With the sun shining brightly, Hope Vale’s junior rugby league players made the trip to Cooktown on Saturday for matches against their local rivals. While there have been some fierce battles between senior teams over the years, there was plenty of sportsmanship shown by the two clubs at John Street Oval. In the under-11s, Hope Vale’s Sinead Crawford-Naylor was a standout, with the pocket rocket proving elusive.
Pictures: Pages 20 and 21
By SARAH MARTIN
STANDING in front of Cape York graziers, the new regional director of Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has vowed to improve cattle management in national parks.
Speaking at the Cape York
NRM grazing forum last week, Matt Brien spoke candidly about QPWS’s failings in the area of cattle management.
“We’ve recognised especially last year we dropped the ball, and probably many of you are thinking we’ve dropped the ball for a while
and maybe we have,” he said at Crocodile Station last week.
“We’ve identified cattle in particular as an area we need to put more resources into.
“We are very serious about getting this right and working together to do that moving forward.”
Mr Brien said the key to improving the service’s cattle management in national parks was a new senior ranger position, which had been filled by former Cloncurry stock inspector and buffalo farmer Cameron Jackson.
Continued – Page 2
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“We’ve got a dedicated position now to manage cattle and work with stakeholders to get the outcomes we need,” Mr Brien told the forum.
“We definitely need to get better at muster permits – we didn’t even assess half last year, and (even with) all the excuses in the world, the bottom line is it’s not good enough.”
Mr Jackson also spoke at the forum, outlining QPWS’s plans for streamlining the removal of
cattle from national parks, including improving the permit application process, as well as encouraging pre-lodgement of applications which would allow a speedy response when cattle strayed into the park.
“We’ve put in a (range) of methods to get those permits in,” he said.
“If someone rings me I can sit on the phone with them and write the permit out, or I can send one out (for you to fill in).
“We’ve also opened a portal
and anyone who’s tech savvy can punch that permit out.
“We’re going to get things back online again and let you blokes get (your cattle) out.”
QPWS assistant principal ranger Steve Coulson completed the trio of parks representatives at the forum, and reiterated the service’s commitment to working with stakeholders to get cattle back to their rightful owners.
“Our objective in terms of cattle is to remove (them) to protect and preserve our ecological
and cultural values on natural parks,” he said.
“We recognise we had some big issues last year, but we now have a permanent senior ranger whose job is to look at the cattle program and that’s something parks has lacked in the past, that knowledge of the cattle industry.
“We feel positive going forward, we want to improve relationships with our neighbours and Traditional Owner partners but we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
● Grazing forum – Page 13
Email your fishing & hunting photos to: editor@capeyorkweekly.com.au and earn your bragging rights!
SOCIAL media lit up almost as much as the skies of Cape York on Saturday night after a meteor blazed through the atmosphere, exploded, and came to earth with a boom.
Residents across the Peninsula reported seeing the sky light up.
At Croydon, the visual was followed by a loud boom, indicating the meteor likely struck the ground nearby.
Dr Brad Tucker, an astrophysicist at Australian National University, told Guardian Australia the rock was likely between 0.5 and 1 metre in size, making it a smaller to
average sized meteor, and was likely travelling up to 150,000km/h.
Most meteors are made of stony chondrite, but the greenish colour prior to impact in this case was most likely caused by overheating of iron and nickel fragments as the rock broke apart before it hit the ground.
The impact of the rock with Earth would not have left a crater, Dr Tucker said, as the rock would have fragmented considerably by the time it reached the surface.
Despite its flaming appearance, caused by friction on its entry into the atmosphere,
most of the rock would still be frozen by the time it landed.
“It essentially does a belly flop. The friction builds up and causes that glow and then it hits breaking point, which causes the huge flash and the sonic boom,” Dr Tucker told Guardian Australia
Tucker said the sonic boom was “the part we worry about with most meteors”.
“It’s a mid-air detonation, so if it’s over a populated area, that can cause the damage,” Dr Tucker said.
“This one is on the small side.”
By MATT NICHOLLS
THE crocodile patrolling the beach at Napranum has been killed by wildlife officers from the Department of Environment and Science.
The croc, which made headlines after it was filmed grabbing a dog off the beach, has been roaming the waters near the Napranum boat ramp for several months.
It’s believed to have eaten several dogs this year.
Last week, wildlife officers conducted a site assessment and attempted to haze the animal (using non-lethal pellets) to drive it away from the beach area.
However, according to the DES, the croc didn’t seem to be deterred and was killed on Thursday in the interest of community safety.
“During the assessment, wildlife officers observed concerning, bold behaviour by the animal and made the assessment that it represented an unacceptable risk to the safety of the community,” a spokesperson said.
“After consultation with the local community and Traditional Owners, the decision was made that the animal should be humanely euthanised.
“Humane euthanasia of crocodiles is only conducted as a last resort when there are no alterna-
tives. The animal could not have been humanely transported to a farm or zoo due to the distance from remote Napranum to a suitable facility and the very low survival rate of crocodiles transported long distances by road.
“Historically, captured crocs
have been observed to experience slow and painful deaths, sometimes taking months, after being transported long distances by road.”
The dead croc was buried in a secret location in consultation with Traditional Owners.
