Cape York Weekly Edition 174

Federal MPs take aim at soaring cost of groceries

WHILE grown men in pig suits showing their ridicule for Australia’s supermarket duopoly gave political watchers a laugh last week, the stunt should be used to highlight the horror remote shoppers are facing every day.

That is the message from Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) leader Robbie Katter after founder Bob Katter joined fellow independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie on Wednesday to agitate Woolworths and Coles by wearing bright pink inflatable suits and “eating” troughs of fake $100 and $50 notes.

The unconventional protest received national media attention, but the Member for Traeger said

he hoped it would also draw attention back to the cost of living issues crippling Cape York and Torres Strait residents every time they entered their local supermarket.

“[The stunt] is trying to grab their attention, and not only grab people in general, but redirect it as it applies to the more remote areas like Cape York,” Mr Katter told Cape York Weekly

“If grocery costs are bad in metro areas, it’s exacerbated tenfold in the remote areas.

“You use any device you can to try and showcase these issues at a national level.”

In 2023, the Queensland Government announced a five-year, $64 million freight subsidy it said

would reduce cost of living pressures for those calling the northernmost part of the state home.

However, it was revealed the subsidy would only equate to a 5.2 per cent saving at the cash register – and only on “essential goods” like fruit and vegetables, fresh meat and dairy, and frozen goods.

Mr Katter said the freight subsidy had failed remote Queenslanders, adding he believed the government needed to consider reallocating money earmarked for health services to making a genuine attempt to reduce the financial burden on Cape York and Torres Strait residents at the supermarket.

“Thirteen dollars for a loaf of bread in the Gulf [of Carpentaria]

and that’s supposed to be with assistance,” he said incredulously.

“The remote areas of the Gulf and Cape York must be the most depressed at times in grocery pricing, with direct links to health outcomes. [Government] has to link it directly with health outcomes, and we have some pretty big health budgets there that could be better justified as direct subsidies to make basic groceries cheaper.

“There’s a direct correlation between kids and people not eating well, and you’re going to be paying for it one way or the other, so it should be a high priority on the agenda for every conversation we have around health.”

– story by Lyndon Keane

New era for Mapoon store

MAPOON has celebrated its store joining the Community Enterprise Queensland family after it was reopened as an IBIS supermarket on Thursday.

The Rugapayn Store was previously run by Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council, meaning it was limited in the product range and buying power it was able to provide for residents of the western Cape York community.

The rebranding as an IBIS supermarket is the result of a collaboration between the council, CEQ and the Mapoon community, and Mayor Aileen Addo

described the transition as “a momentous occasion for our community”.

“I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the entire CEQ team for their dedication to serving our community and ensuring the delivery and service of food to our residents,” she said following the opening ceremony.

“By working hand in hand with organisations like CEQ, we can build a stronger, more resilient community, where everyone has access to the resources they need to thrive.”

CEQ chief executive Michael

Dykes said the council had expressed an interest for an IBIS store, which was sent directly to the CEQ board and State Government Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Leeanne Enoch.

“All stakeholders were very strong in their direction to support council’s request for CEQ to operate the store, and I’d like to acknowledge council, community, Minister Enoch, the CEQ board and the CEQ team for supporting and responding to the needs of the Mapoon community,” Mr Dykes said.

“We’re all about community empowerment, employing locals, and encouraging and supporting First Nations businesses to thrive alongside us.”

Mr Dykes added Mapoon residents would now have access to a reliable supply of fresh food.

“The CEQ IBIS store means accessibility and convenience for everyone, and we’d like to reassure the Mapoon community that we’re here for the long haul,” he said.

Current Rugapayn Store team members will be retained as part of the transition process.

Bob Katter and Andrew Wilkie.

Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council CEO Tom Smith, Councillor Janelle Ling, Mayor Aileen Addo, CEQ CEO Michael Dykes, Councillor Dawn Braun, CEQ general manager stakeholder engagement Fred Gela, and Councillor Cameron Hudson celebrate the community supermarket joining the CEQ stable.

Landholder kept in dark over World Heritage bid

By LYNDON KEANE

THE Queensland Government will not explain why it has failed to consult with freehold property owners who will be impacted by a state and federal push to obtain World Heritage listing for parts of Cape York.

The joint plan was revealed earlier this year, with the Miles Government currently undertaking cultural heritage studies to determine the makeup of the tentative World Heritage list.

However, a Lakeland landholder, whose 12,300-acre freehold property falls within one of the areas currently being assessed for inclusion on the tentative list, is demanding to know why the government is refusing to engage with non-Traditional Owners as part of the process.

About 30 per cent of Mountain View, which has been owned by the Marriott family for nearly four decades, is captured by the Quinkan Country National Heritage List area, which was added to the Australian National Heritage List on 10 November, 2018.

The Cape York Land Council (CYLC), which has been engaged by the State Government to undertake consultation with Traditional Owners about the make-up of the tentative list, is currently meeting with the Balnggarrwarra clan group, and Possum and Kuku Warra native title groups about whether they want to see Quinkan Country receive World Heritage status.

The CYLC held an “information meeting” with Possum and Kuku Warra stakeholders on 29 February, 2024, while a meeting is scheduled with the Balnggarrwarra clan group on 6 March.

According to CYLC notices, the meetings let Traditional Owners “ask questions of representatives of the State of Queensland and the Commonwealth” and “discuss the next steps in the engagement process” regarding a tentative listing.

Joy Marriot said the process was “flawed” and asked why freehold owners with undisputed property rights were being left out of the conversation.

“I’ve had no notification,” she told Cape York Weekly

“The first thing I saw was one of my TO friends sent me a screenshot of the Cape York Land Council up on their Facebook for a meeting in Cooktown. I put up on Facebook I was going to gatecrash it, but then it was cancelled at the last minute.”

Ms Marriott said the irony was that she was “the most likely landholder who’s non-Indigenous in Cape York to support World Heritage”.

