Cape York Weekly Edition 111

Pay delays for Archer River workers

Dodgy Decmil

By MATT NICHOLLS

ALREADY in a race against time to prepare for the wet, workers on the approach to the Archer River were last week preparing to walk off the job after a pay dispute with the head contractor.

Cape York Weekly can reveal

that Decmil, which won the $8 million contract to build and seal 2.8km of road on the southern side of the roadhouse, had not paid a number of suppliers since August.

On Friday, one major Cape York subcontractor didn’t show up on site after a promised payment failed to come through.

After being contacted by Cape York Weekly on Friday morning, Decmil scrambled to make pay ments that day.

“All subcontractors have been paid in full. Some of those pay ments were made today,” a spokes person for the company said on Friday afternoon.

It can be confirmed that some outstanding invoices were paid on Friday, although some local suppliers say they have yet to see owed payments.

With more payments due this week, there are concerns Decmil will struggle to finish the project.

Continued – Page 2

Kenny Reid is making big changes to his Auswaste business, with new co-owners and management to free him up for other projects. Full story – Page 5

Late payments just one of many issues at Archer

From – Page 1

A well-placed source said the Department of Transport and Main Roads had been in contact with McConnell Dowell, the company in charge of building the Archer River bridge, about finishing the Decmil job.

“I think (Decmil) want to get fired by TMR because the costs are blowing out,” a source said.

“If TMR did give them the sack, it would probably cost them less money.

“If I was a Cape York com pany I would be keeping a very close eye on Decmil and making sure they didn’t rack up major debts.”

However, TMR said there had been “no change” to the scope of works.

“Subcontractors on the Arch er River Crossing Southern Ap proach project have direct con tractual arrangements with the principal contractor, Decmil,” a TMR spokesperson said.

“Details of contracts are com mercial in confidence.

“There has been no change to the scope of either the Archer

While most subcontractors and suppliers are on monthly terms with Decmil, Cape York Weekly can reveal at least one business did its due dilligence and entered seven-day payment terms with the Perth-based firm.

The ASX-listed company has endured a horror decade, with its share price dropping from a high of $13.73 to a lowly 18 cents at the time of writing.

Even before the pandemic hit Australia, Decmil’s share price had dropped to $3.57.

The Archer River project is looming as a black mark on the otherwise successful Cape York Region Package, which has re sulted in hundreds of kilometres of sealing works throughout the Peninsula, including the con struction of the Saltwater Creek bridge at Musgrave.

There have already been a number of delays at Archer Riv er, with the approach meant to be completed by now.

That work isn’t expected to

be finished until July next year at the earliest.

The completion date for the bridge is also up in the air.

At a meeting in Cairns last week, TMR district director Ross Hodgman could not pro vide a timeframe for the job to be finished after the geologist who studied the site made a ma jor blunder when assessing the rock in the river bed.

Mr Hodgman did not com ment when asked about the ge ologist at last week’s meeting in Cairns.

McConnell Dowell brought in a drill so it could pour con crete in the river bed prior to the wet season, but it broke down not long after arriving on site.

It has since been fixed and steady progress is being made.

But the same can’t be said for the important approaches.

The Archer River area has so far managed to avoid any storm activity, but a downpour is likely to cause havoc.

“There’s a mad rush now to get ready for the wet season but I don’t think it’ll stand up to a

typical wet,” the source told Cape York Weekly

“The drains are too small, for starters. Whoever designed it didn’t have a grasp on a Cape York monsoon season.”

However, TMR said local knowledge was used.

“For every project along the Peninsula Developmental Road, local businesses, Traditional Owners, and trainees from the Cape York region are on the ground before and during con struction providing important local knowledge,” the spokes person said.

“As part of the Archer River Crossing Southern Approach project, existing drains and cul verts are being upgraded to cur rent standards.

“Contractors across all Cape York projects are preparing for the coming wet season.

“Contractors will ensure all works to date are protected from the weather as best as possible, to keep the road in a safe condi tion and allow for construction to continue at the end of the wet season.”

River Crossing or Archer River Crossing Southern Approach contracts.”