A WAR of words has erupted between two senior politicians over the progress of the Peninsula Developmental Road, ending the project’s long harmonious run between Labor and the LNP.
With works appearing to slow down following an unprogressive year at the Archer River, long-time federal LNP MP Warren Entsch took aim at the state government, while state Labor Minister Mark Bailey hit back, claiming it was his advocacy that kept the pool of federal funding in the budget.
Both MPs disagree with each other’s version of events regarding the funding.
Under the arrangement, 80 per cent of the funding comes from the federal government, while 20 per cent is state-funded.
Mr Entsch says the previous administration, led by Scott Morrison, had always allocated a large portion of funding towards the Cape York Regional Package, now in its second stage.
However, Mr Bailey disagrees, saying that the previous federal administration had cut funding for the CYRP and that he had to lobby his Canberra counterparts to keep money in the budget.
“While Warren Entsch was absent, the Morrison government proposed cutting the program,” the Minister for Transport and Main Roads said.
“I made it a condition of the state government’s signature on Inland Rail that a full Stage 2 had to be funded and that is what we achieved.”
Mr Entsch took exception to the claim, saying that if the money for the PDR was getting cut, he would have known about it.
“What he said was totally wrong,” the Member for Leichhardt said.
“My people would have made it very clear to me because they know how much I have fought for the funding and how much I would continue to fight for it.
“As far as I’m concerned, the
money for the PDR is in the budget and there’s still a lot of money to be spent in Round 2, which goes until 2025-26.
“Mark Bailey’s claim that he put his jocks on the outside and helped save $260 million to be kept in the budget is total rubbish.”
At a public meeting held in Weipa last week, the Department of Transport and Main Roads admitted that projects at the Archer River had not gone exactly to plan.
Decmil has walked away from the southern approaches, with the state government body RoadTek to complete the job this year.
McConnell Dowell are back at
the Archer and resuming work on the bridge, which is expected to be completed this year.
More funding may be needed to complete the job.
“While additional funding may be required for the bridge project, subject to federal government approval, TMR has requested full allocation of future priorities funding for the project be allocated to the PDR CYRP Stage 2,” Mr Bailey said on Monday.
At Weipa, Mr Entsch queried the delay in a planned sealing project south of Coen, between Three Sisters and Yarraden.
Tenders went out for the job in
January, but there has been no contract awarded.
“I have spoken to two of the companies who applied and they were told to expect an answer by April,” Mr Entsch said.
“We’re now in the middle of May and TMR couldn’t give me a straight answer about when the contract would be awarded.
“It’s disappointing because we know about the wet season and that we have a limited time to get work done.
“All of this should have been done in advance of the dry period so they could get cracking as soon as the rain stopped.”
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2 lots for sale as separate lots of 1012 sqm. Situated in a central location, these lots located on a quiet residential street near the heart of Cooktown.
3 lots for sale as separate lots of 800 sqm. The last remaining blocks available in Cooktown’s new residential subdivision.
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COOK Shire Council says it wants to help ease the pressure on the housing market in Cooktown by releasing extra land.
The council plans to sell three town lots at a public auction next week, and is reviewing its other freehold blocks around the shire.
“We understand the urgent need for more affordable housing options in our community, which is why we’ve been working with stakeholders to identify opportunities and take proactive measures to do whatever is in our power to address these concerns,” mayor Peter Scott said.
“In addition to addressing the housing crisis, the release of these blocks of land to public auction will raise the number of ratepayers and provide funds for council which will be reinvested into local community infrastructure.
“By relinquishing these resources, we are creating new opportunities for private developers and individuals to invest in Cooktown and contribute to the growth of our region.
“Our hope is that all these initiatives will then help attract more families and investors to live and work in Cooktown.”
While the mayor said the Queensland government had committed to building 40 new homes on lots recently purchased by the state, the government was keeping its cards closer to its chest.
“The department can confirm negotiations are currently taking place with council with a view to purchase a number of suitable lots upon which homes would be built to help attract and retain frontline government workers,” a Department of Energy and Public Works spokesman said.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further until these negotiations have been completed.”
However, he reiterated the government’s commitment to invest $519 million to build more than 400 new houses and maintain the more than 3000 existing homes in remote communities.
The three vacant uncleared lots on Boundary Street will be auctioned at the Cooktown RSL Memorial Club on June 3.
A NUMBER of Cape York residents will brave the cold and make the trip to the nation’s capital next week for the funeral of Kevin Darmody.
The long-time Laura publican was the victim of a crocodile attack after he likely fell into the water at Lakefield National Park last month.
“He was fishing the spot he loved, and we’ll never know exactly what happened – there was a scream and a splash, then nothing,” said long-time friend Stuart Wiggins, who made the trip from Canberra to Laura after hearing the news.
“He had a heart as big as Phar Lap and there’s
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not many days on the calendar in the last 35 years that we haven’t spoken.”
Mr Wiggins said Mr Darmody didn’t have a family, but the former champion bull rider had friends throughout Australia after running the Peninsula Hotel at Laura for two decades.
His funeral service will be held at the Norwood Park Crematorium Chapel in Mitchell, ACT on Friday, June 2 at 1.30pm.