“As a freehold owner of the land, and going from National Heritage to World Heritage, which is controlled by UNESCO, I may well agree to that … I may be convinced [but] there’s no proposal for a management agreement if that happens.

“I’ve lost control of my property and it’s devalued my property.”

When asked whether free-

hold owners would be consulted, Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Leanne Linard was unable to provide either a definitive answer or specifics around the overall engagement process.

“We are currently working with some Traditional Owners who have previously been interested in World Heritage, and only considering areas that are under Indigenous ownership or already part of Queensland’s protected area estate for tentative listing,” Ms Linard said.

“It is not a blanket nomination of all of Cape York Peninsula, and any land included must have landholder consent.

“If a tentative listing is successful, more detailed and wider consultation will occur in the preparation of a subsequent more detailed nomination.

“A broader consultation will happen after this initial tentative listing process is complete.”

Ms Marriott said she believed the lack of detail proved the government had no interested in gauging the views of non-Indigenous property owners.

“The process is flawed and they haven’t done the groundwork,” she said.

“I will have my message heard; I won’t be intimidated.”

The LNP’s spokesperson for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Sam O’Connor, said Cape York residents deserved the truth about the current engagement process.

“The importance of current and future economic opportunities for the people of this region cannot be overstated, and must be a key consideration in any decision,” he said.

“Concerns have been raised directly with the LNP that the consultation has been inadequate.”

Ms Marriott said she would not stop fighting for the right to be heard as a property owner who would be impacted by a tentative listing of Quinkan Country.

“I would have just appreciated being consulted or spoken to, or notified as an interested party,” she said angrily.

“I don’t want to go to court.”

Editor’s view – Page 14

Despite about 30 per cent of her 12,300-acre freehold property falling within the Quinkan Country land parcel being considered for World Heritage listing, Mountain View owner Joy Marriott says she has had no engagement from the State Government.

Photo: Lyndon Keane

Remote heart scans saving lives

By CHISA HASEGAWA

TWENTY-EIGHT communities across Cape York and the Torres Strait are expected to have access to heart scans in their own backyard, following a pioneering program helping tackle acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD).

First Nations peoples are one of the major at-risk groups for RHD and ARF, meaning early access for an echocardiogram is vital for residents living in the northernmost part of Queensland.

Cardiac sonographer Sheena Foskett said more than a third of the echocardiograms she performed last year were on people with RHD.

“RHD is a disease of poverty and disadvantage,” Ms Foskett said.

“It was essentially eliminated in non-Indigenous Australian population decades ago, and shouldn’t exist in a prosperous country like Australia.”

She explained the disease was a diagnosis that a patient would carry for the rest of their life.

“I believe everyone should be entitled to the same access to services no matter where they live, which is why I am so passionate about delivering this on-Country program,” Ms Foskett said.

TCHHS executive director of medical services Dr Marlow Coates said once people were diagnosed with ARF or RHD, they could receive treatment to prevent it from causing long-term cardiac damage, such as heart failure and strokes.

“Once diagnosed with ARF or RHD, patients require regular

scans to ensure appropriate ongoing management, and it’s important that they turn up to their scheduled appointments for these scans,” he said.

“That’s why having an onCountry service to deliver these scans is a huge benefit, and highlights our dedication to bringing services closer to home.”

TCHHS recorded 28 cases of RHD and 28 cases of ARF in 2023, compared with 64 cases of RHD and 25 cases of ARF in 2022.

To date in 2024, there have been four cases of ARF and one case of RHD.

“Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease are often not recognised by the community as a big problem, but as a health service, we are focused on both preventative and treatment measures,” Dr Coates said.

Bloomfield outage fixed

RESIDENTS in the Bloomfield Valley were without mobile phone services for almost a week after heavy rain damaged Telstra infrastructure last month.

One resident told Cape York Weekly the outage, which mainly impacted Ayton, began on 19 February.

Telstra admitted there had been an outage as a result of infrastructure damage, but that landline and broadband services had not been impacted.

“Heavy rain in the region has damaged our equipment that provides mobile services in Bloomfield,” Telstra regional general manager Rachel Cliffe said when Cape York Weekly inquired about the outage on 23 February, 2024.

“Landline, nbn and other broadband services are not affected.

“We know how important connectivity is in rural and regional Australia, and we’re working to get everything back online as quickly as possible.”

The resident confirmed mobile services were returned on 26 February, 2024.

Girl charged over assault

A 17-YEAR-OLD Injinoo girl was charged with two accounts of assault occasioning bodily harm following an incident on Thursday afternoon.

It will be alleged that around 4pm on 29 February, the teenager approached two people known to her on Tamwoy Street and started an altercation, causing minor injuries to both.

The girl was subsequently arrested at a Tamwoy Street address and transported to the Bamaga police station.

She is scheduled to appear in the Bamaga Childrens Court at a later date.

Public nuisance charge

POLICE have charged a 45-year-old Kowanyama man with public nuisance after an incident on Friday.

It will be alleged that at about 9:45am, the man entered a Chapman Road business and became verbally abusive and threatening towards staff.

Police located the man at the business, and he was arrested and transported to the Kowanyama police station.

The man will appear in Kowanyama Magistrates Court on March 14, 2024.

Cardiac sonographer Sheena Foskett performs echocardiograms in remote communities across the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service area.

Kindness Koalas send a message

By CHISA HASEGAWA

TWO mothers brought together by grief have turned their heartbreak into support for other parents who have lost their children.

Following the tragic loss of their sons to suicide, Jackie Perry and Debbie Jackson launched the Talk About It Tuesday service – a grief support after suicide group –and raising awareness in schools using Kindness Koalas.

Ms Perry, who lost her son almost three years ago, said she wanted to provide the kind of support she was given by her friend and partner in this initiative.

“It started because my friend Deb, who lost her son about 10 years ago now, the night we lost our son she came straight in and was there by my side,” Ms Perry told Cape York Weekly

“I just found it so good to have someone with me who’d already been through this.

“It’s such a different sort of grief, and there’s so many other issues attached with it, you have to deal with police, and there’s a lot of guilt and regret as well.”