Decmil won an $8 million contract from TMR to build and seal a 2.8km section of road south of the Archer River crossing.

Napranum on edge after four vicious dog attacks

By MATT NICHOLLS

SERIES of vicious dog attacks in Napranum is creating fear and tension in the community,

pressure mounting on the local council to take action.

At least four people have been hospitalised from dog bite wounds this month, with blame pointed at one particular canine.

One woman was left for dead in the street with severe head in juries as a result of a dog attack.

She was lucky to be found by a local security officer and was rushed to hospital before being sent to Cairns for surgery.

Locals have complained to Cape York Weekly about the re sponse of Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council, which says it has been in contact with the owner of the dog responsible.

“I have been advised that there have been four dog attacks in Napranum in the last couple of weeks,” council CEO Janelle Menzies said.

“I have been able to investi gate one attack. For the others, I have not had any information forwarded to me.

“For the one attack we have investigated, we have issued the owner with a Proposed Regu

lated Dog Declaration Notice under Section 90 of the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, giving him until No vember 21 to respond.

“He advised me that he was removing the dog responsible for the attack the day of the at tack we investigated.

“He would not surrender the dog. He returned to the commu nity on the day of the third at tack with the dog.

“I was not aware of this and only became aware of it after the fourth attack. He again has removed the dog from the Com munity.”

Ms Menzies said the owner of the dog had threatened her and the council’s animal control staff “if we touch the dogs”.

“His brother also threatened staff at their workplace and they have been on stress leave for three weeks,” the CEO said.

“We have also issued him with an excess dog compliance notice under our Local Laws.

“This has been an extremely frustrating experience with no or limited support from the calls for help to assist us with this matter.

“My condolences to the fami lies affected.”

Community crusader crowned at awards

CAPE York achiever Talei Elu was last week named Queens land’s Young Australian of the Year and will now vie for na tional honours.

The Seisia woman received a standing ovation as she was pre sented with her award by Pre

on a night that recognised the con tribution of more than a dozen great Queenslanders.

mier

cations and organising health and sanitary products for local women.

Talei was recognised for her grassroots campaigns in Seisia, including beach clean-ups, lob bying for better telecommuni

On the same night, musical prodigy William Barton was named the 2023 Queensland Australian of the Year.

The Kalkadunga man, who

grew up in Mount Isa, was the first to integrate the sounds of the didgeridoo with orchestras and classical ensembles.

The overall Australian of the Year winners will be announced in Canberra on January 25 ahead of Australia Day.

Annastacia Palaszczuk

Seisia resident Talei Elu was named Queensland’s Young Australian of the Year in Brisbane last week.

Picture: NADC/Salty Dingo

Locals join Auswaste team

By SARAH MARTIN

A CAPE York waste company has also expanded in ownership after Cooktown born and bred couple Dylan Miller and Jenny Bradley became proud half-owners of local business Auswaste FNQ, along side Kenny and Stef Reid.

The couple have stepped into management of Auswaste and its affiliated businesses, including Cooktown Concrete and Land scaping Supplies, as well as freight and traffic control businesses.

“They’ve been trying to talk me into it for a few years, so I thought I’d give it a go,” Mr Miller said.

“It’s definitely a big change for me. I’m not on the tools, it’s much more of a business management role.”

The couple will be involved in business management and opera tions, as well as hands on work, with Mr Miller currently being mentored by Mr Reid across vari ous functions of the businesses while Ms Bradley is on maternity leave.

“I’ve been concrete batching, doing one stage at a time then I’ll move on to something else and get my head around how it all works,” Mr Miller said.

The Reids’ business started out in the environment and waste sec tor, but has grown along with the dreams of its employees.

“When we started to expand and get people working for us, we asked them what do you want to do, and then we worked in that direction, bought a business that would suit them or created a role,

rather than expanding and trying to find people to fit what we wanted,” Mr Reid said.

“I’ve got my dream and passion around recycling and that sort of stuff, but as we’ve grown we’ve tried to accommodate the people who work for us and hopefully we can keep creating more jobs.”

The unorthodox business mod el seems to be working, with the business expanding from one-anda-half employees several years ago to a workforce of about 50 locals across the Cape.