The funeral director, White Lady Funerals, has a link to a live stream on its website for Cape York residents who are unable to make the trip south.
A COOKTOWN couple is warning residents to be vigilant after facing an intruder in their bedroom in a frightening Mother’s Day burglary.
Rob and Michele Browning have been left traumatised by the incident, with about $20,000 worth of jewellery stolen.
“We’ve been married for 35 years, that’s where the jewellery came from, every piece was important and had a story to it,” Mr Browning said.
“It was representative of our marriage.”
The couple had returned to their Power Street home about 7pm after a Mother’s Day picnic and Mr Browning had his key in hand to unlock the front door
when he saw a man with a light running through the house.
“I shouted to Michele ‘there’s someone in the house’,” he said.
“I’ve gone inside and foolishly reacted by chasing after him, he leapt over the couch like an antelope and ran into the front bedroom and I’m thinking ‘what are you going to do now’ and again running on pure adrenaline I reacted and chased him.”
The man escaped by leaping through the security screened window he had jacked open.
“Michele went into the bedroom and saw her good jewellery case on the bed, spread out and gutted,” Mr Browning said.
“She had another jewellery box in plain sight, but he didn’t touch that.
“There were car keys there as
well. We can only conclude that he hadn’t been inside for a very long time.”
Mr Browning was determined to get his wife’s jewellery back and drove around town looking for the man, spotting him near the service station on Charlotte Street less than an hour later.
Mr Browning spoke to the man a number of times, but he wouldn’t admit to the burglary or show anyone the contents of his backpack.
“I said ‘mate I know you’ve got the jewellery, it’s my wife’s and I just want it back’ and he just started walking away.”
Ms Browning said although they phoned 000 as soon as they realised someone was in the house, no police contacted them or attended on the night.
He went to the Cooktown police station and reported the theft last Monday morning.
Police arrested a 27-year-old Cooktown man a short time later and charged him with the burglary. He was released on bail and is due to appear in court on June 7.
Mr Browning said they had upgraded security to include cameras and other measures since the break in and were urging others not to be complacent.
“It’s time for everyone to realise we need to secure our houses and cars,” he said.
“A lot of people in Cooktown don’t even close their front doors when they go out and leave the keys in the ignition.
“It’s time to stop doing that or learn the hard way.”
POPULAR Thursday Island business owner Denne Bourke has been farewelled by members of the paddling community across Far North Queensland.
On Saturday, a dawn paddle was held by the Torres Strait Outriggers Club to pay tribute to the 38-year-old father, who went missing on the water earlier this month.
Denne’s wife Georgia and his three sisters led the paddle as his son Kiva watched from a nearby police boat.
While not a Torres Strait Islander, Denne was considered by many to be a local and that was reflected by a packed house for a memorial service held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Friday.
“Since Denne’s arrival on Thursday Island, the Torres Strait Outriggers Club grew to become the beloved club it is today, recruiting people every morning while they waited for coffee,” a statement from the outriggers club said.
“Our juniors looked up to him as a mentor and as superman. Denne dedicated much of his own time to the development of these juniors, providing them with a positive experience and passion to pursue.
“Denne’s love and support for our club, its members, and the broader outrigging community was the reason so many of us on Thursday Island paddle and will continue to paddle.”
A WOMAN has had her licence immediately suspended after being charged with highrange drink driving in Cooktown last week. Around 9pm on May 16, a vehicle was intercepted on Furneaux Street for a roadside breath test.
Police allege the driver, a 47-year-old North Mackay woman, returned a reading of 0.203 per cent BAC.
She is set to appear at the Cooktown Magistrates Court on June 7.
A HORRIFIC mistake by a Cairns-based funeral director has resulted in the wrong body being buried in a Cape York community.
COOK Shire Council mayor Peter Scott cut the ribbon to officially open Brennan Hall on Sunday, a fitting tribute to long-time pastor, the late Wayne Brennan.
The former industrial shed has been lovingly converted to be the new permanent
home for the Cooktown Community Church congregation.
The building includes an air-conditioned auditorium with seating for about 70 people as well as spaces for storage, prayer, Sunday school and a small kitchen and bathrooms.
“Church is all about helping people change, and we can only hope as a church that we can be as beneficial as some of the other awesome community groups like the Lions,” said Cooktown Community Church pastor Rick Ashcroft.
While other media outlets have reported on the incident in some detail, including naming the Elder who had passed away, the family has asked Cape York Weekly not to elaborate as they grieve and wait for more information.
A family representative said it had been upsetting to read the detailed reports and asked for privacy.
CAPE York residents have been warned not to touch bats, following three reported bat scratches in the region over the past month.
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service public health medical officer Dr Allison Hempenstall said none of the exposures had led to an individual contracting Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV).
“However, those exposures are a wake-up call about the risks of handling bats,’’ she said. “Any species of bat could be carrying ABLV, which is harm-
ful to humans and, as there is no known effective treatment for the disease once symptoms have started, it’s almost always fatal.
‘‘ABLV is like rabies and has led to three human deaths in Queensland in the past 25 years.
‘‘So, the message is simple, don’t touch bats.