The two mothers, who both lost their sons on a Tuesday, wanted a way to show support to other parents and create a safe space to speak about suicide.

“We just thought ‘wouldn’t it be great if we could talk openly about it all the time and not feel uncomfortable, or not have people squirm

when you bring up the subject?’” she said.

“It started off with just wearing the Talk About It Tuesday shirt to show support to each other and spread a little bit of awareness around our town, but it’s sort of taken on a life of its own.

The pair continue to spread awareness in the community,

handing out information packets and fighting for a kind and understanding world.

“I think both of us thought ‘how can we make our sons’ tragic deaths help someone else or do some good?’’ Ms Perry said.

“I just feel like all of this tragedy and horrible feelings, it has to have a purpose. My son, he did

“We sent out some suggested activities to go along with them, and left it up to each school how much they did,” Ms Perry said.

“We just thought ‘wouldn’t it be nice to have something in schools as a visual reminder to be kind?’.

“It might just take one word or act to make someone decide I won’t do it today, because someone gave me that smile or someone helped me do something.”

Ms Perry said both of their boys had learning difficulties and were treated unkindly.

want to spread awareness because he suffered for a long time; I knew he would want us to do something like this and I know Debbie’s son would have wanted that, too.” They sent out the Kindness Koalas and information about their program to 29 schools across Cape York and the Torres Strait at the start of the school year.

Our plan is more of the Queensland you love

Over

next 10 years, our state

Queenslanders.

“I remember there was a lot of cruel things that gets said to kids that might have a few learning difficulties,” she said.

“We just want to create a world where people try and put themselves in someone else’s shoes before saying something nasty.”

 If you or someone you know needs help, you can reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

Debbie Jackson and Jackie Perry (above right) have used their Talk About It Tuesday support service to issue Kindness Koalas to children in Cape York and Torres Strait schools, including their local Coen school.

Date set for net fishing ban off Cape York coast

By LYNDON KEANE

THE State Government decision to implement gillnet-free fishing zones across the Gulf of Carpentaria, including the western coastline of Cape York, will cripple remote communities reliant on commercial fishing, according to a local politician.

The government announced last week that new gillnet fishing zones would be introduced from 17 May as part of structural changes to commercial fishing from the west coast of Queensland to the NT border.

Despite the announcement, the ultimate locations and design of gillnet-free zones remain to be seen, with Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner admitting “final details on the locations will be announced in early April after further consultation”.

More than 4100 submissions were made after a discussion paper outlining proposed future management options for commercial fishing in the Gulf of Carpentaria was opened for public consultation in late 2023.

Stakeholder consultation was undertaken in the four draft zones, including the Northern Zone, which incorporates all rivers and creeks and nearshore waters from Thud Point to the tip of Cape York, and the Pormpuraaw Zone, which takes in all rivers, creeks, and nearshore waters between Balurga Creek and the Chapman River.

While the government says the aim of the gillnet ban is to prevent adverse impacts on threatened species, Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said he believed the move had no scientific basis and was a kneejerk reaction to appease UNESCO.

“Queensland Fisheries has failed to furnish any analysis or evidence demonstrating the significant and irreversible environmental harm caused by net fishing,” the Mount Isa-based MP said.

“The risk of net fishing to the environment is low in the context of the many other more significant environmental risks facing the Gulf of Carpentaria, including over-fishing by international vessels.”

Mr Furner said the Miles Government did not believe the plan would have a detrimental impact on the sustainability of commercial fishing operations in the region.

“These net-free zones fulfil commitments made by the Australian Government that are supported by the Queensland Government. We’re committed to a sustainable seafood industry in Queensland, and that means a sustainable industry supporting good jobs in the Gulf region,” the Minister said.

Mr Katter added: “Eighty per cent of the Gulf’s commercial fishing sector, which supports untold local jobs and injects significant economic activity into the region, will be destroyed overnight with the confirmation of the bans.”

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Community store rebuild crucial to Wujal recovery

THE mayor of a Cape York community decimated by flooding in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Jasper says the commencement of work to rebuild its supermarket will return “a sense of normalcy” as residents prepare to come home in the next month.

Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Bradley Creek inspected the community supermarket last week after the State Government announced rebuilding work was under way on the vital infrastructure.

Mayor Creek, who has been the extremely public face of residents since they were evacuated in December 2023, said it was hoped the community could begin to return in the next four or five weeks.

“It has been a very rough time for my people of Wujal Wujal,” he said.

“The road to recovery is four to five weeks away.

“All government agencies are working together so all essential services are up and running before the community returns home to Wujal Wujal.”

QBuild has been engaged to complete repairs to the store, which will include replacement of the cold room, store generator and retaining walls, as well as reflooring, re-sheeting of walls, and electrical repairs.

It is hoped the rebuild will help restore food security to the community as stakeholders coordinate the return of residents, who were displaced to Cairns, Cooktown

and other nearby locations following the evacuation.

Minister for Communities Leeanne Enoch inspected the supermarket with Mayor Creek and said the asset played a daily role in the lives of Wujal residents.

“This is a huge loss to the remote community, as the store provides essential access to food and other day-to-day convenience items,” she said.

“A lot of residents in Wujal Wujal rely heavily on the store’s easy access from within the community on a daily basis.

“I’m pleased to report that work to repair the store has already begun, and we’re looking at interim options to provide access to food and other essential items until repairs are completed, and the store has reopened.”

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said the return of the supermarket would play a strong part in the community’s recovery.

“In light of all the community has suffered, it’s so important that residents are supported to return to community and Country as quickly as possible, and have access to essentials like fresh food,” she said.

Following the inspection, Mayor Creek said it was a positive step on the road to returning Wujal Wujal to a place residents felt safe coming home to.

“Rebuilding the store will return a sense of normality for the community, which has been through so much,” he said.

Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Bradley Creek and Minister for Communities Leeanne Enoch inspect the community’s store, which was destroyed in December.

