Cape York Weekly Edition 180

Just months after it was rolled out in some local stores, Member for Cook Cynthia is calling on her own government to boost its freight subsidy scheme in remote Queensland. Turn to Page 3 to see why the $64 million scheme is failing Cape York and Torres Strait shoppers at the supermarket.

Shire Council’s elected representatives for the next four years were all smiles after being sworn in and having their first meeting on 9 April. Turn to Page 5 to see what their short- and long-term leadership visions for the region are.

DATE CLAIMER

Saturday, 21 September 2024

Tombstone Unveiling of the late Mr Stanislaus

“Parley/Stan” Sabatino

Martyn St Cemetery (New Area) – CAIRNS

Formal invitation to follow

For further information please contact

• Yosi Sabatino: 0423 581 870

• Risha Sabatino: 0455 505 519

Police reject calls for 24-hour presence

DESPITE calls from some parts of the Weipa community for the township’s police station to operate 24/7, the Queensland Police Service says it currently has “sufficient staff and resources” in place.

The renewed focus on whether the Weipa police station should operate around the clock comes on the back of the recent spate of vehicle thefts and property crimes allegedly carried out by mostly youth offenders.

One Weipa business owner, who spoke to Cape York Weekly

on the condition of anonymity, said they were concerned a lot of the crimes currently plaguing the township were occurring after midnight.

“Our police are doing an amazing job with the manpower and resources they have, but there has to be a 24/7 presence in town, certainly now with everything happening,” they said.

“Everyone knows someone who’s been impacted by youth crime in town recently, and it’s common knowledge the police finish at midnight, which seems

to be when the kids are coming out. Other police stations in the Cape are manned every hour of the day, and they have smaller populations than us; if we had police operating 24/7, I can’t see how it wouldn’t make a good impact on the crime we’re experiencing at the moment.”

A QPS spokesperson said there was no plan to operate 24/7 in Weipa, adding the rostering demand for officers was regularly reviewed.

“The QPS has sufficient staff and resources to deliver profes-

sional policing services to all Cape York residents and visitors, including local businesses operators,” they said.

“The service regularly reviews population growth, crime trends and service delivery requirements to ensure a fair and equitable policing service is provided throughout the state.

“The rostering to demand at Weipa Station is regularly reviewed and, where necessary, adjusted to appropriately respond to any changes in demand.”

• Testing & installation

• Blocked drains • Water leaks

• TMV testing • Hot water specialist

Splash pad to feature in $1.7m upgrade at Weipa

THE Weipa Aquatic Centre will boast a splash pad from the end of 2024 as part of a $1.7 million infrastructure upgrade.

The upgrade, which is being carried out by TP Aquatics on behalf of Weipa Town Authority (WTA), will include several additional enhancements, such as a refurbished plant room and saltwater chlorinator, and an extension of the existing toddler pool.

The project is being funded by Rio Tinto and WTA Chair Jaime Gane said the inclusion

of the splash pad would boost Weipa’s liveability, especially for those with younger children.

“These types of facilities are important to foster active and connected communities,” she said.

“Whilst we must always approach investment in community infrastructure responsibly, it’s important that we ensure our community is a desired place to live, work and play.

“Our aquatic centre has continued to be a gathering hub for

residents and families, especially on weekends [and] these improvements will make it even a more popular place to visit.”

The aquatic centre will be closed from the end of May until November to allow works to be completed, and Ms Gane said the project had become a necessity due to ageing plant room infrastructure.

“The project was initiated due to the ageing plant room infrastructure, and we were constantly having to close the wad-

ing pool for maintenance due to poor flow and surface deterioration,” she explained.

“The upgrade will see a complete rebuild of the plant and pump room, and the new design incorporates a saltwater chlorinator. This will reduce our ongoing operational expenses, as salt is far cheaper than chlorine, and it will mean we have a safer and more reliable system.”

For more information about the planned closure, visit the WTA website.

An artist’s impression of the splash pad which will be the centrepiece of a $1.7 million upgrade to Weipa Aquatic Centre infrastructure. Photo: Supplied

Prices too high, says MP as subsidy is scrutinised

By LYNDON KEANE

MEMBER for Cook Cynthia Lui is calling for an increase to her own government’s freight subsidy scheme after admitting it is not doing enough to help Cape York and Torres Strait residents at the supermarket checkout.

In 2023, the Queensland Government announced the five-year, $64 million subsidy as a move that would reduce cost of living pressures for those living in the northernmost part of the state.

The subsidy equates 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.

While Ms Lui has been one of the subsidy’s biggest advocates since its inception, she said she now acknowledged the meagre discount was not making a difference to remote grocery bills.

“The $64 million package was announced at the cost of living summit on Thursday Island, and the intention was that it would assist people living in the Northern Peninsula, Torres Strait and Gulf regions over the next five years,” she said.

“A few months into the program, when I am out listening to our community, I am hearing that there is more we can do to help people at the cash register.

“That’s why I am calling on the government to increase the freight subsidy scheme discount.

Cape York Weekly understands only a small number of local supermarket retailers have applied to the State Government to access the subsidy, which is then meant to get passed onto consumers.

Katter’s Australian Party leader and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter has previously slammed the efficacy of the subsidy program, telling Cape York Weekly he believed the government needed to act on the link between access to cost-effective nutrition and overall health outcomes.

“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,” he said.

“[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.”

Ms Lui used the example of a tub of margarine as evidence the subsidy scheme was failing to make a genuine impact.

“In remote communities, people are paying more than $6.50 for a product that costs $4.50 in Cairns – around 30 per cent more for 500 grams of margarine,” she said.

“When you are paying almost 30 per cent more than people in the city for a basic food item, a 5.2 per cent discount does not help much.”

The Member for Cook said she had launched a petition to call for greater cost of living relief, and that she wanted the minister responsible for the scheme to rethink the size and delivery of the subsidy.

“I am calling on the Minister for Transport, Bart Mellish, to reconsider the way this scheme is delivered, and to make changes to ensure it provides meaningful cost of living relief for people in the Northern Peninsula Area, Cape York and Torres Strait,” Ms Lui said.

