Cape York Weekly Edition 173

Have your say on future water plans for Cape York

THE natural beauty of the Cape York Peninsula is part of the reason so many people call the region home, and they are now being asked to have their say on how it should be protected over the coming decade.

Cape York Natural Resource Management, on behalf of the region, is calling on all residents to have their say in the development of the Cape York Peninsula Land and Water Plan, which will capture the future management of natural resources to safeguard these, communities and livelihoods.

The organisation launched a public questionnaire on 21 February, and is seeking a wide range of views on the top priorities for pro-

tecting people, culture, business, water, flora and fauna.

The results will be combined with current scientific research and knowledge drawn from First Na-

tions peoples, land managers, and the community on the history and culture of the region.

Cape York NRM CEO Pip Schroor said it was hoped the plan would pave a pathway to sustainability in the region.

“It will serve as a comprehensive framework for sustainable natural resource management across all scales,” she said.

“It builds on and adapts previous NRM plans to take into account the changing climate and its impacts. The unprecedented flooding that swept through our region in December 2023 has left indelible marks on communities, homes, livelihoods, and the environment [and] it highlights the urgency of

proactive measures to build resilience and effective resource management strategies.”

The plan will inform the State Government on the key actions and funding approaches needed over the next 10 years to build resilience, and to maintain and improve the health and productivity of the land, waters, soils, habitats and biodiversity.

“While Cape York NRM is coordinating the creation of the plan, it does not belong to us; it is a plan for the whole of the Cape York Peninsula community,” Ms Schroor said.

“We have already talked with many groups and individuals as we go about our work on the Cape,

but we can’t get to everyone. So to complement our engagement, we developed this simple questionnaire to harness the views of all Cape York Peninsula residents, from farmers, graziers, business owners and Indigenous land managers, to Traditional Owners, scientists, environmentalists and tour guides.

“The strength and success of this plan hinges on everyone adding their views so that it will reflect the diverse needs and interests of our community and be grounded in the realities of life on the Cape.”

The questionnaire is available at: https://capeyorknrm.com.au/ campaigns/land-and-water-questionnaire.

‘Red flags’ concern KAP

By LYNDON KEANE

POLITICAL opponents and community justice workers say while the State Government’s new plan to tackle youth crime is a step in the right direction, there are too many “dangerous” and “racist” red flags to make it a genuine solution.

On 21 February, the State Government announced it was seeking expressions of interest from First Nations organisations willing to deliver a new Intensive On Country trial program for offenders engaged with the youth justice system.

The trial will be open only to Indigenous youth offenders, leading some to question whether the move was politically motivated ahead of the October 2024 Queensland election.

The proposed program will build on the government’s current On Country initiative, which was launched in 2020 with trial sites in Townsville, Cairns and Mount Isa, and will not be mandatory.

It is understood the trial will be available in a number of new locations, and provide an “intensive cultural and residential experience” for youth offenders for up to a few months.

A mandatory requirement of the procurement process for the new program will be that

the service is delivered by, or in partnership with, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation.

“There isn’t one simple solution to stopping all youth offending, but evidence tells us that on country programs have had some real success,” Premier Steven Miles said.

“We’ve listened to Elders and from community leaders, who believe they can deliver better on-Country programs that can help young people to connect to Country, to change the context that’s causing their offending, to take them away from the triggers of that offending and to give them intensive support to break that cycle.”

Katter’s Australian Party has

been pushing for relocation sentencing to be an integral part of the youth justice management process for a number of years, and party leader and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said it appeared as though the State Government was trying to replicate his party’s strategy.

“I think there is some goodwill in the government, in that they want to make it work ... there are about four red flags for us,” he said.

While Mr Katter would not brand the Indigenous-only eligibility component of the program as racist, one Cape York justice worker said it was the only way it could be described.

“What else can you call it but racist?” the worker, who

has worked in the community justice sector for more than two decades and asked not to be named, asked angrily.

“We’ve tried the black and white thing before, and look how bloody well that ended up.

“Look, I think [the government] is moving the right way, but it needs to be more than the short period of time they are talking about; these kids who are offending need some real time and support to get back on the right track, otherwise you may as well just get them a room at Lotus Glen [Correctional Centre] right now.

“This track is just dangerous for them kids.”

Mr Katter added: “I just find it personally concerning that we’re having Indigenous and non-Indigenous solutions to crime policies.”

The KAP leader said the timeframe being mooted by the Premier was insufficient to effect long-term change.

“We’ve said 12 months; it needs to be associated with mandatory sentencing. That’s giving that kid the best chance to break away from those toxic social groups, which is a key element of the policy,” Mr Katter said.

“I think it’s really cruel to expect these kids to change in a couple of months or whatever.”

Cape York NRM CEO Pip Schroor.

Robbie Katter and his party have been pushing for relocation sentencing for several years. He believes the new government policy has ‘red flags’.

Vulnerability and bravery drive young Cape leaders

By CHISA HASEGAWA

“I CAN’T change them; what I can change is my future, and the future of children in Aurukun.”

With these extremely personal and powerful words, 19-yearold Chantelle Walmbeng silenced a room full of strangers as she explained how her own experiences were shaping her approach to leading the remote western Cape York community’s attitude to domestic and family violence.

Alongside close friend and PCYC Aurukun youth support worker Jacqueline Kepple, Ms Walmbeng, who is Queensland’s youngest police liaison officer, the young women courageously shared stories about overcoming obstacles and the pivotal role their local PCYC had played in bringing strength and direction to lives at the Say No to Domestic and Family Violence Conference in Cairns on 22 February, 2024.

The three-day event brought professionals, academics, activists, advocates, and survivors from around the world together to prevent and respond to domestic and family violence.

The Aurukun pair, along with PCYC Aurukun youth support worker Norma Armstrong-

Ravula, were invited to make a keynote presentation to share their stories, as well as outline how the organisation was taking an unconventional approach to teaching youth about relationships, and domestic and family violence.

Ms Walmbeng said violence had been a typical part of her life growing up.

“My very first memory of my childhood is my parents fighting,” she told conference delegates.

“I didn’t know any different, and that was quite normal in our group.”

In front of a captivated audience, she explained her turning point came when she was away at boarding school and threw a chair against a wall out of frustration.

“At that moment, I realised I needed to change, or I would repeat my parents’ mistakes,” Ms Walmbeng said.

Ms Kepple said while it was difficult to share personal experiences, she was glad she did.

“I felt nervous and my heart was pounding,” she said after the presentation.

Both Ms Walmbeng and Ms Kepple said PCYC Aurukun had become a “safe place” for them to better themselves and inspire others.

Youth support worker Norma Armstrong-Ravula also spoke to delegates and told the conference that she was having a joking argument with her husband, club manager Sergeant Steve Armstrong-Ravula, at PCYC Aurukun when one of the youth participants overheard some-

thing she had said and commented “miss, you’re gonna get a fat lip speaking to your husband like that”.