Cook Shire meets its candidates

By LYNDON KEANE

COMMUNITY, integrity, resilience and growth were the common themes when about 250 Cook Shire voters turned out on Saturday to meet the people aspiring to represent them for the next four years.

With dozens more watching the event livestream, the three mayoral and 19 councillor candidates who have nominated to sit around the council boardroom table when the region heads to the polls in 11 days took to the stage to share their vision and credentials at the Meet Your Local Candidates forum.

Supporter fashion was difficult to miss, with a number of audience members adorned in T-shirts that left no doubt where their loyalties lay.

Outgoing Mayor Peter Scott described the candidate cohort as a “fantastic bunch” and offered some advice garnered during two decades of representing the Cook Shire community.

“You’ve got equal responsibility to everyone living in the shire,” he said, referencing the council’s mammoth 106,000 square kilometre footprint.

“Partnerships are absolutely essential.”

Cooktown Chamber of Commerce and Tourism president Russell Bowman echoed partnership sentiment and said collaboration between local government and business was critical to the region’s success.

WHAT THEY SAID: COUNCILLOR CANDIDATES

Nash Snider

“I can promise you this – I will be a tireless advocate for the community, integrity and connection; these are not just words, they are guiding principles that shape my actions.”

Nick Davidson

“It is more about people and less about politics; it is about having the confidence of the community that you will be informed, measured and considered.”

“My big [belief] is improvement of infrastructure, so you will see me running around talking to everyone about why infrastructure is so important, and how we can continue to have [that] infrastructure.”

Jeanne Masding

“What matters to you matters to me; I intend to address all things that matter to the community.”

WHAT THEY SAID: COOK SHIRE COUNCIL’S MAYORAL CANDIDATES

Ian Murray

“Council does not hold the monopoly on good ideas … it’s the goodwill of the people that should be enacted.”

“I will always do better for everyone, and will make myself available at any time.”

Stephanie Hook

“Our youth need a voice; they need someone they can relate to in council, and I intend to be that voice to help them and grow our community.”

Sam Godfrey-Roberts

“I’m not a yes man, a lot of people know that by now; if I don’t think the community’s being represented properly, I’ll challenge that.”

Sarah Martin

“I want to help shape how the shire moves forward without losing what we love about it [and] I don’t want to be elected by false promises that can’t be delivered by a single councillor at a local government level.”

Gavin Dear

“I was a cynical outsider [and] very happy to snipe; is it possible for us to be more assertive and push state and federal legislation for more local autonomy?”

Kenny Reid

“The passion for the area really starts to bed into me the older I get ... it’s what drives me and gives me the passion to give back.”

Dave Goode

“You’ll have a councillor who has good communication skills, 30 years working with communities … someone that will help the council make sound economic decisions that are in the best interests of ratepayers and the community.”

Marylin Morris (above)

“I’ve really enjoyed being a councillor for the last four years; nothing has dimmed … I love representing my community and I will continue to do that if I’m elected again to represent my community.”

John Dessman

“I’m very committed to our people, our community and its liveability.”

Robyn Holmes

“It is my vision to see community-led solutions where community involvement … is a key indicator of success.”

Melinda Parker (above)

“I’m not a yes person; I will spend a lot of my time educating people what can and can’t be done, and what my role on council would be if elected.”

Ross Logan

“There’s too much red tape; local government is the face-to-face level of government … yet it’s the most regulated; we’ve got to keep rocking the boat, because sooner or later, they’ve got to start listening.”

Justin Coventry (right)

“I’m quite passionate about housing; I’ve had teachers and professionals here [in government housing] … but the sad thing about it though is … those people over the years have wanted to invest in Cooktown, but it’s such a hard thing.”

Jayson Watkin

“If elected, the continual upgrade of the PDR will be on my agenda; it has a direct impact on the cost of living for every resident living north of the corrugations, and it needs to be addressed.”

“We need to go forward and make this shire better, and, if you vote for me, I’ll help make this shire better.”

Joy Marriott

“I would like Cook Shire, the elected representatives, to be on some of these committees when the state government is considering land tenure on Cape York.”

Beau Peberdy (via prerecorded video)

“Because one of my priorities is conservation, I will not be supplying pamphlets or anything like that; I’ll just be going through word of mouth and social media.”

Hongyu Feng (above)

Greg Whittaker (above)

(above)

Walter Moessner (above)

Cook Shire’s three mayoral candidates, Ian Murray, Robyn Holmes and Kenny Reid, at PCYC Cooktown on Saturday morning. Photos: Lyndon Keane

For Cook Shire Council

I have lived in Cook Shire since 1997, first in Rossville and later in Cooktown, where I finished school in 2002

I have run my own business, worked as a journalist with the Cooktown Local News and Cape York Weekly, and as a communications advisor with Cook Shire Council, Yuku Baja Muliku Landowners and the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

I raised my two older daughters and son in Cooktown, and have been a ratepayer since 2007. I have family in Cooktown, Coen and Hope Vale and hope one day to be sharing our region with my grandkids.

My background, upbringing and experience is what drives me to want to make a difference by representing my fellow locals as a Cook Shire Councillor.

I understand the responsibilities and constraints of State and Local Government, and am ready to represent the community to improve our amazing and diverse Shire without losing what we love about it.

If you would like to know more about me and how I plan to represent the Shire, stop and say hi next time you see me out and about or give me a call on 0429 477 624.

For honest, realistic representation from a long-term local with State and Local Government experience, Vote 1 Sarah Martin.

Authorised

women’s clothing, shoes, books, toys and baby products.

“I’m proud to be a Kunjen woman.”

items, only have to venture outside after an innovative arts and craft retail store opened for business last week.

Run by RISE Ventures, the store will operate from Tuesday until Thursday each week and has a diverse range of products on offer, including at its inhouse op-shop.

The store has been divided into a number of sections, with each devoted to handmade items crafted by the RISE Ventures Women’s Hub, products imported from outside the community, such as cosmetics and perfume, as well as the op-shop, which will sell men’s and

The retail operation will be managed by Kowanyama resident Charmaine Lawrence, who worked with Rise Ventures’ Ebony Kachel and ladies from the Women’s Hub to renovate the arts centre, make the creative items on offer, order stock, sort op-shop donations and create the store’s colourful signage.

