Cape York Weekly Edition 110

Investigation after man dies in custody

KOWANYAMA residents staged a peaceful protest outside the police station on Friday following the death of a local man in police custody on Wednesday.

The Ethical Standards Command is in vestigating the death of a 51-year-old man in the Kowanyama watchhouse.

He was taken into custody in relation to allegations of domestic and family violence related offences.

Police said he was taken to the watch house before he was subsequently located unresponsive in his cell a short time later.

“First aid was immediately provided, and the man was urgently transported to Kow anyama clinic, where he was declared de ceased,” a police spokesperson said.

“The State Coroner has been advised and the Crime and Corruption Commission will provide independent oversight of the Ethical Standards Command investigation.”

A senior police officer told Cape York Weekly that the investigation would focus on the quality of supervision of the man in the watchhouse.

“There’s no suggestions the man has been

assaulted by police but the investigators will be focusing on the officers who were tasked to supervise him,” he said.

In a statement, Queensland Police said they were “operating in Kowanyama with understanding for family and community at this difficult time”.

“This includes sensitive communication with members of a peaceful protest in Kow anyama today,” a spokesperson said.

“As is procedure, QPS personnel who were present at the watchhouse that day have since left the community.”

Concerns over Bramwell draws ire of several MPs

By MATT NICHOLLS

THE state government body tasked to handle the business op erations of Bramwell Station say they are committed to keeping the roadhouse and tourist park open, but questions have been raised over the transparency of the dealings.

In a statement to Cape York Weekly, the Department of Envi ronment and Science said it was dealing with existing sub-lease holders to keep the tourist busi nesses up and running beyond November 30, when the keys are officially handed to the Queens land government.

“To ensure no inconvenience to the public, DES has dealt di rectly with the current operator and prospective sublessees,” a Department spokesperson said.

But Member for Traeger and Katter’s Australian Party leader Rob Katter said there needed to be more scrutiny on any ar rangements made.

“Why hasn’t there been a ten der process? I don’t think they have thought this through prop erly,” the MP said.

“The Palaszczuk government seems determined to aggres sively acquire everything in the Cape and shut it down.

“They are still saying they want the tourism businesses to operate but haven’t even come to a formal agreement.

“And when did the state

government become a business owner? Where else do they own a roadhouse and a tourist park?

“The businesses should have been split from the acquisition and sold on the open market.”

Stephen Bennett, the LNP’s spokesperson for tourism, called for the government to show its cards.

“The state government must be open and transparent with this regional community,” he said last week.

“This region relies on the amazing tourism attractions in its area.

“Failure to properly plan and deliver for this community could have serious ramifications.

“With a state as great as ours, we should be creating certainty for our tourism sector, not keep ing them in the dark which will only drive people away.

“The Far North deserves bet ter and the state government needs to start listening to this lo cal community.

“There appears to be a lack of interest in the ongoing opera tions of this important tourism facility.

“And where is the local MP on all this? Again she’s nowhere to be seen.”

Member for Leichhardt War ren Entsch said the state gov ernment seemed to be obsessed with locking up the Cape.

“They are in the process of fragmenting every industry in the Cape,” he said.

“Bramwell was not a hugely productive property but the roadhouse and tourist park were extremely successful ventures.

“The fact they don’t have a long-term lease locked up high lights the fact they don’t have a clue how to run a business.”

Mr Entsch agreed with his Katter counterpart, saying the state government should sub divide the lots and sell the two businesses.

“The state should be looking at making sure these businesses survive because they are crucial to the whole region,” he said.

The Bramwell Junction Roadhouse is critical to Cape York but is now owned by the state government.

Apunipima patients still in the dark over breach

By MATT NICHOLLS

the dark after a major se curity breach at their health pro vider.

It’s been more than a month since Apunipima Cape York Health Council provided an up date to the ransomware attack on its computer system, which has hamstrung the organisation.

The healthcare provider,

which receives half of its annual funding from the federal gov ernment, has refused to provide an interview to media outlets, including Cape York Weekly

When pressed last week, an Apunipima spokesman said: “I don’t have to talk to you.”

The Aboriginal-led service was subjected to a ransomware attack on October 3 when a staff member inadvertently clicked on a link in an email.

Apunipima’s security was not

able to stop an infection, which brought down the entire system.

Sources told Cape York Week ly that Apunipima did not regu larly back up its system and lost at least a fortnight of work in the process.

Since then, staff have largely been relying on paper files.

Apunipima’s last public state ment was made on October 12.

“Apunipima acknowledges the concerns of the community at present and is working around

the clock to complete its inves tigation as soon as possible,” it said at the time.

