Cape York Weekly Edition 189

Pat Fitzgerald’s jubilation after conquering Grassy Hill and the Big Run for Little Athletics with her four-legged running pal, Skippa, was a feeling shared by all who turned out to experience a sensational Cooktown Discovery Festival over the weekend. Check out our special four-page coverage on Pages 11-14.

by the Queensland Government, William Street, Brisbane.

Budgets failed the Cape: Entsch

By LYNDON KEANE

THE 2024-25 Queensland budget has followed in the footsteps of its federal cousin by delivering a “bloody disgrace” that thwarts Cape York’s economic development ambition, according to veteran Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch.

Neither budget allocated funding for – or even mentioned – the vital Cape York Region Package (CYRP) to deliver stage three of the project, which would have continued to seal the Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) to Weipa.

Mr Entsch said it was disgraceful the CYRP did not feature in

Brisbane or Canberra’s 2024-25 spending plans, a situation compounded by the fact additional funds now need to be found to offset the Archer River bridge cost blowout of nearly $80 million as part of stage two of the project.

“We’re further and further behind in stage two, it’s as simple as that,” he told Cape York Weekly

“I notice there was nothing in the [state] budget to facilitate the loss of stage two, that underestimation, if you like; there’s nothing there to actually replace that.

“We found out by accident there’s been a massive overrun on the Archer River crossing.

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“They’ve got to realise that Weipa is part of Queensland; Cape York is part of Queensland.”

Mr Entsch said he believed both budgets were politically motivated ahead of looming elections, and took a shot at his state counterpart, Cook MP Cynthia Lui, for failing to advocate for the development of the PDR and other much-needed infrastructure in favour or “little pet projects”.

“I think it’s a bloody disgrace,” he said.

“There’s not even a bloody reference [to the PDR], which is unbelievable, yet the Treasurer [Cameron Dick] and Cynthia Lui

had time to go to Coen and announce a $6.7m build of a new art centre, bypassing the existing art centre and ignoring what the community desperately needs, which is a palliative care centre.

“Clearly, they’re very, very selective on what they are doing, and the things that really, really matter to the broader community are not included. Everything’s into the south-east corner, except these little pet projects, which are purely political.”

The Leichhardt MP said he was concerned the lack of interest in Cape York in both budgets hinted there could ultimately be a push to

abolish the Federal Government’s Office of Northern Australia.

The ONA oversees the government’s policy agenda for northern Australia to “achieve sustainable and resilient northern economic and social development”, something Mr Entsch said was not reflected in the 2024-25 budgets.

“It’s become quite farcical. I think they’re on the way to actually abolishing the Office of Northern Australia, they’ve watered it down so much; I think the Officer of Northern Australia under this [federal] government will be abolished, and all that work we’ve done to date will be lost,” he said.

Cape York forgotten down in Brisbane

By LYNDON KEANE

WITH the exception of the $200 million Cooktown Hospital funding commitment, Cape York and the Torres Strait have been forgotten in regard to major infrastructure spend in the 2024-25 Queensland budget.

Treasurer Cameron Dick unveiled where the State Government planned to spend its money over the next 12 months on 11 May, with only five local projects beyond the Cooktown Hospital announcement receiving financial attention.

Coen will receive $6.7m in the coming financial year out of a total $8.2m spend for the construction of new art centre,

while $4.2m out of a $4.9m total spend will head to the Northern Peninsula Area to continue the delivery of the new fire and emergency services complex at Bamaga.

The Torres Strait will receive $13.8m in the budget, with $8.7m going to Moa Island for the St Pauls Public Health Community Centre, with $5.1m out of a total spend of $10.7m earmarked to upgrade the passenger jetty and wharf on Horn Island.

Pormpuraaw was the only winner on western Cape York, with the community set to receive $12m to construct its new primary health care centre (PHCC).

WIP Construction has been

awarded the tender to undertake the project, with construction scheduled to commence in the next few months ahead of completion in late 2026.

The new PHCC will be built on the grounds of the existing health facility, which will continue to operate until the new centre is ready.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Service Shannon Fentiman hailed the budget allocation as a win for Pormpuraaw.

“This investment will ensure enhanced healthcare options for residents of Pormpurraaw and the surrounding Cape York region,” she said.

“I am proud that we are able to deliver this significant

program of works to improve healthcare for the Cape York region, and look forward to works beginning soon.”

There is no mention of the Peninsula Developmental Road in the budget, which comes on the back of a purported cost blowout of almost $80m on the new Archer River bridge, which Cape York Weekly understands is now expected to cost more than $170m to deliver.

Despite snubbing the northernmost part of the state, the Treasurer stood by the budget and described it as “the budget that helps Queenslanders now, while building a better future of our state”.

Editor’s view – Page 16

Pormpuraaw is one of the few standout Cape York winners from the 2024-25 Queensland budget, with $12 million green lighted for the community’s new primary health care centre.

Overdue, but welcomed: new hospital on the way

By LYNDON KEANE

COOKTOWN will get a new hospital no matter which party forms government following the 26 October Queensland election.

The State Government announced on 11 June it had allocated $200 million to the Cooktown Hospital project, however, the 2024-25 budget fine print reveals only $8m of that will be available during the coming financial year.

Treasurer Cameron Dick’s budget identifies the $200m will be invested “over seven years”, meaning the vital health project will not be completed until early 2031 if the Miles government retains power in October.

The budget windfall is part of a record $28.9 billion health budget, and Cook Shire Council Mayor Robyn Holmes said it was a positive result for the com-

munity after years of advocacy.

“The Cooktown Multi-Purpose Health Service and Hospital services communities all across the southern Cape York Peninsula,” she said.

“After many years of advocating for this critical investment, the $200m commitment by the State Government is an astronomical win; $8m has been earmarked in the 2024-25 state budget, with further funding rolled out over the coming years.”

The new facility represents several big wins for the Cooktown community, including lowering the impact on local health services during the tourist season, reducing the need for patient travel to Cairns for treatment, and expanded outpatient services, such as maternity and midwifery, CT scanning, mental health and palliative care.

Mayor Holmes said an upgraded hospital meant older residents or those requiring regular medical treatment would be able to remain part of the Cooktown community for longer.

“For those people who require regular access to medical facilities and health services, [the redevelopment will give] a feeling of confidence that Cooktown can continue to be their home for many years to come,” she said.

While Opposition Leader David Crisafulli is yet to speak to Mayor Holmes about mirroring Labor’s funding commitment if the Liberal National Party wins the state election, Shadow Minister for Health Ros Bates told Cape York Weekly a change of government would not hinder the hospital redevelopment.