‘‘Don’t touch any type of bat, adult, or pup, sick or well, dead, or alive. You wouldn’t pick up a snake, so please don’t touch a bat. How a bat looks or behaves is not an accurate guide as to whether it may be carrying a virus.
‘‘It is also incredibly important to encourage young children to never handle any bat, particularly if they should come across a sick or injured one.’’
Dr Hempenstall said only people who had been trained in the care of bats, and had been vaccinated against rabies, should handle bats or flying foxes.
‘‘Bats can scratch or bite straight through a towel or even leather gloves,’’ she said
‘‘If you are bitten or scratched by a bat, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least five minutes.
‘‘If available, apply an antiseptic such as iodine or alcohol after washing and seek immediate medical advice as potential lyssavirus exposure requires a series of injections to prevent ABLV, just as if you had been bitten by a rabid dog or monkey overseas.
‘‘If bat saliva comes into contact with the eyes, nose or mouth, flush the area thoroughly with water, and seek immediate medical attention.”
Contact your local wildlife organisation if you find a sick or injured bat/flying fox.
A MAJOR traffic block will occur in Cape York next week, but many locals would have been none the wiser if not for the efforts of a handful of people.
Bridge deck replacement works on the Shelley’s Crossing bridge at Laura will start on Monday, May 29, resulting in lengthy road closures at the bottleneck.
All traffic going north and south on the Peninsula Developmental Road goes through Shelley’s Crossing, just north of the Laura township.
However, TMR hasn’t advertised the planned closure. It has sent some emails to Cook Shire Council and a few other agencies.
Luckily, a few concerned citizens have tried to spread the word via social media.
The bridge will be closed for nine hours between 7am and 5pm, with two small windows for traffic to get through.
The bridge will open from 8.30am to 9am before shutting, then re-open at 12.30pm until 1pm.
“There will not be an alternate route available during the bridge closure times,” said the email from TMR, which was not sent to Cape York Weekly
“TMR has arrangements in place to provide emergency access during the bridge closures if required. The bridge will be open at night.
“For the safety of road users and maintenance crews, changed traffic conditions will be in place including temporary speed limit reductions. Road users should expect delays and plan their journey accordingly.”
The project, which will replace the bridge ply deck and reinstate the asphalt wearing surface that was damaged during flooding, is expected to be completed by late June, weather and construction conditions permitting.
THIRTY years after it was formed in Cooktown, the Local Authority Waste Management Action Committee brought more than 80 delegates back to town to celebrate the group’s anniversary.
The non-profit group comprises members from 29 local governments across regional Queensland and 48 waste industry corporate members.
President Neil Fischer said Cook Shire Council had really thrown out the welcome mat for the attendees.
“They have really raised the bar for this event,” Mr Fischer said.
“We have had a tremendous time here, my wife has absolutely loved it.”
A council spokesperson said many of the delegates had brought family members and spent most of the week seeing the sights of Cooktown outside the two-day LAWMAC conference.
“It has been great for the town’s economy, with more than 80 visitors here filling restaurants and accommodation houses, going
on tours and shopping in town,” she said.
While in town Mr Fischer, who is also deputy mayor of Rockhampton Regional Council and a keen botanist, presented two rare plants to the Cooktown Botanic Gardens ahead of the Botanic Garden Open Day this Saturday (see page 14).
Mr Fischer said botanic gardens were dedicated to preserving plants for future generations, and the Thozet’s Holly and Mount Wheeler Bottlebrush shrubs would be valuable additions to the gardens.
ENDEAVOUR Christian College students are settling into their brand new classroom after moving into the purpose-built building late last month.
The Prep and Year 1 students are loving the new space, which had been built with early years learning in mind, teacher Jacynta Hunt said.
“It’s wonderful to have such a beautiful space, designed for early years education, rather than trying to create an early years environment in a regular room,” she said.
Ms Hunt said with indications that the 2024 prep class would double in size, early enrolments were being encouraged.
A HUMBLE event created in Cape York for mental health awareness is going national, with Conquer the Corrugations walks to be held in Victoria and the NT this year.
Co-founder Emma Jackson says the goal is to have a walk in every state and territory, ideally from next year.
Ms Jackson will make the trip to Victoria on Friday with her sisterin-law Debbie Jackson for the first Conquer to be staged outside of the Cape, on the outskirts of Geelong.
The walk will go from Barwon River to Inverleigh and more than 150 people are expected to take part – about the same amount that took part in the inaugural Cape York event.
“It’s 17km on both Saturday and Sunday. I’m really looking forward to it because it’ll be a good guide for how we can expand things next year,” Ms Jackson said.
While the Cape York team has played a large hand in the Victoria event, the expansion was led by a group of southerners.
“They saw the Landline piece, which ran a few times, and came up to the Cape last year to take part in our event,” Ms Jackson said.
“It was a group of people who had lost somebody to suicide and they asked if they could hold a Conquer in Victoria. Of course, we said yes. It’s a great initiative.”
The success of Conquer the Corrugations is two-fold.
It’s an event that doesn’t ask participants for money and isn’t a fundraiser for a charity. While it’s focused on mental health awareness, many do the walk as a personal challenge or for social purposes.
