the program to minimise the risk of any potential impact on the marine environment. Your cooperation and understanding is appreciated.
deep experience and a shared commitment to self-determination, sustainability and economic empowerment for First Nations communities.
“I thank the outgoing board members of the ILSC for their work supporting the economic as-
We are proud to announce the recipients of our 2026-27
pirations of First Nations people over the course of their term.”
The ILSC helps Indigenous Australians acquire and manage land for economic, environmental, social and cultural benefits.
ILSC chief executive officer Joe Morrison welcomed the new members.
look
to
Dr Heron Loban is a Mabuyag Malu Ki’ai woman with family connections to the Mabuiag and Boigu islands in the Torres Strait.
Dr Cass Hunter is one of two new Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation directors with links to Far North Queensland. Photos: Supplied.
19 JUNE 2026
Friday 20 JUNE 2026
9:00am – 11:30am Botanic River Cruise* Riverbend Tours
11:00am – 12:00pm Dr Hubble’s Bubbles Show Cooktown Events Centre
12:00pm – 9:30pm Markets Open Festival Village
12:00pm Cooktown Discovery Quest* Entries open until 3pm Saturday
1:00pm – 1:45pm Gold Rush Presentation* Cooktown Museum
1:30pm – 2:30pm Dr Hubble’s Bubbles Show Cooktown Events Centre
2:00pm – 3:00pm Guided Tour of Cooktown Botanic Gardens Botanic Gardens
4:00pm – 4:15pm Hope Vale Kids Choir Festival Village
Saturday
4:00pm – 9:00pm Marvellous Miss Mary Kids Corner Festival Village
4:15pm – 4:25pm Barefoot Ballerinas Festival Village
4:25pm – 4:30pm Cook Shire’s Got Talent Winner Festival Village
4:30pm – 4:50pm Cooktown State School Band Festival Village
5:00pm – 5:30pm Junior Burger Festival Village
5:00pm – 7:30pm Sunset River Cruise* Riverbend Tours
5:00pm – 7:30pm Automotive Muster Sound and Light Show Cnr of Green St & Charlotte St
8:30am – 3:30pm Busking Competition Charlotte Street 9:00am – 2:00pm CWA Tea House* CWA 9:30am – 10:30am Face Painting and Balloon Twisting Sovereign Resort Hotel
– 10:30am Little Athletics Big Run Awards Festival Village
– 1:00pm Marvellous Miss Mary Kids Corner Festival Village
– 4:00pm Children’s Craft Cooktown Creative Arts Association 10:30am Dr Hubble Bubble Roving Festival Village 10:45am – 11:30am Niki Nasa Festival Village
– 1:00pm Stronger Together Community Choir Festival Village
– 2:45pm Cape York Automotive Muster Cnr of Green St & Charlotte St
Eating Competition History of the Cooktown Convent Presentation* Cooktown Museum
21 JUNE 2026
Community urged to tick off life-saving tests
by LUKE MORTIMER
TORRES and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) has partnered with Indigenous elders and is urging residents over 45 to “choose life” and complete bowel cancer screening tests this year.
Test kits will soon be arriving at residences or post offices for those aged 50-74, while residents aged 45-49 can order tests online for free through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
Kits are also available at primary health centres for anyone eligible who has not received their kit in the mail.
The new campaign during Bowel Screening Awareness Month in June is: ‘Choose Life. Prevent Bowel Cancer. Do the Test’.
It comes as a new Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service endoscopy service will become permanent after a six-month trial.
TCHHS director of medical services eastern Doctor Natasha Coventry said 35 procedures, including colonoscopies and gastroscopies, were completed during the trial, which began in October.
“That is a significant number of patients who did not have to travel to Cairns to undergo these procedures,” she said.
“We know that bowel cancer is the second deadliest cancer in Australia. Those of greatest risk are
those living in remote areas, largely due to the difficulty in accessing timely colonoscopies, a procedure that can both prevent bowel cancer, but also diagnose it early, to be able to give treatment options. Bowel cancer can be completely cured if it’s detected early.