“The LNP is committed to redeveloping Cooktown Hospi-

tal. All Queenslanders deserve a world-class health system, no matter where they live,” she said.

As Cooktown continues to celebrate the budget announcement, Mayor Holmes said the council would continue advocating for a dedicated health clinic in Lakeland.

Currently, anyone in Lakeland needing medical assistance must travel 61 kilometres to Laura or 78 kilometres to Cooktown, a task which becomes impossible when wet season flooding cuts road access.

“The establishment of a permanent health service for the Lakeland community stands on its own merits,” Mayor Holmes said.

“The challenges faced by residents and workers of Lakeland will remain, even with improvements and expansion of the Cooktown [Hospital].”

Cook Shire Council Mayor Robyn Holmes says a commitment by the State Government to invest $200 million to redevelop the Cooktown Hospital is an “astronomical win” for the community after years of advocacy.

Coen health queen wins RFDS Local Hero Award

By CHISA HASEGAWA

A COEN healthcare advocate working to support her community with end-of-life care has been named the 2024 Royal Flying Doctor Service (RDFS) Queensland Local Hero.

After being crowned the Cairns region winner in the prestigious award, Jodi Hamilton has now been voted the overall local hero for the state, fitting recognition for her work in enhancing palliative care services in the Cape York town.

Ms Hamilton competed against local heroes from eight other regions across the state, bringing home Cape York’s second RDFS Queensland Local Hero Award in as many years after Wolverton Station’s Emma Jackson claimed the prize in 2022.

“I’m very appreciative of everyone who took the time to vote,” Ms Hamilton said.

“I had a lot of support from the Cape York community and the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service, so I’m very grateful to them.

“I think it’s amazing that Cape York has taken home the award twice in a row now, which says a lot about the role that RDFS plays for us and how essential it is.”

The health hero joined the Coen clinic in 2011 as an administrative officer, providing critical support across administration, operations, and after-hour emergencies.

Most recently, she set out to enhance Coen’s palliative care capacity to ensure residents of the remote community could die with dignity at home.

Throughout the journey, Ms Hamilton said she had been deeply inspired by the work of her late mother, Barbara Shepard, who dedicated 50 years to caring for Coen’s community as a nurse.

“When you are connected to

the community, you are doing your job for people you know and care about, which is so important,” she said.

“Receiving the 2024 RDFS Queensland Hero Award is humbling, and it acknowledges that we have carried on mum’s work, which is a wonderful feeling.”

As the state winner, Ms Hamilton received a $20,000 grant, sponsored by Ergon Energy Retail, for a health or wellbeing initiative in the region.

Ergon Energy Retail executive general manager Ayesha Razzaq said Ms Hamilton’s work was a “standout”.

“The finalists for this year’s Local Hero Awards were truly inspiring, but Jodi’s story was a standout,” she said.

“Her co-ordination efforts have been instrumental in ensuring that patients in Coen receive prompt and appropriate care, and I am so pleased that we will be able to help her achieve the

NEWS IN BRIEF

Lakeland theft ends spree

A 50-YEAR-OLD Cairns man will face court next week after going on an alleged fiveday crime spree in a number of locations, including Cooktown, earlier in the month.

Police allege on 7 June, the man entered a bottle shop in Cooktown and stole a carton of spirit cans, before he allegedly stole a motor vehicle from a Lakeland address on the same day.

The identity of the man was known, and further assistance from the public enabled the Mareeba Highway Patrol to locate him, at which time he was arrested and transported to Mareeba police station and charged with committing a number of offences, including two counts unlawful use of a motor vehicle, three counts stealing and one count evade police.

He was bailed and will appear in Mareeba Magistrates Court on 26 June.

$2.4m for World Heritage

THE State Government has included $2.4 million in its 2024-25 budget to continue its push for World Heritage listing for parts of the Cape York Peninsula.

goal of improving healthcare in the region.”

Ms Hamilton said the prizemoney would go towards endof-life care training initiatives in the community, with the ultimate goal of leading the development of a local residential palliative care facility.

“There are so many questions that come with diagnosis, so [we’re] looking at bringing in service providers who can give people those answers and start addressing things like the grieving process before loved ones pass away,” she explained.

“We’re not just focused on the physical aspects of palliative care, but also the social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of dealing with it. The centre is obviously the big picture, so we will continue to push and use connections that the award gives us to promote the bigger vision, but in the meantime, we’ll keep it focused in community, and work with families who are looking to engage.”

The funding allocation, which will be delivered over two years, has been earmarked “for the ongoing progression towards a World Heritage Nomination for parts of Cape York Peninsula with free, prior and informed consent of Traditional Owners”, however, the government has provided no additional information as to how the $2.4m will be spent.

Treasurer Cameron Dick said the money would help the government deliver on environmental sustainability.

Budget bid for teachers

A BID to increase teacher recruitment and retention at remote schools, including across Cape York, has received a boost from the 2024-25 Queensland budget.

The government announced on 11 June it would invest $3 million to provide free accommodation for teachers for up to 12 months who accept roles at priority regional, rural and remote schools.

Minister for Education Di Farmer said the announcement was in response to last month’s teacher workforce roundtable.

“We are exploring every plausible option to attract and retain the best teachers to our schools across the state,” she said.

“I always meet teachers who moved to a rural or remote town, initially for a year or two, and fell in love with the community and the school and end up building their lives there. It’s a consistent story from Cape York to Thargomindah.” 8:30am - 5:30pm

Back at work in Coen following the awards ceremony, a humble Jodi Hamilton reflects on what it means to be named the Royal Flying Doctor Service Queensland Local Hero for 2024.

Photo: Lyndon Keane

Jodi Hamilton’s $20,000 prize will be used to deliver end-of-life training initiatives in Coen.

Ribbon cut on new NPA buildings

STUDENTS and staff at Northern Peninsula Area State College’s junior campuses have celebrated the official opening of new facilities.

The new $5.7 million administration building at the Bamaga junior campus includes a staff room, reception area with waiting room, sick bay, interview room, visiting specialist’s room and office spaces, as well as amenities.

The Ama Mary Eseli Injinoo campus has also received two new prefabricated buildings, which will provide four learning spaces, complete with kitchenettes and breakout spaces.

The $7.6m Injinoo project replaced two demountable buildings that could not be refurbished, in addition to delivering the construction of a covered outdoor learning and play area and a groundsman shed.

Cook MP Cynthia Lui represented the Minister for Education Di Farmer at the official opening and said the facility upgrades were much needed.