“The highlight of the journey –and this will be the ninth year that
Conquer has been held in the Cape – is seeing someone come on the walk and then watching how their life changes,” Ms Jackson said.
“Their perspective changes and you can see how the impact becomes part of them and how they start thinking about and approaching mental health.”
The success of Conquer has been recognised by mental health
The ongoing popularity of the Sunset Markets was evident by the numbers that turned up and enjoyed the stalls, food, and entertainment Well done to the organisers and all of those who put in so much effort to make the markets happen
The PDR was front and centre at a gathering of the Cape York Regional Package working group this week when they held their first meeting for this year in Weipa It was well attended with representatives from Local Government, TMR, private sector and of course locals, we also had Warren Entsch the Federal member for Leichhardt attend
The conversation was about the current state of the overall project and the various sections of the PDR that are being upgraded And yes the sealing of the PDR might not be happening at the speed that some of us would like, and there have been delays due to the wet seasons or other problems But when we take the time to step back and have a look at the state of the PDR now to what it was 10 years ago, I believe that we can all agree that it is a hundred percent better now There is still a way to go and some sections of the road that are still a challenge but we have to keep on pushing the significance of this road to the Government, not just for the people of Weipa but all of the communities on Cape York
- Michael Rowlandservice providers, and to highlight the value of having those providers involved, the Conquer committee invited RFDS QLD section Cape York’s Mental Health Guru Jos Middleton to join the Cape York Conquer crew in Victoria.
“There will be a strong Cape York connection in Victoria this weekend with a few people there who have previously walked with
us. The main thing is it’s being driven by the people on the ground and not by us and that’s what will make it special,” Ms Jackson said.
A Conquer the Corrugations will also be held on East Arnhem Land on September 2 and 3 this year.
The Cape York walk will be held in the traditional weekend of September 30 and October 1.
JULY
3
THE countdown is on, with only four weeks until Cooktown’s popular Discovery Festival.
Organisers are saying this year’s event will have an injection of fun new, community-driven events and some big prizemoney.
The annual festival, organised by Cook Shire and held from Friday, June 16 to Sunday, June 18, will this year include a colour run that raises funds for the Cooktown Amateur Swimming Club.
There is a small fee for entry, with food and drinks on sale, as well as white shirts ready to get coated in sprays of multicoloured powder dye.
“This year’s event is shaping up to have something on offer for everyone including the fun run, bush dance, movie night, live entertainment, rides, fireworks, spaghetti eating competition, guided tours and the ever-popular re-enactment of the landing of Captain Cook,” said Cook Shire tourism, arts and events manager Sally Eales.
“It’s really great to see community groups getting involved in the event this year and the Cooktown Discovery Festival is proud to be
able to provide fundraising opportunities for our local community.”
Former festival favourites the fun run and tug of war will also return, with some new twists, and both run as fundraisers by local community groups.
The fun run is sure to attract a crowd of competitive athletes, with more than $10,000 in prizes across a range of categories.
Organised by Cooktown Little Athletics, the big money will go to the first person across the finish line for the 4km Diabetes on Track Goliath of Grassy Hill run, with $1000 to the winner of the open category and more than $4000 in prizes across the categories.
For less ambitious runners, there is a 1km Lure Shop Kids Dash and the 2km Cooktown RLS Fun Run, with prizes for the best dressed. There is also more than $400 in lucky door prizes for runners who miss out on a place.
Cooktown Crocs Junior Rugby League is bringing back the tug of war, but going back to the oldschool version on the grass.
Visit www.cooktowndiscovery. com.au for more information.
WHAT began as an idea from Dame Quentin Bryce 15 years ago has blossomed into an all-singing, alldancing success story which will be showcased this week in Lockhart River as students perform a special Sorry Day concert.
“I could never have dreamt 15 years ago what it could do, what it could mean for young ones in very remote First Nations communities in our country,” Dame Quentin said ahead of the community concert this Friday.
Dame Quentin, former Governor-General of Australia, is the patron of charity Girls from Oz, and recommended the group work with youth in Lockhart River.
The group uses performing arts to engage with students, particularly Aboriginal girls and young
women in remote Australia, and visits Lockhart River four times a year.
Three Girls from Oz instructors will spend this week working with students singing, dancing, performing and learning about culture, culminating in a school concert on National Sorry Day this Friday.
Lockhart River Elders taught instructors a special song called Old Lockhart, written by Joseph Hobson who was born in 1948, and students will sing the song to their Elders at the concert.
“Each one of the girls will remember this experience and it will stand them in great stead in ways they couldn’t imagine,” Dame Quentin said.
“To be part of this wonderful performing arts program is to build in them stores of resilience that are going to stand them in great stead.”
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.
DOZENS of graziers, Traditional Owners and agriculture industry representatives came together at Crocodile Station last week for the Cape York NRM grazing forum.
Speakers included AgForce CEO Mike Guerin and National Feral Pig Action Plan coordinator Dr Heather Channon.
A former ANZ managing director, Mr Guerin gave an industry update and finished with a warning that graziers would continue to be challenged on the role agriculture plays in emissions and climate change.
“Be prepared to be challenged, and be proud of what we do,” he said.
“The red meat sector has reduced its emissions profile by 58 per cent since 2005.”