“We have the current capacity to do about up to 100 colonoscopies a year but can increase the service if it is needed.
“The big advantage of offer-
ing colonoscopies locally is that patients can now complete their bowel preparation at home, and then come into hospital for a couple of hours and return home the same day.
“I know many of those patients may have not attended their appointment because they did not want to travel to have it done, or couldn’t afford the additional time away from home, so having this service locally will potentially save lives.”
Cooktown resident Robyn Robinson was told she needed a procedure after her screening results and underwent a colonoscopy at the town’s Multipurpose Health Service earlier this year as part of the new service.
“I wanted to hold it off. I thought of the excuses to not go, but then I heard that I could get it done locally here in Cooktown and I booked it in,” she said.
“I wasn’t really stressed this time. I know how hard it is to do your bowel preparation in Cairns and the cost of travel – I didn’t have that stress this time. Yeah, it was great.”
“The community know about it and they are happy. People want this service and they want it to stay.
“People hold off – they know how hard it is to get to Cairns and how much it costs, so they hold off. They don’t have to anymore.”
Planned Power Outage
Rocky Point - Sunday 28 June 2026
Boaties advised to take care as key ports to be dredged
by LUKE MORTIMER
DREDGING is being carried out in the Port of Weipa and Port of Amrun to make sure shipping channels and berths are fit for purpose.
North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) has advised boaties to be particularly cautious while work is undertaken around the middle of this month.
NQBP CEO Brendan Webb said the trailing suction hopper dredge (TSHD) vessel Brisbane is used for the job.
“Maintenance dredging plays a vital role in keeping our ports operating effectively,” he said.
“Much like roads and rail networks, shipping channels and berths require regular maintenance to support safe and reliable freight movements.
“This year’s campaign is expected to run for around eight weeks, from mid-June through to early August 2026.”
Mr Webb reminded recreational and commercial waterway users to take extra care during the dredging.
“The Brisbane and its support vessels have restricted manoeuvrability so we encourage all boaties to stay vigilant and observe all warning signals, including lights and flags,” he said.
Dredging at the ports is undertaken in line with necessary approvals and permits and in accordance with strict environmental requirements, according to NQBP.
The corporation has a “comprehensive environmental monitoring and management program” in place to “minimise potential impacts on the marine environment, including areas of cultural significance”.
NQBP has been dredging at the Port of Weipa for more than 35 years.
Dredging at the Port of Amrun is being undertaken on behalf of Rio Tinto.
The trailing suction hopper dredge (TSHD) vessel Brisbane. Photo: Supplied.
Cooktown resident Robyn Robinson was treated at the new endoscopy service at Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service. Photo: Supplied.
Nations connect in largest-ever CIAF fashion program
by CHISA HASEGAWA
THE deep richness of First Nations cultures spanning borders will come together next month when Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) welcomes three Taiwanese Indigenous designers and a guest designer from Indigenous Fashion Week New York to its 17th-anniversary season.
Leading up to the largest fashion program in the event’s history, CIAF fashion curator Lynelle Flinders spent a week immersed in Taiwan’s Indigenous fashion and textile communities as part of the first Asia-Pacific cultural exchange organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
After meeting with Taiwanese Indigenous artists, curators, academics, museum representatives, and fashion industry professionals in Taipei, Taitung, and Hualien, she returned with fresh inspiration, international connections, and new perspectives on Indigenous fashion, textile traditions, and cultural storytelling.
“This exchange has been incredibly inspiring in terms of seeing how Indigenous artists in Taiwan are carrying culture through textiles, weaving, fashion and intergenerational knowledge sharing,” Ms Flinders said.
“There are many shared values around storytelling, connection to Country, identity and cultural continuity that strongly resonate with First Nations fashion practice in Australia.”