“Our children deserve a quality education and facilities no matter where they live,” she said.

“This new building has a reception area and waiting room, a staff room, a sick bay, and much-

NEWS IN BRIEF

Property found in Cooktown

POLICE are calling on the owners of property handed into them to make contact to retrieve their possessions.

On 2 June, a backpack, a screwdriver and some cash was handed into Cooktown police, and the rightful owner can claim their property by contacting them and referencing QP2400937258.

On 6 June, an Oppo brand mobile phone was found on Charlotte Street in Cooktown and can be claimed by contacting police and quoting QP2400959305.

Kempton slams budget

THE LNP candidate for Cook has rebuked the State Government’s 2024-25 budget as one that ‘abandons’ the northernmost electorate in Queensland.

After the budget was handed down on 11 June, the LNP candidate and former Cook MP said the electorate was entitled to be cynical of the motives behind the budget, which he believed “which was focused on the next four months, to re-elect Labor, not the next four years and beyond”.

Mr Kempton was most critical of the $200 million Cooktown Hospital announcement, with budget documents showing only $8m of that would be spend in the coming 12 months.

“The residents of Cook have been abandoned by Labor in this Budget,” he said.

“[The] redevelopment of the Cooktown Hospital is long overdue, but a closer look at the budget papers reveal only $8 million of the announced allocation of $200 million for that project is due to be spent in the next year.”

Weipa community works

PEDESTRIAN accessibility between Weipa Hospital and the shopping centre is being improved after Weipa Town Authority commenced its Nanum Hospital Connection Project this month.

The project will deliver two raised priority ‘wombat’ crossings near the roundabout, as well as two pathways along Kerr Point Drive.

The project is being supported through the Queensland Government’s Cycle Network Local Government Grants Program.

In other Weipa infrastructure works, the playground in the Joy Rollin Memorial Park will get a fresh coat of paint to increase the facility’s amenity and make it safer for its pint-sized users.

needed staff office spaces.”

Principal Leanne Fox said the new infrastructure at the Bamaga and Injinoo campuses had been welcomed by the school community.

“The new administration building at the Bamaga junior campus gives a professional and contemporary ‘first impression’ for students, parents and visitors,” she said.

“The new learning buildings at the Ama Mary Eseli Injinoo campus are visible reflections of the Northern Peninsula Area State College staff’s commitment to equity and excellence in their classrooms.”

Students, teachers, politicians and community representatives celebrate the opening of the new NPA State College Bamaga Junior and Ama Mary Eseli Injinoo campus buildings.

Weipa students relish challenge

By CHISA HASEGAWA

BUDDING scientists from Western Cape College (WCC) are celebrating great results at the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) titration competition at James Cook University (JCU) in Cairns.

Six of the school’s highest-performing Year 10 STEM students were selected to compete individually and in teams of three.

Team one from WCC placed second out of 12 teams at the event, and student Emily Watters placed second individually out of 36 participants.

Year 10 STEM teacher Brock Lowrey explained individual scores were combined to get the overall team scores.

“I’m very much about collaborative learning and students working together to achieve their results,” he said.

“Even though they take individual scores and add them together to give you a team score, other schools tend to compete individually and do their own things.

“I was proud to see our girls helping each other out [and] rinsing each other’s glassware; it was a team effort that got us to achieve where we were, rather than working individually.”

Mr Lowrey explained the titration competition’s aim was to determine the concentration of an unknown acid as accurately as pos-

sible, which is achieved by following proper scientific procedures and using measuring equipment precisely.

“On the day, Emily got to a concentration within three decimal places of what the correct answer was, so it was really accurate, with only small errors,” he said.

Mr Lowrey said although Ms Watters produced the most accurate results, the other team members had to perform “exceptionally well” for the Weipa group to score as highly as it did.

“The other two students would have comfortably been in the top 10,” he said.

“I find that if you bring three heads together, you get better results, because their strengths and weaknesses all balance out. If they do move into jobs in the STEM industry, they’ll be doing lots of group work and it’s excellent they are developing those skills.”

Ms Watters said the experience

at JCU has further ignited her passion for chemistry.

“It felt pretty amazing to place that high, because we were against Year 12s as well,” she said.

“It was really cool to see the university and I’m totally excited to go to [there] and study science in the future.”

Emily Watters (second from right) and fellow Western Cape College science students produced great results at the RACI titration competition in Cairns recently.

Principal loving life at Endeavour

By CHISA HASEGAWA

WHEN Endeavour Christian College principal Jenny Nelson walks around the school, every student says hello with a bright smile.

At the beginning of 2024, Ms Nelson joined the ECC team, bringing her 30 years of experience as a school principal.

The leader said cutting-edge education and connection with students were her top priorities, with a brand-new prep facility completed and a large sporting oval on its way since her appointment.

Unlike a traditional classroom setting, Ms Nelson said the new prep facility featured play-based learning, nature-play and inclusive learning areas.

“I’ve always been interested in looking at how to engage stu-

dents further in learning and staying on the cutting edge of what’s happening in the education world. We wanted to be able to provide the best possible facilities and to be able to offer an engaging program,” she said.

The new sporting oval, which the principal said would become the largest in Cooktown, will allow students to engage in more athletic activities throughout the year.

It will also mean that the annual sports day can be conducted at the school, rather than borrowing Cooktown State School’s oval.

“The wonderful thing is, for our students that are interested in athletics, all of our sporting programs can be conducted from the oval now,” she said.

“It has a wonderful viewing area for parents and lots of parking.

“That’s one thing the oval will allow us to do, is we’ll be able to hold more events with our families and invite our community into the school a lot more.”

Along with her role as the principal, Ms Nelson said she taught some Year 7-12 classes, read stories to primary-age students and greeted the prep students in class each morning.

In Cooktown, she fell in love with the tight-knit community and opportunities to connect.

“You get to know everybody’s name and you get to be part of the community; you’re not so busy in your office, so you can actually interact with the students,” she said.

“One of the things we’ve started to adopt is ‘every face has a place’, so [that means] every student belongs.”

Artist’s first solo exhibition considered a big success

LISA Scharf is busily preparing to share more of herself after the artist’s first solo exhibition in Weipa and Cooktown went off “without a hitch”.

Despite feeling nervous about putting herself out there, the Weipa artist said she was calm and comfortable on the night as she basked in the love shown for her work.

The exhibition, Nature’s Resonance, showcased her connection with nature through various mediums, including a unique combination of ceramics and weaving.