Concern for graziers as dieback detected

CAPE York graziers are being urged to keep an eye out for pasture dieback, which is continuing to spread to new parts of the state, including Lakeland.

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) has issued the warning after new dieback was detected around Lakeland, as well as multiple locations in northern, central and southern parts of Queensland.

Pasture dieback is a condition that causes the premature death of high yielding tropical and sub-tropical native and sown grasses.

“Pasture dieback has also been detected between these locations and is likely to be present throughout the surrounding districts,” he said.

“Pasture dieback generally affects highyielding sown-grass pastures in regions with more than 600 millimetres of average annual rainfall. However, it is now spreading into western districts of southern, central and northern Queensland where there has been good summer rainfall.”

Pasture dieback is caused by pasture

DAF principal agronomist Stuart Buck said landholders around Lakeland needed to monitor and report any noted dieback so it could be tracked.

mealybug, a sap-sucking insect which is mostly spread by wind.

“Graziers should be on the lookout for symptoms during the summer growing season, when pasture dieback is easier to detect,” Mr Buck said.

“Initial symptoms include leaf discoloration and unthrifty growth, before the pasture dies in patches. The dead patches are then colonised by broadleaf weeds or legumes –both of which are unaffected by dieback.”

Suspected pasture dieback can be reported through the Pasture Dieback App, or by calling DAF on 13 25 23.

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui, pictured during a visit to Napranum, says her own government’s remote freight subsidy is not reducing cost of living pressures for Cape York and Torres Strait residents.

We need you here: tourists urged make the effort to visit Cooktown

By LYNDON KEANE

DON’T allow closed Cape York tourist routes let you forget about the Cooktown region this dry season.

That is the messaging being sounded from the rooftops by Cooktown Chamber of Commerce and Tourism president Russell Bowman, who said damage done to traditionally must-do roads in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Jasper had the potential to impact the local success of the 2024 tourist influx.

Some roads popular with fourwheel drivers and caravanners are expected to remain closed or have limited access for the remainder of the year, meaning the Mulligan Highway from Lakeland is likely to be the only way for Cape York visitors to get to Cooktown.

Mr Bowman said it remained to be seen what the flow-on effect would be for local business and tourism operators.

“I think it’s going to be a late start [to the tourist season] and one of the challenges in that late start is we just can’t get people up the coast road,” he explained.

“Are they going to take the diversion to travelling from Lakeland if they can’t go north out through Battle Camp and go out

to Musgrave? History’s told us that they don’t like to travel over the same road twice, or backwards over the same road.”

A business owner himself, Mr

Bowman said a short 2023 tourist season and the post-Jasper flood devastation had put extreme pressure on local operators.

“Last year, we had a fairly short

season as well; it wasn’t as big … as some in the past,” he said.

“On top of Jasper that happened mid-December, there wasn’t much Christmas retail at all; a lot of the

people who’d normally come over that Christmas, new year [period] into January, when we usually have lovely weather, just weren’t game to come to the north. That’s put a lot of pressure on businesses.”

While accommodation providers in Cooktown were experiencing bumper trade housing those involved in regional flood recovery efforts, Mr Bowman said it also meant there was currently no availability for tourists chasing a roof over their head during their visit.

“The flip side is there are no beds available if someone did want to come and visit us,” he said.

“That will balance out, but it’s still challenging.”

With the 2024 tourist season looming, Mr Bowman encouraged visitors to take a trip to Cooktown, even if they could not take the bucket list roads to get there.

“Look, everywhere’s sodden and wet; the reality is mother nature’s doing a number on us, isn’t it?” he reflected.

“Cooktown’s got a great lot to offer for a few days to adventure out and around.

“It’s just about, you know, what that road’s going to be like to go and visit some of the other areas.

“We want them to come and visit; we need their visitation.”

Editor’s view – Page 13

Cooktown Chamber of Commerce and Tourism president Russell Bowman says the town needs visitors to support the community this tourist season.

New councillors pledge to shape future of Shire

By LYNDON KEANE

WITH all seven elected members now sworn in, the betterment and growth of the Cook Shire through a range of priorities and initiatives have been flagged by those in the council chamber.

After Mayor Robyn Holmes was sworn in on 2 April, returning councillors Marilyn Morris and Ross Logan took their declarations of office alongside newcomers Gavin Dear, Sarah Martin, Justin Coventry, and Melinda Parker on 9 April, prior to the first official meeting of the new council.

Councillor Morris was voted in as Deputy Mayor, and Cape York Weekly asked all seven elected members what their individual and collective goals between now and the end of the financial year, and over the next 12 months were.

Mayor Holmes said she felt “very optimistic” about the start of the council’s four-year term.

“Your Councillors are all committed, passionate and eager to be brought up to speed on the

things that matter most in our communities,” she said.

“All councillors will be involved in what is felt to be a high-priority issue for not only Cook Shire, but also the whole of Australia – the housing crisis.

“Councillors will continue to champion this issue by working with state and federal agencies to look at innovative solutions to boost new and affordable housing development in our region.”

Mayor Holmes has also committed to continue advocacy for big-ticket infrastructure projects, including the Cooktown hospital upgrade, and the development of the Lakeland agricultural precinct.

Deputy Mayor Morris said her personal goal for the coming year was to help deliver a dementia-friendly local government area.

“My personal goals for the next 12 months as a councillor are to advocate for a dementiafriendly shire, with focus on accessibility and inclusiveness in businesses and council-owned buildings throughout our communities,” she said.

“I would like to continue to advance higher education opportunities, through the Country Universities Centre Cape York, and traineeships through council and other local businesses.”

Cr Martin said she was focused on familiarising herself with the role of the council, and connecting with the aspirations of business operators, residents and community groups.

“Within my first year, I’d like to progress the work previous councillors have started on facilities for the Alan Wilson Oval at Lakeland, and revisit the Passport to the Cape concept as both a tourism marketing and educational tool, and a revenueraiser to help offset the costs of managing visitor pressures,” Cr Martin said.

Youth support and the housing crisis were identified as key priorities by Cr Coventry, who said he was also looking to connect directly with the community as a new councillor.

“My current priorities are to support youth engagement, and to address the housing shortage in Cook Shire,” he said.

“I believe the council needs to support our youth though support of community sporting groups and youth organisations.