Apunipima also listed a phone number for concerned pa tients to call, however the phone line rings out when called.

The health body insists there is no evidence patient records have been accessed, however Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service has instructed its staff to treat the hack as if patient data was stolen.

Seisia community champion up for gong

TALEI Elu says she hopes the issues facing Cape residents on a daily basis can be thrust into the spotlight after she was nomi nated for the Queensland Young Australian of the Year Award.

The Seisia resident said it was important that Australians knew the struggle of remote living and wanted to highlight the inequal

ity for those living in places like the Cape and Torres Strait.

“Remoteness shouldn’t define opportunity or access to quality services,” she said.

“The point of most of my projects in Seisia are about the inequality, such as bad telecom munications and the high price of groceries.”

Talei has used her govern ment experience, knack for me dia creation and community or ganisation skills to start positive initiatives in Seisia.

She has worked with the Aus tralian Electoral Commission to enrol and educate more Indig enous people about the impor tance of voting.

She also arranged for local women to receive free feminine hygiene products, baby necessi ties, and self-care items.

Talei was also recently named as the youngest member of the Queensland Indigenous Voice panel and co-chair.

The awards ceremony is be ing staged in Brisbane tonight.

Seisia advocate Talei Elu will tonight find out if she is the winner of the Queensland Young Australian of the Year Award.

Local recycling company well prepared for changes

By SARAH MARTIN

CAPE York’s recycling power couple, Kenny and Stef Reid, have already been accepting spirit and wine bottles ahead of the state gov ernment’s plans to gauge commu nity interest in including them in the Containers for Change scheme.

The Reids, who own Auswaste Environmental Services and man age Containers for Change depots in Cooktown and Weipa, said they would be happy to see more con tainers included in the scheme.

“We’ve already been taking some in Cooktown to enable us to work out what product is there and what sort of quality we can get through education and making sure everything is rinsed and that sort of thing,” Mr Reid said.

“We aren’t offering anything fi nancially yet, it’s more a bit of re search and development for us and a few of our really committed local recyclers have been helping out.

“At the end of the day, the Containers for Change scheme is owned by the people, you pay for the scheme when you buy your beer or drinks and then you get some of that back with the 10c.”

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said making more con tainers eligible for refunds made it easier for recyclers, especially in

regional and remote communities that might not have other recycling services.

“Of course, we want to make sure any decision to expand the scheme is one that is backed by the community, so we’ll be going out next month to Queenslanders

to get their feedback,” she said last week.

Mr Reid said more than six tonnes of containers were recy cled from Cape York every year, providing work for more than 14 people.

“We transport the containers

to Cairns and they are auctioned, and the containers are tracked right through to the end product so there is accountability,” he said.

In addition to the Cooktown and Weipa depots, the Reids manage a fortnightly mobile collection run covering more than 4500km across the Cape, stopping at almost every community from Seisia to Ayton.

Rising fuel prices had been crip pling, Mr Reid said.

“We’re hurting very much, it makes it challenging,” he said.

“It was hard enough coming out of COVID when we couldn’t go into any of the communities, then the fuel prices on top of that – it’s really affected our finances and there’s no end to it in sight.”

Mr Reid is still optimistic about the future of the scheme, and is opening a third depot at New Mapoon this year, and mentoring Edmond and Phyllis Tamwoy who are opening their own Containers for Change depot on Badu Island.

“My passion and dream is around recycling,” Mr Reid said.

“We will support Edmond and Phyllis through the whole way and they’ll hopefully be able to collect all through the Torres Strait.”

Consultation on the inclusion of spirit and wine bottles in the Con tainers for Change scheme is ex pected to launch in December.

Teen hit by car in dark at Weipa

A WEIPA teenager riding his bike home from the Mission River Bridge is lucky to be alive after he was hit by a car on Fri day night.

The driver, who was not at fault, did not see the 16-year-old until the last moment and at tempted to swerve to avoid him.

The boy’s mother told Cape York Weekly that her son was not wearing a helmet and was riding with his mates “with their music blaring and no lights on”.

“The driver stopped and helped the boys, but it was only our son who got hurt,” she said.

“It would be great if we could get a bike path or a track for the kids to ride on so they don’t have to ride on the road.

“A lot of kids like going to the bridge for fishing.”

She said her son spent two nights in hospital. He suffered “a bad concussion, no skin on his back, and some stitches in his head”.

“Thank god they had the CT machine here in Weipa as that ruled out any brain bleeds or swelling immediately and he didn’t have to get flown out,” she said.

“Doctor Harris, Doctor Cro zier and the ED and ward nurses were awesome as always.”