Native Title history for the region

HISTORY will be made next week when Native Title is recognised over more than 30,0002 km of land and sea in the offshore areas north, east and west of Cape York Penin sula.

It is the first time that First Na tions peoples of the Torres Strait have joined with the First Nations peoples of mainland Australia to work together to seek to achieve recognition of their Native Title rights.

The celebrations will be held on Thursday Island on Wednesday, November 30.

Winter chill for Weipa

DESPITE a heat wave across the Peninsula, Weipa residents will be able to experience winter-like conditions on the weekend.

A big crowd is expected to turn up for the Weipa Town Author ity’s final markets of the year, which boast a winter theme.

Sources told Cape York Weekly that “snow” would be seen at the storm surge shelter.

“I don’t know how they are going to pull it off but I’m very interested to see it,” they said.

See the details on Page 10.

As a new co-owner of Auswaste FNQ, Dylan Miller is learning all the ropes from Kenny Reid, who continues to expand his business empire.

Royal recognition for trailblazers

A GROUP of Indigenous women rangers, led by Cape York environ mental warrior Larissa Hale, has been named as the first Australian finalist for Prince William’s pres tigious Earthshot Prize.

A passionate environmentalist and trailblazing leader, Ms Hale is among a small but growing group of female ranger coordinators across the country.

She is also a Cook Shire coun cillor, managing director of her Traditional Owner organisation and heads the Queensland Indig enous Women’s Ranger Network.

It is this group of inspiring women who are in the running for the Revive Our Oceans catego ry, representing the “Indigenous Women of the Great Barrier Reef”.

“I was thrilled and humbled when I found out and all the wom en rangers are excited,” she said.

Ms Hale has since had numer ous conversations with the Earth shot team at Kensington Palace and the BBC, who will cover the live award ceremony.

Ms Hale has known for months

NEWS IN BRIEF

Dig for missing woman

QUEENSLAND Police Service is digging up old mine shafts in the Coen and Archer River areas as part of an investigation into a missing Kowanyama woman.

The police have commissioned a Cape York company to help with the digs, which are focused on finding the remains of a 23-year-old woman, whose family have requested be referred to as Ms Bernard.

A coroner’s inquest into her disappareance and likely death was launched last year and coroner Nerida Wilson has given QPS more time to solve the case.

The family of Ms Bernard have been critical of the original investigation by police, which has been put in the spotlight by the coroner’s inquest.

Ambos sent to Aurukun

CONCERNS over public safety in Aurukun has led to increased health measures in the community.

On Friday, Queensland Ambulance Service sent two Brisbane-based paramedics to Weipa, where they picked up an ambulance and drove it to Aurukun, where they will now be based.

Historically, Queensland Health’s clinic workers have staffed the town’s ambulance, but many have since left Aurukun following a spate of incidents, including a car-jacking of three nurses. The health workers were refusing to attend any call-outs without a police presence.

In a statement, a Queensland Ambulance spokeperson said: “QAS has deployed paramedics as part of the multiagency response to Aurukun to support the community in the current circumstances.”

Symposium date set

WEIPA will next year host the Western Cape Futures Symposium, which aims to throw the spotlight on opportunities in the region.

Organised by the Western Cape Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Weipa Town Authority and the Mapoon, Napranum and Aurukun councils, the symposium has the support of Rio Tinto, WCCCA, James Cook University and the Torres and Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance.

It will run from March 23 to 25. Details at www.westerncapechamber.com.au/ symposium

will be pretty excited because they’ve gone through all the film ing with the BBC and they know (QIWRN) has been nominated for the Earthshot Prize, but they don’t know (we are) finalists,” she told ABC Far North earlier this month.

Ms Hale has been managing a land and sea ranger program on her grandfather’s Yuku Baja coun try, just south of Cooktown, since 2007 and has been advocating for more women to join the land man agement field.

“The platform that is offered by the Earthshot Prize is extraordi nary,” Ms Hale said.

to five groups or individuals for their contributions to environmen talism.

It was first awarded in 2021 and is planned to run annually until 2030. Each winner receives a grant of £1 million to continue their en vironmental work.