“That’s when it clicked that we are modelling what a relationship should look like,” Ms Armstrong-Ravula said.

Ms Walmbeng and Ms Kepple also played a significant role in opening up the conversation about violence and appropriate behaviour at home through the Kang Kang Youth Leadership Team.

The team has collaborated on over 30 events and 10 programs, all aimed at servicing the young people of Aurukun and bettering their futures.

“Steve and Norma have worked on providing a safe place for us, so no idea is a dumb idea, and we can freely speak about what we want to do,” Ms Kepple explained.

“Although there is a lot of work to do, we feel we are heading in the right direction with our young people in Aurukun.”

If you or someone you know needs support regarding domestic and family violence, call: 1800RESPECT national helpline: 1800 737 732; Women’s Crisis Line: 1800 811 811; Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491; Lifeline: 13 11 14.

Your chance to meet Cook candidates

ASPIRING mayoral and councillor candidates will have an opportunity to put their case for election to voters when Cook Shire Council hosts a special community forum on Saturday morning.

Commencing at 11am at the PCYC in Cooktown, the Meet Your Local Candidates forum will provide Cook Shire electors with a first-hand look at the three nominees hoping to replace retiring Mayor Peter Scott, and the 19 aiming to fill one of the six vacant councillor seats in the council chamber.

With the Cook Shire local government area spanning 106,000 square kilometres, the council is planning to livestream the

event for residents unable to make it in person, as well as providing virtual capacity for candidates who cannot be at PCYC Cooktown to share their leadership vision.

Mayor Scott urged the Cook Shire community to participate and meet those putting their hand up to represent them.

“Our goal is to facilitate an open and respectful arena that allows voters to make informed decisions, based on the merits of each candidate’s ideas and qualifications. This event is about empowering our community to actively participate in the democratic process,” he said.

“By engaging with the candidates and understanding their perspectives, voters

play a crucial role in shaping the future direction of our community.”

Cooktown Chamber of Commerce and Tourism president Russell Bowman echoed the sentiment, adding he was thrilled with the number of candidates who had nominated for Cook Shire for the 16 March local government elections.

“It’s encouraging to see a good range of mayoral and councillor candidates from all walks of life, who are willing to commit their next four years to the leadership of Cook Shire Council,” Mr Bowman said.

Cape York Weekly will share live streaming details for the forum on its Facebook page when they become available.

PCYC Aurukun youth support workers Jacqueline Kepple and Norma Armstrong-Ravula, and police liaison officer Chantelle Walmbeng.

Retiring mayor proud of progress

By LYNDON KEANE

AFTER 14 years of dedicated representation, retiring Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Aileen Addo says she has no regrets and no unfinished business, but is committed to remaining a fierce advocate for her community.

Mayor Addo, who was first elected in 2012 before taking on mayoral duties in 2016, has not nominated for a fourth term on the council, and will be replaced by one of the four candidates vying for election success when voters go to the polls on 16 March.

“I’m very happy with what I’ve achieved,” Mayor Addo told Cape York Weekly

“Some people have asked me to do another four years, but you’ve got to still have that fire in your belly; I think it’s time to go, and I know my time’s up.”

When asked to pinpoint the highlights of her leadership, Mayor Addo wasted no time in identifying the development of key community infrastructure, including the church, cultural centre, and home and community care (HACC) facility.

Building council-controlled visitor accommodation was another significant victory for Mayor Addo, who explained it allowed service providers to give Mapoon a much-needed economic boost.

“I think when I came into council, I seen Mapoon as having a lot

of opportunities and we weren’t taking full advantage of that, and we needed infrastructure for the community to grow,” she said.

“We had people coming to deliver services in Mapoon … and they were staying in Weipa and we

saw that as a way to raise revenue, by doing the accommodation.

The opening of the church and cultural centre was celebrated as a way for Mapoon residents to share their stories and receive spiritual guidance as the community

Aurukun’s culture on show at exhibition in Melbourne

THE profile

one of Aurukun’s most prodigious artists continues to grow as his stunning work turned heads in the Victorian capital last week.

Keith Wikmunea’s sculptures, including the western Cape York community’s iconic camp dogs and the 4.2-metre milkwood tree that won him the 2023 Telstra Art Award, have been on display in the artist’s first solo exhibition at the Melbourne Art Fair from 22-25 February.

Mr Wikmunea said his adoption of large-scale works allowed him to share his stories and the culture of Aurukun with a wider audience, as the sheer size of the exhibition made his art impossible to miss.

“When I started doing this large-scale artwork, I wanted to get the stories of my people and the land out in the open,” he explained.

“This is how people can learn about us people from Aurukun.

“My clan is Apalech, which represents the ‘clear water’ [and] the cockatoos are my main totem, so I like to share these with people, too.”

Wik and Kugu Art Centre

recorded 64 per cent population growth between 2011 and 2021.

“We had a lot of stories we wanted to share with people who came to visit Mapoon, and also just for the kids here to learn about their community and Mapoon,” Mayor Addo reflected.

“We needed to get a church here, and a lot of them old people, a lot have passed on now, they wanted one, and we saw that as a way to have a spiritual place for Mapoon to get guidance from.”

Mayor Addo said advocating for funding for infrastructure projects had not been easy for the council, but added the results of the effort spoke for themselves.

“A lot of the stuff we wanted to get with council when I started, we got,” she said.

“It wasn’t easy; we got knocked back a lot of times when we went for funding, but we got there.”

Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch praised Mayor Addo’s leadership and said she had been “a really significant part of a beautiful community”.

“She’s going to leave the community in a very, very good position,” he said when asked what he believed the popular mayor’s legacy would be.

“She’s an absolutely brilliant leader and she’s a very, very strong woman, understated in many ways, but she just made sure she made things happen.

“Remote communities can do

well; they can thrive and they can stand out, and Mapoon’s a classic example of that, her leadership and her council.”

Mr Entsch described Mayor Addo as a “dear friend” and said her contribution to the council and growth of Mapoon would be difficult to forget.

“I used to drive around with her and just listen to the enthusiasm about what she’s done, and how it has helped the community,” he explained.

“I’m going to miss her like crazy. We’ll be talking about Aileen well into the future.”

With just three weeks left in the job, Mayor Addo said she intended to remain a strong presence in the community, and offered some advice for whichever candidate replaced her.

“For a community to be sustainable and progress forward, we need to have a community and that passion and spirit, and I’m going to be part of that,” she said.

“We need to stay on course and make the organisations who come into Mapoon accountable; we need results, and we need them to be making Mapoon better by them being here.

“We community people can’t be blaming government; we need to take ownership and we need to take the blame when things go wrong.

“If you stay quiet, nothing ever happens.”

manager Gabe Waterman praised Mr Wikmunea’s work and said the Melbourne exhibition presented solo shows and works of scale and significance from over 60 leading galleries.

“Wik and Kugu Arts Centre was invited to have Keith Wikmunea exhibit in his first ever solo exhibition

following his amazing win at the Telstra Art Awards last year,” Mr Waterman said.

