Australia Day celebrations @ Weipa Principal recognised for going above and beyond

By MATT NICHOLLS

THERE’S doing your job and there’s taking it to a new level for the benefit of both your employer and the community.

While Western Cape College associate principal Dan Tonon felt like there were more worthy candidates to win the Citizen of the Year Award, he said he was proud to have his behind-thescenes work recognised.

“Having a great school is the key to a strong community and Western Cape College is a fantastic place to both work and learn,” he said.

“I don’t think the general Weipa population understands just how complex the school is and what we offer to students.”

Weipa Town Authority chair Michael Rowland said it was a tough selection process to pick the Citizen of the Year winner but said Mr Tonon was a worthy recipient.

“He excels at finding ways to navigate remote teaching challenges and learn about students, communities and cultures,” Mr Rowland said.

“Dan was a finalist at the Queensland College of Teachers TEACHX Awards and has also been involved in the Western Cape Coordinated Care for Young People, a partnership between government and nongovernment agencies to provide coordinated care approaches for young people experiencing multiple and complex issues.

“Under his leadership, six staff members at the college have now completed the Queensland University of Technology’s graduate certificate in Trauma Informed Education.”

Mr Tonon, who moved to Weipa from Yorke Island at the beginning of 2018, said working at Western Cape College was a constant challenge.

“But that challenge is what gets me out of bed in the morning,” he said.

“It’s a big centre in a remote location. We’re a large school and I like the complexity of the kids coming from all different communities.”

Mr Tonon said he was thrilled the Western Cape Coordinated Care for Young People initiative was recognised.

“We have some young people who might work with up to 26 different agencies,” he said.

“There wasn’t a mechanism that enabled a coordinated approach between those agencies and we had a lot of young people who were falling through the cracks.

“Certainly, there were many young people and their families who were getting ‘agency fatigue’ and were frustrated in the turnover of agencies and staff.”

Athletics star adds award to her collection

CURRENTLY in training for an athletics meet in Sydney, Demi de Tournouer was a standout choice to be named Weipa’s Young Sportsperson of the Year.

The talented student-athlete had a big year in 2022.

She was the Western Cape College sports age champion for both the athletics and swimming carnivals, and picked up a swag of academic excellence awards.

Now, the agencies meet at the school every three weeks.

“We’re getting much better now at supporting each other and I know if the RFDS has lost one of its workers or if Child Safety is changing managers, which impacts the students,” Mr Tonon said.

He said he was also proud of the work being done by the Clontarf Academy, as well as the GP initiative, which provides access to a doctor one day per week.

“All these little things add up and make Western Cape College a great place,” he said.

Quietly spoken angler has bright future, says champion sportsman

WEIPA’S Young Citizen of the Year Tom Hockey wasn’t there to collect his award last Wednesday night but probably wouldn’t have wanted to anyway, says one of the few people that know him well.

Darryl French, who was named the Sportsperson of the Year for his efforts in the billfishing in 2022, said Tom was a shy character, but loved helping other young people.

“He’s keen as mustard and comes to all of our education nights and picks everyone’s brains because he’s so eager to learn,” said French.

“The reason he was nominated for Young Citizen of the Year though is because of his honesty and integrity.

“He plays by the rules and he’s very aware of the rulebook, which is critical in a catch-and-release sport like billfishing.”

French said he expected big things of Hockey, 16, who was at TAFE on the awards night.

As for the club stalwart, he said he was humbled to win the Sportsperson of the Year Award.

French enjoyed a stellar year on the water in 2022, which resulted in him winning the Sir Garrick Agney Trophy for the most tagged and released billfish in Australian waters.

He also won the Weipa Billfish

Tournament with double the amount of points of his nearest rival.

However, French says he’s still not satisfied.

“I really want to beat Darren Lee’s tally of most (billfish) in a day, which is 19,” he told Cape York Weekly “My best is 17 and that was on Tegen’s boat.”

Last year, she represented Weipa at the state titles for cross country, athletics and swimming.

Demi also competed in the Athletics North Queensland championships in Townsville.

She won gold in the high jump and 200m sprint, while picking up a bronze in the 400m event.

Weipa Town Authority chair Michael Rowland said she was a worthy winner of the Young Sportsperson of the Year Award.

“This looks like it’s going to be one of many awards you win over a long period of time,” he said.

“You are a credit to your school and your family for being so dedicated to both sport and study.”

Rodeo named the top event of 2022

WHILE there are many great events in Weipa, judges didn’t have to take long to pick the winner of the Event of the Year, with the 2022 Weipa Rodeo claiming the prize.

“They do a great job every year, but last year they went to a whole new level,” WTA chair Michael Rowland said.

“The focus on inclusion throughout the communities in the Cape was exceptional, including having the professional bullriders visiting Aurukun to put on a session for the kids.

“The Weipa Rodeo Association also gives back generously to the community with some significant donations and that didn’t go unnoticed by the selection panel.”