Ms Scharf said the intimate

gathering of family, friends and community members gave her a new-found confidence.

“It was just beautiful, the atmosphere was lovely, and people were very positive towards my art. People loved my pots with the weaving on top and they were also drawn to my paintings,” she said.

Ms Scharf opened the show in Weipa earlier this month before packing it up to showcase at Nature’s Powerhouse in Cooktown.

The works will be available to view until mid-July, concluded by a weaving workshop on 13 July.

With her works drawn towards femininity and showcasing the beauty of Weipa’s landscape, Ms Scharf said it was important to her that women supported one another.

Along with friends and family, Ms Scharf thanked regional arts officer Waratah Nicholls and the Regional Arts Services Network Tropical North team, as well as Cook Shire Council.

“One thing I’ve learned is that women supporting other women is so important for creation to continue,” the artist said.

“Especially living in a small

community, if I didn’t have that support, I would have shrunk and gone.

“Beautiful things can happen when women uplift each other.”

Ms Scharf said she was not sure what she would showcase next, but knew more exhibitions were on the horizon.

“There will absolutely be a new body of work that I’ll be working on now,” she said.

“I’m not sure what yet; I’ll just follow my instincts and it’ll be where my heart takes me.”

– story by Chisa Hasegawa

ROSIE’S CHICKEN

Principal Jenny Nelson gets to know the names and faces of every student at Endeavour Christian College. Photo: Jacynta Hunt

Family and friends gathered to see Ms Scharf’s artworks, including her unique ceramic and weaving pieces.

Lisa Scharf and regional arts officer

Waratah Nicholls celebrate the success of Nature’s Resonance.

Emotional opening in Wujal Wujal

COMMUNITY Enterprise

Queensland (CEQ) has held an emotional grand opening of its new ABIS store in Wujal Wujal as part of a special healing day event in the community on 7 June.

Prior to the devasting floods which displaced the community in December 2023, CEQ was preparing to operate the previously Council-leased convenience store, however, following a collaboration between CEQ, Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council and residents, a brand new store – Wujal

Bayan Mayiji – has now opened its doors.

CEQ board chairperson Joann Schmider said CEQ was proud to contribute within the Wujal Wujal community as part of the its ongoing recovery following last year’s evacuation.

“The opening of Wujal Bayan Mayiji marks a significant step in the ongoing recovery and healing process for Wujal Wujal, and marks a momentous occasion for the local community,” she said.

“It provides essential goods and

services, supporting the community as they rebuild their lives.

“Our now publicly broadcasted commitment is to listen to the community’s feedback, and to be responsive.

“The opening of the ABIS store also celebrates the partnership between CEQ, Wujal Wujal council and the traditional custodians of Country, represented through Jabalbina Aboriginal Corporation.”

Mayor Alister Gibson praised stakeholders involved with the collaboration and said the new store

meant much more to the community than bricks and mortar.

“This new store symbolises our strength and determination to rebuild and move forward together,” Mayor Gibson explained.

“I’d like to thank the entire CEQ team for their dedication to serving our community and ensuring the delivery and service of food to our residents.”

Three Wujal Wujal residents have already commenced working in the store and are being trained in retail operations, with CEQ chief

executive officer Michael Dykes saying the aim was to empower locals.

“We’re a people business embedded into the community, and we’re here to listen, serve and invest in the community, including by supporting residents with enterprise development that brings local jobs,” he said.

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

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Lola Daylight, Lisa Law and Steltone Britcher prepare to welcome the first Wujal Wujal residents into the new store on 7 June.

The Wuja Wujal community turned out in force to celebrate the emotional opening of its new store.

Cooktown Discovery Festival 2024

Mother nature delivers the goods

FROM a beautiful performance by Hope Vale’s barefoot ballerinas and school band to open the event, to crowds lining Charlotte Street for the grand parade, the 2024 Cooktown Discovery Festival has been hailed as resounding show of the region’s resilience.

Just six months after the devastation Tropical Cyclone Jasper caused in the area, thousands of locals and visitors turned out in force to celebrate the ongoing recovery and Cooktown’s rich history.

Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes praised the organisation’s events team for putting on a fantastic event that was accompanied by perfect dry season weather.

“I think they’ve put in a massive effort, because you’ve got a variety of artists and a variety of stallholders here who aren’t all locals, and the acts here who are all very different. It takes a lot of effort to get them all to Cooktown,” she said.

Mayor Holmes said part of this year’s festival was focused on celebrating the town and region’s turnaround following the December 2023 natural disaster.

“It’s definitely been a bounce back,” she said.

“We’ve had small bounce back events in Bloomfield and Rossville, so this one is incorporating some of the bounce back side of

it for the Cooktown community.”

Victorian visitors Scott and Ellen Hempstead, who stopped in Cooktown for the festival en route to Panjinka, said they were stunned by the scope of the event.

“This has been just great so far,” Ms Hempstead said after the grand parade on 15 June.

“There’s so much to do and the community just seems like a wonderful place.”

Muster continues to grow into a highlight of festival

FOUR-WHEEL drives, utes and motorbikes roared into the Cooktown Discovery Festival as their owners vied for Cape York Automotive Muster bragging rights on 15 June.

Entrants participated in the festival’s grand parade before lining Charlotte Street for judging in the seven muster categories on offer.

Event organiser Lauren Bowyer, whose personal vehicle, Voodoo Queen, returned for 2024 with an unmissable vivid pink camouflage wrap, said the muster would “definitely” be back for a fourth time next year.

“It’ll definitely be back in 2024,” she said.

“There’s a couple of young fellas who have come all the way from Bamaga, so that just shows how much it’s growing.

“[Voodoo Queen] definitely stands out now; I’ve got a bit of a thing for pink as you can tell, and a bit of the thing for camo.”

Prong Trimble entered his stunning,

hand-built Harley Davidson, a 1650cc beast living in a 1972 frame, in the Best Motorcycle class and said he was thrilled to see the event growing each year, adding the crowd reaction to the motorbikes in the grand parade made the effort worthwhile.

“It’s good to see Lauren’s event sort of going bigger and bigger,” he said.

“They (the crowd) just love seeing the bikes.”

The category winners of the event were - Best Motorcycle: Donald Boneham 1, Prong Trimble 2; Best Ladies Rig: Sandra Bernardo 1, Debbie Watkinson 2; Best Classic 4x4 Rig: Luke Nadredre 1, Martin Watkinson 2; Best Classic Car: Jason Lukic 1, Ray Irvin 2; Best Flex: Reece Peters 1, Jesse Long 2; Roughest Rig: Jesse Long 1, Neville Pratt 2; Best Souped-Up Rig/Car: Jason Lukic 1, Luke Nadredre; Best in Show: Cody Hocking 1,

Ray Irvin 2.