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It makes no financial sense to wait. You will not be any better off.

Auswaste’s Kenny and Stef Reid continue to grow their recycling business.

No end in sight: Aurukun struggling with violence

By MATT NICHOLLS

AURUKUN is no stranger to unrest but locals fear that issues in the community are at break ing point after a year of violence and sorry business.

“This is the worst it has ever been. Everyone just looks tired and on edge,” said a local health worker, who asked not to be named.

“There just doesn’t appear to be an end to it. As soon as things settle down there’s another inci dent and it fires up again.”

Attendance at the school has dwindled as a result of violence in the street and sleepless nights, while the council struggles to find staff for essential roles, meaning services such as the post office and community bank have been closed intermittently.

The council is also without a CEO, having recently accepted Ilario Sabatino’s resignation.

He lasted just seven months, although it was longer than the previous CEO John Thomas, who spent 10 days in the role before resigning.

Queensland Police Service have thrown millions of dollars of resources into the commu nity, with up to 50 officers in Aurukun for periods of time, but have been unable to get a grasp on the crime.

Residents are walking the streets with metal fence pickets and crossbows. Many locals are reluctant to leave their homes.

Queensland Health workers are operating under Code Black, meaning the clinic is open only for emergencies.

Code Black signifies a threat to personal safety.

The clinic won’t send out the ambulance unless workers are escorted by police.

Apunipima is supposed to be the primary health provider in Aurukun, although locals often complain about the service, pre ferring the Queensland Healthbacked clinic.

It’s been a tough month for the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service staff in the Western Cape community.

On November 6, two teenage boys allegedly tried to carjack an ambulance with two health workers inside.

Two days later, nurses in a car were threatened with a hammer and had their vehicle stolen.

TCHHS executive general manager Ian Power said it was a distressing time for the staff.

“Staff at the Aurukun Primary Healthcare Centre are safe but distressed following an incident involving three members of staff on Tuesday afternoon,” he said.

“The incident involved the taking of a health service vehicle and follows a previous similar incident on Sunday.

“As the matters are now in the hands of police, we are unable to comment further.

“Counselling and support are being provided through our health service processes.”

Mr Power said staff were safe and services were continuing to be delivered within the clinic.

“Due to the unrest, routine community visits or outreach home visits from the primary

healthcare centre are suspended until further notice but we are continuing to provide first re sponse to emergency 000 calls with a police escort,” he said.

“Currently, we have 20 staff in Aurukun, including eight nursing staff, two health work ers and administrative and op erational staff.

“We are monitoring fatigue levels for our staff and have plans in place to relieve or re move staff if the situation so re quires.

“We have extensive safety and security measures in place at all our facilities to protect staff.

“At Aurukun, this includes a security officer on duty each night between the hours of 5pm and 8am.

“However, due to the recent unrest, we have provided the Aurukun Primary Healthcare Centre with two extra security officers who are both on duty during the day, in addition to the night security officer, to provide added safety and assurance for staff.”

The escalating violence in Aurukun has resulted in Rio Tinto Weipa changing its policy around visits to the community.

The bauxite miner has barely visited Aurukun this year.

Cape York Weekly attempted to speak with Aurukun mayor Keri Tamwoy and several coun cillors.

Several town meetings have been held in Aurukun to address the issues, although they are mostly attended by government service providers, rather than locals.

Police in the Cape have also expressed concern that violence in Aurukun is now escalating to other communities.

Several Aurukun residents have relocated to Napranum and violence has emerged in the town near Weipa.

“Aurukun has all of the police resources in the Cape and often draws them from places like Weipa when things escalate,” one officer said.

“Weipa isn’t a 24-hour station but it almost needs to be at the moment. We’re getting a lot of calls in the night for incidents in Napranum.”

Cape York has also been with out a permanent police Inspector for 18 months.

QPS has started the process to fill the role permanently.

Teenagers charged

TWO Aurukun boys, aged 14 and 16, have been charged with a number of offences.

It will be alleged around 6pm on November 6, the teens attempted to steal a car from a Themp Street business.

The victim was in the car at the time and managed to leave the area.

The car sustained a number of broken windows after the boys allegedly hit the vehicle with a bat.

It will also be alleged the boys approached a vehicle parked on Kang Kang Street around 3.30pm on November 8 and threatened to assault the occupants.

The boys then allegedly stole the vehicle, driving in a dangerous manner.

Police located the boys later that day and, after a short foot pursuit, the boys were arrested.

Both boys were charged with three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two accounts of attempted robbery, one count each of robbery and obstruct police.

They are scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Vehicle stolen in Weipa

A TOYOTA LandCruiser that was stolen from a Nanum address last Tuesday was located bogged on the outskirts of Weipa.