Judges have included Cate Blanchett, Prince William and Sir David Attenborough.

Ms Hale said if QIWRN was to win, it would be a game changer.

that QIWRN was chosen as one of 15 finalists from among more than 1000 nominees but has had to keep it under wraps from her fellow rangers and friends.

“My direct team in Cooktown

“To be showcasing these amaz ing projects right across the world is a powerful way for First Nations women to see and imagine their futures in conservation manage ment.”

The Earthshot Prize is awarded

“With this funding we could have 500 Indigenous rangers, 200 girls in an education program and we could reach out to a network of countries around the world to build a global collective helping repair the planet,” she said.

“This would create a ground swell of First Nations female-led conservation programs, the largest effort of its kind on the planet.”

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Larissa Hale is a pivotal member of the Queensland Indigenous Women’s Ranger Network, which has been nominated for an Earthshot Prize.

Lions left reeling after theft of ute

THE type of crime usually seen in bigger cities is making its way to Cape York after a spate of car thefts and home invasions in Cooktown and Weipa in recent months.

Last week, the Endeavour Lions Club’s only vehicle, an almost-new ute, was stolen from outside a volunteer’s house and was reported driving past the Lion’s Den Hotel at about 4am.

Cooktown-based president Jim Fay said the theft was a kick in the guts to the volun teer-run charity, coming only a week after two of the club’s homemade bins, filled with containers waiting to be redeemed for cash, were nicked from a local caravan park.

“There’s nothing we can do except wait and see if we get it back and what condition it’s in; we can’t claim insurance,” Mr Fay said.

“We use it most days, running around all over the place, and don’t have any other Lion’s Club vehicles, so we’ll be using our own cars or borrowing one.”

“It stands out, the ute isn’t something you can drive around everywhere, they have to

be just joyriding. We just have to struggle on now, that’s all we can do, and wait and hope we get it back in some sort of condition that it won’t cost us too much to get fixed.”

The missing Lions Club ute is a 2019 Great Wall white two-wheel-drive with Li ons Club decals on both doors, and anyone who spots it is urged to contact PoliceLink on 131 444.

Cape York locals have reported a number of break-ins and other crime over the past weeks, including multiple thefts from hous es, including while people are at home.

Cape York Weekly reporter Sarah Martin has also been a victim, with a motorbike stolen from her house and found by another resident dumped in the bush.

“It’s a relatively good outcome because it’s only going to cost me a bit to get a new key and barrel,” Ms Martin said.

“But it’s left a really horrible feeling, wondering if there is someone outside my house at night and feeling like I need to keep everything constantly under lock and key in a small town like Cooktown.”

The Endeavour Lions Club is hoping for the safe return of its ute after it was stolen on Friday.

New nutrition manager a coup for CEQ

REMOTE store operator Com munity Enterprise Queensland has appointed a new nutrition and wellbeing manager to drive healthier living in Cape York and the Torres Strait.

Melinda Hammond, who has more than 30 years of experi ence in nutrition and chronic disease prevention, is a passion ate advocate for remote food se curity.

Originally trained as a clini cal dietitian, she has spent most of her career working for state and federal governments in pub lic health and primary health care, as well as more than sev en years with Apunipima Cape York Health Council.

Ms Hammond has also spent time in the university sector.

“It is such an exciting time to be joining CEQ,” Ms Hammond said.

“While there is no denying that chronic disease and health concerns are a serious issue facing remote communities in North Queensland, there is so much that can be done through prevention.

“We have the evidence now on what works to create healthy food environments in remote stores.

“In this new role, my objec tive is simply to get on with the job of working in partnership to implement what works to make healthy choices the easy choices for the communities we ser vice.”

CEQ chief executive officer Michael Dykes said the appoint ment of Ms Hammond shows CEQ’s commitment to healthy choices for its customers.

“It’s a real coup for CEQ to have someone of Melinda’s cali bre join the organisation, and we’re delighted to have her on board with us,” he said.

“The nutrition and wellbeing

manager role is my first appoint ment as CEO, and as such I want to signal that we take our social responsibility seriously.

“Improving the overall health and wellbeing of our team and the communities we serve isn’t something we can do by sitting on the sidelines. We need to be proactive and this appointment is the start of that.