Ms Lawrence said she was incredibly proud of what the community had been able to achieve by developing and opening the store.

“I stood up and achieved something for myself, my family, my children and my community,” she said.

Ms Lawrence added her hope was that having the handmade products in the store would encourage more people to get involved with the Women’s Hub, which would provide her with the chance to mentor and support their creative journeys.

RISE Ventures and the organisation’s small businesses in Kowanyama, including the arts and craft retail store, are funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency through the Community Development Program and newlylaunched Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program.

Charmaine Lawrence says she’s proud of the new store. The RISE Ventures gardening team celebrate the opening of the new arts and craft store in Kowanyama.

Ebony Kachel and Charmaine Lawrence inside the new store.

Council offering relief for those hurt by disaster

COOK Shire Council has released details of a new policy it says will provide financial relief to ratepayers impacted by the rainfall and flood events caused by Cyclone Jasper.

Last Tuesday, the council voted to adopt its TC Jasper and Associated Rainfall and Flooding Policy, which will aim to provide crucial support to property owners grappling with financial hardship due to the December weather events.

The policy will allow the council to consider applications for financial aid from ratepayers severely impacted by Jasper, with assistance options including the freezing of interest for up to 12 months, or the deferment of a rates payment for the same period.

To qualify, applicants must own the affected property and complete the designated application form, which is available on the council website.

Mayor Peter Scott emphasised the importance of the initiative and said the organisation was doing what it could to help.

“The effects of Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the subsequent rainfall and flooding continue to reverberate throughout our community,” Mayor Scott said.

“As a council, it is our duty to stand with our residents during these difficult times and offer assistance wherever possible.

“We understand the challenges our community members are facing, and this policy reflects our dedication to alleviating some of

the financial burdens incurred as a result of the cyclone.”

Mayor Scott said the policy would not compromise the council’s statutory responsibility to debt recovery.

“Our priority is the well-being of our community,” he said.

“Together, we will navigate through these challenging times, and Cook Shire Council remains steadfast in our dedication to supporting our community every step of the way.”

Impacted residents are encouraged to contact the council’s rates officer on 4082 0500 as soon as possible, and are requested to submit their applications before their rates payment becomes due.

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Napranum to fall hook, line and sinker into Youth Week

THE fishing action in Napranum will be red hot when competitors wet a line to celebrate Youth Week 2024 on 12 April.

PCYC Napranum will host its annual Hook, Line and Sinker Fishing Competition as part of the week-long acknowledgement of the achievements and contributions of the community’s youth, but club manager Sergeant Rhonda Spence said the fishing was just one component of the party.

“There will be a full day of fun activities, including a disco and a deadly thinking workshop, where youth from Napranum, Weipa, Mapoon and Aurukun will come together at our club and participate,” she said.

“The last day will be a fishing competition hosted by PCYC Napranum on the foreshore.”

With categories for the top two barramundi, queenfish, golden trevally,

grunter and salmon caught, competition is expected to be fierce as anglers try to hook an incredible prize, including fishing rods, camp chairs, swags, lures and fishing shirts.

In addition to the main competition, youth will be asked to show their skills with cast nets, handlines and lure flicking.

Sergeant Spence said all fish needed to be taken on a rod and reel, or handline, and that participants would be required to ensure size and bag limits were adhered to.

Fishing will take place from 6am-3pm on 12 April, 2024, and catches must be brought to the measuring station, or measured on a brag mat with a capture card, by 3pm on 14 April, 2024.

For more information about the Hook, Line and Sinker Fishing Competition, drop into PCYC Napranum or email napranum@pcyc.org.au.

Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott.

Fishing competitions in Napranum always prove popular, with most opting to use handlines.

Pormpuraaw youth take an interest in carpentry

THE purchase of a new dog has proven to be the unconventional catalyst for an interest in carpentry for youth in the remote western Cape York community of Pormpuraaw.

After community resident and RISE Ventures participant Dontay Bally brought his new four-legged friend back from Cairns recently, he asked project coordinator Stephen Ambrum, workshop supervisor Darren Tarpencha and land and sea supervisor Lloyd Williams whether they could help build a kennel to house the dog.

A carpenter by trade, Mr Tarpencha saw the request as an opportunity to teach Mr Bally and other participants woodworking skills that developed well beyond the scope of the original kennel project.

With material sourced, the youth were taught cutting and joining techniques, levelling, as well as how to safely use a range of power tools.

Mr Bally said he was thrilled with the finished kennel, adding

he was grateful for the opportunity to learn basic carpentry skills.

RISE Ventures remote employment service manager Coral Harris said the project had kick-

started a genuine interest in the youth to increase their knowledge and skills, with a number of other carpentry projects now under way.

“This is one of those ‘build it

and they will come’ moments,” she said.

“Darren and Lloyd, led by Stephen, are doing a fantastic job connecting with and engaging our youth in a way that encourages, supports and helps develop them.

“It showcases what can happen when great connections are made; these young men are at the workshop because they want to be, not because they have to be.”

Ms Harris added it had been an empowering experience to watch the participants gain confidence in not only their skills on the tools, but also in themselves.

“It hasn’t been just an interest, but there’s a sense of pride and achievement for every stick of furniture they work on and complete,” she said.

“Darren is also teaching the boys how to make dining tables and chairs, bed frames and headboards.

“These items are practical and needed in our community, but can’t be purchased locally.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

WCC wants strategic input

WESTERN Cape College is asking stakeholders to provide feedback on its draft four-year strategic plan at either faceto-face or virtual meetings next week.

The in-person workshop will be held in the WCC administration staffroom from 12-1pm on 12 March, while the virtual meeting will be held from 3:15-4:15pm on the same day.

WCC principal Dan Tonon said the plan would “meet the evolving needs and aspirations of our college and its vibrant community over the next four years”.

