Yunara Wymarra is all smiles as he pilots JD to a comfortable victory in the final of the 300-metre dash in front of a big crowd at Yusia Ginau Oval on Friday afternoon. Check out who we spotted at the 2024 Red Dust Rodeo and Show on Page 22.
The State Government has been caught recycling 18-month-old explanations for construction delays and cost blowouts on the Archer River bridge, which will now cost taxpayers more than $131 million to complete. Report – Page 5
POLICE have suspended the search for missing New South Wales woman Jamilla Humphrey after receiving “additional information or intelligence” about her disappearance.
The extensive search and rescue operation was called off on 6 September after the 52-year-old’s vehicle was located on the Old Telegraph Track, about three kilometres south of the Jardine River in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) on 29 August.
The white Mitsubishi van with NSW registration AE 92 WX was found bogged and police told media on 2 September they believed Ms Humphrey could have walked
away from her vehicle in a bid to find assistance.
“On [29] August, a white Mitsubishi van ... which was believed to have been driven by Jamilla,
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was located on the Old Telegraph Track, approximately three kilometres south of the Jardine River in Cape York,” Cairns Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said.
“We understand that she was travelling alone with the intention of travelling to the tip of Australia.
“It’s concerning to us that she has left her vehicle; the vehicle was located in a bogged state.
“Jamilla’s personal effects appear untouched within the vehicle, which would give rise to the fact that she’s walked off, away from the vehicle, likely seeking help.”
However, on Friday afternoon, police said in a statement the largescale search had been abandoned
on the basis of new information, but did not specify what it was that led to the decision.
“The suspension of the search is subject to additional information or intelligence being received regarding her disappearance,” the statement said.
After being approached by several NPA residents regarding a rumour circulating in community that a body with injuries “not consistent with a crocodile attack” had been located during the search, Cape York Weekly put the question to the Queensland Police Service, who dispelled the speculation.
“There has been no body found,” a police spokesperson said.
“[Local police] have advised that there are a lot of rumours going around but no body has been found.”
Police have released new images of Ms Humphrey and now believe she has short, brown hair, and may be wearing dark shorts and a dark t-shirt.
She is described as Caucasian in appearance with a fair complexion, about 180 centimetres tall, thin build and blue eyes.
Anyone who might have seen Ms Humphrey or her vehicle in the area is urged to call the Bamaga police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
By LYNDON KEANE
TWO of the region’s council leaders have used the 2024 Developing Northern Australia Conference in Karratha as an opportunity to shine the spotlight on the individual and collective needs of Cape York and Torres Strait communities.
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Territa Dick and Weipa Town Authority (WTA) Chair Jaime Gane headed to Western Australia for the annual event from 26-28 August representing both their communities and the Torres Cape Indigenous Council Alliance (TCICA).
Mayor Dick is the chair and Ms Gane the secretary of the advocacy group, which represents all 17 Indigenous local governments in the state, as well as WTA and Cook Shire Council.
Ms Gane said while she believed the region was well represented at the conference, more had to be done to ensure Cape York and Torres Strait were critical pieces in the Northern Australia puzzle.
“It’s important to be able to speak about our communities and the region more broadly at the same time,” she said.
“Cape York was well represented at this conference, which is great because we all back each other, and it reinforces the importance of Cape York in the Northern Australia conversation. It feels like the Cape is often an afterthought when people talk about Northern Australia, and that’s why it’s important that we are out there making our presence known at every opportunity.”
Mayor Dick said some of the most significant takeaways from the event for individual commu-
nities, especially First Nations ones, included the importance of culture being at the centre of any economic development, investigating ways to address the challenges of infrastructure, particularly roads, transport and digital telecommunications, and the need to consider and prepare for the short- and long-term impacts of climate change.
“There are many initiatives around renewable energy, critical minerals, sustainable agriculture and carbon sequestration, and how to ensure Indigenous
communities are at the centre of leading initiatives, ensure that they are strong beneficiaries of any development, and to have inclusive transition with jobs, education, training and equal access to commercial opportunities,” she explained.
Ms Gane said the conference was the perfect opportunity to promote next year’s Western Cape Futures Symposium in Weipa, adding she believed the township had the capacity to become the undisputed “Capital of the Cape”.
“I’m tagging Weipa as the Capital of the Cape, which is essentially what we already are as the main hub for employment, education, health and other services,” she said.
“One of the best opportunities to start with, in my opinion, is for a freight and logistics hub in Weipa, which would make great use of our deepwater port, and make it easier for new industry to set up shop here; it would also enable the entire Cape to be more resilient during disasters or just the wet season, and would open up direct export opportunities that would link with the sealing of the [Peninsula Developmental Road].”