“We’ve spent many years im proving the quality of fresh fruit and vegetables in all our stores, so now’s a perfect time for Melinda to come in and further improve our health outcomes.

“Melinda’s a great person to help make things happen, she’s a real driving force in health promotion, and is well known across Far North Queensland.”

Drink driver caught

A CABOOLTURE man has been caught driving more than four times over the legal limit near Weipa.

At around 11am on November 11, the 60-year-old man was intercepted on Andoom Road where officers conducted a roadside breath test.

It will be alleged he returned a reading of 0.214 per cent BAC.

He is scheduled to appear at the Weipa Magistrates Court on December 6.

Hoon busted in Weipa

A LOCKHART River man has been charged after he was detected travelling at more than double the speed limit in Weipa last week.

The 32-year-old was intercepted by police around 8pm on November 13 on John Evans Drive.

It was alleged he was travelling at 131km/h in a 60km/h zone.

He was issued with a $1653 traffic infringement notice and had his licence suspended on the spot.

Unlicensed teen driver

WEIPA police have charged an 18-year-old Napranum woman for unlicenced driving.

She was pulled over on Moi Gnum Street around 4.30pm on November 13 and checks revealed she was unlicensed at the time and had never held a licence.

She is scheduled to appear at the Weipa Magistrates Court on December 12.

End to driver revivers

MORE than half of Queensland’s Driver Reviver sites will close next year because they no longer meet health and safety regulations.

Ramp finished, pontoon soon

STAGE one of the Ayton boat ramp pro ject is now complete, with a new pontoon to be installed early next year.

The ramp, which provides access to the Bloomfield River, was funded by the state government at a cost of $467,000.

“This has been a big project for the Ayton community, so I’m pleased to see work complete on time and on budget,” a government spokesperson said.

“The upgrade has seen the boat ramp rebuilt to keep boaties safe and make sure the structure meets current all tide stand ards.”

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said stage two would be de livered in 2023.

“The next phase of works includes the installation of a new pontoon next to the ramp on the downstream side,” he said.

Department of Transport and Main Roads regional director Adam Ainsworth told the ABC that all 23 governmentowned sites would close following a safety assessment last year.

“TMR made that difficult decision to close those sites because of the investment that was required to keep that network operating,” Mr Ainsworth said.

“The volunteer cohort we know is ageing and we needed to take into consideration the accessibility of each of the sites and how easy it is for them to access and maintain.

“That assessment found a lot of the buildings required extensive renovations and were no longer safe for travellers or volunteers.”

There are 43 government and privatelyrun driver reviver sites across Queensland.

The Ayton boat ramp provides easy access to the Bloomfield River and Great Barrier Reef. A pontoon is scheduled to be installed early next year.

The ramp is now much safer for boat users.

CEQ’s Melinda Hammond.

Rangers rally to contain bushfire

KOWANYAMA’S rangers and Traditional Owners have been praised for containing a fast-moving fire on a nearby property.

The rangers were called to fight a large wildfire at Oriners-Sefton after a lightning storm rolled across the region around Para dise Creek and Sellars Creek, at the farwestern side of Sefton.

Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council fire and carbon operations expert Daryl Kil lin despatched a helicopter to investigate the fire.

Consisting of two fires on opposite sides of the property, the heat and wind had spread the small fires east and formed a 20km front.

“It was the fastest-spreading fire I have seen on the Cape for almost three years,” Mr Killin said.

He called upon the Kowanyama rang ers, who were already travelling to OrinersSefton.

“The operation taught us that we need to increase our early burning even more and continue to invest in late dry season fire fighting capacity,” Mr Killin said.

After five days of diligent work, the fires were successfully contained, with the rang ers extinguishing the northern fire, and the southern fire doused by rainfall.

“The cooperation between the Rangers and Traditional Owners was critical to the success of this operation. Everybody was working as a team,” Mr Killin said.

Kunjen man Darby Horace, a recently promoted senior ranger, said he was able to build on his existing aerial incendiary knowledge.

“The helicopter training was a real eye opener for me; learning about which areas to burn and how to burn them to stop the fire from burning more country,” he said.