“Keith’s work will be one of his most ambitious, with a large-scale sculptural installation including a 4.2-metre milkwood tree, complemented by 12 carved cockatoo and galah totems, and a pack of camp dogs.”

Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch was full of praise for Mapoon mayor Aileen Addo. The two are pictured outside the Weipa bakery last month.

Aurukun artist Keith Wikmunea with one of his camp dogs.

Meet the WTA candidates – Six in

WEIPA voters will select their new-look Weipa Town Authority leadership team when they head to the polls on Saturday, 16 March.

With three long-serving WTA members opting not to seek re-election, six candidates have put their hand up to represent their community and fill the vacancies.

Cape York Weekly caught up with the candidates – Lisa Scharf, Deb Duffy, Scott Hackett, Trent Gordon, Geoff Robbins and Gemma Shaw – to hear in their own words why they were running and what their vision for WTA and the greater Weipa community was.

Jaime Gane will assume the role of chair and replace retiring four-term Chair Michael Rowland after being elected unopposed, while the three remaining spots around the WTA table will be filled by two Rio Tintoappointed members, and one selected by the Alngith Traditional Owners.

Lisa Scharf

LISA Scharf’s life is a tapestry of diverse experiences.

Her roles as mother and wife, service in the navy, her time living in various remote communities, and her leadership on many club committees across the country have all uniquely shaped Lisa into a passionate advocate, ready and willing to take on any challenge that comes her way.

Rio Tinto Weipa extends a warm invitation to all residents, employees, community groups and clubs to join us at our upcoming community forum and expo

Come and hear from General Manager Shona Markham then chat to our friendly teams about jobs, local business tenders, funding opportunities and any other questions you might have!

Guest speakers : Weipa Town Authority and Queensland Health

When : Thursday 14 March 2024, 5:30 for 6pm start

Where : Carpentaria Golf Club

: 6:30-7:30pm For

For four years, she and her husband have made Weipa their home, fostering a deep and personal investment in the community.

As the owner of Get Your Art On Weipa and president of Weipa Potters, Lisa has fostered community relationships and enhanced cultural appreciation.

Her leadership radiates her passion for the arts and community development, and Lisa is now stepping up to a new chal-

lenge by nominating for one of the positions as a Weipa Town Authority member.

Motivated by her dedication to Weipa’s growth and prosperity, Lisa aims to make Weipa an even more liveable town, enhancing community spirit, and to work tirelessly for the people of Weipa.

Her vision for Weipa is a vibrant environment where every resident feels heard, valued, and connected.

She believes in the transformative power of the arts, community engagement, and a strong community spirit to enrich life on multiple levels.

Lisa’s locally-owned business provides her with both the time and flexibility to commit fully to serving Weipa and, as a potential WTA member, Lisa promises to bring dedication, fresh perspectives, and a balanced approach to the role.

Deb Duffy

BORN and bred in Auckland, New Zealand, I came to Brisbane on a working holiday when I was 20.

I married a local Brisbane man and moved to Cairns, where I have lived until I moved to Weipa four years ago.

I have been self-employed for over 40 years in the real estate industry in Cairns, owning very successful agencies and employing numerous employees over that time.

When the election was announced, I had several long-time locals approach me to run as a councillor and I thought why not?

Weipa has been very good to me and I have the time and the corporate experience.

My time as a director of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland and the Residen-

tial Tenancies Authority has stood me in good stead for the strategic direction that the WTA needs to go.

My vision for the future of the WTA is to continue with the excellent work that the current council has achieved, and follow through on the following projects that are already underway, such as the community youth precinct, Rocky Point boat ramp foreshore masterplan, Nanum Hospital pathway, town centre redevelopment, and the Weipa Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy.

I will endeavour to make sure the sustainability of the town, so Weipa is not solely reliant on Rio Tinto, and I look forward to the future as Weipa moves towards normalisation.

I am always available to listen to any concerns of the ratepayers.

the running to represent Weipa

Scott Hackett

HI Weipa! My name is Scott Hackett.

I’m 40 years old, I am down to earth, approachable and a passionate resident of Weipa. I reside in Weipa with my wife, Chantelle, and our two kids, Lylah and Kurt. We love the community, its spirit and are proud to call Weipa home.

I enjoy camping and fishing, and I operate a small business in town and have worked for many years in management for a large-scale company.

I have nominated for a WTA member as this community is more than just where I live; it’s my home and it’s about putting people first.

My vision for this town is road upgrades, including pedestrian/pelican crossing in crucial areas, and upgrades to park facilities, with more shade structures, water bubblers, restrooms and lighting.

Many areas around town are lacking these facilities and some don’t have any at all.

I think we need more free community events that cover all ages, including more safe youth nights for our teens.

I want to look into the recycling sector, with introducing a recycle bin to each premise to better our environment and landfill. Also, better infrastructure around the schools, more parking and funding for crossing guards.

These are the basics that we need, but I want to hear from you!

I am committed to giving back to our community, so let me be your voice to create a sustainable future for Weipa.

I am dedicated to listening and supporting our people’s ideas and concerns, and doing my best to bring them to life.

Let’s keep Weipa great!

Trent Gordon

HELLO, Weipa folks. For those who don’t know me, my name is Trent Gordon, and I am a long-term Weipa resident who has been actively involved in many community events and sporting groups over the years.

Most recently, I’ve worked closely with local sporting/community groups, local businesses, Weipa Town Authority, Northern Pride and Queensland Rugby League to bring the Country Round to Weipa for the first time in 2023.

My wife Raechel and I have purchased our home and raised our five children during our time living in Weipa, and our youngest son still attends Western Cape College. Our older children have now entered the workforce, and either completed or are currently completing apprenticeships in the Far North.

I have a strong connection to this region, as my family have operated different grazing and tourism businesses in the Cape for three generations, during which time both my grandfathers and my mother were elected Cook Shire councillors.

I am passionate about the lifestyle and opportunities that Weipa and the surrounding Cape York region offers its local residents and visitors alike and, for this reason, I have recently nominated to become an elected member of Weipa Town Authority.

If elected, I would welcome the opportunity to work with business owners, community members and relevant government entities to help diversify the economic base of Weipa, and assist to build a sustainable future for the region and the generations to come.

Geoff Robins

GEOFFREY Robins ACM. That’s my official name and title, but please just call me Geoff.

I moved to Weipa in June 2014, and my wife Rose and I quickly decided that this was exactly the place where we wanted to raise a family.

Two daughters, two dogs, a boat and a pair of buggies later, we officially became “Weipa-fied”.

After a couple of years of sitting back and enjoying the fruits of others’ hard labour, I decided to stop being a bystander, and to become actively involved in the community.

Although we live in a special place, like everyone else, I too get frustrated with the challenges of remote living from time to time, which is why I want to step up, do my part, and be part of the solu-

tion – or at least make things that little bit more enjoyable for everyone. This is why I have nominated to serve as a WTA elected member.