“Another priority is the current lack of housing in Cook Shire. I believe there are opportunities to address this with a focus on providing pathways to help people privately invest … [and] the community will benefit greatly by having more workers living in privately owned or rented homes.”

Cr Dear has expressed a strong commitment to reviewing local disaster management operations and how improvement can be made with local resourcing and communications during disaster events, while Cr Logan has identified a need to simplify the development process through a review of the council’s planning scheme.

Cr Parker will advocate for the needs of families through improved childcare options for working parents, as well as investigate options for protecting and preserving local history through community-led initiatives.

East Weipa celebrated

AS western Cape York prepares to farewell East Weipa operations, Rio Tinto will be hosting free community events to mark the milestone in Weipa and Napranum next month.

The Napranum event will be held on the foreshore from 5-8pm on 8 May, and will include kids’ activities, market stalls and fireworks.

The Kumrumja Centre, Weipa Aquatic and Sports Centre and Hibberd Library will host the Weipa events on 11 and 18 May, with a range of activities, including an open cinema, historical chat, markets, a sunset bar and fireworks, set to entertain the community from 2-8pm.

Splash park closure

NAPRANUM’S splash park could be closed for up to three months for repairs following damage sustained through an act of vandalism.

Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council made the announcement in a social media post last week stating the facility would be closed from 13 April, 2024 “until further notice” to allow repair and maintenance work to be undertaken.

In the post, the council said it was “extremely disappointed to have to close the splash park for an extended period”, adding that it could take up to three months for the facility to be ready for community use again.

Summit tackles maths gap

EDUCATION leaders from every Australian state and territory converged on Adelaide last week to urgently address the widening gap in academic achievement for Indigenous students in maths.

The National Summit on Indigenous Students and Mathematics Education brought together maths associations from across the country, and was organised by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance and the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers.

ATSIMA chair Professor Chris Matthews said the summit would develop a commitment statement to hold education systems accountable for the mathematics outcomes of Indigenous students.

“The latest NAPLAN results demonstrate the shocking, seemingly entrenched, and in some cases widening, gap for Indigenous students in maths,” Professor Matthews said.

“For example, year 9 Indigenous students perform, on average, at year 5 level in numeracy. That’s unacceptable.”

Cook Shire Council’s new elected members have outlined their individual and collective ambition for the 106,000 square kilometre local government area after being sworn in on 9 April.

Doctor draws praise from patient

By CHISA HASEGAWA

WHEN David Mills walked out of the Weipa hospital with a skin cancer diagnosis, he had actually gone in for a completely unrelated issue.

If not for a young doctor that spotted a strange mark on his forehead while waiting, Mr Mills wonders what the outcome might have been.

One year later, he looked back on the young doctor that may have saved his life, and all of the other healthcare professionals that got him through his 10-month battle with cancer.

“I didn’t even get his name, but within a week, I was in Cairns and I had my first operation there,” Mr Mills told Cape York Weekly

“If he didn’t catch that, it could have been worse.”

From then, Mr Mills’ life consisted of months travelling between Weipa, Cairns and Brisbane for surgeries and radiation - a well-worn track all too familiar for Cape York residents needing serious medical treatment.

Fortunately for him, the experience was the best it could be under the circumstances.

“The people that do the remote travel from Weipa, they were all over it and it was like a production line,” he said.

“I know I’m probably one of the lucky ones, but I just feel like they deserve a big shout out, because it involves a lot.”

He spent most of 2023 from March onwards away from the western Cape York township at the Cairns Red Cross accommodation site.

o’clock at night to pop in and check on me and I said ‘doc, you don’t have to check on me, you’re going to see me at seven in the morning’,” he laughed.

“They probably see hundreds or thousands of patients, but they had the time for me.”

In the difficult process of fighting cancer, Mr Mills praised health staff for providing him with a sense of support and relief.

“Even the little things that people forget, like the receptionists, I really want to thank them all,” he said.

“I had a lot of time with the staff and just sitting around, I didn’t get to spend much time back at home,” Mr Mills said.

“I stayed at other places, but I always preferred to stay in the Red Cross, because the atmosphere was good and you get to run into other people from the Cape as well.”

The trip to Brisbane was worrying for Mr Mills, having hardly ever travelled to the city, but he said the doctors there put him just at ease.

“The young surgeons would even come from the gym at 11

“I might have had all the best people, but it just stuck out for me; all the negative stuff you hear and I felt like this is a long journey I’ve had, and everywhere I went, arms were open and people were understanding.”

Bamaga jobseekers learn hospitality skills in NPA

SIX jobseekers in Bamaga are one step closer to a career in hospitality after completing training through the State Government Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.

The graduates of the Training of Indigenous Hospitality Staff project being delivered by Bamaga Enterprises are the latest cohort to join the Skilling Queenslanders for Work success stories.

Bamaga Enterprises general manager Adrian Williams said two of the trainees had been offered full-time positions within the organisation, while the other four had been offered casual employment.

“Two outstanding trainees have been offered further training and full-time positions within our organisation as a direct result of the program,” he said.

“The other four trainees still require more assistance and have been offered casual po-

sitions. The program was invaluable in giving us both direction and the financial assistance to train and mentor our participants.

“Transport to work is a major hurdle to employment in our region, and the program provided the means for us to offer transport to work for the duration of the traineeship.”

The local result of the 26-week program was praised by Member for Cook Cynthia Lui, who said she believed the training would lead to “life-changing opportunities” for the graduates.

“Organisations such as Bamaga Enterprises play a vital role in bridging jobseekers with employers [because] they know their communities and understand local workforce needs,” Ms Lui said.

“They create local workforce solutions and life-changing opportunities for jobseekers.”

David Mills is grateful to healthcare staff across Queensland who got him through a 10-month battle with skin cancer.

David Mills was diagnosed with skin cancer during an unrelated hospital visit.

Trainer Phil Nock works with Lillias Aniba, Aramah Tabuai and Pristy Atu on their mocktails during their Certificate I in Hospitality training.

Wildlife rehab plan taking shape

By LYNDON KEANE

Mr Peberdy has just returned to Cape York from the United States, where he presented at a global conference on macropod welfare and management, before touring American facilities housing kangaroos and wallabies.