A 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy, both from Aurukun, were located with the vehicle.

The boy was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle and a number of outstanding matters.

The man was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Archer bridge on agenda

THE progress of the Archer River bridge and the southern approaches will be hotly discussed in Cairns today.

State and federal government officials, along with Regional Development Australia representatives, will attend the Cape York Regional Package community taskforce and sub-working group meeting.

Several meetings are held each year to discuss the progress of works on the Peninsula Developmental Road, which are managed by the state’s Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Issues with rock in the riverbed at the Archer River have created delays to the bridge project and TMR is expected to provide an update on the new designs and expected timeframe for the completion of works.

Cape York Weekly will attend the meeting at Cairns Regional Council’s headquarters.

Cape York properties to benefit from NRM funding

MORE than $700,000 has been awarded to Cape York NRM to help support landholders in man aging their properties.

“This is a welcome funding boost from the state government, and a great step forward for Cape York Peninsula graziers,” said Mi chael Goddard, Cape York NRM’s sustainable industries and water quality manager.

“It provides continuity in the work we have been doing on the ground for the past four years.

“We will use $500,000 to assess gaps in landscape resilience on grazing properties and support onground actions to deliver improved land and vegetation condition.

“The rest will be used to imple ment a more standardised meas urement and reporting process for landholders.”

In announcing the funding to day, Resources Minister Scott Stewart said: “The condition of our soil and our native plants and trees is critical to Queensland’s food and fibre, resources and tourism industries and the good jobs they generate.”

Cape York NRM will work with six properties to address land con

dition issues over 1000 hectares and threats to native vegetation condition over 1500 hectares.

Project officer Natalie James said the work would offer longterm investment, such as increased riparian fencing, reduced paddock size and more watering points.

“This will improve infrastruc ture and make Cape properties less

vulnerable to year-to-year changes in climate and markets,” she said.

“Landholders up here face a number of challenges particular to the region, including poor soils and harsh weather events, with less return than the smaller southern Queensland properties.

“Plus, they work across vast distances, often in isolation, so the

projects will combine knowledge, management and monitoring and will also provide a chance for gra ziers to connect with each other, and with support systems, as we work with them.

“Ultimately, it all moves to wards improving the health of the country, and that can only be a good thing for the years ahead.”

Lions cans stolen in Cooktown

SELFISH thieves are depriving the community of precious funds by stealing the Endeavour Lions Club’s can bins – a steady source of income for the charity.

Club president Jim Fay said it had been an ongoing problem, with the most recent theft of two bins from a tourism business in the centre of Cooktown, a blow to the organisation.

“It’s all for the community, we’re a charity,” Mr Fay said.

“They took two brand new bins and about $75 worth of cans and bottles.”

The can bins are a common sight around town, with contain ers collected and cashed in for the 10c refund and money raised going back into numerous com munity causes, such as the an nual Bert Mason Award for local students, free mobility scooters and park benches and bus shel ters across the region.

“It’s about $320 for a roll of wire, and the many hours of making them; now we’re start ing to lock them in place.”

Mr Fay said apart from the oc casional old cage being pinched, the club hadn’t had any prob lems before, but the brand new can bins seemed to be attracting thieves.

“We had the two brand new ones last week and it’s been on going for a while,” he said.

“Either to get the money for the cans or using the bins, but either way, they’re going.”

The club has requested any one with information on the stolen bins to contact Cooktown Police.

Wetlands around Cape York will benefit as a result of funding from the state government. Six grazing properties in the Peninsula will be targeted for projects.

Cape York NRM’s Natalie James and Michael Goddard are working with landholders in the region.

Lions club president Jim Fay.

Cape welcomes suburban nurses

FOUR new registered nurses have joined the Torres and Cape Hospi tal and Health Service as part of a Queensland-first program to attract people from the city to the country.

The nurses are part of the Rural Generalist Registered Nurse Pro gram workforce initiative.

TCHHS executive director of nursing Kim Veiwasenavanua said the initiative aimed to encourage more nurses to transition into rural and remote practice.

She said the program was the first of its kind for Queensland.

“It’s about building capacity for nurses working in the rural and re mote space and addressing work force challenges in recruitment and retention for rural and remote communities,” she said.

“We’re very excited to partici pate in the Rural Generalist pro gram, which complements a num

ber of initiatives we already have within our health service to attract and retain staff.’

Ms Veiwasenavanua said the program created a supported learn ing pathway for registered nurses to provide the skills, knowledge, and ability to practice competently in rural and remote settings.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Safe parking at hospital

TORRES and Cape Hospital and Health Service has responded to criticism of a new car park at Weipa Hospital that did not include lighting.