“Aerial incendiaries were used along a creek running north of Sefton, which effec tively contained and extinguished the north ern fire.”

Long-serving senior ranger Fitzroy Law rence said that everyone has understood the importance of cooperation and security.

“Safety and communication came first. We began with a planning meeting and worked out when we had to act in accord ance with the weather conditions.”

“The rangers all worked as a team, using our cultural knowledge and knowledge of the land,” he said.

“Everyone stuck together and knew what their role was in tackling the blaze.”

A significant area of Kowanyama’s Car bon Abatement Project was spared.

Late-season fires can cost the Kowany ama community hundreds of thousands of dollars in carbon credits.

Kowanyama rangers and Traditional Owners were proud of their efforts to contain the fire.

Lightning sparked a fast-moving wildfire on Oriners-Sefton in remote western Cape York.

Local knowledge proved pivotal on the ground.

Ukrainian family

WITH the support of the Cape community, Ukrainian refugees Tatiana and Victor Malysha have returned to their home in war-ravaged Zaporizhzhia.

Coordinated by Cooktown couple Eric and Jola George, the community has fundraised to give Tatiana and her son Vic tor, who has special needs, a monthly allowance while they were forced to live apart from her husband to escape fighting in Zaporizhzhia.

Despite her home town being near the front line, and the fam ily now forced to sleep in their cellar for safety, Mr George said for Tatiana, returning home was wonderful.

“Staying in Poland was as good as the Polish government and people could make it, but there’s nowhere like home,” Mr George said.

“Things are currently diffi

cult, with Russia doing its best to destroy the power supply and water service, but Tatiana is glad to be back with her husband.”

Tatiana and her son had been staying in the Polish town of Dzialdowo, which is long-time Cooktown local Mrs George’s home town.

thankful for support

“We had shared a Zoom call with her, but that’s a poor sub stitute.

“There was a language prob lem, of course, but Tatiana has been learning Polish.

“Jola speaks Russian and Slo vak – both closer to Ukrainian – so we can communicate quite happily.”

Mr George said Tatiana sent her thanks to the people of Cooktown and she would stay in touch to let everyone know how she was going.

New chair for RFDS board

THE Royal Flying Doctor Service has named Tracey Hayes as the new chair of the Federation Board.

Ms Hayes is an experienced chair and company director, working across industries at local, national and international level. She is the chair of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility and board member of the Australia Indonesia Institute.

The Cooktown couple coor dinated the support efforts with the help of Mrs George’s brother in Poland, and in August the Georges travelled to Poland to meet Tatiana and Eric. “It was quite an experience to meet Ta tiana face to face at last,” Mr George said.

“We have reassured Tatiana that if the war in Zaporizhzhia continues, we will raise more money to keep the monthly al lowance going for as long as necessary,” he said.

“Cooktown’s generosity is very touching, both privately and from the Bowls Club, the RSL and Cooktown Creative Arts Association.”

“As a mother, business woman and long-term advocate for people in the bush, I am very excited about this new role contributing to the Royal Flying Doctor Service,” she said.

“I know too well the importance of emergency medical and primary health care service in regional, rural and remote Australia, with my own family having to rely on these services many times in the past.”

At long last! Wedding bliss for Mike & Jo

GOOD things come to those who wait, although Jo Moloney and Mike Benjamin certainly had their patience tested!

The Torres Strait couple, who now call Weipa home, had to cancel their wedding plans twice due to the pandemic, but were finally able to tie the knot with close family in attendance (catching them by surprise) on a recent holiday.

Mike and Jo were married on Bintan Island in Indonesia on October 26 and then spent five nights at Sentosa in Singapore to celebrate! A besotted Jo said it was well worth the wait.

Debut single for Royston

The Mapoon product, who finished his schooling at Western Cape College, is an emerging R&B/pop artist.

His single, titled When I Fall Apart, was produced by the Melbourne-based Aluis.

The proud LGBTQIA+, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist, performing under the stage name Royston Noell, says his debut single talks about the grieving process after losing his mother to brain cancer in 2018.

Royston is currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music) at the Queensland University of Technology.