Local councils are typically responsible for town planning, building approvals, road maintenance, water, sewerage and the like, and my vision for the WTA is all of this and more.

A local authority in a place like Weipa must be more than just infrastructure approval and local laws – they are who we look to for genuine leadership, advocacy and to instil authentic community values to keep our village connected, empowered, thriving and prosperous.

If you want to know more about my background and credentials, search my name on Secrets of Weipa and take a look at my recent introduction.

Gemma Shaw

I AM a local tourism business owner in Weipa, a ratepayer and a military veteran who has served in the Middle East.

My family and I are invested in the future of Weipa, and we are focused on ensuring that Weipa will have a sustainable future.

I have extensive experience in all levels of government and understand how to achieve milestones in a government setting, which will ensure the success of my role as a member.

I want to see Weipa Town Authority thinking outside of the box, to think of Weipa as a thriving community that just happens to have a mine, as opposed to being thought of as a mining town. We need to develop future economic opportunities outside of mining, such as the deep-water port, as it will continue to

be an asset to the community long after Rio Tinto has gone.

I want to ensure the community is aware of plans, goals and projects of the WTA.

The community’s voice needs to be heard to voice their opinions and ensure that action is taken.

Cape York is a tourism mecca and we need to ensure that we develop our tourism plan so that tourists want to explore the western side of Cape York, instead of bypassing it.

It would be great to see a tourism information centre and a heavy vehicle parking area.

As a last point, I would also petition the State Government for the river height cameras for the Archer River, Laura River and Myall Creek to be accessible for all.

Appliances help Wujal residents in homecoming

By CHISA HASEGAWA

SINCE losing everything in the Cyclone Jasper devastation, many Wujal Wujal residents have been going without basic household items and those who were displaced have been living out of hotels.

Wanting to help make their spaces feel like home again, whether in Wujal Wujal or a temporary house in Cairns, Cape York Partnerships (CYP) has been working with GIVIT to provide residents with household appliances and furniture.

Audrey Deemal, who leads the human and social recovery support case management team at CYP, said the purpose of the collaboration was to provide a sense of normalcy, so residents could begin healing.

“A lot of these families have lost everything that they own and have worked hard for,” Ms Deemal said.

“It’s very important for their own social and emotional wellbeing to get these people back into homes and back into a normal life.

“It’s such a devastating event that it’s hard to come back from, and I can only imagine how it feels.”

Ms Deemal said residents would either be provided with the items or a voucher to purchase them.

“Through GIVIT and other services like the Salvation Army, we are helping families

purchase their own household items with vouchers that they get, or we shop with the clients,” she said.

“It covers all the basics like beds, mattresses, appliances, lounge and dining, and also a kitchen starter, just to get people back into homes and able to do things for themselves.”

Although the project got off to a slow start, things have started to pick up, and some residents have already been able to fill their homes with the donated goods.

GIVIT allowed the team to add more users to the process, which is when Ms Deemal joined to help with the ordering.

“I’m sure these families are so devastated that they just want things done and done quickly, and we were just not working fast enough,” she said.

Ms Deemal said she and the team were proud of what they were doing for their community.

“I think every one of us in our team here at CYP has some kind of connection to the Yalanji-Wujal community,” she said.

“I haven’t been able to catch up with everybody yet, but I’ve called different ones to find out how they’re doing. One of my aunties, she said she was really happy and she loves her new place, and lots of other people have said they’re very proud and appreciative of what they got as well.”

WEIPA TOWN AUTHORITY ELECTIONS - MEMBER

Popular school holiday program returns for 2024

“UNWAVERING support” from community groups has delivered a coup for Cooktown District Community Centre (CDCC) with the announcement its school holiday program is gearing up to return in 2024.

The program was trialled last year, and CDCC project development coordinator and early years educator Heidi Carroll told Cape York Weekly the feedback received had been overwhelming, and that the organisation was planning to grow the activities on offer when started up again in April.

“The enthusiastic response from both children and staff made it a memorable experience,” she said.

“Looking ahead, this year’s program promises even more fun-filled activities, including excursions to a horse sanctuary,

and a visit to the charming farm animals at Cooktown Campout.”

The delivery of the 2024 program has been made possible through a funding collaboration between Endeavour Lions’s Club, Cooktown RSL, Cooktown Bowls Club and the CDCC.

Ms Carroll said the joint effort had been a common theme since the program’s inception.

“This approach was absolutely vital,” she said.

“Although CDCC are leading the program, due to the high expense and human resources it takes to organise and run the program, we need support from the community.”

Ms Carroll added the program was a vital resource for the entire Cooktown community, and said both working and non-working

families were set to benefit from its return.

“Following the success of last year’s trial, it’s evident that this program is a must-have for 2024,” she explained.

“Parents, whether working or not, rely on it to ensure their children are not only safe, but also engaged in meaningful activities during the holidays.

“The relief is palpable as parents drop off their kids, knowing they’re in good hands and can focus on their responsibilities, whether that’s work or other family commitments. This year, we can offer added in security, as we have released dates for the entire year.”

The CDCC school holiday program will run from 8-12 April, 24-28 June, 1620 September and 2-6 December.

Zara Girard, educator Rhiannon Shepherd, Edie Stanley and Dallas Morris show off their gingerbread baking skills during Cooktown District Community Centre’s 2023 school holiday program. The program will run again in this year’s holiday periods.

Cape York voice added to region’s critical board

By CHISA HASEGAWA

INCOMING Weipa Town Authority chair Jaime Gane will ensure the voice of Cape York’s development ambitions are heard after being introduced as one of three new directors on the Regional Development Australia (RDA) Tropical North board.

Ms Gane will serve on the board alongside Cairns Regional Council chief executive officer Mica Martin and Queensland Government adviser and former Cairns councillor Richie Bates.

Ms Gane said she was excited to contribute a rural and regional

voice into the otherwise Cairnsdominated board.

“I’m very interested to meet everyone and get into it,” she said.

“I think it’s always valuable to have insight from people that aren’t in Cairns as well when you’re representing something that covers such a large area.”

Having grown up and raised a family in Weipa, as well as being a small tourism business owner, Ms Gane will bring extensive insight into the challenges of living on Cape York to the table, but said she also saw an opportunity for sustainable

growth and development in the region.

Although it is her first appointment to the board, Ms Gane said it was not the first time she had worked with RDA Tropical North.

“WTA has done some work with RDA Tropical North in the past, and they’ve always been very helpful with our community, so I’m really excited to be involved in the conversation around policies and such,” Ms Gane said.

RDA Tropical North chair Professor Hurriyet Babacan welcomed the new directors,

who were chosen from an overwhelming “quantity of high-calibre applications”.

“Each director brings diverse skills and networks to our independent organisation, which has a strong history of advocating for projects to grow and diversify the Far North’s economy,” she said.

