FIFA rolls out red carpet for Aurukun girls

THE six Aurukun girls who were invited to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brisbane have returned home after a once-in-alifetime experience.

They were one of several Indigenous community groups across Australia who were flown out to watch the Nigeria versus England round of 16 contest.

Norma Armstrong-Ravula, who accom- panied the girls on the trip, said they were “treated like VIPs”, from the welcoming committee at the airport to the lavish hotel and even the private corporate box with the Secretary General of FIFA.

For some of the girls, it was their first time travelling outside of Aurukun.

Norma said the girls were full of questions and that the magnitude of some of their experiences and the people they met may have gone over the girls’ heads.

Jennifer Ngakyunkwokka, who had never left Aurukun before, said that the match was the best part of the trip.

For Harriet Pootchemunka, watching the game inspired her to continue being active in the PCYC’s indoor soccer program.

– story by Chisa Hasegawa

Police intercepted him in Laura around 7.30pm on Saturday, August 5.

It will be alleged he returned an alleged reading of 0.099 per cent BAC. He was later charged with low-range drink driving.

Meanwhile, a 39-year-old Napranum man is scheduled to appear in the Weipa Magistrates Court today, charged with drink driving.

He was intercepted by police on Kerr Point Drive in Nanum at 11am on July 30 and allegedly returned a reading of 0.152 per cent BAC.

The man was taken to the Weipa Police Station for further testing.

He was later charged with highrange drink driving and his licence was immediately disqualified.

The man was also charged with driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.

A WEIPA woman will face court today after she was caught driving without a licence.

Earlier this month, on Wednesday, August 2, Weipa police pulled over a 40-year-old local woman on John Evans Drive at about 10pm in relation to her manner of driving. It will be alleged that when spoken to, the woman denied having a driver’s licence.

Police will also allege that further investigations revealed the woman may have been involved in the stealing of a vehicle from a Manunda address in May.

The woman was charged with one count each of failing to appear in accordance with an undertaking, driving without a driver’s licence and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

COOKTOWN police have charged a 40-yearold Bloomfield man following an incident in Cooktown on August 5.

It will be alleged the man has become involved in an altercation with another man on Charlotte Street and chased him up the road towards the police station.

Police said that when they spoke to the victim, the man was standing a short distance away holding a piece of timber above his head, threatening the victim.

The Bloomfield man is expected to appear in the Cooktown Magistrates Court on September 5, charged with committing a public nuisance.

By SARAH MARTIN

MORE than 50 service providers gathered last week to brainstorm solutions and support for struggling children and families after a spike in property crime and car thefts in Cooktown.

There has been an ongoing crime wave since late 2022, with car jackings, jewellery heists and armed burglars threatening and even attacking people during the numerous incidents.

Cape York Weekly reported in November on the ongoing crime wave in Cooktown, which included four cars stolen, masked and armed intruders terrorising nurses in the Cooktown Hospital and multiple break-ins across town in a four-week period.

The crime wave continued in early 2023, with the Ampol service station broken into two nights in a row, windows smashed in parked cars, an attempted break in at another business, vandalism at Sherrin Esplanade and grog stolen from the Sovereign Resort Hotel after a late-night break-in.

Endeavour Lions Club member and local father Justin Coventry said the group wanted to find solutions before the problem escalated further, and met with Cook Shire mayor Peter Scott.

“We wanted Lions to be part of the solution, so we went to Peter Scott and it all snowballed from there,” Mr Coventry said of last week’s giant youth forum.

“The forum was awesome, everyone was so passionate to get something done and it was amazing just to see how many different services were there to be part of the solution, not just whinge about it –we’re looking to help.”

Cr Scott agreed, saying the turnout and enthusiasm shown by service providers was heartwarming.

“There was a lot of discussion and some great ideas, and what we’re looking at is a working group to carry things forward,” he said.

“Communication was highlighted as a key opportunity – there are so many things going on, Lions Club, junior rangers, fishing club, we just need to get that support to the kids.

“I like to think that it’ll get to the stage where we can identify kids who are starting to go off the rails and approach them individually to find out their issues and find out what we can do to support them and their family.”

Cr Scott also said data didn’t show there was an issue with youth crime in Cooktown.

“We’ve identified that the numbers are really low in Cooktown, it’s often just one bad egg leading others astray and if we can case manage those kids, we can have a positive impact,” the mayor said.

The forum was held at the PCYC Events Centre and brought together government agencies, not for profit groups, service providers and community members from Hope Vale, Wujal Wujal and Cooktown.

The forum was facilitated by regional director of Far North Queensland Youth Justice Tracey Harding.

“It was inspiring to see such a large and diverse group of stakeholders there to discuss issues using logic and facts to work together to identify what we can do to support young people and families,” Ms Harding said.

“While the discussions during the day indicated that there’s not a youth crime wave in Cooktown, every community member has the right to feel safe and business people have the right to not have to continue repairing damage.

“The positive message that came out of the forum is that there are a whole bunch of people willing to work together to support young people and families and community and reduce what is happening so we have a safe and happy generation of kids.

“The way we approach it is to see what the underlying causes of the behaviour are and how to prevent that – bad behaviour doesn’t equal a bad person, it is sometimes the product of a whole range of very, very complicated circumstances.”