He said he hoped he could inspire others from remote communities to follow their dreams, having already appeared on TV as part of Channel 7’s All Together Now: The 100 in 2018, where he finished third.

Royston’s single will be released this Friday and can be streamed on Spotify and Apple Music.

ACCLAIMED Cape York singer Royston Sagigi-Baira will launch his debut single this Friday.

Royston Noell’s debut single is out on Friday.

Jola and Eric George with Tatiana and Victor Malysha (centre) in Poland.

Cooktown State School graduation

The Cooktown State School graduating class of 2022 – Naisa Woibo, Sienna Thomason, Veronika Buhmann, Zion Chambers-Young, Tara Beaufils, Cody Hocking, Amber Frame, Azriel Munday, Josie Dagge, Jarhlem Bowen, Wudarabin Snider, Shaelanee Hegamaea, Mirindi Lane-Ritchie and Presaiah Ross-Hart.

Connor Meldrum accompanied graduate Josie Dagge.

Graduate Azriel Munday with Sophie Roberts.

Veronika Buhmann (right) toasts with cousin Mackenzie Cini.

Cody Hocking with Eva Powell.

Matthew Martich partnered Sienna Thomason.

Zion Chambers-Young.

Hudson Dagge partnered graduate Amber Frame. Oliver Hanson partnered graduate Mirindi Lane-Ritchie.

Graduates Presaiah Ross-Hart and Jarhlem Bowen. Wudarabin Snider and Naisa Woibo.

Shaelanee Hegamaea with her dad Ivan, sister Kora and mum Melissa. The class of 2022. Pictures: Jacynta Hunt Photography Tara Beaufils.

Endeavour Christian College graduates Dylan Stewart, Cheyanne Whittaker, Ava Croatto, Kellie-Rose Jerome, Kaitlyn Darvell and Jessie Wright.

Ava Croatto (right) with friend Chloe Surbey.

Graduate Kaitlyn Darvell (left) with friend Meg Pattie. The gradutes held their dinner at the Sovereign Resort.

Kelli-Rose Jerome with mum Rosalyn and brother Nathan.

Cheyanne Whittaker with her sister Tarzha.

Graduate Dylan Stewart (centre) with sister Teneill and brother DJ.

Graduate Jessie Wright with his father John.

Pictures: Teila Winton Imagery

Colour Run @ William Daku Park

DOZENS of children, parents and grandparents enjoyed the Cook town Amateur Swim Club’s family fun day and colour run fundraiser at William Daku Park on Saturday.

With a small entry fee and white t-shirts on sale, the morning was all about fun and raising money for the swim club.

The day was supported by the Cooktown Bakery, Cooktown Auxiliary Brigade, Cooktown Dis trict Community Centre, Cook town Junior Rugby League Club, Jacynta Hunt Photography and En deavour Christian College P&C.

The smiles on show prove it was popular with kids and adults alike.

Cooktown

Kora Hegamaea had the best seat in the house on the shoulders of big sister Shaelanee.

The whole Ryder family got into the colour run fun, with Mark and Leslie and son Sam taking part.

There was no age limit for the colour run, as proved by Susan Forsyth, running with Teila Winton.

Amy Meyer and her children Emily and James, with friend Kingston Corea, loving the colour run.

Cruze Ryder had a ball judging by his smile. Isobel Stock was having a blast with her friends.

Holly Callaghan getting colourful in support of the Cooktown Amateur Swimming Club.

Damian Woolley from Tasmania with

trevally caught at Weipa. Jack Ross with a beaut threadfin salmon.

Jayson caught this awesome fingermark off Mapoon. Pig hunting mates Jeremy Hughes and Jarrod Farber.

Ethan O’Connor with a 62cm tuskie off Red Cliffs, south of Weipa.

Brayden caught this beast off the rocks near Punsand Bay.

Joseph Ware and his dogs recently had a great day out.

Race to the Bay winner

THE final round of the dry season Race to the Bay event at Cooktown Golf Club finished in fine style on Saturday, with a white tee triple-point stableford event confirming Steve Butler as the winner.

He’ll now go head-to-head with wet season winner John McArthur to determine the 2022 champion.