“RDA Tropical North celebrates its fifteenth year in 2024, and it is fitting that we have an expanded board to broker regional development solutions that will create jobs and grow the Far North Queensland economy.”

NPA’s future leaders connected at camp

THE next generation of Northern Peninsula Area’s young leaders recently travelled to Cairns for a youth leadership camp.

Twenty-five campers aged between 12 and 25 returned to their communities ready to inspire their peers with life lessons learned and new experiences.

The camp was facilitated by Northern Peninsula Area Family and Community Services (NPAFACS) and Northern Outlook.

The NPAFACS youth team ran activities, including a yarning circle, myths and legends storytelling, and cultural leadership with each person’s clans’ winds and totems to identify themselves and connect.

NPAFACS youth team leader Susita Vout said the totem activity showed the group they were all connected, despite coming from different communities.

“The camp is good, because it connects all five communities and we can do group activities with our friends from school who live in different communities,” one participant told Ms Vout.

Remote Alcohol Drug Intervention Outcomes support worker Odessa Sabatino said the goal of the camp was to empower the young people, enable resilience and selfleadership, and enhance their world view.

“By positively exposing the young people to life outside NPA, they can develop their sense of curiosity and future potential,” Ms Sabatino said.

“Some of them had never visited Cairns before, and therefore it was an enlightening experience for them.

“Other young people are now keen to be selected for the next leadership camp, be-

cause the group returned full of enthusiasm, and with good stories for their friends and other youths in the NPA community.”

Ms Sabatino said the young people chosen for the camp had displayed respect for others, valued education and actively participated in youth services.

She said although the NPA had a wealth of role models and Elders to guide young people, the camp encouraged them to also self-lead and model good behaviours.

“The camp presented participants with an opportunity to work as a team and develop skills as a group and team players. It also enabled them to manage time and organise themselves for various activities, budgeting money for shopping trips and excursions, and adaptable behaviour to bigger city norms,” Ms Sabatino said.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Cybercrime spike warning

CAPE York residents are being urged to remain vigilant online in the wake of a spike in cybercrimes across Far North Queensland.

Police said the online scams came in a variety of formats and could be difficult to spot. Cybercrime is a criminal offence using computers and electronic devices, and can include attacks on computer systems and viruses, identity theft, email spam and phishing, and online sexual abuse material.

Police said scammers were active on online marketplaces and classified sites, and could pose as either buyers or sellers, and even landlords or flatmates offering accommodation.

One of the biggest warning signs is an item listed as a much lower price than similar items on other websites, with requests for payment through a wire service, gift card or cryptocurrency also a red flag.

Police said victims of cybercrime needed to come forward and report the matter as quickly as possible.

Bamaga break and enter

POLICE are investigating a break and enter that occurred between 19-20 February at units on Wasiu Street in Bamaga.

Police said initial reports suggested both units at the address were damaged, and items were removed from a fridge.

A vehicle parked on the property was also spray painted during the incident.

Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact police and quote QP2400297671 and QP2400296220.

$10m boost for tourism

TOURISM operators in the Douglas Shire, Cook Shire, Hope Vale and Wujal Wujal council areas can now apply for up to $250,000 in project funding to help better prepare for future weather events.

The local government areas are some of nine that have been made eligible for the $10 million Building Resilient Tourism Infrastructure program, which targets tourism operators who were severely impacted by Cyclone Jasper in December to develop flood-resilient infrastructure.

The program is jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Applications for the grants, up to $250,000 per project, are open until 19 April, with projects having to be completed before 30 November, 2025. Information at: www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp.

Young leaders from the five communities of the NPA came together in Cairns and learned to become better role models.

Thursday Island woman takes reins as QIBN boss

By LYNDON KEANE

INDIGENOUS entrepreneurs from Cape York and the Torres Strait will have a footprint on the global economic stage if the inaugural chief executive officer of the Queensland Indigenous Business Network has her way.

QIBN announced last week that Donisha Duff would take the reins as the organisation’s first CEO after holding other executive roles, including as chief operating officer of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, and being awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2024 Australia Day honours list.

Ms Duff is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait woman from Thursday Island, with family links to Badu, Moa and Mabuiag Islands, and the Wuthathi Traditional Owners of eastern Cape York.

She said she was excited to join the newly formed organisation, which aims to serve as a voice and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses across Queensland.

Ms Duff said while local bricks-and-mortar businesses would always play an important role, technology meant business owners could now target customers anywhere on the planet.

“I think, for me, the vision is global, but I definitely want to focus on the local business growth and development, too,” she explained.

“Living in a remote community, it’s about having fast internet and ecommerce, and upskilling our mob so they can do that.

“You can live in Aurukun or Badu Island and sell to the world.”

After moving into the CEO’s office on 21 February, Ms Duff

said one of her priorities was using her experience and connections to help Indigenous entrepreneurs navigate the maze of business startup, development and networking, and said technology would play a vital role in achieving this ambition.

“There’s momentum that’s building behinds the scenes for us to be able to achieve globally while you live in community with technology,” Ms Duff said. “It’s looking at how you get

those introductions and build on the existing relationships that are in place. What’s going to blow the minds of our kids?

“There’s the potential to be anything you want to be now through that connectivity.”

QIBN’s chair Shane Kennelly said Ms Duff’s appointment signalled a pivotal step for the organisation.

“Donisha is an outstanding choice to lead QIBN, bringing a proven track record in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisational management, leadership, policy and stakeholder engagement,” he said.

“We are thrilled to welcome a CEO of Donisha’s calibre and experience to navigate QIBN through this new chapter.”

Ms Duff said she believed her leadership and advocacy could help established Indigenous businesses, as well as empower those with a kernel of inspiration looking to embark on their own entrepreneurial journey.

“This is about making a real and tangible step forward for us in the business community. I truly want to build a strong and inclusive community of First Nations business owners who can collaborate, partner and learn from each other moving forward,” she said.

Strategic wharf to get major upgrade

ONE of the busiest marine facilities in the Torres Strait will be almost unrecognisable by the end of the year, following a $11.1 million funding commitment.

On 16 February, the Queensland Government announced Ports North would lead a project to upgrade the Horn Island port that would increase capacity and deliver safer, more accessible passenger facilities.

As part of the infrastructure boost, the wharf will get a new pontoon and passenger waiting areas, as well as a pedestrian walkway, with capacity increasing to berth either two 12-metre vessels, or a single vessel up to 25m in length.

About 700 people pass through the wharf facility every day, with most coming from

the airport, and commuting to and from Thursday Island.

The new pontoon will have a covered roof to protect passengers from the elements, while the raised pedestrian walkway will be constructed along the full length of the causeway to provide accessibility for those with disabilities or requiring assistance.

Fabrication work will start later this month, with onsite construction due to commence in the second half of 2024.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Bart Mellish said the upgrade would keep the area “connected to trade and economic opportunities”.

“The Horn Island upgrades will have a significant impact on the local community,

who rely on port facilities for necessary goods and daily transport.”