“The Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service takes the safety and security of all its staff very seriously,” said executive general manager Ian Power.

“All staff at the Weipa Integrated Health Service are fully aware of a number of options for their security when leaving the facility after hours.

“On average, about 4-6 staff are on duty each night at the Weipa IHS. We have a section of car park situated in front of the nurses’ quarters that is fully lit at night and is reserved for the use of after-hours staff and resident nurses.

“In addition, Weipa IHS staff departing the hospital after hours, whether to access their vehicles at our carparks, or to go to the nurses’ quarters, have access to an after-hours security service escort that is available to all should they wish to use it.

“We also encourage all staff finishing shifts at night to wait for their other shift colleagues and exit the facility together to access vehicles or the nurses’ quarters.”

Remote education review

A QUEENSLAND Parliamentary committee will examine the delivery of vocational education and training (VET) in regional, rural, and remote Queensland.

Kim Richards MP, the chair of the Education, Employment and Training Committee, said access to high quality VET was essential for people and businesses across the state’s regional, rural, and remote communities.

“High quality vocational education and training is life-changing for people living in regional, rural, and remote parts of Queensland, including our Indigenous communities,” she said.

“Queenslanders living in these areas can face barriers to accessing training, or find that what’s on offer isn’t sufficiently tailored to meet their needs.”

The committee’s work on VET includes a second inquiry into recent upgrades to the Cairns TAFE campus.

Members of the public and other stakeholders can make written submissions to either of the new inquiries via the committee’s website. Submissions close January 23, 2023.

“Participating registered nurses will complete a four-month place ment in various sites in our remote primary health care facilities whilst completing theory modules,’’ she said.

Rural Generalist nurse program participant Robyn Wilson, who is currently doing her placement at

Laura Primary Healthcare Centre, said she had long been interested in rural and remote nursing.

She started studying externally for her nursing degree with James Cook University’s Cairns Campus, while living in Darwin and work ing for the ambulance service.

She then moved to the Cairns re gion to complete her degree while working in various operational roles for Queensland Health and Queensland Ambulance Service.

“I really focused on rural and re mote nursing as part of my degree, as that is where I always wanted to go,’’ she said.

“When I finished my degree in late 2020, I then spent my first year of practice working for the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Ser vice on Thursday Island, at both the hospital and GP practice there and I loved it.”

Rural Generalist nurse program participant Tahlia Runge is also keen to continue working in a rural area after completing the program.

Originally from Brisbane where she completed her nursing degree with the Queensland University of Technology, she has been living in Cairns most recently.

She is currently working in Napranum but will be heading to another facility in January.

“I’ve always wanted to work in rural and remote areas and jumped at the opportunity to be able to gain employment in such areas whilst being supported and given the op portunity to study relevant courses at the same time,’’ Ms Runge said.

“I would love to continue work ing in a rural and remote area on completion of this program and I’m definitely interested in staying with the TCHHS.”

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Nurse Tahlia Runge has been spending time working in Napranum.

Lakeland melons heading abroad

A LAKELAND melon grower is eyeing off a lucrative Japanese market as part of expansion plans.

Daintree Fresh will soon be picking and packing 15,000 trays of fresh produce weekly, ready to be exported to Japan.

Director of Daintree Fresh, Shaun Jackson says Lakeland’s location and climate is perfect for growing the melons during the winter season.

“We don’t get the severe frosts or low temperatures that a major ity of Queensland has throughout winter,” Mr Jackson said.

“Our stable and dry climate from April to November makes it the ideal weather for growing cu curbit varieties.

“Because of this, there is an opportunity for us to supply con sistent quantities of produce from June through to December.”

Daintree Fresh was recently a recipient of a Rural Economic De velopment grant.

Mr Jackson said the grant would be used to help source and install essential packing infrastructure to effectively package and store their fresh produce.

“The packing equipment will package 400 trays per hour to meet our 15,000 trays per week quota,” he said.

“A cooling facility will be in stalled to enhance the shelf life of our produce to ensure it reaches the end market while retaining its quality.”

Mr Jackson said that Daintree Fresh would employ 40 people over the next 12 months to assist with the current operations and to cater the increased capacity the expansion of their business will bring.

“Exporting specialty melons to Japanese markets is an exciting opportunity to develop long-term prospects, for the overseas export markets, whilst creating business and economic growth,” he said.

A state government spokesper son said the prospect for Daintree

Fresh to export their produce to Japanese markets opened an op portunity for local economic and employment growth.