He told Cape York Weekly his trip also allowed him to incorporate his passion for mental health when liaising with the veterinary and wildlife staff working with macropods and a diverse range of endangered species.

“For the past few years, I have been presenting to the Education and Conservation Society of Macropodidae on conservation and captive husbandry, improving husbandry standards for macropods – large-footed animals like kangaroos – in the US,” he explained.

“Then, after the conferences, I travelled across the south, where I looked at facilities holding kangaroos and wallabies, and helped owners improve their husbandry standards so they could provide a higher level of care for our Aussie icons.

“I also talk about mental health in the wildlife and animal industry,

as veterinary staff, farmers, animal shelter attendants, wildlife rehabbers, and zookeepers tend to have a high level of depression, and some even have the highest mortality rate due to suicide; I speak about

mental health and create awareness with a program I founded called the Green Ribbon Project.”

Mr Peberdy said his recent overseas trips, including a 2023 visit to work with a sanctuary in

Costa Rica, had only bolstered his love of wildlife.

“I have a passion for wildlife, and have worked with animals both in a wild setting and in captivity for many years,” he said.

“I love helping people with the same passion I possess to better their understanding of captive husbandry, wildlife rehabilitation, and all while exploring personal feelings and beliefs.”

The animal and mental health advocate said he was now working with stakeholders to open a new rehabilitation organisation on Cape York, adding he hoped it would provide international support for the staggering cost of supporting sick and injured wildlife.

“For almost 18 years, I have been a part of wildlife rescue in Australia, Indonesia, Costa Rica, and the USA,” he said.

“I have chaired for a few large wildlife rehab organisations but, very shortly, we will be opening our own for Cape York, as we are finalising all the paperwork now.

“Wildlife rehab is a very expensive and it’s a voluntary program we do, not to mention it’s incredibly tiring.

“Funding and donations are really hard to come by, so working with other international organisations and businesses to seek involvement and funding will allow us carers from Cape York to im-

prove our practices and lighten the financial burden of being a wildlife carer.”

As the next stage in his involvement with animals takes shape, Mr Peberdy said he knew from an early age they would play a pivotal role in his life.

“From as young as I can remember, I have always loved animals,” he reflected.

“Collecting the drunk [lorikeets] off the ground in mango season, or collecting chicks off the ground and taking them home to mum, and she would show me how to feed and look after them.

“My love for snakes grew as I got older, and I would always be the one to collect the pythons from the bird cages.”

Mr Peberdy urged Cape York landholders to contact him to discuss collaborating on wildlife rehabilitation projects.

“We would love to hear from landowners from around the Cape who might want to work with us for release sites, or from people who might want to assist physically and financially,” he said.

“This also includes when we have more land to help erect fence lines and create safe havens for animals. If anyone wants to get involved, we would love assistance with grant writing and transporters, and would love to take on more dedicated people to mentor.”

COOKTOWN resident Beau Peberdy is getting plenty of stamps on his passport as he juggles his passions for animal rehabilitation and youth mental health.

Beau Peberdy assists with wildlife rehabilitation during a visit to a sanctuary in Costa Rica in 2023. Beau is a picture of calm as he poses with a venomous Gila monster.

Cooktown’s Beau Peberdy on the stage presenting at the 2024 Education and Conservation Society of Macropodidae conference in the United States.

Taskforce out to eradicate grass

THE largest gamba grass taskforce to date rolled into Cooktown on April 15 to begin the annual program of eradication of the noxious weed.

The taskforce has grown to 11 teams made up of representatives from local governments including Cook Shire Council, and crews from the Department of Resources, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Jabalbina Rangers and Melsonby Rangers.

Gamba grass is a restricted invasive plant, and has the capacity to overrun local ecosystems, impact soil nutrient and water avail-

ability, and fuel fires with intensities above those posed by native vegetation.

The taskforce is being assisted by Cape York Natural Resource Management (Cape York NRM) and program manager David Preece said the annual eradication program had proved extremely successful.

“This is the third time the task force has formed to carry out weed control in what has become a really successful collaboration between councils and other agencies in preventing the spread of a nonnative grass,” he said.

The taskforce was formed in 2021 by pooling council resources, and Cape York NRM secured funding assistance in the form of logistical support, including meals and accommodation for the project.

Cook Shire Council biosecurity and local laws manager Darryn Higgins said the taskforce represented an ideal concept for the organisation.

“We get to conduct an enormous volume of work in a short period by sharing combined resources,” he said.

“It also builds relationships and networks across boundaries, pro-

motes the interchange of knowledge, and allows officers to see unfamiliar species firsthand, so that they may be immediately recognised when encountered in a new location.”

The taskforce will carry out its work over the next four to five days, and will target gamba grass on roadside, reserves and, with landholder permission, private properties.

Mr Higgins said the extent of the spread after the wet season would not be known until teams got into the field.

“This has been an exceptionally

wet year. We are yet to observe an increase in distribution postCyclone Jasper, but once we get going, we will be able to identify impacts, and follow up with surveillance later this year, around June [or] July,” he said.

In 2024, the taskforce will put targeted emphasis on the area around Mungumby Creek near Rossville.

“We are hoping for complete eradication in this area,” Mr Higgins said.

“We are also hoping to eradicate the species north of Endeavour Valley Road.”

Chamber hopes new-look website will boost profile

THE president of the Western Cape Chamber of Commerce says the organisation is hoping a rebrand and website redevelopment will help drive membership within the Weipa and surrounding business community.

With the new-look website and business directory now live, WCCC president Jai Christie said the technology tweak would make it easier for businesses to become members.

“The old website and logo was very old and clunky; also, our process to become a member was very slow and sometimes difficult,” he explained.

“We wanted to make it easier for new members to join.”

Mr Christie said operating possibly the most remote chamber in the state came with myriad challenges, adding he believed an increase in membership would boost the strength of the organisation’s advocacy.

“Operating a chamber is Weipa is very difficult,” he told Cape York Weekly

“The more members we can attract, the stronger our voice will be.

“There are a lot of issues operating a small to medium

business in Weipa, and a lot of us have the same issues, for example, freight and employment.