Attendees were treated to demonstrations of an imported American pig trap, a crush set up and crushside genomics, and were kept amply fed and watered by Crocodile Station’s Karlene Shephard and her fellow Laura Rodeo committee volunteers.
Presentations provided information and updates on feral animal control, exotic diseases, rural financial counselling, fire management, erosion control, technology and adaptation and vegetation management law.
– coverage by Sarah Martin
By SARAH MARTIN
LOCALS are being invited to pack a picnic and rediscover the leafy beauty of Cooktown’s historical Botanic Gardens at a free open day this Sunday from 10am to 3pm.
The fun day, organised by Cook Shire Council, will be filled with live music, face painting, fungi finding and guided tours.
The day has been aimed to please all, while celebrating the garden’s interesting history and fascinating plant specimens, as part of Botanic Gardens Day 2023. Attendees can bring their own picnic lunch to enjoy on the spacious, shady lawns, or order a picnic pack from Nature’s PowerHouse café.
Not to be missed is a special encore performance of the Cooktown Cantata at 2.30pm, a unique musical piece written especially for Cooktown.
The cantata is a vocal chamber work consisting of 12 songs telling the story of Joseph Banks, Vera Scarth-Johnson and Tulo Gordon as they explore Cooktown’s botanical wonders.
There will also be Indigenous plant presentations, live music from Bernie’s Jazz Quartet, giant outdoor games, a scavenger hunt, colouring in competition and Cape
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This is a social and emotional learning program where you discover how horses survive and thrive and learn how these attributes can be applied to your day to day lives for overall health and wellbeing.
This free two-day program is not a course in horse riding or horse training, however there will be lots of education/’nal pieces about horses during the sessions that will improve your knowledge of horses and herd behaviour.
This experient al learning program, offers you the opportunity to experience a new way of being and behaving through experiments with horses. We will be observing and interacting with the horses, with plenty of touching, grooming and leading the horses. The program is embracing nature with an opportunity to build, create and learn lots of new skills and take-home tools for your personal and professional life.
A MAJOR cash boost could be going back into the Lions Club kitty, with no applicants for the funding, which closes next week.
The Endeavour Lions Award is worth $4000 and is distributed annually to a local young person aged 16 to 21.
It aims to support the recipient’s aspirations in their chosen career, sport or other self-improvement.
It can also be used to fund travel overseas or closer to home for volunteers.
A Lions Club spokesperson said the award had very broad eligibility requirements that ensured it could be used to support a range of needs.
“This is a cash gift that can support your dreams,” he said.
“Come on Cooktown, only one week until applications close.
“If you’re unsure whether you or your child are eligible, contact us for more information and we can talk about your application.”
action, dress up in your best crazy costume and head to the Queen’s Oval cricket pitch for a cricket match, organised by the Cooktown
and District Cricket Association.
The ladies’ match kicks off at 10am, and the men’s game starts at 1pm, with a $10 entry fee.
For more information or a digital application form, contact the Lions secretary via email to endeavourlions@gmail.com.
Applications close on May 31.
A NEW self-collection option introduced in July last year as part of the National Cervical Screening Program has been widely adopted in Cape York and the Torres Strait.
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service men’s and women’s health clinical coordinator Sandra Gregson said an impressive 49 per cent of cervical screening tests in the health service region were now selfcollected.
“This was the highest self-collection percentage achieved by any health service in the state and well above the state-wide selfcollection average of 14.5 per cent,’’ Ms Gregson said.
“The self-collect test gives people the option of collecting their own vaginal sample in a private space such as behind a curtain or private room, rather than a clinician collecting the cervical sample.
“We know some people may feel uncomfortable getting a cervical screening by a clinician, so the self-collect option makes the screening process much more private and comfortable and gives people a choice on how to provide a sample.
“This has definitely proved popular in our region. You can book a cervical screening test at your GP, your local primary healthcare centre, any family planning, and sexual health clinics and at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical services.’’
The self-collection option is helping increase cervical screening uptake amongst First Nations people and women who have never screened before.
Ms Gregson said the National Cervical Screening Program helped reduce illness and death from cervical cancer.
“If you’re a person with a cervix aged 25
and 74 years of age, if you’ve ever had any type of sexual activity and even if you’ve had the HPV vaccine, you are invited to have a screen every five years to protect yourself from cervical cancer,’’ she said.
“Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers but, on average, only about half of eligible people participate in cervical screening.
“This is despite Queensland having one of the highest cervical cancer incidence rates in Australia, with around 190 people diagnosed with cervical cancer across the state every year.
“Most cervical cancers occur in people who have never screened or do not screen regularly. Having regular screening tests is the best way to protect yourself.
“The test looks for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) – which can lead to cell changes in the cervix – so that it can be monitored or investigated further if needed.
“If your results are normal, the cervical screening test, whether self- collection or clinician collection, is only done every five years.’’
Ms Gregson said cervical cancer was a rare type of cancer that developed in the cervix – the entrance to the womb from the vagina. It happens when there are changes in some cells lining the cervix. Sometimes these abnormal cells grow and multiply and can develop into cancer.
The cervical screening test is a new, more accurate way of protecting women against cervical cancer.