Cook MP Cynthia Lui praised the project and said it had been a long time coming.

“Horn Island is one of the busiest marine facilities in the Torres Strait, catering for a vast number of people travelling to and from Thursday Island, from the outer islands of the Torres Strait and further down south,” Ms Cook said.

Ports North CEO Richard Stevenson said the wharf upgrade was vital in the day-today lives of Torres Strait residents.

“The Horn Island port facility enables essential supplies to enter the region and is part of many residents’ day-to-day living,” he explained.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Thursday Island drug charge

POLICE have charged a Thursday Island man after executing a search warrant on a Erub Court address on 20 February, 2024.

It will be alleged during the search, police located a quantity of cannabis.

Police said they will further allege officers also located a quantity of small clip seal bags used to package the cannabis.

The 35-year-old man was charged with one count each of possess dangerous drugs and supply dangerous drugs.

He is due to appear in the Thursday Island Magistrates Court on 21 March.

Reconciliation awards open

BUSINESSES, community groups, schools, sporting clubs and cultural organisations across Cape York and the Torres Strait are being encouraged to nominate for the 2024 Queensland Reconciliation Awards.

The awards actively champion reconciliation by celebrating the creation of meaningful partnerships and employment opportunities, and efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of First Nations communities.

Minister for Treaty, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Leeanne Enoch said the awards were an opportunity for communities to showcase how they were addressing reconciliation.

“The awards provide us with an opportunity to celebrate our shared journey towards reconciliation highlighting initiatives and programs that are advancing reconciliation, strengthening relationships and improving outcomes for Queenslanders,” she said.

Nominations for the 2024 awards close on 18 March.

Stomach bug outbreak

PUBLIC health officials are warning Far North residents to take precautions following a rise in stomach bug cases.

Tropical Public Health Services Cairns director Dr Richard Gair said the stomach bug – caused by the cryptosporidium parasite – was usually acquired through the ingestion of contaminated water or food, or through contact with infected individuals.

With temperatures across the region soaring, Dr Gair said people needed to take care when using swimming pools.

“Drinking or accidentally swallowing water contaminated with cryptosporidium parasites is a common mode of transmission [and] this can occur in places such as swimming pools, water parks, and other recreational water facilities where water may be contaminated,” Dr Gair said.

New QIBN boss Donisha Duff, pictured with her son, Alistair, has strong links to the Torres Strait and eastern Cape York.

of troughs

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

WHAT I’m about to say isn’t likely to get me added to any Christmas card lists, but we need to talk about the number of stakeholders receiving absolutely extraordinary amounts of money under the guise of providing betterment services to remote communities across Cape York and the Torres Strait.

It’s the bloated elephant in the room, but this pachyderm is rarely spoken about with any measure of candour, despite being readily identified by its taxpayer-funded bling and possessing a willingness to tell anyone who will listen what an amazing job it’s doing in making these communities a better place.

It was a theme that came up in a number of interviews over the past week, and one that will come as no surprise to anyone who has sat through a meeting involving State and Federal Government, council, not-for-profit and so-called “community-driven” stakeholder groups.

I’m talking about those providing health, education, law enforcement and local government services to our remote townships, as well as those with indecipherable acronyms who arrive by plane or new, fully-liveried four-wheel drives on Monday morning and then seem

to disappear into the bowels of the community until Friday afternoon, when it’s time to return to the big smoke and brag about what you’ve achieved.

Don’t get me wrong: so many agencies and organisations are doing the right thing and trying their best to improve life in our communities, and are 100 per cent not the target of this diatribe.

In fact, I suspect stakeholders reading this will either be nodding their heads in agreement, or wondering whether I’m talking about them. If you fall into the latter camp, please put down your completely fabricated key performance indicator checklist and read on.

The reality is there are far too many stakeholders failing remote communities by failing to deliver any tangible outcomes other than a catchy motto or, in the case of Indigenous communities, an often nauseating and disingenuous acknowledgement of Country.

The numbers will make your eyes water. Aurukun, for example, has about 107 different service providers receiving, at best guess, between $130-140 million each year to improve the western Cape York community for the 1100 or so people who call it home.

If you extrapolate that figure to encompass every locale between Cooktown and the Torres Strait,

you’ll have to engage the services of someone with at least an undergraduate degree in mathematics.

The problem is, if you asked mayors, councillors, residents and other key stakeholders, they could probably only name a small percentage of that battalion of service providers.

One Cape York mayor I spoke to last week laughed when I put the question to them and told me “there’s a lot being paid to be here, but I’ve got no idea who most of them are, because you never see them”.

Despite what the mission statements and annual reports of these organisations profess, it’s incred-

ibly difficult to argue the liveability of our remote communities has improved at all, for the most part.

A 25-year State Government veteran admitted to me that one “looks and functions exactly the same now” as it did when they first stepped foot in it in the late 1990s.

The State and Federal Governments are reluctant to admit this, however, because it doesn’t sound as politically potent as being able to say you’re throwing billions of dollars at community benefit without any regard for whether the tsunami of taxpayer funding is effecting any genuine change.

Remote Cape York and the Torres Strait communities deserve so much better than they are having to tolerate from a multitude of organisations whose sole – and wellfunded, I will add – raison d’etre for being on the ground is social and economic betterment.

It’s time for every stakeholder involved with remote service delivery to put up with measurable actions and deliverables, not shallow words that sound good in funding applications, and in quarterly reporting to boards and government departments.

If they can’t, these elephants should only be receiving peanuts, so available funding can be redirected to those who can forge their way through the bureaucratic jungle to actually deliver some quantifiable results on the ground.

editor@capeyorkweekly.com.au

Cape York communities have become cash cows for service providers, despite historically poor outcomes.

Student selected for STEM camp

By CHISA HASEGAWA

A WESTERN Cape College student has been chosen to attend the 2024 STEM Girl Power Camp in Brisbane in May, where she will have the opportunity to meet likeminded people and explore career pathways in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Ziona Oracion will join other year 10 students from across Queensland’s state schools who are also passionate about STEM, meet role models in various industries, undertake innovative activities, and visit cutting-edge research facilities.

Ms Oracion said she was excited to meet the other girls, adding it had been an honour to be selected to attend the camp.

“I didn’t expect this at first, but when I got it, it was really cool to think about being able to go to the camp and get all these opportunities,” she said.

“I’m really excited to get a feeling of what I want to be when I grow up, since I still have no idea.”

Ms Oracion said she particularly enjoyed biology and chemistry at school, and was currently interested in becoming a general practitioner or forensic scientist.

“I feel like I’ll be able to get a feeling of what it’s really like in those environments and, if I do really want to pursue it, and if I do decide to go into that career path, what kind of mindset to have,” she said.

Ms Oracion was nominated by head of department for maths and science Kurt Lynch, who said he was extremely proud to have had the opportunity to send several WCC students to the camp over the years.