“If we grow and work together, we can actually fight to change some of the issues.”

Mr Christie admitted it had proved difficult to grow the chamber locally, and that work was under way to provide a value proposition to existing and prospective members.

“The chamber hasn’t been as active as it could have been over the last few years, so businesses haven’t seen any benefits of joining,” he said.

“We hope to change that.” Business and tourism

symposiums are high on the agenda for the chamber in 2024, as is the detrimental impact freight costs and crime were having on business sustainability.

“Freight has been on the agenda again with sea freight costs blowing out to a point where it is starting to get very hard for local businesses to be competitive,” Mr Christie said.

“We are going to look at options on how we can help with this.

“Also, the police have been invited to out next meeting on [18 April] to talk about crime and prevention in the town [and how] that has been impacting businesses.”

The gamba grass taskforce will be a visible presence around Cooktown this week as it attempts to eradicate the invasive plant. Photos: Cape York NRM Gamba grass is a major concern for landholders in the region as it overruns local ecosystems.

The Western Cape Chamber of Commerce has a new website.

ECQ to face post-election review

QUEUING, ballot paper shortages and other related election day issues will be examined in an expanded in-depth external review commissioned by the Electoral Commission Queensland (ECQ).

Nous Group was commissioned by ECQ in November 2023 to evaluate the local government elections and provide recommendations on areas for operational improvements.

Following community feedback received from 16 March, the ECQ said it had liaised with Nous Group regarding an expansion of the evaluation scope to include specific focus on known election day issues, such as queuing and ballot paper

IDLU visits Bamaga

THE Depar tment of Transport and

and other related issues. One Cape York voter, who asked not to be named, said they still

received their postal vote, despite applying for it well before the deadline on 4 March.

“It’s a joke,” they said.

“You try to do the right thing, and you’re still waiting for the bloody ballot papers to show up.

“[ECQ] can’t seem to get that to me, but I bet they make sure my fine for not voting is sent.”

Premier Steven Miles admitted there had been holes in service delivery in the lead-up to and on election day.

“We have heard from some of our Queensland communities that voting in this year’s local government and by-elections was far from ideal,” he said.

“Long lines, not enough ballot papers and other issues that made voting confusing or difficult are

all things that really shouldn’t be happening in 2024, and we owe it to Queenslanders to make sure the ECQ gets this right.

“I look forward to seeing the outcomes of the external review.”

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath echoed the sentiment of Premier Miles, stating “it is essential that every Queenslander is able to exercise their democratic right to vote”.

It is anticipated the full evaluation will be completed by mid2024, and will inform ECQ’s report on delivery of the elections in the state, which is scheduled to be finalised for public release prior to the October Queensland election.

staff will be in the TAFE rooms at Bamaga from 8:30am-4pm on 16-18 April, and will be facilitating the written and practical components of licence testing, licensing and identification services, and assisting with all other drivers licence enquiries.

Learner licence testing will be held at 1pm on each of the three days.

Residents will need to bring original identification with them.

For more information, call 1800 130 886 or email idlu@tmr.qld.gov.au.

First exhibition for 2024

THE Cooktown art community will converge on the Elizabeth Guzley Gallery on Friday night for the town’s first exhibition of 2024. The Cooktown School of Art Society will host RAW – an exhibition of the handmade and undisciplined – as its first feature of the year, with a diverse range of work from multiple artists set to be unveiled. Artists still trying to finish their work have until 18 April to submit an entry form ahead of Friday’s exhibition launch. The opening will commence at 6pm on 19 April at the gallery on Charlotte Street. For more information, check out the Cooktown Art Facebook page.

LMAC calls for members

IF you are passionate about your patch of the Great Barrier Reef and want to be involved in the decision making around its use and protection, the Cape York Local Marine Advisory Committee (LMAC) wants to hear from you.

Nominations are opening soon for the next round of LMAC appointments, with the incoming committee set to take up the role from August, 2024.

The LMAC provides a direct channel to State Government agencies responsible for the management and protection of the reef, and gives members an opportunity to have their voice heard about what really matters to those who work and play on the northern part of the reef. For more information, email jessie@scyc.com.au.

Wallaby Creek AGM

THE Cape York Folk Club, which runs the iconic Wallaby Creek Festival, is holding its annual general meeting this Saturday.

The AGM will be at the Lion’s Den Hotel from 3.30pm. More details on Page 12.

Cape York Weekly is is the only media outlet covering news in every community on Cape York Peninsula

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Premier Steven Miles says the process for voters in March’s local government elections “was far from ideal”.

Interns helping prepare for return

WHEN displaced Wujal Wujal residents begin their staged return home this month, the community transformation they notice will be thanks in part to six My Pathway interns.

The men – Rex Liddy, Muna Budj-Jal Hastie, Thomas Yougie, Ephraim Claudie, Dujuan Yougie and Gene Hubbard – have been hosted by Gungarde Community Aboriginal Corporation (GCAC) as paid interns to help clean up the community after it was decimated by post-Tropical Cyclone Jasper flooding in December 2023.

Hosted by GCAC, and working in close collaboration with Wujal

Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council, the Wujal Wujal Community Disaster Resilience Project has been facilitated by My Pathway and EMG Workforce through the Federal Government’s Community Development Program. The resilience project is being led by GCAC project manager Keegan Dinnie, and includes three My Pathway community engagers, in addition to the six employee interns.

Community engager Ephraim Claudie said it was easy to see the positive impact the project, and the work of the interns, was having on Wujal Wujal’s recovery.

“The resilience project is very beneficial to the community in this time of need, and supporting local Community Development Program participants through the employee intern program is a bonus,” he said.

As part of the project, the interns have helped clean out council buildings, supported the maintenance of salvageable assets, and sanitised and cleaned community infrastructure.

As the project progresses over the next six months, the interns will continue to work on the recovery of the Wujal Wujal community as all residents return home.

Students get deadly start to their careers in health

TWO Thursday Island students are making their way towards a career in health through a new traineeship opportunity being offered by the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service.

TCHHS recently launched the Deadly Start program on Cape York and the Torres Strait, with an aim of providing local First Nations students with a direct pathway into the health sector.