“The demand for specialty mel ons in Japan means there is a prime opportunity to help boost the eco nomic and employment growth in the Cook Shire,” they said.

“This project will allow Dain tree Fresh to implement the re quired infrastructure to help them efficiently grow, harvest and pack age their produce ready for ex port.”

The growing team at Daintree Fresh in Lakeland is preparing to export melons to Japan. The company is expected to employ 40 people over the next 12 months.

Lakeland’s climate is perfect for growing melons, Shaun Jackson says.

Remembrance Day in Cape York

New pipes installed

COOK Shire Council says that works to upgrade the water main along Helen Street in Cooktown are now complete.

Funded by the federal government, this stage of the project included realigning and replacing the ageing 80mm AC main with 100 uPVC pipe. Workers also had to overcome major boulders, but still finished the project on time.

“The old pipes had simply reached the extent of their reliability and needed replacing,” said Robyn Maddalena, Cook Shire’s manager of water and wastewater.

“The new PVC pipes are more durable and reliable, which will help minimise service interruptions for years to come.

Mayor Peter Scott added: “Our huge shire includes almost 3000km of roads, more than 270 council-owned buildings and an extensive water and waste water network.

“Maintaining services, and upgrading and future-proofing these assets is a big part of what we do.”

Feedback for holidays

COOKTOWN’S community centre is looking for feedback to create an inclusive school holiday program for the region, with a survey open for comment until the end of the month.

The short survey was designed to gauge the need for holiday activities across the region, Cooktown District Community Centre project development co-ordinator Heidi Carroll said.

“We don’t have a concept yet as to what a holiday program might look like, we’re really sounding out the community to see what the need is and then we could design a program that suits those needs.

“I’m also talking to other service providers and seeing what they already offer and the hope is that if we can create a model that is working with other organisations to make it more sustainable, it could be a long term solution to really engage kids through the holidays.”

Depending on survey results and funding, Ms Carroll hoped a program could be in place for the 2023 school holidays.

“There are so many different demographics that could potentially be targeted from young children of working parents through to teenagers, and there are so many organisations running activities that we could work with.”

The survey is available online at https:// forms.office.com/r/CBb6KdPn9U or hard copies are at the Cooktown Library and PCYC Events Centre.

St Joseph’s Parish School students in Weipa made wreaths for their liturgy service.

Shaylanee Hegamaea was among about 30 Cooktown State School students who took part in the Remembrance Day chalk drawing. Cook Shire mayor Peter Scott with leaders from Cooktown State School.

Sophie Roberts creating a chalk design as part of RSL Queensland’s Draw to Remember.

James and Isla laid wreaths on behalf of Endeavour Christian College.

Chook Giese and son Lucas at Cooktown’s service.

Kowanyama cultural icon leaves long-lasting legacy

By SARAH MARTIN

then the Kowanyama Culture and Research Centre.”

Mr Sinnamon passed away suddenly last week, with tributes pouring in from across Australia for the renowned bushman, anthro pologist, cultural leader and artist.

“Viv’s contribution to cultural and environmental retention, con servation and regeneration in the Kowanyama region was enormous and his commitment never wa vered over the 50 years he has been living and practicing there,” said close friend Bernadette Boscacci.

Mr Sinnamon would be remem bered also for his humour, compas sion and humbleness, she said, as well as being a friend and mentor to many.

“A beloved father, grandfather, uncle and brother to many, he was a respected Elder, consulted with and revered for his deep and pro found knowledge of country and the environment,” Ms Boscacci told Cape York Weekly

“He was my first friend when I arrived in Kowanyama.

“Viv was often the first point of contact for visitors through the Kowanyama Lands Office and

Mr Sinnamon, who had a degree in human geography and studied anthropology, worked tirelessly in collaboration with the Kowany ama Aboriginal Shire Council to build an impressive collection of repatriated artefacts from all over the world, creating the Kowany ama Collection to tell the story of the local people.

“Kowanyama doctor Lara Wie land described him as a keeper of incredible volumes of knowledge.

“This knowledge had taken him around the world to learn more, teach and connect his beloved Kowanyama with the globe, yet he never boasted about this and was so unassuming and humble,” Dr Wieland said.

“Through learning them as a young man and passing them on he helped revive and save many tra ditional arts and crafts, in his own time and with no wish for reward; he dearly loved his family, and his children and grandchildren were especially precious to him.

“He leaves a gaping hole in the community and in the hearts of many.”

Mr Sinnamon is remembered by family in Kowanyama, Bun daberg, Gin Gin and Binjour, and friends across the globe.

The late Vivian Sinnamon will be missed in Kowanyama and across the Cape.