Some grand parade entries were harder to miss than others.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services provided a popular way for grand parade spectators to beat the heat in Cooktown on Saturday.

Cape York Automotive Muster co-ordinator Lauren Boyer shows off Voodoo Queen, which was transformed from matte black to an unmissable hot pink camouflage ahead of this year’s event.

The Cooktown Discovery Festival grand parade participants were as diverse as they were engaging with the big crowd lining Charlotte Street on Saturday.

Cooktown Discovery Festival 2024

Cheryl and Heather Cannon made the trip from Hope Vale to support the community’s barefoot ballerinas.

Natalie Dooley and Ava Croatto give Weipa’s Zendaya Kemp-Gibson an enchanted braid makeover.

Blayne, Angie and Lakhana Jenkins were out and about early on Saturday morning taking Bella Poppy for a walk while they watched the Big Run for Little Athletics.

Jules, Joubert and Orlando Bredillet show their support for runners on Saturday.

Peta and Veronika Buhmann – aka B1 and B2 – made sure no one missed them in a sea on competitors on Charlotte Street.

Manuela Fischer, Katelyn Greaves and Maree Coulson were all smiles representing Cape York Natural Resource Management at the festival.

Rachelle Darby, Jason Bridge and Jaki Gardner catch up in the festival village on Friday afternoon.

Mother-and-daughter duo Sharlene Leeson and Chloe Daff are understandably happy after finishing the Big Run for Little Athletics.

Performers march to Bicentennial Park for the re-enactment of the Captain Cook landing. Cape York Automotive Muster entrants turned heads during the grand parade.

Cooktown Horse Sports Association president Sarah Frew and Pistol.

Senior Constable Tom Wilson and Dylan Harrigan threw some emergency services support behind competitors at the Little Run for Big Athletics.

Rohan Wright, Jesse Worth and Erin O’Shea found a cool spot to watch the festival performances.

Joanne Bourke and Heath Bell.

Sophie Kiernan is congratulated by Tony Niarchos for her winning effort only an hour after finishing her night shift at the hospital. John and Jan Tuck escaped the Melbourne cold weather.

Cooktown Discovery Festival 2024

The Sassy Catz, who hail from Cairns and Kuranda, have been wowing crowds together for more than two decades.

Earnest Kulka, Patrick Kulka-Bernard and Samuel Lyall enjoy a day out.

It was impossible to miss Zara and her owner, Bradley Smith.

Jamie Powell and Luna get ready to strut their stuff at the dog show.

The festival was a surprise for visiting Victorians Debie and Cameron Guy, who arrived in Cooktown unaware it was on during their visit.

Prong Trimble shows off his hand-built Harley Davidson –which features a thumping 1650cc engine – at the 2024 Cape York Automotive Muster on Saturday.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service wildlife officer Jeff Lewis and ranger Josh Smith spread the Crocwise message to patrons in the festival village.

The Gibson family makes the trip from Hope Vale each year for the festival.

Cook Shire Council Mayor Robyn Holmes and Leanne Rayner were front and centre as judges for the Cooktown Horse Sports Association horse show.

Teala Hall and Tilly take time out for a photo before the horse show gets under way.

Cooktown Horse Sports Association secretary Christine Warren and volunteer Jeneen Clark made sure things ran smoothly at the horse show.

Althea Turner and Fourex get ready to head into the arena.

Coleridge Bowen entertains the grand parade crowd with his guitar.

Leanne Buckle and Lizzie Bon say they loved the Crackup Sisters’ daily shows. Nerissa Brooker, Laycee Graham and Ian Macduff came up from Mackay.

Cooktown Discovery Festival 2024

Barefoot ballerinas win new fans

By CHISA HASEGAWA

IN their fourth year together, the Hope Vale Barefoot Ballerinas reigned as the cutest performers to take to the stage at the Cooktown Discovery Festival from 14-16 June.

The tiny dancers in pink tutus and bare feet kickstarted this year’s festivities, combining twirls and pliés with traditional dance moves.

Through the Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy’s Hope Vale campus, the girls learn their culture and local Guugu Yimithirr language through dance.

“They’re inspired by being barefoot; a lot of the kids in community don’t wear shoes and they really nurture being close to the ground with their feet,” teacher Emma Coleman explained.

“They get to show little bits of themselves in the dances, and they get to learn about their culture and the language of their music as well.”

Ms Coleman said the kids had been rehearsing hard, adding she loved to watch them perform.

“We’ve been practising quite a lot, so they’re not nervous; they know exactly what they need to do,” she said.

“It’s such a good feeling seeing them happy and enjoying it, because school is not for all of them, so having external activities that aren’t just sports is a really good way to get them outside of the classroom and get them learning and doing something different.”

The tiny Barefoot Ballerinas from Hope Vale opened this year’s Cooktown Discovery Festival with a fantastic performance.

Family reconnection is completed

By CHISA HASEGAWA

A MACKAY-raised New Yorker looking for answers on her family history has been able to visit her great-grandmother’s grave in Cooktown.

Knowing her father’s side had a connection to Coen, Norwegian descendant Nola Ford reached out to the Cooktown History Centre (CHC) to fill in the blanks for her family tree write-up.

With the help of CHC secretary Marjorie Scully, Ms Ford found her great-grandmother was buried in Cooktown after travelling to Australia, settling on the Bloomfield River, and marrying another Norwegian man at Ayton.

Ms Ford said she acquired letters her great-grandmother and other girls on her vessel had written.

“I’ve got three of those letters in

the write-up, and I called it Lonely Letters Across the Sea, because they didn’t know English, everything was strange, and I think they were very lonely for a long time. It

sort of makes you appreciative of what the heck they went through,” she said.

“I appreciate coming to Cooktown now when the sun gets darn hot, and you think of how they all must have been in their long dresses.”

At the CHC, Ms Ford also found and connected with Brenda Svendsen, a descendant of their greatgrandmother’s second marriage.

“She gave me some of the Svendsen wedding photos, so that was wonderful, because I didn’t have anything on the Svendsen side of the family, which was important because great-grandmother had remarried,” Ms Ford said.

“Both Marj and Brenda have

just been amazing and provided me with an incredible amount of information I didn’t have.

“You don’t get much from your family, because they say they can’t remember, so all I had was snippets of information, but it’s amazing what you can find out when you go to a source like a local.”