For virtual meeting access information, please contact the school.

Stakeholders unable to attend either meeting are asked to submit feedback to principal@westerncapecollege.eq.ed.au.

Voting for Wujal residents

DISPLACED Wuja Wujal residents will be able to have their say in who represents them in the council chamber for the next four years by voting in Cooktown or Cairns.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland announced last week electors could cast an early vote from 14 March (9am-5pm) and 15 March (9am-6pm) at the Cook Shire Council hall at 42 Helen Street, Cooktown, or the Cairns ECQ returning office at 230-232 Mulgrave Road.

Voters will also have the opportunity to vote on election day – 16 March, 2024 – at either location from 8am-6pm.

Voice for small businesses

SMALL business owners across Cape York and the Torres Strait are being encouraged to consider providing feedback directly to the State Government by joining the Queensland Small Business Advisory Council.

The QSBAC is looking for up to 10 small business owners to advise the government about growing small enterprises in the state. The terms of the current council members expire this month, and Small Business Minister Lance McCallum said the government was seeking regional small business owners with diverse backgrounds and experience to replace them.

“Small business is the engine room of the Queensland economy, with more than 473,000 enterprises representing just over 97 per cent of all businesses in the state,” he said.

“It’s imperative that the advisory council is an active voice for helping small business to thrive.”

Expressions of interest in joining the QSBAC are at desbt.qld.gov.au/qsbac.

RISE Ventures workshop supervisor Darren Tarpencha (left) is showing Pormpuraaw youth like Reginald Ambrum and Dontay Bally the finer points of basic carpentry in a move that is providing the community with much-needed household items that cannot be purchased locally.

Participants are now using their carpentry skills to make dining tables and chairs, bed frames and headboards for the Pormpuraaw community.

Results rewarded for ReefClean

By CHISA HASEGAWA

TANGAROA Blue Foundation’s ReefClean project has been extended until 2027 after successfully securing the competitive Great Barrier Reef Marine Debris Management and Mitigation Grant opportunity.

The ReefClean project delivers services such as community clean-up events, site monitoring, community source reduction plan workshops, and school and community engagement plans, keeping tonnes of marine debris out of reefs annually in the process.

Marine debris has been identified as a significant risk to the Great Barrier Reef’s ecosystem and is considered a key threat to the reef region’s values.

Tangaroa Blue Foundation chief executive officer Heidi Tait said they were looking forward to another three-anda-half years of cleaning and protecting the reef.

“Tangaroa Blue led the ReefClean program from 2018-2023, removing more than 127 tonnes of marine debris from between the Torres Strait and Bundaberg, and tens of thousands of participants in activities,” she said.

“We are thrilled to be able

to continue to build on this work, with our team of ReefClean partners, to reduce the risk of marine debris to the Great Barrier Reef.

They will continue to work with key delivery partners, including Wuthani Aboriginal Corporation (WAC).

“We are really excited to continue to work hand in hand with Tangaroa Blue Foundation to reduce marine debris impacting our Country,” WAC land and sea custodian coordinator Clayton Enoch said.

“During last year’s events, the faces of our Elders lit up as soon as they found out that we had pulled so much rubbish from the beaches, and they couldn’t wait to do it again.”

Newly on board this year was behaviour change research enterprise BehaviourWorks Australia.

Project lead Dr Kim Borg said the organisation was “excited and honoured to join the ReefClean partnership”.

“It’s a great opportunity to join forces with an already successful program and amplify its impact through a rigorous and applied behavioural approach to help address the wicked problem that is marine debris in the Great Barrier Reef,” Dr Borg said.

ReefClean has secured funding to keep the Great Barrier Reef waters cleaner until beyond 2027.

Mother, daughter set to shine at art exhibition

By CHISA HASEGAWA

KOKBERRIN’S culture and stories will feature at UMI Arts’ first exhibition of the year, You & Me Mother-and-daughter duo

Lisa Michl Ko-manggén and Dorothy Edwards will showcase their work in Cairns alongside 13 First Nations artists from across Far North Queensland.

Ms Michl Ko-manggén, who is also the artistic director at UMI Arts, said she was excited to be sharing the experience with her mother.

“As First Nations arts and cultural practitioners from regional and remote communities, we often work collaboratively and share one voice to advocate for

opportunities to create pathways which we can use to elevate and enhance the lives of our artists,” she said.

You & Me will feature a range of UMI Arts members at various stages of their careers.

“It gives member artists at all levels of their career, whether emerging, mid-career or professional, an opportunity to have their artwork curated and hung in a public gallery in Cairns,” Ms Michl Ko-manggén said.

“Several of the artists have participated in this exhibition program throughout the years, and it is exciting to see the progression of their artwork and their development as artists.”

Ms Michl Ko-manggén will be showcasing an acrylic and

canvas piece which tells the story of the pipi shell shuffle, an ancient technique used to harvest the small clams.

“I consider the time that I have spent on Country with my senior Elders a privilege, and it is our Kokoberrin cultural lifestyle, language and stories that inspire my work,” she said.

“Many of the artists are from FNQ and remote communities, and the stories of their work reflect time spent on Country with Elders in community.”

UMI Arts exhibition officer Robyne Pacey said You & Me was an annual exhibition showcasing the rich diversity of First Nations art and culture in FNQ.

“UMI is a Creole word that means ‘you and me,’” she said.

“This is significant, because we must work together to keep our culture strong, and from an exhibition perspective, You & Me encapsulates UMI Arts’ mission and philosophy– providing artists with support and pathways to create art of an exhibition standard.”

She encouraged anyone interested in expanding their collection or investing in their first piece of Indigenous art to come along to the opening on 15 March from 6pm.

“When artists talk to their artwork and share culture and stories with visitors and guests, a meaningful exchange occurs, and the overall experience becomes special and memorable,” Ms Pacey said.

Prioritise roads: KAP

KATTER’S Australian Party has slammed the State Government for failing to make road infrastructure in Far North Queensland a priority, especially in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

Robbie Katter said Queensland owned a quarter of the country’s road infrastructure but was the most decentralised state in terms of its road network.