Navigation boost for mariners

DEFENCE’S Australian Hydro graphic Office has released major updates to three official electronic navigational charts, improving ac curacy and enhancing navigational safety for shipping and commer cial vessels in the Torres Strait.

The updated charts are the result of a single continuous survey of the Torres Strait Under Keel Clear ance Management area, conducted as part of Defence’s $150 million, four-year Hydrographic Industry Partnership Program.

Commodore Stewart Dunne, Hydrographer of Australia, said navigating the Torres Strait could be a challenge for mariners.

“The Torres Strait is a critical shipping trade route for the Aus tralian economy, but its complex tides, strong tidal streams and highly mobile seafloor can pose significant risks,” he said.

“With these updates to the elec tronic navigational charts, the po sition accuracy is now 1.0m and the depth accuracy is 0.35m, which are major improvements.

“Mariners transiting through the Torres Strait now have access to the most accurate data, increas ing mariner confidence and overall vessel safety.

“This new, better quality data decreases the risk of grounding in cidents.”

Nominations are open for Australia Day ’23 awards

CAPE York residents are being encouraged to show their appreciation for hard-working fellow residents by nominating them for an Australia Day Award.

In Cook Shire, awards are across six cat egories – Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year, Volunteer (group or individual), Sports (group, individual or event), Arts and Cul ture (group, individual or event), and Envi ronment.

Last year’s Cook Shire Young Citizen of the Year Ella Hartwig said being nominated

was such a surprise and encouraged others to put a name forward.

“When I received the news over the phone I was quite excited and wasn’t expect ing anything of the sort,” she said.

“It was incredibly nice to know that peo ple from the community that helped shape who I am had noticed all of the things I had been up to, ranging from helping my dad up the Cape with land management to crafting my music career. It made me feel as though I belonged and was so supported.”

Cook Shire’s nominations are open un til November 21 and can be made online at www.cook.qld.gov.au

November 2022.

To make an appointment please contact my office:

For more information visit health.qld.gov.au/torres-cape Warren ENTSCH MP Federal Member for Leichhardt I’ll be in Cooktown this Thursday the 17th of

Both Cook Shire Council and the Weipa Town Authority have opened up nomina tions for next year’s awards.

Waratah Nicholls and Alan Hall enjoying the art. Wudarabin Snider with her interactive installation. Robyn Maddelena voting for her son Dylans’s self portrait.

Margy Dessmann and Lek Jantrarat enjoying the exhibition.

Cooktown School of Art Society secretary Bek Stewart and Georgina Fehring at the opening.

Cooktown School of Art Society President Jane Dennis and Gisela Whithear share a laugh.

Heather Kelly and Marilyn Morris.

Eliza Gott, Fiona Connell and Wudarabin Snider.

Ilyaree Snider with her self portait. Sandra Gougeon and Jen Hall. Kath Pennell and daughter Jamie Powell. Jasmin Ford and Jack O’Neill.

Paul Rawson and Max Alabakis at the opening. Pictures: SARAH MARTIN

NOTICE OF BOUNDARY RESOLUTION MEETINGS FOR KUKU WARRA, WESTERN YALANJI, YIITHUWARRA AND GUUGU YIMITHIRR NATIVE TITLE GROUPS

Cape York United # 1 Native Title Claim (QUD673/2014)

Monday 21 – Thursday 24 November 2022

Cooktown

This notice is to advise that Cape York Land Council (CYLC) will be holding boundary resolution meetings in Cooktown for members of the Kuku Warra, Western Yalanji, Yiithuwarra and Guugu Yimithirr Native Title Groups in relation to the Cape York United #1 Claim. Details of these meetings are as follows:

Day #1: Kuku Warra & Yiithuwarra boundary resolution meeting

Date: Monday 21 November 2022

Time: 10:00am–4:00pm

Venue: PCYC Cooktown

Day #2: Kuku Warra & Guugu Yimithirr boundary resolution meeting

Date: Tuesday 22 November 2022

Time: 10:00am–4:00pm

Venue: PCYC Cooktown

Day #3: Kuku Warra, Western Yalanji and Lakeland Downs area boundary resolution meeting

Date: Wednesday 23 & Thursday 24 November 2022

Time: 10:00am–4:00pm

Venue: Gungarde Community Centre, Cooktown

Purpose of Meeting

CYLC will be facilitating meetings between representatives of the Kuku Warra, Western Yalanji, Yiithuwarra and Guugu Yimithirr Native Title Groups to resolve their common boundaries in the area generally shown in the map (above). CYLC will take instructions about these boundary decisions by way of written resolution. These boundaries will form part of the final administrative boundaries of each native title group’s Prescribed Body Corporate (PBC).