Ms Scully said the reconnection was a “true Cape York tale”.

“Sometimes it can get quite emotional, especially when you discover something new or you trip over something or families meet,” she said.

“It’s fantastic to be involved in reconnecting people with their families and I think everyone gets a big buzz out of it.”

Annual Rossville gathering means more than before

IN the wake of Tropical Cyclone Jasper’s mass flooding event, regeneration holds a special meaning for Rossville in the leadup to this year’s Wallaby ReGen weekend.

Known as the ReGen Weekender last year, the annual event focuses on new ways of living harmoniously with nature through scientific presentations, practical workshops, and simply enjoying the environment together.

Wallaby ReGen coordinator Pasha Lynch said the flood recovery process inspired this year’s theme.

“We’re using the theme of water, and all the presenters will be talking about water in relation to regeneration,” she said.

“It’s about asking how we all learn from this; What do we do when there’s too much water? How do we manage? How do we build things back up better?

“I think the term regeneration holds a much stronger meaning this year.”

Activities on growing your own food, cooking, composting, tropical permaculture, yoga and meditation will be accompanied by

gentle acoustic music as participants chat about recovery and regeneration.

Ms Lynch said one of the highlights of the gathering would be the mass tree planting event, where attendees plant trees to extend the community’s rainforest.

With the help of rainforest revival organisation, ClimateForce, more than 200

trees were planted last year and fortunately, most survived the flooding despite being underwater for an extended period.

“We call it a botanical lottery; when you first start, you may have two plants in your hand and have no idea what they are, but by the end of the exercise, the names are called out and people

start learning what’s sitting around them in the forest,” she explained.

“When people drive past, they know they planted those trees there and that’s very important.

“Especially after we lost so much, we don’t want to stop; we’re just going to keep planting, even though the flood took some out.”

With times still tough for many, Ms Lynch said the ReGen team did not want finances to be a barrier to attendance.

“Certainly for people who have been affected by the flood, we would be happy for them to come without having to get tickets, they just need to contact me,” Ms Lynch said.

“If people want to come along, they can also volunteer and do a few hours beforehand to help us set up. Tickets are now on sale on humanitix for Wallaby ReGen 2024 on 19-24 July, with an option to donate on the site.

To contact Ms Lynch, email regen@wallabycreekfestival.org.au.

Tree planting fun at last year’s Wallaby ReGen Weekender, from which the majority of trees survived the flood event following Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

Nola Ford (right) visits her great-grandmother’s Cooktown grave with new-found relative Brenda Svendsen.

Budget falls short of expectations

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

FOUR per cent. It’s not much of anything, is it? If I promised you an outstanding bottle of wine, one you’ve been attempting to get your hands on for years, and then told you – after the adulation and thanks ceased, of course – you could only imbibe 4 per cent of it over the next 12 months, how incandescent with rage would you be? How much worse would it get if I then told you the bottle couldn’t be finished for seven years?

That’s the situation Cooktown has found itself in after the Queensland Government announced last week it was committing $200 million to redevelop a contemporary hospital as part of its 2024-25 budget.

Cook Shire Council and the community have been advocating for the existing facility to be upgraded for years, with Mayor Robyn Holmes heralding the announcement as an “astronomical win” for Cooktown.

So far, so good, right? The problem begins when you start to look beyond the political spin and at the budget’s fine print. The part Treasurer Cameron Dick and our elected overlords hope you won’t pay any attention to.

The fine print reveals the government will only spend $8m of

its $200m commitment during the 2024-25 financial year, with the outstanding $198m needed to deliver a new hospital to be coughed up over the six years following that. Yes, that’s a seven-year plan to build vital health infrastructure that’s at least that long overdue.

A 4 per cent commitment between now and June next year.

A cynic would suggest it’s an election year, because a 4 per cent spend during 2024-25 will do little to improve short-term health outcomes for anyone other than poli-

Maintenance dredging notice

ticians trying desperately to keep their careers on life support.

In the nothing-is-as-simple-asit-should-be landscape of politics, procurement and public sector project management, $8m will provide for little more progress than a tendering process to be undertaken and proponent announced.

The tokenistic 2024-25 funding commitment means there is no chance every politician’s photo op favourite, the official sod turning, will even be able to happen during the coming year.

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) will undertake maintenance dredging from mid-May 2024 at the Port of Weipa.

Dredging will also be completed at Amrun on behalf of Rio Tinto.

The project will take up to seven (7) weeks to complete.

The dredge vessel TSHD Brisbane, as well as support vessels, have restricted manoeuvring capability. Local and visiting boaties are asked to take care and notice of all warning flags and lights.

Maintenance dredging needs to be carried out to ensure that safe, navigable shipping depths are maintained.

Environmental controls and management measures will be implemented throughout the program to minimise the risk of any potential impact on the marine environment. Your cooperation and understanding is appreciated.

For more information contact

ly dense electorate areas. Like that stretch of dirt between the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, for example.

Political observers have described this as a budget designed to win Premier Steven Miles and his entourage another four years at the helm, and it’s difficult to find a flaw in that argument, particularly when you consider the paltry crumbs and minimal immediate spend offered to Cape York.

If the government was serious about the region and boosting the liveability of our amazing part of the world, there would have been a hell of a lot more than $8m being dangled on the end of a string for the 2024-25 financial year.

Keep your ceremonial shovels, hard hats and cheesy infrastructure puns holstered for now, ladies and gentlemen.

The $200m commitment to fund the redevelopment of Cooktown’s hospital is fantastic, but the $8m fine print reality reeks of a government that is in no hurry to improve the wellbeing of voters in the northernmost part of the state.

Not when the outstanding $198m can be spread thin and used on political promises aimed at enticing those in more geographical-

A $50m commitment over the next 12 months would have signalled sincerity and an appetite to kickstart a health infrastructure project that’s already long overdue. A 4 per cent promise for 2024-25 signals the government no longer cares whether it retains Cook after 26 October.

Politics is much like an onion, especially when it comes to budgets. It has plenty of layers, and the more of them you peel back, the more your eyes are going to water. When you peel it back to its core, there’s little doubt the budget delivered by the State Government last week is going to cause plenty of tears for Cape York residents not only between now and 30 June 2025, but for years to come.

Only 4 per cent of the $200 million committed to redevelop the Cooktown Hospital will be spent in the 2024-25 financial year, a figure editor Lyndon Keane says hints at how much of a priority the project actually is for the State Government.

Cape York Weekly Puzzles Page

Fit the numbers 1-6 once into every hexagon so that where the hexagons touch, the numbers are the same. No number is repeated in any single hexagon.