The relationship forged through the exchange will continue when Taiwanese designers Juan Chih Chun / ‘alapiyac Parucunuq, Sigesile Kalidoai and Yuma Taru, alongside Queensland First Nations designers and a guest designer from Indigenous Fashion Week New York, showcase collections at the highly anticipated CIAF Fashion Performances at The Mill on 9-10 July.
Visitors will also get to experience a slice of Indigenous Taiwanese culture when Paiwan (a Taiwan First Nations group) designers, renowned for their intricate textile and adornment traditions that continue to influence contemporary fashion and design, hold two public masterclasses on 11 July.
Sigesile Kalidoai will lead Needles of the Ancestors / Paiwan Designs for Today from 10:30 am to 1 pm at the Botanical Garden Visitors Centre, followed by Paiwan Bead Embroidery with Juan Chih Chun / ‘alapiyac Parucunuq from 2 to 4:30 pm.
Lynelle Flinders (middle) with weaver Omos Dongi and fibre artist Hana Keliw of the Amis people, the largest Indigenous group in Taiwan. Photo: Supplied.
Inaugural tattoo expo already in demand for next year
by CHISA HASEGAWA
FAR North Queensland’s inaugural tattoo expo has left the community begging for more after a “mind-blowing response” to the event on 6-7 June.
Well-known Cairns artist Jake Straat and his wife Kaarina unveiled the Rainforest & Reef Invitational Tattoo Expo — a two-day celebration of the culture, creativity and camaraderie of the tattoo industry — bringing together 50 of Australia’s top tattooists at the Cairns Showgrounds.
With about 700 people through the door
on day one, and Sunday even busier, Mr Straat said he felt humbled and stoked by the response to a tattoo expo beyond the big smoke.
“It’s the first time this has occurred in Cairns, so we actually weren’t expecting anything,” he said.
“I would’ve been happy if 10 people showed up, but we’ve had an absolutely mind-blowing response.
“We’re really excited, and it’s cool to offer the people of Cairns some options with their tattoo journeys.”
Hundreds of people keen to add some ink
to their skin lined up to get tattooed by artists from across the country, who were all handpicked by the Royal Blue Tattoo owner.
“I just spent the last five years travelling the whole of Australia, working from what I thought were the best tattoo shops in the country, to get information on how to run my own tattoo shop and make connections,” he said.
“On my travels, I met so many amazing people, so many strange and interesting folks, and went about bringing them here to give the local people some special tattoos.
“I handpicked every single tattooer myself; I was very selective with who I invited, and it’s a beautiful thing.”
Long-time tattoo enthusiast Lyndon Keane, who travelled down for the expo from Aurukun, added to his collection with a piece from Woy Woy artist Hamish Robson.
“As a collector, it was tremendous to have access to such a diverse range of visiting artists without having to travel to a city expo,” he said.
“I love Hamish’s take on traditional designs, and I would have normally had to travel from the Cape to the central New South Wales coast to have a sitting with him.
“The vibe over the weekend was incredible, and everyone was already saying they can’t wait to see the event return in 2027.”
Regular Royal Blue Tattoo customer Ash Lowfield filled a spot with a piece by Pete Pav of Forest Creek Tattoo in Castlemaine, Victoria.
“We haven’t really had anything like this before,” the Cairns local said.
“I’ve been to a tattoo expo in Sydney, but you usually have to go to the city for something like this, so it’s cool that we can have it locally.
“There’s a lot of stuff that you wouldn’t
Closure of Country Paiden Countr y
Please be advised that access to Paiden Country is closed until further notice, due to sorry business It is important that we acknowledge and respect the advice from Traditional Owners so that cultural customs can be observed and practiced Rio Tinto personnel, contractors and the public are not to enter the area until further notice
This includes the following areas: Amban Road South (inclusive of the road), Beagle Road (inclusive of the road), Possum Creek, Sandy Creek, Ward River, Obon (Ward River Side), Yagalmungkan, Coastal areas from Big Horse Creek to Alechin Point including Ikleth, Six Ti Tree, and Awelombok (Waterfall)
really be able to get in Cairns. It’s awesome to see some other American traditional styles, as well as some different things that we wouldn’t normally get at many of the shops up here.”