It was introduced in Australia in 2017 and is expected to protect almost one-third more women from cervical cancer than the old pap smear.
Fill in the blank cells using numbers from 1 to 9. Each number can only appear once in each row, column and 3x3 block.
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.
Thursday 8 June 2023
Monday 5 June 2023 0800hrs to 0900hrs (1 hour duration)
The Power Distribution team would like to inform you that there will be an outage for critical maintenance and repairs on Monday 5 June from 8:00am to 9:00am (1 hour duration)
Areas Affected
Anzac Avenue and Fairway Avenue
We apologise for any inconvenience
Cape York United # 1 Native Title Claim (QUD673/2014)
Taepadhighi Native Title Group
Wednesday 31 May 2023 Cairns
Cape York Land Council (CYLC) will hold meeting on Wednesday 31 May 2023 in Cairns for the Taepadhighi Native Title Group to consider whether to authorise a proposed agreement under s.87A of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (NTA) for a determination of native title over the proposed Taepadhighi native title country. The proposed determination area is shown on the map below A determination of native title involves a decision of the Federal Court. Important things about a determination of native title include that the Federal Court determines (1) who holds native title, (2) what the native title rights are, (3) the area to which the native title rights apply after any determination is made, and (4) which corporation will represent the members of the determined native title group. If the meeting on Wednesday 31 May 2023 authorises the proposed s.87A native title agreement, a determination of native title in favour of the group will then be sought in the Federal Court. A date for a potential consent determination will be listed by the Court after it has been advised that the Taepadhighi Native Title Group has authorised the s.87A native title agreement. This will be in the first week of July 2023.
A copy of the proposed s.87A native title agreement for a determination of native title for the area shown on the map above will be available at the meeting on Wednesday 31 May 2023. At the request of the people who constitute the Applicant in the Cape York United Number 1 Native Title Claim, CYLC staff and consultants will be in attendance to be available to explain things such as the meaning and effect of the proposed s.87A agreement at the meeting. Any Taepadhighi person attending the meeting will be able to ask questions about the proposed s.87A agreement and state their views about it.
Who is invited to attend the meetings?
The Authorisation meeting is open to all descendants by birth, or adoption in accordance with traditional law and custom, of one or more of the following apical ancestors:
Any person who is a descendant of one or more of the apical ancestors listed above is invited to attend the meeting. Please contact CYLC if you would like to confirm whether you are a descendant of one or more of the apical ancestors listed above and so entitled to attend the meeting. The meeting will be held as follows:
Date: Wednesday 31 May 2023
Venue: Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside 209-217 The Esplanade, Cairns North QLD 4870
Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm
Video-conferencing
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, whether you live at the location of the meeting or elsewhere, please contact CYLC on the number above. It is important to provide every opportunity for persons entitled to attend the meeting.
The purpose of the meeting is to decide whether or not to approve the proposed s.87A agreement for a determination of native title for the area shown on the map above. The agenda of the meeting will be to consider whether the persons present:
• agree and adopt a decision-making process;
• agree to the proposed s.87A agreement for a determination of native title;
• agree to either:
(a) incorporate a new corporation to be the corporation to represent the native title holders identified in the proposed s.87A agreement for a determination of native title (called a “prescribed body corporate”), and so:
(i) make a decision (1) to approve the rules of the new corporation, (2) to identify who will be the initial directors and contact person for the new corporation, and (3) to authorise one or more named persons to apply to the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations to register the new corporation; and
(ii) agree to nominate the new corporation, once it is registered, to be the prescribed body corporate for Taepadhighi People; or
(b) on certain conditions, nominate an existing corporation to be the prescribed body corporate for Taepadhighi People, and so:
(i) make a decision to specify the existing corporation to be the prescribed body corporate; and
(ii) agree to nominate the identified existing corporation, once any specified conditions are satisfied, to be the prescribed body corporate for Taepadhighi People.
• authorise the Principal Legal Officer of CYLC to nominate the proposed corporation in writing to the Federal Court for it to be the prescribed body corporate under ss.56 or 57 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) for the proposed determination of native title.
Attendance
If you would like further information about this meeting, please call Michelle Cioffi on 0408 408 017. For travel assistance queries, to confirm your attendance or to arrange a zoom link to this meeting, please contact Jayd Copelin before Thursday 25 May 2023 at CYLC on (07) 4053 9222 or free call number 1800 623 548 or by email jcopelin@cylc.org.au. Please note that there is limited funding for travel assistance.
Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) is re-opening the tender submissions from businesses and individuals seeking to be placed on Council’s Register of Pre-qualified Suppliers for: Supply of Trades Services – Contract No. 2023-03-01 and
Plant Machinery Hire (Civil & Building Works) – Contract No. 2023-03-02
Interested companies and individuals may complete a Schedule for one, multiple, or all of the listed categories in the supplier registers and return with the completed Tender Response.
Tenders, suitably endorsed, are invited and will be received via email tenders@nparc.qld.gov.au, until closing Noon, Tuesday 6 June 2023 and will not be opened publicly. The lowest or any Tender will not necessary be accepted. Council may change the Specifications during the tender evaluation period and invite Tenderers to change their Tender.