POSITION VACANT

Job Title: Secretary Manager

Location: Weipa, Queensland

Company: Weipa Bowls Club

About Us:

Weipa Bowls Club is a local community club located in Far North Queensland, dedicated to the sport of lawn bowls, the members, the local community and providing a family friendly club. We are committed to innovation, excellence and creating a positive work environment for our employees. Join our dynamic team and be a part of our growth journey.

Position Overview:

We have a rare and exciting opportunity for a proactive and experienced Club Secretary Manager to join our team. This hands-on role requires you to bring proven experience of club-wide operations including exemplary cash handling, staff management and the ability to communicate with a diverse group of members and guests.

Working closely with the Board of Management and club staff, this position requires clear communication and organisational skills, whilst delivering high standards of customer service.

The minimum role requirements:

3 years experience within an operational supervisory position with high exposure to gaming and food and beverage service.

Current RSA, RSG, RMLV and Gaming Nominee Licence will be required.

A working knowledge and understanding of relevant club industry legislation and standards.

The ability to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends and public holidays. Superior customer service skills.

What We Offer:

Competitive salary and benefits package

Opportunities for professional growth and development

Collaborative and inclusive work environment

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume and cover letter detailing their qualifications and experience to manager@weipabowlsclub.com.au – Please include “Secretary Manager” in the subject line of your email.

Application Deadline:

Close of business, 30 June 2024

Weipa Bowls Club is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Join us at Weipa Bowls Club and help us shape the future of hospitality.

Public Notice

Annual Controlled Burns Program

Mid June to 30 September 2024

Rio Tinto Emergency Services will be undertaking the annual controlled burns program to reduce the risk of fires impacting environmentally sensitive areas and community infrastructure.

During this time, there is potential for moderate smoke impact and reduced visibility and we recommend the local community;

- Close windows and doors

- Keep medication on hand for respiratory conditions

- Observe traffic controls and drive to the road conditions.

Specific locations of planned burns will be posted on the Rio Tinto Weipa Facebook page 24 hours prior to burns taking place.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Please call our feedback hotline 1800 820 711 or email RTAWeipafeedback@riotinto.com

Home team claims Crusader Cup

SOME players spent more than 500 kilometres on the road for a game of football when five teams took to the paddock in the AFL Cape York Crusader Cup in Weipa last week.

Western Cape College and St Joseph’s Parish School fielded teams and had the home ground advantage when they welcomed

visiting players from Napranum, Aurukun, Mapoon and Lockhart River.

AFL Cape York game development team member Matt Mellahn praised the skill and commitment of the more than 80 players who laced up their boots, especially the teams from Lockhart River and Aurukun, who made 550km and

400km round trips to battle for the Crusader Cup.

“They do all the in-school stuff, the skill stuff, and a lot of them come down to play in the Tuesday night matches [in Weipa] and they have shown they are moving forward with their AFL,” he said.

“Every team had at least one person that did something special

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ABORIGINAL CORPORATION (icn.148) 92 Charlotte Street, PO Box 6, COOKTOWN QLD 4895 T: 07 4069 5412

Position Vacant

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on the day. It’s good for Lockhart to play in the Crusader Cup; they’ve got their school program next term, so to come in and have a hit kind of extends their footy season.”

When the dust settled on the paddock, Western Cape College held the Crusader Cup aloft, cheered on by their opponents.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Most Valuable Players: Yarrin (Western Cape College) and LalaSue (St Joseph’s Parish School). Best Team Individuals: Astin (Western Cape College), Drew (St Joseph’s Parish School), Toby (St Joseph’s Parish School), Vincent (Aurukun), Abraham (Lockhart River), Marques (Old Mapoon).

ABORIGINAL CORPORATION (icn.148)

92 Charlotte Street, PO Box 6, COOKTOWN QLD 4895 T: 07 4069 5412

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Gungarde Justice Group

Gungarde Community Centre is seeking expressions of interest to be part of the Gungarde Justice Group. Indigenous Elders and Community Leaders of Cooktown please send your expression of interest to gwhittaker@gungarde.com.a

Applications close at noon on 20th June 2024

For further information please contact 07 4069 5412 GUNGARDE COMMUNITY

CORPORATION (icn.148) 92 Charlotte Street, PO Box 6, COOKTOWN QLD 4895 T: 07 4069 5412

Position Vacant

Gungarde Community Centre is seeking applications from suitably qualified people to join our team in the role of FaMiLY WELLBEinG sUPPoRt WoRKER

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Teams came from far and wide to compete at the Weipa Cricket Ground.

More than 80 players from across the region converged on Weipa last week to battle for bragging rights in the 2024 AFL Cape York Crusader Cup.

Napranum teams fired up for touch footy tournament

By CHISA HASEGAWA

TWELVE young people chosen to represent PCYC Napranum are gearing up for this year’s Bunburra footy tournament.

Bunburra is PCYC Queensland’s annual Indigenous beach touch football tournament, where boys and girls aged 14-17 from Indigenous communities have the chance to participate in a competition held on the Gold Coast.

The six boys and six girls were selected for the team based on good behaviour, community mindedness, and school and training attendance.

Club manager Sergeant Rhonda Spence said she was proud to admit narrowing the line-up to a final 12 was no easy feat.

“We had up to 20 boys and 20 girls to select from, so it was a very difficult decision,” she said.

Bunburra fosters sporting skills and leadership qualities by rewarding motivated young people, who then become role models for their younger peers.

Sergeant Spence said youth leading youth was a big part of the culture at PCYC Napranum.

“There was so much excitement for all the youth that were selected,” she said.

“Even the younger youth were

so excited; you could hear them saying ‘we’re going to train for this next year, we want to go’.

“The younger kids always follow the older kids around here, especially the leaders, so having the junior kids involved shows them what to do in the future when it’s their turn to go.”

PCYC NAPRANUM SQUADS

Girls team: Cherlyln Mene Dick, Janet Miskin, Alliyah Kris, Dianne Bosuen, Kakie Jackonia, Lilac Kris.

Boys team: Benson Kris, Ashley Brown, Alfridi Bandicootcha, Adrian Scott, Akut Anau, Desmond Pitt.

Big win for Sands, but at big cost

DAVE Sands may be celebrating Dawbusters glory after a thumping 12-stroke win on Sunday, but victory came at a cost as his handicap took a dive by a staggering 36 shots.