One highly popular artist was Melbournebased tattooist Melody Crow, who brought a whimsical, feminine, neo-traditional style not widely available in Cairns.
Her unique style, featuring bold lines and bright colours, was in high demand, with her Saturday books full before the expo doors even opened on day one, and her day two schedule filled halfway through Saturday.
“I’m quite overwhelmed actually. It’s been really amazing to see everybody coming out,” she told Cape York Weekly at the event.
“I guess I’ve worked really hard over the last eight years to develop my style, and it’s really cool to bring that to a new city and get to share that with the locals.
“I’ve always wanted to travel with work, and I wanted to show my support to Jake as well, with him being so passionate about tattooing and wanting to form a community spirit around it.”
Royal Blue Tattoo’s Jake and Kaarina Straat said they were overwhelmed by the love shown at Cairns’ first major tattoo expo. Photo: Chisa Hasegawa.
Melbourne-based tattooist Melody Crow was one of 50 talented artists at the Rainforest & Reef Invitational Tattoo Expo. Photo: Supplied.
Cape York Weekly Puzzles Page
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.
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.
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Seisia & Bamaga
Mapoon
Weipa Napranum
Lockhart River
Aurukun
Coen
Archer River Roadhouse
Musgrave Roadhouse
Hann River Roadhouse
Pormpuraaw
Kowanyama Laura
Lakeland
Wujal Wujal
Cooktown
Hope Vale
Weipa Fishing Classic – fishing results
2nd: Melissa Manning – 94.5 cm
3rd: Natalie Andersen – 87.5 cm
Queenfish
1st: Izzy Mccann – 19.36 kg
2nd: Corrina Brenton – 13.59 kg
3rd:
1st: Jimmy Dyer – 10.42 kg
2nd: Dane Rennie – 9.11 kg
3rd: Peter Moore – 7.71 kg
Nannygai
1st: Redman Tierney – 6.37 kg
2nd: Kelsey Smith – 5.63 kg
3rd: Remo Mazzocato – 4.30 kg
Tusker
1st: Paul Chambers – 4.76 kg
2nd: Peta Johnson – 4.7 kg
3rd: Jessica Stecko – 4.7 kg
Fingermark
1st: Gaven Roberts – 4.51 kg
2nd: Chloe Sjoberg – 3.97 kg
3rd: Darren Lee – 3.8 kg
Emperor
1st: Lang Haines – 3.3 kg
2nd: Levi Rennie – 2.85 kg
3rd: N/A
Coral Trout
1st: Aaron Schleich – 2.63 kg
2nd: Wylee Cook – 2.14 kg
3rd: Tayla Coleing – 2.04 kg
Grunter
1st: BJ Musumeci – 1.91 kg
2nd: Michael Stafford – 1.79 kg
3rd: Tenele Logan – 1.56 kg
Catch & Release
Barra
1st: Scott Gorman – 103 cm
1st: Adam Weatherhead – 93.5 cm
2nd: Lachlan Johnson – 91.5 cm
3rd: Gaven Roberts – 91 cm
Trevally
1st: Rhys Parr – 88.5 cm
2nd: Greg Parr – 87.5 cm
3rd: Remo Mazzocato – 86 cm
Billfish (Release Count)
1st: Ben Bright – 2
2nd: Theona Down – 1
3rd: N/A
JUNIOR DIVISION
Catch & Weigh
Blue Salmon
1st: Fyn Gorman – 5.5 kg
2nd: Connor Reynolds – 5.4 kg
3rd: Opal Musumeci – 3.63 kg
King Salmon
1st: Thomas Tindall – 5.33 kg
2nd: Michael Rex – 4.36 kg
3rd: Oscar Watson – 4.2 kg
Grunter
1st: Felix Watson – 1.74 kg
2nd: Rhys Newsome – 1.61 kg
3rd: Ryan Logan – 1.61 kg
Bream
1st: Braithan Pratt – 0.89 kg
2nd: Charlotte Buchholz – 0.86 kg
3rd: Hayley Callaghan – 0.74 kg
Catch & Release
Barra
1st: Fyn Gorman – 72 cm
2nd: Max Gardiner (JNR) – 71 cm
3rd: Arlo Polderman – 70.50 cm
Queenfish
1st: Hunter Pattinson – 88.2 cm
2nd: Marshall Budby – 88 cm
3rd: Opal Musumeci – 88 cm
TRADING HOURS:
Eight bag Weipa parkrun PBs
by CHISA HASEGAWA
SIX of the field of 45 laced up in Weipa for the first time when parkrun #474 was held on 13 June.