“We’ve had students chosen in the past, and a lot of those students have gone on to pursue careers

Wik-Mungkan name for new species of rodent

THE Wik-Mungkan language has been embraced by researchers after they discovered two new species of native rodent spanning the northern part of the country.

The aptly named delicate mouse was previously thought to be a single species spanning a massive stretch of Australia, from the Pilbara in Western Australia, across parts of the Northern Territory and through Queensland, down to the New South Wales border.

But researchers from Australian National University and CSIRO thought there might be more to the story, with lead author Dr Emily Roycroft explaining the rodent was now acknowledged as being three distinct species.

“Thanks to new genetic technology, we’ve confirmed the delicate mouse is three species, not one,” Dr Roycroft said.

“Identifying undescribed species and giving them official names goes a long way to making sure they’re properly looked after.”

Dr Roycroft said while it was difficult for the untrained eye to tell the species apart, the discovery was significant for the future of the tiny mouse.

“The two new species haven’t had any conservation or research attention, because we didn’t know they were there,” Dr Roycroft said.

“We don’t know, for example, if population declines have gone undetected as a result of all three species being assessed as a single unit.

“The delicate mouse has not been a conservation priority, but that’s because it was thought to have a distribution three times larger than it actually does.

“This will allow us to reassess.”

The three species will now go by common names that point to their location: the western delicate mouse, or Pilbara delicate mouse, the northern delicate mouse, and the eastern delicate mouse, found across Cape York and down the Queensland coast.

The eastern delicate mouse – Pseudomys mimulus – will also be known as Kalla, the Wik-Mungkan word for mouse.

Dr Roycroft said the delicate mouse differed from the rodents commonly found in houses and backyards.

“House mice, black rats and brown rats are invasive species brought to Australia since European colonisation,” she explained.

“Delicate mice are part of a group of native rodents that have been evolving in Australia for the last five million years [and] they’re a crucial part of Australia’s natural environment and ecosystems.

“Delicate mice are our smallest Australian rodent - they can weigh as little as six grams, so they’re really tiny.”

in STEM-related industries,” Mr Lynch said.

“It’s always a good opportunity for the students if they get chosen, to really open their eyes to show them what’s actually available to them if they’re interested in that sort of area.”

Mr Lynch said each year, WCC looked at year 9 students and nominated one or sometimes multiple students, “depending on how many are showing exceptional skills in that area”.

“Ziona comes across as just a super diligent student; she’s always trying her hardest,” he said.

“She shows quite a lot of passion and also skill in the areas of STEM, so it was really a no-brainer this year. Sometimes, we have a few students that we sort of have

an eye on, but Ziona was a standout just for her qualities as a student and her thirst for knowledge.”

Mr Lynch said Ms Oracion had done an incredible job to be chosen from a large pool of nominees.

“She wrote herself an amazing application and was chosen from a huge pool of students that would have been coming from the Cape,” Mr Lynch said.

“We can offer these opportunities for our students, but they actually have to put in quite a bit of effort themselves to get there and be selected.

“It’s honourable when you have students coming from a small community, and it’s nice to have students with the capability to actually be selected from a large group of students.”

Health service puts best foot forward to help FNQ patients

IMAGINE being flown out of your community in a medical emergency with almost nothing but the clothes on your back, and then being turned away from boarding a flight home because you have no shoes on.

This is the exact situation that inspired the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) travel team to donate over 60 pairs of thongs to Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan, an patient accommodation partner in Cairns.

TCHHS travel operations supervisor

Shane Luki said the team reached out to Mookai Rosie for what they needed most, and thongs were one of the main items.

“Part of living in community is they live on the land and they don’t normally wear shoes, so when they come down, sometimes they come without shoes,” Ms Luki said.

“That’s sort of what sparked our interest to help, because being the travel team, we’ve had a lot of communication where many haven’t been able to board due to not having shoes, and we’ve had to reschedule flights and organise someone to pick up some sort of shoes for them.”

Ms Luki said that getting turned away when trying to return home exacerbated an already stressful situation.

“When [patients] are medevaced, they are medevaced with pretty much nothing. It just becomes a real hard experience for them, and sometimes they’re not ready for that,” she said.

“A lot of them that haven’t come down for appointments before or been medevaced down, so they don’t realise it’s something you need.”

Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan is an organisation that provides health services and accommodation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families from Cape York and the Torres Strait who need to travel to Cairns for medical purposes.

“They’re often having to go the extra mile to ensure that patients are ready to return home,” Ms Luki said.

“This is a way to provide them with a helping hand, so they don’t always have to go that extra mile.”

The donation was funded entirely by members of the travel team, who are keen to continue this initiative going forward.

“We’ve got a basket at Mookai now and we can continue to top it up,” Ms Luki said.

“We would like to extend it to other accommodation providers like the Red Cross as well, and see if they would be interested.

“We always like to reach out, particularly to our accommodation providers, and see what their needs are, because they look after our patients.

“It’s purely voluntary donations from our travel team and not something we pressure anyone into doing, just a service that we wanted to do to extend our hand to help someone.” – story by Chisa Hasegawa

Weipa student Ziona Oracion.

The eastern delicate mouse will be known as Kalla, the Wik-Mungkan word for mouse.

The distribution areas for the three species of delicate mouse, which, until recently, were thought to be a single species.

The TCHHS travel team put together a basket of thongs for patients that need shoes to board a flight back to their communities. Photo: Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service.

Sudoku

Fill in the blank cells using numbers from 1 to 9. Each number can only appear once in each row, column and 3x3 block.

DAILY CONVENTIONAL CROSSWORD 15 X 15 GRID P

Quick Workout

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.

Note to Editor:

Created in QUARK XPRESS.

VER.4.03

Items not needed for publication can be erased as each is in a separate text box.

Focus

TODAY’S Good: 9 words

FOCUS Very good: 16 words Excellent: 25 words

Spot the 5 Differences

Created: Ted Whillier

Qxpress: 8487

Matt Trickey

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION ahead dearth death DEATHTRAP depth earth hade hard hare hared harp harped hart hate hated hater hatred hatter head heap hear heard heart heat heptad herd path rhea that theta thread threat

Reference: Macquarie Concise Dictionary Focus No. 4003

Join the Dots

Quick Crossword

Crossword

FRIDAY

LYNDON KEANE

The Weipa Rodeo will celebrate its twenty-first birthday when thousands of people converge at Andoom Oval for the two-day event later this year, with organisers promising a line-up befitting the milestone.

Weipa Rodeo Association (WRA) president Reuben Slingo said he believed the speed of competitors – both two- and four-legged – in the arena was one of the biggest keys to the event’s success and longevity.

“We pride ourselves on having a very quick time between gate pulls,” he explained.

“This keeps the event non-stop action from the minute you walk in and sit down, until the last beast bucks and it’s time to kick back with a cold one and listen to the live music.”

While rodeos are commonplace

across rural and remote Australia, the Weipa showcase differs in that the WRA committee purchases and provides all the safety equipment competitors need, meaning cowboys and cowgirls can show off their skills without a major financial outlay.