The Deadly Start program was first implemented at Metro North Hospital and Health Service in 2019, and its success led to the program being used throughout other Queensland health regions.

TCHHS traineeship and work experience co-ordinator Iadakul Bowie said the students, Jikidda Manuel and Ashwyn Seden, would complete their traineeship during year 11 and year 12, and hopefully gain a permanent position after graduating.

“It creates that opportunity for our people to get their foot in the door, and gives them exposure to ignite that fire and passion,” Ms Bowie said.

“Students can then decide if they want to pursue further specialised study in nursing, medicine, allied health or other areas, or commence work in other areas such as operations or administration.

“This is such an exciting opportunity to give these young people a direct pathway into a career where they can support their home communities.”

Ms Bowie said hiring local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was an integral part of what the program had to offer the community.

“It’s about working towards closing the gap for our First Nations people,” she said.

“We’re delivering a service to predominantly Indigenous clients, I believe it’s about 70 per cent, so there’s been a huge need for Torres and Cape, and it’s definitely a great initiative.”

Trainees will obtain a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance after completing 375 hours of paid work experience.

Ms Bowie said students had already shown significant growth.

“One of my colleagues told me that a trainee who was very quiet and shy at the start has been getting so confident with the way she speaks, and already has a vision in regards to where she wants to go from here,” she said.

“The feedback from the supervisors for both trainees have been nothing but positive.

“Even talking with parents and guardians, they’re just so proud and so happy with how they’re progressing so far.”

In July, TCHHS will offer two traineeships in Bamaga, three in Weipa and four in Cooktown.

Rex Liddy goes to work on removing mud and debris in Wujal Wujal.

Employee interns Rex Liddy, Muna Budj-Jal Hastie, Thomas Yougie, Ephraim Claudie, Dujuan Yougie and Gene Hubbard are doing their bit to ensure displaced Wujal Wujal residents return to a pristine community from the end of the month.

Deadly Start trainees Jikidda Manuel and Ashwyn Seden.

Wujal’s dog hero to share stories

By CHISA HASEGAWA

BLOOMFIELD’S resident animal rescuer will travel to Melbourne next month to share the story of caring for a community of dogs after Tropical Cyclone Jasper flooding forced the evacuation of their owners.

At the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Environmental Health Conference in May, Nikki Gong will share how dogs were kept safe and fed during a time when roads were cut off and communication was down.

The Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council animal management officer she said worked with the local vet nurse to bring food, water, medication and love to the dogs left in the community.

“At first, we came by boat, and then we were eventually able to travel in a vehicle, even though the roads were still in a really bad way,” Ms Gong recalled.

“Helen, the vet nurse, was coordinating with charities to organise dog food and any other resources.

“There was no water in the community, so we had to bring in drums of water to fill bowls for the dogs.”

She said one of the most important roles was to reassure displaced owners their furry friends would not be abandoned.

“We were able to communicate with some of the owners before they evacuated, and got them to spread the word that we were going to be able to look after the animals until we could work out what was going to happen next,” Ms Gong said.

“I think it was really beneficial that we had that relationship from working in community, and people knew that we were the two that usually look after the dogs.”

She added police stationed in the community after the disaster also helped to provide for the dogs, not only physically, but emotionally as well.

“They came with us most days to carry the bags of food, because sometimes we couldn’t even access some properties by car; there was so much debris on the roads,” Ms Gong said.

“It wasn’t just the food and water; it was the human companionship as well, because the only humans here initially were the police officers.”

As the Wujal Wujal community prepares to begin its return home, Ms Gong reflected on the event, explaining they had to bring sup-

plies in for six weeks before reconstruction work began and they needed a more safe and sustainable solution.

“We managed like that for a period of time until we realised that it was going to be a long time before people started coming back to the community,” she said.

“By then, communication was easier and we were able to start speaking to owners about where they were at, if they were able to take their dog, or did they have family that could take their dog.

“We worked pretty tirelessly on trying to help families with solutions of where they were going to

put their dogs, and the logistics of how we’re going to get those dogs there.”

Ms Gong said the massive effort reinforced the work she was doing in Wujal Wujal for the council.

“There was this amazing moment when the roads became a bit more accessible and some people were able to come and pick their dogs up,” Ms Gong said.

“I love working in community and helping people keep their dogs not only healthy, but happy as well.”

The animal management officer also worked with rescue groups to ensure the dogs that had to be given up were sent to a good home.

“We’ve actually had a couple of our dogs adopted by the police staff that were looking after them in the time we were trying to find solutions,” she said.

“I’m excited to share the lessons learned from a community that has a really solid animal management program [in Melbourne].”

Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council animal management officer Nikki Gong made sure the dogs left behind after the flood devastation were loved and fed.

Nikki Gong and the local vet nurse assured owners their dogs would be well taken care of amid evacuation chaos.

Hope Vale family makes a desperate plea for donor

By CHISA HASEGAWA

THE search for a kidney donor is on for a 12-year-old Hope Vale boy who is now in stage four renal failure.

Ly’Jarhl Bowen-Ludwick was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at just eight years old, and his condition recently took a turn for the worse.

His mother, Shannan Bowen, said the news was sudden but not unexpected.

“He was stable for the longest time but all of a sudden, the doctor said that his kidney [function] has declined,” she said.

“I knew it was coming though, I kept building myself up for this day to come but it was still a shock.

“I can’t show emotions, because otherwise he’ll think something is wrong.”

Told by his doctor the chance of finding a kidney for Ly’Jarhl in a remote community was slim, Ms Bowen took to social media to ask the community for help.

She said she was left “speechless” by the amount of community members who were willing to see if they were a match.

“I’ve had a lot of people send me messages,” she said.

“I didn’t really expect this at all, because my kids and myself, we

sort of keep to ourselves because of [Ly’Jarhl’s] anxiety.

“We’re just trying to get as many options as possible, in case me and my daughters aren’t a match.”

This year has been particularly difficult for the family, with Ly’Jarhl away at his first year of boarding school.

“It’s very hard having him away, but before he gets real sick, I wanted him to experience board-

ing school and he wanted to go as well,” Ms Bowen said.

“His sister goes, and so does one of his cousins, so they’re looking out for him over there.

“The school keeps me updated, and he gets blood taken every three months and has telehealth with his doctor.”