Ryder Street improved on his second placing last weekend to finish at the front of the pack on Saturday, stopping the clock in 22 minutes, 52 seconds.
Brayden Moor was one of eight participants to secure a personal best time to be the second across the finish line in 23:15, ahead of visiting Simon Nash from the parkrun World Tourists group, who stopped the clock in 24 minutes flat for third.
It was the morning for Weipa parkrun newbies, with fellow parkrun World Tourists member Lisa Nash the first female competitors to greet the timekeepers in 25:49.
Ariel Ampado, Susie Tuckwood, Catherine Samuel, Isabell Cullen, Louise Moor, Adriana Rodriguez and Kathy Tiemens were the other participants to finish with a PB effort.
The weekly volunteering thanks went to Katrina Scholefield, Luke O’Day, Julie Zeimer, Narelle Dealy, Louise Jones, Kylie Argent, Michael Reinke and Lisa May.
With the 2026 Weipa Running Festival now just six weeks away, parkrun numbers are set to swell as those who have nominated ramp up their preparations.
Weipa parkrun is held every Saturday from 7 am at the hospital roundabout shelter on the intersection of Kerr Point Drive and John Evans Drive.
Tata takes Dawnbusters domination from Triffitt
by CHISA HASEGAWA
A BEAUTIFUL Weipa winter chill greeted golfers on the Carpentaria Golf Course back nine when 19 Dawnbusters went head-to-head on 14 June.
With the morning punctuated by cyclonic gusts of wind, there were only two low scores recorded — from Scott “Silent Assassin” Trif tt with a 40 off the stick and Oliver Tata with a 44 off the stick.
Tata, following in his father’s footsteps from last week, snagged Sunday’s gol ng glory, proving that when he is not being relegated to barbecue duties, he is a force to be reckoned with on the fairway.
Trif tt narrowly caught the bridesmaid’s bouquet, losing out to a Tata man for the second week in a row after taking silver to Derek Tata at the 7 June contest.
However, even that was hard fought, with challenger Luke Marston coming into contention with the same net as Trif tt and missing out in the nal count back.
Eddie “I only live over the road” Tiemens showed that a home close to the golf course can have its advantages when he claimed the men’s longest drive for the third week in a row — though it has been suggested that some more time practicing on the fairway and less on the tee block may not go astray for the big-hitting Dawnbuster.
Mandy Crawford, hitting brilliant drives all morning, earned a win in the women’s longest drive category.
Trif tt, licking his wounds from being pipped at the post again, redeemed himself somewhat with the Nearest the Pin on the 18th.
expected tee-off time of about 7:00 am.
SPORTS BRIEFS
Marshall whacks win
SIXTEEN golfers enjoyed top conditions when they battled for Wackers glory around the front nine of Carpentaria Golf Club on 10 June.