Tender Specification documents are available to download via Council’s website www.nparc.qld.gov. au\Council Information\Tenders and Expressions of Interest. Further information can be obtained by contacting Council’s Operations Department via email tenders@nparc.qld.gov.au.
Kate Gallaway CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERKASC-2023-007
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council is inviting expressions of interest for the purchase and removal of Council assets from Council Workers Compound located in Chapman Road in Kowanyama.
The EOI is available to download via https: //www.kowanyama.qld.gov.au/council/tenders-and-opportunities/
Expressions of interest must comprise of sealed bid, including contact name and number, lot/items for bid and EOI reference number. Applicants must have a registered ABN.
EOIs close at 4.00pm 1st June 2023
EOIs must be submitted in person by close.
Kevin Bell, Chief Executive Officer
Tender No: TKASC2023-008
19 Lot Subdivision (Stage 1 only) – Kowanyama
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council is inviting tenders from suitably qualified and experienced civil works contractors interested in construction of a 19-lot Subdivision at lots 81 and 84 on SP272069, Kowanyama (Stage 1 only). Tenderers to email tenders@kowanyama.qld.gov.au for the purpose of Tender registration / RFIs.
Tender documentation is available to download on Council’s Website https://www.kowanyama.qld.gov.au/council/tenders-and-opportunities
Tenders Close at 12pm Friday 16th June
All tender responses must be submitted electronically to tenders@kowanyama.qld.gov.au and be received by close. For more information, please contact: tenders@kowanyama.qld.gov.au
Kevin Bell, Chief Executive OfficerHARRY Franklin produced a stunning round at the Carpentaria Golf Club on Sunday to win the stableford round by a massive seven points.
His score of 47 was more than enough to beat Christian Philpot, who had a respectable 40 points.
Nearest the pins went to Philpot on 7 and Bill Grant on 15.
Steve Abraham won the men’s longest drive and Kellie Kremmer was the women’s longest driver winner.
Meanwhile, at last week’s Wednesday Wackers, nine players turned out for the nine-hole social event, with Jim Hunter taking the prize.
His nett 35 was enough to hold out Jay Murray by a stroke.
Jim Lucas had the nearest to pin on 7, while no one found the green on 9.
Bruce Brockhurst took out the coveted Bradman’s for finishing last.
MAROONS coach Billy Slater has opted for in-form Broncos fullback Reece Walsh over Kalyn Ponga for game one of the State of Origin series.
The 20-year-old is the sole debutant named in Slater’s 19man squad for the opener on Wednesday, May 31, which features five players who didn’t take part in last year’s 2-1 series victory over the Blues.
Dolphins enforcer Felise Kaufusi has missed selection as he faces suspension for a high tackle.
Two of Kaufusi’s Dolphins teammates – Thomas Gilbert and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow –have been named, with the pair set to replace Origin veterans Kurt Capewell and Dane Gagai in the run-on side.
“I’m really comfortable that this is the right decision, it’s the right decision for everyone involved, it’s the right decision for the team,” Slater told media on the decision to select Walsh at fullback.
“Reece Walsh has been playing fantastic football, I have
watched him closer than most people and he’s in a really good place and I am comfortable with the decision we have made there.
“I had to make some really tough phone calls last night, there were some good phone calls, but there were some tough ones; speaking to Kalyn, speaking to Gags (Dane Gagai), Kurt Capewell, Xavier Coates – they are tough phone calls and they are not easy decisions to make.
“But they are made for the right reasons and I believe that.
“Those four guys are Queens-
landers through and through and by the end of the conversation, they were all really supportive of this team, they all want success for this team and they are willing to support the team in any way.
“They are great men and they are great Queenslanders.”
David Fifita’s impressive form in 2023 has seen him earn a return to the side, having last played for Queensland in the first two games of the 2021 series, while Christian Welch also returns to the wider squad.
THERE were no new winners in the Cooktown Golf Club championships on the weekend, with all three winners going back-to-back in their respective grades.
The A-grade and overall champion was Sam Godfrey-Roberts who produced a tworound score of 153 to beat Steve Butler and Graham Burton.
John McArthur won B-grade with a good score of 166, holding out Campbell Venables and Wal Welsh while early bird Laurie Downs won another C-grade title with a two-round total of 188 to pip Alice Burton and Darren Powell.
Powell won Saturday’s event in fine form with a nett 64.
This Saturday’s round is a 4-Ball Best Ball event from the white tees.
FOUR student speedsters narrowly missed a chance at competing at the state cross country event after placing in the top 30 at the Peninsula Cross Country Trials in Tinaburra. Cooktown primary school students Isla
Winton, Grace Raleigh, Natalie Treloar and Josie Case had a hot and hard run against some of the Far North’s best athletes. The youngsters ran as part of the Tablelands District team.
Isla placed 13th with a personal best time, Grace was just behind in 16th place. Natalie and Josie also both made the top 30, finishing 25th and 29th respectively. – story by Sarah Martin
DEB DUFFY
Principal Licencee 0418 773 747
debduffy@weiparealestate.com.au
www.weiparealestate.com.au PO Box 552, Weipa QLD4874
Cape York Weekly is a free, locally-owned newspaper, published every Tuedsay by Cape York Weekly Pty Ltd
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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.