A field of 14 teed off in brisk conditions seeking bragging rights at Carpentaria Golf Club on Sunday morning, but Sands (nett 6) could not be caught thanks to a 44 handicap, with the runner-up on a countback against Christ Hamilton being Viv Chan (nett 18).

Simon Ayles claimed the men’s long drive, while Chan took the women’s honours.

Jim Lucas secured the nearest to the pin chocolates, with Leigh Allender crowned the round’s Hoffman’s winner.

After the round, Sands candidly admitted that his win came down to persistence, good luck and a “really big” handicap, with the latter being slashed to 8.

Jim Lucas won the nearest to pin at Dawnbusters in Weipa on Sunday.

Six girls and six boys from PCYC Napranum are ready to take on the annual Bunburra tournament.

Young leaders at PCYC Napranum are inspiring their even younger peers.

Welsh, Butler pair up for 4BBB success

WAL Welsh and Rick Butler made the most of crystal clear sky and no breeze to claim fourball, best ball victory at Cooktown Golf Club on 15 June.

In another tight contest, Welsh and Butler (46 points) held on to outlast the dangerous pairing of Daniel Biddle and

Graham Burton, who returned to the clubhouse with 43 points, while Steve Butler and Paul Sperring tied for third spot with Ryan Grayson and Brent Hetaraka on 39 points.

Nearest to the pin glory went to Biddle on 14 and Rick Butler on 9/18, with the 2/11 green

proving too challenging for players to claim.

In The FNQiB Race to the Bay, Biddle used a super-up card to collect 840 points to jump into the leader’s position, 150 points clear of Steve Butler.

This week, golfers will contest a red tee Stableford, fol-

lowed by the Cooktown Open. A club spokesperson said there were still plenty of tee spots available, and urged competitors from across the region to come and test themselves against the greens, which are rolling as well as they ever have. Contact the club to nominate.

Pooches, ponies shine in Cooktown’s glowing sun

COOKTOWN’S best equine and canine talent was on display over the weekend when the Cooktown Horse Sports Association (CHSA) hosted a Horse and Hound Show as part of Discovery Festival celebrations.

The Cooktown Racecourse and dog park were abuzz on Saturday and Sunday mornings with four- and two-legged competitors, and CHSA president Sarah Frew said the club was thrilled with the first-up effort.

“This was the first time the club had run this event and it was a great success,’ she said.

HOUND SHOW RESULTS – Small purebred (open): Pat Fitzgerald/Skippa 1, Sarah Frew/Morgan 2, Tracey Murray/James 3; Small purebred (junior): Charlotte Murray/Lily 1; Medium purebred (open): Cherie Jerome/ Fergus 1, Jessie Wright/Theodore 2, Kelly Tran/Coco 3; Large purebred: Bradley Smith/Zara 1; Working dog (open): Danni Matthews/Willow 1, Nina Kaye/Milo 2, Ian Murray/Beau 3; Working dog (junior): Myles Higgins/Lamington 1, Mitchell Kaye/Bickie 2; Cooktown special (open): Heather Kelly/Hazel 1; Christine Warren/Maicey 2; Cooktown special (junior): Jamie Powell/Luna 1, Mitchell Kaye/Bickie 2; Best dressed (open): Jessie Wright/Theodore 1, Sarah Frew/Mabel 2, Jeanne Masding/Leeloo 3; Best dressed (junior): Jamie Powell/Luna 1, Myles Higgins/Lamington 2; Best in show: Charlotte Murray/Lily (junior), Heather Kelly/ Hazel (open); Encouragement awards: Mitchelle Kaye/Bickie (junior), Christine Warren/Maicey (open). HORSE SHOW RESULTS – Junior lead line (other breed): Teala Hall/Tilly 1, Alethea Turner/Fourex 2; Open lead line (other breed): Ashleigh Jerome/Duckoda 1, Dannielle Matthews/Jasper 2; Open lead line (registered quarter horse): Sarah Frew/Bluestone Silver Jazz 1; Open lead line (off-the-track thoroughbred): Dannielle Matthews/Beseiged 1; Junior ridden (other breed): Teala Hall/Tilly 1, Alethea Turner/Fourex 2; Open ridden (other breed): Ashleigh Jerome/Duckoda 1, Ashleigh Jerome/Whiskey 2; Open ridden (registered quarter horse): Sarah Frew/Bluestone Silver Jazz 1.

“Everyone who attended to compete or spectate enjoyed themselves, and we had a good mix of junior and open competitors in both events, so hopefully we can do it again next year.

“I would also like to thank all our sponsors, as it wouldn’t have been possible without them.”

SPORT IN BRIEF

Dick claims Wednesday win

A FIELD of 10 contested Wednesday Wackers at Weipa on 2 June.

Viv Dick returned the best scorecard of the front nine round, with a net 32.5 securing a narrow win from runner-up Jim Lucas, who returned to the clubhouse with nett 33. Lucas made up for his second placing by grabbing nearest to the pin honours on the 7th, with Jon Dall bagging the Bradman’s prize.

Nine PBs for parkrun #370

WITH the Weipa Fishing Classic not distracting competitors, a big field of 46 pounded the pavement for Weipa parkrun #370 on Saturday.

Nine personal bests were set over the five-kilometre course, with Reece Reed, Christy Ferguson, Luke O’Day, Abby Jensen, Vide Freiberg, Jack Balodis, Jemma Sturdy, Nama Filitonga and Elizabeth Filitonga all stopping the clock with PB times.

Michael Collins was the fastest male competitor home in 19 minutes, 1 second, with Ferguson’s PB 24:03 setting the pace for the women.

Laura nominations open

COMPETITORS have until 24 June to register for events in the Laura Rodeo and Campdraft.

The Laura Rodeo Grounds will be a hive of activity on 29-30 June, with a full complement of rodeo and campdrafting events filling a bumper program.

Prizemoney of up to $2000 will be on offer for the open bull ride, with the Bushman’s Bronc challenge to reward the winner with a $1500 prize purse.

Suns shine before holidays

THE Central Cape Suns Junior Rugby League Club notched up another big game night on Friday.

The round was the last before the looming school holidays, with several players stepping up to secure player of the week honours.

Individual player of the week gongs went to Victorious Agale (under-6), Fletcher Stevens (U7), Parx Hall (U8), Jayda Ison (U10), Tanna de Tournouer (U12), Aiaba Satrick (U14), Barry Marshall (U16) and Elsie Daniel-Elia (U16 girls).

COOKTOWN TIDE TIMES

Jessie Wright leads Theodore for the judges at the dog park. Teala Hall and Tilly are put through their paces during the junior led class.

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