Dave Sands, Les Sariman and Ross Craven all carded a great round, but Bob Marshall proved too good, returning to the clubhouse with 42 off the stick for a week-winning 31.5 after his handicap was applied.
Rumour has it recent repairs to Marshall’s driver has him hitting farther and more consistently, much to the chagrin of his playing partners.
Rob Richardson took runner-up honours with 47/33 as well as the pin prize on the 9th, with Viv Chan just metres short on the 7th hole.
Ryan Lang, despite taking 10 shots off his previous round, still managed to bag the Bradman’s.
Junior touch comp
ANDOOM Oval will be overrun by pint-sized players when the Weipa Touch Association junior competition returns for term 3.
The nine-week season will run from 15 July-9 September, with sign-on afternoons scheduled at the oval on 17 and 24 June from 4-6pm.
Under-10, U12, U15 and U18 teams will take to the field for the season.
The $80 season fee includes a skills and drills session in August with the Queensland Touch Football development officer.
For more information, check out the Weipa Touch Association Facebook page. ‘Pom’ pips field
THE trade winds were in full swing when players contested the latest edition of the Monthly Medal at Cooktown golf Club on 6 June.
Steven “Pom” Kennett took out the men’s honours with an extremely tidy nett 66, while Darren Powell was breathing down his neck on 67 nett to secure second prize.
A countback was required to split three golfers on nett 68 for third, with Brent Hetaraka ultimately sneaking into the final spot.
The women’s medal was claimed by Alice Burton, who returned to the clubhouse with nett 72, followed in second place by the ever-improving Tanya Stewart, who survived a mid-round caddie change when her original choice bailed for a hair appointment.
Aaron Hobbs (2/11 and 14) and Paul “Magic” Sperring (9/18) bagged the pin prizes.
Scott “Silent Assassin” Triffitt missed out on Dawnbusters domination to Oliver Tata.
Photo: Supplied.
New players are always welcome as Dawnbusters take on the front nine on 21 June, with an
World Tourists members Simon and Lisa Nash celebrate their appearance at Weipa parkrun. Photo: Weipa parkrun/Facebook.
COMMUNITY CRICKET
Outreach program to develop next cricket legends
by LUKE MORTIMER
QUEENSLAND Cricket is set to launch the next stage of a major community outreach program to get more Indigenous kids participating in the sport, with Weipa flagged as the initial headquarters.
The visit will focus on delivering the introductory Woolworths Cricket Blast through the Eddie Gilbert Program and upskilling volunteers in the Weipa area.
The Queensland Cricket team is also set to travel to Thursday Island, Musgrave, Napranum, Aurukun and Evans Landing during the program from 2 to 27 July.
It will be the organisation’s second Cape York visit following a successful program launch in 2024.
Grant Mitchell, Queensland Cricket’s general manager of community cricket and infrastructure, said the experience two years ago demonstrated the value of running cricket programs in regional and remote areas.
“Having the backing of the Queensland Cricket Foundation means we can do more in these areas more often and hopefully make a difference,” he said.
“We learned a lot on the previous visit and having had good follow-ups last year, we are looking forward to this year’s outreach.”
The outreach is part of several Queensland Cricket initiatives to drive Indigenous cricket awareness and participation over the next year.
That includes talent identification, coaching and development, as well as opportunities to compete in local tournaments and representative fixtures.
Opportunities for Indigenous players will culminate in the National Indigenous Cricket Championships in Mackay next year.
The Eddie Gilbert Program identifies and nurtures talented Indigenous players to help them flourish and ultimately support their journey towards potentially representing the Bulls, Fire or Heat.
The program’s namesake is the first Indigenous player to represent Queensland in the Sheffield Shield, and Don Bradman described Gilbert as the fastest bowler he had ever faced.
Queensland Cricket is returning to the Cape and Torres Strait for community outreach through the Eddie Gilbert Program. Pictured are Thursday Island kids taking part in the program. Photo: Supplied.