Without the transplant, Ly’Jarhl will need to receive dialysis treatment from the end of 2024.

More help for kids in the Cape

A NEW child development service is taking referrals for families needing the support of a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist or psychologist.

Designed to assess and support children from 0-18 with complex developmental delays and disabilities, the family-centred service has already received more than 80 referrals after community visits to Bamaga, Injinoo and Thursday Island.

Northern Peninsula Area and the Torres Strait were identified as priority areas with higher instances of children with developmental delays, but Torres and Cape Hospital Health Service said it had been determined to ensure the service could be delivered to all communities within its service footprint.

Along with anxiety, Ms Bowen said her son also has ADHD.

“For a child with ADHD, I don’t think dialysis is going to be a good option,” she said.

“I know that you have to sit there for hours, and he can’t even sit still for two or three minutes without moving.”

Community members wishing to test as a donor match can call Ms Bowen on 0458 270 050.

TCHHS allied health manager child development service Natalie Bellew said the team would spread their travel across 34 communities.

The child development service team has also begun to visit local schools.

Referrals can be made to the service by educators, school guidance officers, allied health clinicians, health workers and doctors.

12-year-old Ly’Jarhl Bowen-Ludwick (right) is now in stage four renal failure and urgently needs a kidney transplant.

Region relies on tourism dollars

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

IT doesn’t matter which part of Cape York you pick, if you ask a local business owner and they answer honestly, they are almost certainly going to admit they’re nervous about the looming tourist season.

The start of the annual migration to the northernmost part of Queensland by up to 100,000 visitors is normally met with hands being rubbed together by excited businesses and tourism operators, but the truth is no one is game to crystal ball the coming dry season and what it’s going to mean for them and the continued economic growth of Cape York.

Businesses around Cooktown and the Bloomfield Valley are anxiously waiting to see whether the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Jasper will mean visitors scrap the south-eastern part of Cape York from their agenda due to many bucket list roads and experiences likely being unavailable as the post-flood infrastructure recovery continues.

In Weipa, businesses are nervous, but operating pressures like ludicrous sea freight costs, crime and competition from online shopping are driving the concern.

The only sensical answer to the consternation is for Cape York res-

idents and visitors alike to spend, spend, spend, and ensure that money is being put across the counters of local businesses wherever possible, not into the bank accounts of retail giants whose executives couldn’t point to Lockhart River on a map if their next bonus depended on it.

Whether it’s buying a coffee when you fill up at Lakeland, buying your new pair of boots in Weipa, rather than with your phone or iPad, or throwing a few more dollars at your next tackle shop purchase in Cooktown, it all makes a difference.

We love our Cape York tourists

– yes, even when you’re doing 30 kilometres an hour below the gazetted speed on the Peninsula Developmental Road because you’re trying not to get your $250,000 vehicle and caravan combination dusty – but we’d love you a lot more if you abandoned filling up your fuel and food supply when you passed through major centres to instead source it all locally on the road.

Yes, it’s going to be more expensive, there’s no doubt about that, but what’s an extra 10 or so cents per litre on diesel between friends when it has the potential to keep local businesses alive and

residents employed? The characters up here are what makes the Cape York experience so unique for visitors.

Many of our most colourful residents own and operate the small businesses that form the economic backbone of this part of the world.

Many more are employed by these businesses and are the fabric that makes Cape York weird, wonderful and one of a kind.

Without these businesses and the characters who either own or work in them, tourists will fail to get the full experience of why our backyard is unlike anywhere else on the planet.

We need to ensure they remain sustainable for visitor seasons to come, not just for those who make the annual four-wheel drive and caravan pilgrimage to Cape York, but for those of us who call it home.

Cost of living pressures are making it tough for everyone, but I urge you to dig deep and spend that extra $5 or $10 at our businesses, whether you are a local, or one of the tens of thousands of tourists expected to come and say hello over the coming seven or eight months.

The sustainability of our Cape York business community depends on it.

outages

Cape York boasts some sensational must-see spots for visitors, but locals and tourists alike need to dig deep to show their support for businesses ahead of an unknown dry season.

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

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.

TODAY’S Good: 11 words

FOCUS Very good: 17 words Excellent: 24 words

Spot the 5 Differences

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION cent centre cepe cert cite creep crepe crept enteric entice enticer epic epicene EPICENTRE erect nice nicer niece pecten pectin pence percent piece pierce pincer pretence price prince receipt recent recipe recite rice tenrec terce tierce trice

Reference: Macquarie Concise Dictionary Focus No. 4010

PCYC Napranum

is currently seeking passionate people to apply for the following positions:

Deadly Activity Officer

To apply go to:

Deadly Activity Supervisor | PCYC (bigredsky.com)

Note: Blue Card ‘No Card, No Start’ law applies Accommodation not provided

Activity Officer – Club and Culture Program

To apply go to: Activity Officer - Club and Culture Program | PCYC (bigredsky.com)

Note: Blue Card ‘No Card, No Start’ law applies Accommodation not provided

Club and Culture Program Coordinator

To apply go to: Club and Culture Program Coordinator | Napranum | PCYC (bigredsky.com)

Note: Blue Card ‘No Card, No Start’ law applies Accommodation not provided

Youth Support Service Coordinator

To apply go to:

Youth Support Service Coordinator | Napranum | PCYC (bigredsky.com)

Note: Blue Card ‘No Card, No Start’ law applies Accommodation not provided

Youth Support Worker

To apply go to:

Youth Support Worker | Napranum | PCYC (bigredsky.com)

Note: Blue Card ‘No Card, No Start’ law applies Accommodation not provided

Notice is hereby given that the MAC RNTBC Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at the Suzie Madua Conference Room on the 23rd of April 2024. Proxy Forms are available at the MAC RNTBC Office at Napranum.

Dated: Tuesday 23rd of April 2024

Venue: Suzie Madua Conference Room – Napranum – Jessica Point Civic Centre

Time: 9:00am

The Business of this AGM

1.

2. All Directors to stand down.

3. Resolutions to Change in the MAC RNTBC Rule Book from a Maximum of 12 Directors to a Minium 6 Directors (1 from each Clan Group and (6) Proxies).