“Far North Queensland and northwestern Queensland bear the cost of a dysfunctional road funding model driven by votes in the cities, which sees billions poured into big ticket projects such as the Cross River Rail, which lack a credible business case and present questionable economic value to the state,” the MP said.

KAP confirmed it would soon announce its new candidate for Cook at the October 2024 state election, adding better road transport infrastructure would be a priority for whoever ended up flying the party flag.

Lock it or lose it reminder

WITH the rise in popularity and numbers of electric scooters and bikes being used, police are reminding owners to take the steps required to secure them after a recent rise in thefts.

Police said owners needed to consider how they secured their e-scooter or bike in a public place, or even their residence.

Small lightweight chain locks may seem like a convenient way to provide security, but police said these locks could be easily broken by applying a relatively small amount of force.

Police said they were finding more criminals carrying bolt cutters and other implements to take advantage of people using low-quality locks to secure their e-scooters or bikes.

Early voting opens

MOST Queensland electors can now head to the polls to cast their votes early for the 2024 local government elections.

Early voting is available to all electors, and commenced in most local government areas from 9am on 4 March, 2024, and will run through to until 15 March, 2024.

Electoral Commissioner Pat Vidgen said early voting centres would be operating across the state.

“We know that early voting continues to be a popular option for Queensland electors, with almost half of electors choosing this option during the last local government elections in 2020,” he said.

Early voting times and dates will vary between council areas.

Respected Kokoberrin artist Lisa Michl Ko-manggén is excited to showcase FNQ’s First Nations culture and art in Cairns. Photo: Lovegreen Photography

Landholders deserve to have say

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

IF you’re asked to pick a topic likely to be a common theme – and point of contention – in any conversation about life on Cape York, you’ll get Winx-like odds roads will be one of the first things that comes to mind.

It’s unsurprising, given the critical role roads play in keeping those of us who work and play north of Cairns connected from economic and social perspectives, as well as literally. Or disconnected, depending on what time of the year you’re talking about.

But the road I’m referring to in this instance is the one Premier Steven Miles, his cabinet and menagerie of allegedly savvy advisors are plotting a course along when it comes to open and transparent engagement with stakeholders about getting a few Cape York locations added to UNSECO’s coveted list of World Heritage wonder.

When we asked Minister Linard why people like Joy Marriott – who is set to lose unencumbered management of at least 30 per cent of her family’s 12,300-acre Lakeland property if Quinkan Country makes it to the tentative World Heritage list – has not even had a text, voicemail or missed call asking whether she supported the move, it was as if her office had

never heard of the concept of freehold land ownership.

Instead, she told Cape York Weekly that “an application for listing will only proceed with the free, prior and informed consent of interested Traditional Owners”.

All well and good, for sure, but what about owners with an inalienable right to their land that don’t fall into groups currently being consulted?

Furthermore, will the State

Government specify what the rules of engagement were for the aforementioned consultation process –and the cost – before we run out of fuel on this fun-filled family trip to cynicism and contempt?

The fact Minister Linard admitted that, should consultation with Traditional Owners garner a green light, only then would “broader consultation” occur, ostensibly with other interested parties. Like freehold property owners and eve-

ryone else who lives on Cape York, as an extremely off-the-top-thehead example.

I’ve mentioned it in this space previously, but the approach reeks of nothing more than a last-minute jab at the brakes to try and win the affection of those green, environmentally-focused voters who tend to reside in high-density electorate areas as people prepare to head to the polls to elect new Brisbane and Canberra-based leader-

ship teams in the next 15 months.

When you tell political spin and hyperbole to wait in the car while you step out to relieve yourself on this poorly signed road trip to UNESCO sycophancy, it becomes clear the government’s indefensible omission of freehold landowners in the World Heritage discussion has been reached by taking one of only two possible off-ramps.

Exit one is oversight, in that those running the current engagement process have absolutely no idea what they’re doing, including the fact there are likely to be at least a few freehold properties not under the control of Traditional Owners if you’re going to consider multiple sites on a canvas as geographically diverse as Cape York.

Exit two is intentional, in that the State and Federal Governments don’t want the genuine feedback of freehold property owners on the basis of some skewed, metropolitan-birthed thought bubble that non-Indigenous landholders have no interest in the sustainable environmental management of property under their control.

Neither option is ideal for a government heading down a road closing rapidly to having any chance of convincing Cape York residents it has any legitimate leadership claims, including making decisions in the best interests of any Queenslander who has an address that happens to be above 16.9 degrees south of the equator.

People like Joy Marriott, who owns land that is likely to come under the World Heritage microscope, deserve to be heard.

DAILY CONVENTIONAL CROSSWORD 15 X 15 GRID Q

Quick Crossword

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. Focus

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.

Created:

Ted Whillier

Qxpress: 8488

Matt Trickey Checked:

Rosemary

Spot the 5 Differences

Join the Dots

Crossword

Yesterday’s Solution

Swimmers in a race to raise cash

SOME of Cape York’s top schoolaged swimmers are refusing to let the tyranny of distance and cost block their lane ahead of this month’s Queensland Representative School Sports Swimming State Championships in Brisbane.

Five senior members of the Cooktown Amateur Swimming Club have been selected to represent the Peninsula team at the prestigious event, with competitors now racing the clock to fundraise the $9,000 needed for get them to the state capital in time for the starter’s pistol on 23 March.

Haila Hegamaea, 13, will compete in the 50-metre freestyle, Rudolf Habermann, 14, the 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 100m backstroke, and Lake Hegamaea, 16, the 50m and 100m freestyle events.

Jett Ryder, 15, and Samuel Ryder, 17, will fly the club’s flag in the 50m butterfly and freestyle disciplines.

Club president Melissa Gunton

said to have five representatives of such a small club selected for the Peninsula team was a huge result.

“This is the first time we have had five seniors selected as part of the Peninsula team,” she said.