The winner of the humid day’s event was Rick Butler, who continues to fire after carding 43 points, well ahead of Eddie Cridland and Graham Burton, who finished with 37 points.

Next were Alice Burton and Aaron Hobbs, who carded 34 points.

The Burtons dominated the par threes, with Alice picking up the nearest to pin on 2/11 and husband Graham closest on 14 and 9/18.

This Saturday is the Wayne King Medal of Medals, to be played from the red tees.

Defending champion Rick Butler will be joined by Darren Powell, Graham Burton, Laurie Downs, Steve Butler, Cam Venables and Eddie Cridland, while Jamie Dobson, Al Burton and Sam Godfrey-Roberts also get a start via runner-up finishes.

Hangover? No problem

A MASSIVE field of 32 golfers took to the Weipa course on Sunday following the previous night’s presentation ceremony at Carpentaria Golf Club.

Unofficially known as the Hangover Cup, players paired up for an ambrose event.

Jamie Hutton and Brock Lowrey were the Cup of Cups winners, beating Rob Richardson and Mick Foy.

The event was sponsored by Mick Cerneka and Tanner Granzien.

On Wednesday in the Wackers, Steve Head was the winner, beating Gary Head in a small field due to the heat.

Nearest the pins went to Steve and Jim Taylor, while Jim Lucas won the Bradman’s.

Taipans up and about

THE Cairns Taipans continue to be the surprise packets in the 2022-23 NBL season, following a strong win in Brisbane against the Bullets on Saturday night.

The Taipans have a 6-3 record and are third on the table, behind the Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers.

Youngest swimming club member smashes record

COOKTOWN tadpole Maiika

Hegamaea has blitzed a Far North record time at the recent Dimbulah Swim Club meet and brought home six first place rib bons to add to her collection.

The seven-year-old has been a confident swimmer since she was a toddler and has been a member of the Cooktown Ama teur Swimming Club since she was four.

“She is always quite nervous competing against older chil dren in her races, but always fin ishes with a smile,” proud mum and swim club president Melissa Gunton said.

“As a club we are all very proud of her achievements and this just shows that you can do anything if you put your mind to it.”

Maiika joined the 32-strong Cooktown swim squad at the Dimbulah Swim Club Long Course Preparation Meet, with

most members smashing per sonal bests and gaining places.

“This is one of our favourite meets as it has the country, laidback feel to it and everyone is friendly and welcoming,” Ms Gunton said.

“The 50m pool can be quite challenging as we train in 25m but they all seem to adapt well.”

Cooktown had the biggest team out of the 123 competitors at the meet, with most tadpole and junior members swimming up to four events and seniors up to five each.

Maiika came first in the 50m freestyle, butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke and 100m free style and breaststroke and now holds the seven-year-old girls’ Far North 100m breaststroke re cord time of 2.20.08.

Other winners at Dimbulah included Maia Pensio, who was first in the 10-year-old boys’ 50m butterfly, freestyle, breast stroke and backstroke, as well as the 100m breaststroke. Chase Hunt came first in 10-year-old boys’ 100m backstroke.

In the 11-year-old girls, Haila Hegamaea was first in 50m free style and 50m, 100m and 200m

breaststroke, while in the boys, Cruze Ryder was first in 100m backstroke.

In the 12-years-boys, Rudi Habermann came first in 100m backstroke and Carrick Mac millan was first in 100m breast stroke.

Mali Cooper finished first in the 13-year-old girls’ 50m but terfly, 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle. Jett Ryder was first in the boys’ 50m freestyle, but terfly and backstroke and 100m freestyle and backstroke.

In the 14-year-old girls, Geor gia Macmillan was first in 50m backstroke, while Lakea He gamaea came first in 50m and 100m breaststroke.

Samuel Ryder came first in the 50m freestyle, backstroke and butterfly and 100m breast stroke, backstroke and butterfly and 200m freestyle for 15-year old boys.

– Story by Sarah Martin

The Cooktown Amateur Swimming Club was well represented at the Dimbulah Swim Club meet earlier this month.

Swim star Maiika Hegamaea.

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.