“Junior and senior riders borrow the committee’s safety equipment and to the best of our knowledge, we are the only rodeo association

that offers this to their riders,” Mr Slingo said.

“This community-focused succession planning initiative helps ensure the future of the event through nurturing current and upand-coming rodeo athletes.

“With rider nominations from all over the Cape and beyond, the Weipa Rodeo is focused on inclusion for all and each year, we have a strong focus on not just putting

on one of the largest and most exciting events in the Cape, but giving back to the community and supporting worthy causes.”

When asked what his favourite event was, Mr Slingo flagged the Cape of Origin, while wife and WRA secretary Chrissy Slingo said the novelty events for kids were a personal highlight.

In the Cape of Origin, each region will be mentored by a captain

and compete in teams as they vie for a share of the prize pool and the coveted Cape Of Origin buckle in open bull ride, novice bull ride, ladies bullock rider, saddle bronc rider, mini bull rider and barrel racer events.

To continue the success of one of the largest community events in Weipa, Ms Slingo said the WRA committee had put the call out for sponsors and volunteers as planning ramped up.

“The Weipa Rodeo Association is a non-profit group, run entirely by volunteers and largely funded by generous sponsorship from local businesses,” she said.

“Without these sponsors and volunteers, the Weipa Rodeo would not be the success it is.

“Each year, we aim to put on a bigger and better event, and we are very grateful for the continued support of previous sponsors, and welcome any new sponsors to reach out and become a part of the Weipa Rodeo.”

For more information about getting involved with the 2024 Weipa Rodeo as a sponsor, email weiparodeoassociation@hotmail.com.

The recent addition of horse events has thrilled participants, drawing competitors from afar. The Cape of Origin series will return in 2024 – it’s one of the rodeo’s great success stories.

The Weipa Rodeo Association will celebrate the event’s twenty-first birthday in August.

New president keen to see changes at golf club

By LYNDON KEANE

IMPROVEMENTS to the course and inside the clubhouse are on the scorecard for Carpentaria Golf Club’s 2024 president.

Well-known Weipa resident Murray Mountjoy was elected to the role earlier this month and said he was looking forward to notching up some major wins for the club, both on the fairways and in its restaurant.

“Our restaurant is an area of focus, and we’re looking to improve the range and the offering of our restaurant meals,” he said when asked what his leadership priorities for the season were.

“We’re going to focus on a reliable, quality offering and setting.

“We’re also looking to continue the improvement of the course itself, which will improve the quality of the game and, from that, the number of players.”

In a boost for the club, it will host a qualifying round of the popular Survivor Golf series, a two-person Ambrose event with prizes on offer every hole, before competitors line up for its flagship event, the Goodline Weipa Open, in May.

Mr Mountjoy said he believed he and his committee could help steer the club through the challenges of previous seasons, adding patrons would start seeing changes over the coming months.

“I felt I could make a difference to the club,” he explained when

asked why he put his hand up for the president’s job.

“It’s been through some difficult and challenging times in terms of providing the quality golf we want, and the facilities throughout the club.

“We’ve got a committee that are committed and keen and capable of making the changes, and want to put the effort into the club.”

Vivian Chan has joined Mr Mountjoy on the committee as secretary for 2024, with Deb Duffy and Clinton Wonfor filling the treasurer and club captain positions respectively.

The club’s 2024 committee consists of Carolyn Head, Steven Jensen, William Grant, Tyler Nicholsen, Brandon Waretini, Rob McVean, Matt Byrne, James Hunter, Catherine Sloane.

Course management is always one of the biggest hurdles to a golf club’s success, and Mr Mountjoy said Weipa’s weather made the challenge even more difficult.

“It’s extremely difficult and a big challenge for our greenkeeper staff and our team,” he said.

“You’ve got a wet season that’s notoriously hard and difficult on greens, and the prolonged dry season that’s equally as tough.

“There’s a lot of work that needs to go into just maintaining the fairways.”

Notwithstanding the challenges facing the club, Mr Mountjoy said the committee was excited to be teeing up for success in 2024.

Bridgette’s barra worth bragging about

Do you want to be as famous (well, Cape York famous) as Bridgette Nelson with this impressive specimen of a barramundi caught during a jaunt up the Mission River? Cape Catch of the Week will showcase a Cape York angler – big or small – and provide them ultimate bragging rights around the barbecue or campfire. All you have to do is send us a photo of you and your catch, and answer a few simple questions. If everything goes to plan, we are hoping to be able to offer a great weekly prize, but for the time being, the best you can hope for is seeing your mug and your catch online, and sticking the clipping from the paper on your fridge as a conversation starter.

SPORT IN BRIEF

Six PBs at parkrun

MORE than 10 per cent of the field chalked up personal best performances when 55 participants laced up their shoes for parkrun #354 in Weipa on 24 February. With a good mix of runners, joggers and walkers, six competitors achieved personal bests for the course, while eight first timers were also welcomed into the Weipa parkrun family.

Four Run the World participants were also among the ranks on Saturday morning.

Date set for marathon

COMPETITORS will tackle arguably the most picturesque marathon course in the country when they line up for the 2024 Compass Club North Marathon in the Northern Peninsula Area later this year.

After a community fun run is held on 4 May, 2024, serious runners will don their bibs the following day to complete either a full or half marathon between Bamaga and the iconic Pajinka.

The marathon will be just the fifth to be helped in the region.

For more information, visit www. elements-running.com.

Ace at Dawnbusters

ONE stroke was all that separated victory from second place when players teed off in Dawnbusters action at Carpentaria Golf Club on 25 February.

Twenty golfers made their way around the front nine vying for honours, with Viv Dick (nett 18) eking out a narrow victory from runner-up Grant Crossley (nett 19).

However, the talking point was the holein-one by Peter Lamond on the 9th, with plenty there to witness the feat.

Lucas Duvenhague claimed the Hoffman’s, with Christian Philpot taking nearest to the pin bragging rights. Ross Craven won the longest men’s drive.

Lamond whacks way to win

HUMID conditions greeted 14 players when they went head to head in Wednesday Wackers action at Carpentaria Golf Club on 21 February.

Some great gross scores were carded, with Mick Cernaka and Ross Craven returning to the clubhouse with 38 and 40 respectively.

A nett 28 was enough to secure the winner’s chocolates for Peter Lamond, with Grant Crossley (nett 30.5) claiming the runner-up spot. Cernaka topped off a strong game by taking the nearest to the pin prize on the 18th hole, with Viv Chan winning the Bradman’s.

Netball dates locked in

JUNIOR players will take to the netball court in Weipa on Monday and Wednesday afternoons during the next school term. Weipa Social Netball announced last week that the competition – for boys and girls aged five to 18 – would run from 15 April, 2024 to 19 June, 2024.

For more information, keep an eye on the Weipa Social Netball Facebook page.

Carpentaria Golf Club president Murray Mountjoy.

Peter Lamond celebrates his hole-in-one.