“Last year, the 13-19 years Peninsula team was made up of 12 youth, with the majority of the

team from the Cairns region. This is the first time Cooktown has put in a team for Peninsula selection in my years at being at the club.

“To have all five of our seniors make the team is amazing.”

With anywhere from 2,0003,000 swimmers set to compete in Brisbane, Ms Gunton said the

experience would be a big change from the 120-350 competitors that Cooktown’s Peninsula team members were used to challenging in the pool.

“From a club perspective, we are extremely proud,” Ms Gunton explained.

“Our children only have the op-

portunity to train five days a fortnight in Cooktown, whereas the city kids train on average at least seven sessions a week.

“For our kids to make qualifying times is amazing for such a small community and limited training sessions.”

Ms Gunton said the club was now calling on the Cooktown community to throw its financial support behind the quintet.

“At present, we have only a month to fundraiser the $9,000 needed to get them to the championships, so the team will be fundraising their little hearts off,” she said.

“Being remote, we have been told that many members who have been selected to represent the Peninsula team, especially kids from the Cape, have had to withdraw from the team due to the expenses of travelling from Cape York.

“We are going to do everything in our power to get them there.”

– story by Lyndon Keane

Crocs ready to put bite into national championships

IT is a sport that seldom comes up in conversation, but Cooktown is punching well above its weight when it comes to representative underwater hockey.

After being invented by the British Navy in the 1950s as a way to keep its divers fit, the sport arrived in Australia shortly after, before evolving into an international game now played in more than 20 countries.

Unlike their field hockey counterparts, underwater hockey competitors wear large fins, a diving mask and snorkel, and use a 25-centimetre “bat” to flick a puck across the bottom of the pool towards the goal.

The sport has been played in Cooktown for about two decades, with Cooktown Crocs Underwater Hockey Club coach Scott Thomason telling Cape York Weekly it had grown to the point many members were now regularly representing their state.

“It’s definitely a bit of a different sort of sport,” he said.

“We’ve been playing it for 20 years up here, but just at a low level.

“The Cairns Crays [Underwater Hockey Club] ran a clinic up here about five years ago, and from there, everyone got real good and were introduced to

rep teams and, since 2020, they’ve been picked in national sides.”

It is no exception in 2024, with club members Sam Ryder, Eli Carroll, Si-

enna Thomason and Rocco Thomason selected to don Queensland colours at the Australian Nationals in Cairns from 11-15 April.

Mr Thomason said there were two grades in each playing division this year – men’s and women’s elite, under-19 and U15, as well as a masters division.

He added having the national competition so close to home was an added bonus for club members, as it would allow supporters to make the trip from Cooktown to cheer poolside.

“This year, it’s awesome to have it closer, and we have a lot of less experienced kids playing in the U15 development side, and they will be the future of the division next year and the year after, and it means people can come down [to Cairns] and show their support,” he explained.

“In the past, we’ve had to travel to places like Tas-

mania, Bunbury [in Western Australia] and Sydney.”

Mr Thomason explained the format of the sport allowed family members of different ages to compete side by side, adding he believed teamwork was the most vital skill for players to possess.

“A lot of people don’t know about the sport, but the best thing about it is that it can be played at all age groups, all shapes and sizes, and it allows you to be really competitive at a really high level alongside your family; there are not many sports you can do that with at a high level,” he said.

“Breath holds got a big part of [being a good player] and a lot of us spearfish, but there’s a lot of skill and teamwork involved.

“You may be the most amazing player in the world, but you’ve got to come up for a breath, so you need your team.”

The Cooktown Crocs under-15 team took honours in the NQ Championships last year.

Cooktown Amateur Swimming Club stars Lakea Hegamaea, Haila Hegamaea, Samuel Ryder, Rudolf Habermann and Jett Ryder will compete against the best school-aged swimmers in Queensland later this month.

SPORT IN BRIEF

Gymnastics meeting

WEIPA Gymnastics Club will choose its executive committee for the year when it holds its annual general meeting on Saturday, 16 March.

The meeting will commence at 12:30pm in the Weipa gym hall, opposite the courthouse.

The club will offer a come and try morning for budding gymnasts before the meeting, with a spokesperson saying classes were close to being offered.

For more information, check out the Weipa Gymnastics Club Facebook page.

Dawnbusters countback

If

SCORERS had to go to a countback before Leigh Allender could claim Dawnbusters bragging rights on 3 March.

With 13 players teeing off on the back nine, competition was fierce, and Allender and Grant Crossley both returned to the clubhouse with nett 17 before the former was named winner.

Peter Lamond scored the week’s Hoffman’s prize, while Simon Ayles managed to get his name inked in the nearest to the pin column.

Longest drive honours went to Jim Lucas.

Swing into cricket

KEEN cricketers of all ages are being encouraged to don their pads on Monday, 11 and 18 March as Cook Shire Council teams up with MoveIt NQ, Queensland Cricket and the Queensland Government to bring four weeks of on-field action.

The free cricket sessions commenced on 26 February, and there is no need to book or register – simply show up and have a great time at the John Street Oval.

Sessions for kids will run from 4:305:30pm on the day, with adults set to take to the field from 5:30pm-6:30pm.

Cowboys ready to roll

THE pride of Nor th Queensland take to the hallowed turf of Suncorp Stadium when the Cowboys tackle the Dolphins in round one NRL action on Sunday.

The Cowboys will be hoping for a repeat of the 34-10 result the last time the teams met in round 26 last year. Kick-off will be at 3:05pm on Sunday and the match will be shown live on Channel Nine.

Kaidyn Willy is all smiles with this 60-centimetre barra snared on the Mission River at Weipa.

This 75cm barramundi was no match for Weipa’s Les Borthwick.

Coen’s Sara Watkins is understandably pretty chuffed with her 115cm cobia, caught off Port Stewart.

Cooktown resident Qarl Hayes caught this bumper Spanish mackerel during a recent offshore trip.

13-year-old Leona Ware shows off a silver jew caught at Mapoon’s Cullen Point.