4. The New (6) Elected Directors to be appointed and if their Proxies require a DIR, the MAC RNTBC Company Secretary can help them with this process.

5. Resolutions to Change in the MAC RNTBC Rule Book the New Membership Forms to include (Pg1 and Pg2).

6. Resolution to Change in the MAC RNTBC Rule Book to set up an Elders Advisory Committee.

7. Chairperson/Company Secretary Report on behalf of the Board of Directors.

8. Financial Report.

9. General Busines

Date: 19th of March 2024

For any inquires, please contact Company Secretary.

• Email: info@mokwiripbc.com.au or Email: mokwiripbc@gmail.com

• Ph: (07) 4257 1000

• Ph: (07) 4257 1001

MONDAY

variety as fishing heats up

BARRAMUNDI, saratoga and an incredible Queensland groper – there was plenty of variety landed around Cape York over the past week.

Do you want to be as famous as this week’s fishos with their impressive catches? Cape Catches of the Week showcases anglers –big or small – and provides them ultimate bragging rights around the barbecue or campfire.

Email your pictures to editor@capeyorkweekly.com. au to feature in the paper!

The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA)

seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from interested parties to take up leasing options for the Torres Strait Protected Zone Spanish mackerel and Coral trout fisheries in 2024-25.

EOIs must address the criteria outlined in the EOI Information Package and be received by no later than 5pm on Friday 3 May 2024.

For further enquiries and to obtain an EOI Information Package, please contact TSRA Fisheries Senior Project Officer Quentin Hirakawa at TSRA by telephone on (07) 4069 0700, toll free on 1800 079 093 or email fisheries@tsra.gov.au . Great

Cilla Raleigh landed this cracking 98cm barramundi during a session at Weary Bay.

Jonas Drijver was quick to release this beautiful Queensland groper during a western Cape York night fishing adventure.

Young Will Stock was too good for this Archer River saratoga.

‘Superstar’ boxers shine in the ring at Tully bouts

By LYNDON KEANE

WHEN your boxing club boasts fighters in eight bouts of a 14bout card, people are going to stand up and take notice.

That was the situation in Tully on 13 April when five Weipa and three Napranum youth – all members of Cape York Boxing Weipa – stepped into the ring to show off their athleticism and skills in front of a strong Sunstate Amateur Boxing League (SABL) crowd.

The boxers – Jack Barton, Daniel Low, Maurice Brumby, Harrison Klein, Rubyn Olsen, Jet Savo, Samson Poi Poi and Troy Hudson – made the nearly 1000 kilometre trip to compete in stifling humidity, with several donning the gloves for the first time competitively.

In a mixed result, Barton and Low thrilled the crowd with victories, while the remainder of the western Cape York contingent impressed, despite being on the wrong side of the scorecard when the bell sounded in the third round.

Coach Scott Wallace travelled with his fighters and said “everybody was an absolute superstar, win or lose”.

“The biggest thing with the first fight is the nerves, and that normally makes them tire out and gas out, but all our first fighters just went to work and didn’t make any silly mistakes,” he said.

“They just boxed; they stuck to the fight plan and everything else followed.

“Three or four of them got beaten in the last round and I think the humidity was the telling factor; I’m not making excuses, but they are used to training in a much drier environment.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better and tougher bunch of blokes.”

Barton remains undefeated in his two bouts against Maximus Williscroft in the 75 kilogram division, and Mr Wallace praised the result as the rising Weipa boxer’s best fight to date.

“It’s the best fight he’s ever fought,” he said.

“The lad he fought was a real boxer, and Jack beat him with a combination of boxing and brawling.

“He absolutely dominated every round; the power of his

body shots and right crosses, and the sound of the punches hitting … it was amazing to be part of it.”

With a growing number of male and female boxers joining the club’s ranks from Weipa and Napranum, Mr Wallace said he was hoping to take another cohort of fighters to Babinda on 25 May for the next event on the 2024 Sunstate Amateur Boxing League calendar.

“It was just the most amazing thing to watch these boys. I couldn’t have been prouder,” he said.

SPORT IN BRIEF

Half-stroke Wackers win

JIM Lucas managed to eke out the narrowest of victories when a field of 17 teed off in Wackers action at Carpentaria Golf Club on 10 April.

Playing the back nine holes, golfers returned some impressive scorecards, but it was Lucas (nett 30) who claimed winner’s bragging rights over runner-up Christian Philpot, who recorded a nett 30.5. Philpot took the nearest to the pin prize on the 15th hole, while Grant Crossley grabbed the chocolates on the 18th green.

Lucas Duvenhage was awarded the Bradman’s prize.

Horse clinic postponed

THE two-day horsemanship clinic Cooktown Horse Sports was scheduled to host at the end of this month has been postponed until May.

The beginner clinic, run by Alyce Saddlier from DNA Horse Breaking and Educating, was due to take place on 27-28 April, but will now be held on 18-19 May.

The clinic will cover a number of beginner horsemanship elements, including the correct fitting of the halter and bridle, and techniques for controlling your horse in different situations.

For more information, email cooktownhorsesports4895@gmail.com.

Duvenhague wins Dawnies

LUCAS Duvenhague managed to hold off Simon Ayles to claim the narrowest of wins when 15 players battled for Dawnbusters glory at Carpentaria Golf Club on 14 April.

In one of the closest finishes in recent weeks, Duvenhague (nett 15) finished one stroke ahead of runner-up Ayles, with competition patriarch Viv Dick securing third position with a handy nett 18.

It was a Duvenhague day on the back nine holes, with Lucas also claiming the men’s long drive, while Elle Marie Duvenhague took bragging rights for the longest hitting woman on the course, in addition to the Hoffman’s gong.

Jim Lucas took nearest to the pin honours.

Golfers will contest the front nine on 21 April, with new players always welcome when competition tees off from 6:30am.

Above – Cape York Boxing Weipa competitors swith coach Scott Wallace ahead of their Sunstate Amateur Boxing League bouts in Tully.

Below – Napranum boxers Jet Savo, Maurice Brumby and Troy Hudson check out Tully’s Golden Gumboot before stepping into the ring.

Townhouse at the end of complex –new price, owner wants it sold!