Final boundary descriptions must be provided to the State by 9 December 2022 in accordance with the Federal Court timetable.

Attendance

If you have queries about this meeting, or if you would like to arrange a family meeting, or travel assistance or to confirm attendance, please contact Timothy Tabuteau on 0429 007 245 or ttabuteau@cylc.org.au by Monday 14 November. Note that there is limited funding available for travel assistance.

COVID-19 Safety Precautions

Video-conferencing facilities will be made available at the meeting. If you would like CYLC to arrange a video-conference from your location into the meeting, please contact CYLC on the number below. Attendance by video-conference is offered because of the potential for the COVID-19 emergency to interfere with attendance. It is important to provide every opportunity for persons entitled to attend the meeting. Your safety is our priority. CYLC will take whatever means necessary to protect the health and wellbeing of its staff and clients and to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19.

WEIPA RODEO

Medal for Butler

FRESH from another stint in hospital, Rick Butler found his best form in Saturday’s medal round at the Cooktown Golf Club.

It was a hot contest at Walker Bay with the majority of the field beating their handicaps.

The perennial medal bridesmaid Laurie Downs carded a brilliant early morning nett 63, but Butler pulled one out of his hat and came home with a gross 77 nett 58 to claim his second medal for the year.

John McArthur finished third on a countback with a nett 64 from Steve Butler.

Nearest to pins went to Rick Butler on 2/11, Campbell Venables on 14 and Brent Hetaraka finished a tough day out with a ball on 9/18.

This Saturday is the final round of the Race to the Bay, which is a triple point event from the white tees at 9.30am.

Just seven trips to NSW for Cowboys next season

CONSIDERED a favourite to win the 2023 NRL premiership, the North Queensland Cowboys will benefit from a draw which involves the least amount of travel in the club’s history.

The addition of the Dolphins adds another Queensland side to the fold and means the Cowboys will leave the state just eight times next season.

Avoiding a match-up against the Storm in Melbourne and the Raiders in Canberra, the Todd

Payten-led side will play seven games in the Sydney area, with one game in Auckland.

The Cowboys will play these teams twice in 2023: Broncos, Titans, Dolphins, Panthers, Eels, Sharks, Tigers and Warriors.

North Queensland will kick off their season with a home game against the Raiders on Sat urday, March 4.

Club CEO Jeff Reibel said he was happy with the draw, which also boasts a third bye due to the

addition of the 17th franchise.

Those byes all come after Round 14, allowing the club to rest key players leading into the finals period.

He told NRL.com that since the start of the COVID-19 pan demic, turnarounds after away games had become even more important for his club.

“Post-COVID what we have found with flights and things like that is that this year if we played a game in Sydney on Sat

urday night, we weren’t getting back to Townsville until about 5pm on Sunday,” Reibel said.

“So we’d lose an extra day every away game.”

The Cowboys also revealed their trial match fixtures last week, with Cairns to host a practice match at Barlow Park on February 12 for what will be the Dolphins’ first contest.

The other trial is against the Broncos on February 18 on the Sunshine Coast.

Byrnes is best

JERROD Byrne was crowned the Medal of Medals champion at Carpentaria Golf Club on Sunday after scoring an impressive nett 64 in the Weipa Gourmet Meats-sponsored

Jim Lucas was three strokes behind to be the runner-up.

November’s monthly medal was won by Garry Breitkreutz, who had a nett 66.

Eugene Venter was runner-up with 71. Nearest to pins went to Warren Brewer on the 7th and Vicki Molloy on the 18th. This Sunday is the Cup of Cups (officially the Hangover Cup as it follows presentation night).

Athens trip for Wolmby

AURUKUN’S Waynead Wolmby has completed the famous Athens Marathon after a gruelling 30-hour trip to get to Greece.

Wolmby, who drew a big crowd to the Aurukun Airport for his flight out of the community, was one of 15,000 runners in Athens.

He completed the marathon in a time of six hours and 45 minutes.

Wolmby was part of the Indig enous Marathon Project team.

event.

Jerrod Byrne with sponsor Dale ‘Dasha’ Holmquest from Weipa Gourmet Meats.

Waynead Wolmby after completing the Athens Marathon on Sunday.

The Aurukun runner lapped up his time in the ancient city.

It took 30 hours to get from Aurukun to Athens.

Cape York Weekly recognises that our Indigenous forefathers have lived on this land for some 30,000 years. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners, both past, present and future, of the numerous clan groups on Cape York Peninsula. The newspaper is based in Weipa, on the land of the Alngith people, and we acknowledge them as the custodians of this land.