By LYNDON KEANE
TWO Torres Strait men have been refused bail after being arrested in the Northern Peninsula Area charged with allegedly possessing a commercial quantity of cocaine with a street value of $44 million.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) charged the men, Patterson Mosby and Eli Wapau, both 39, after they were arrested in Seisia on 2 September for possessing 110 kilograms of the drug, which police will allege they collected from a small boat in the Torres Strait.
The men were arrested by officers from the AFP Cairns Crime Team after they were observed removing several polystyrene boxes from the boat and loading them into a car at the Seisia wharf. Police intercepted the car and conducted a search of the boxes, allegedly locating 110 packages containing a white substance, which returned a positive test result for cocaine.
The men were taken into custody and transported to Bamaga
police station before being flown to Cairns on 3 September with the assistance of the Queensland Police Service Air Wing.
Mr Mosby, from Yorke Is-
land, and Mr Wapau, who resides on Moa Island, have both been charged with possessing a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs (cocaine).
The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.
The men faced Cairns Magistrates Court on 4 September where Magistrate Michael Dalton refused their bail application.
During the hearing, the court heard there was a “high likelihood this offending involved a larger criminal network”.
AFP acting commander Adrian Telfer said the desire from criminal syndicates to profit from cocaine came at the expense of the Australian community.
“Every time someone buys cocaine, they are funding organised crime groups who are responsible for violence in Australia and around the world,” he said.
“This amount of cocaine has an estimated street value of $44 million.
“The AFP and our partners will not let organised crime turn the Pacific into an illicit drug superhighway, fuelling their own greed at the expense of the Australian community.”
with
Refreshments provided
SESSION 1
11am - Wednesday 18th September 2024
SESSION 2
7pm - Thursday 19th September 2024
Have you say about proposed mine development, opportunity and impacts.
The information session will include:
Overview of the proposed Northern Silica Project
Permitting & approvals pathways and public comment period
Environmental Impact Statement overview and assessment process
Project opportunities and impacts
Questions and answers session
Opportunity to complete survey / feedback form
Share what matters to you! Your feedback plays an important part of project assessment.
KOWANYAMA residents re-
quiring dialysis will now be able to get the treatment they need in their own backyard following the completion of a new unit in the community.
The four-chair assisted renal haemodialysis unit is the fifth to be installed in the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) delivery footprint and is expected to welcome its first patient within days.
The patient – who will be returning from Cairns – will soon start dialysis in community, with up to three patients being able to dialyse in Kowanyama initially.
The new unit has the capacity to manage up to 16 patients as future demand requires.
To begin with, dialysis services will be delivered by renal nurses, but to ensure a culturally safe and appropriate service, TCHHS said it was recruiting
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners who would receive advanced training in dialysis kidney health care in the coming months.
The $4.75 million unit includes consultation and storage rooms, a state-of-the-art communications room, and the fourchair renal dialysis unit.
Kowanyama Primary Healthcare Centre director of nursing Natalie Anderson said the unit
represented improved accessibility to treatment that previous required patient travel.
“Improved accessibility to health care is the core of being able to return people back to community,” she said.
“The haemodialysis unit will provide the much-needed support to enable this to happen in Kowanyama, and we are looking forward to being able to provide this service.’’
By LYNDON KEANE
THE State Government is recycling 18-month-old lines about the causes of an almost $100 million blowout in construction costs for the long-awaited Archer River bridge.
As construction continues in a race to finish the project before the 2024 wet season, it has been revealed the vital infrastructure will now cost $131.25m due in part to major geotechnical issues at the site.
The bridge was initially budgeted to cost $32.3m before then-transport minister Mark Bailey admitted in January 2023 “significant geotechnical challenges” had been identified and would result in a cost jump to $44.8m and a completion delay.
“To overcome these challenges, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has had to make changes to the design and construction methodology, which will increase construction cost and delay completion,” he said at the time.
The project is being delivered as part of stage two of the Cape York Region Package (CYRP), a jointly-funded State and Federal Government plan to improve road infrastructure in the northernmost part of mainland Queensland.
When Cape York Weekly asked TMR last week what the estimated completion date and
overall cost for the bridge now were, a department spokesperson provided a response almost identical to that offered by the government more than 18 months ago.
“The Archer River crossing project has experienced industry-wide cost and resource pressures, like many other infrastructure programs across Australia,” the spokesperson said.
“The project has also experienced significant geological challenges and as, a result, TMR had to make changes to the design and construction methodology, which impacted the overall
construction cost. The funding commitment allocated for Archer River crossing ... is $131.252 million.”
The admission comes after a Cairns forum heard in June the Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) was a “lifeline, not a road” for Cape York residents and business operators, and that the final stages of the CYRP should be made a funding priority for Brisbane and Canberra.
It is estimated when the bridge opens, the Archer River section of the PDR will only be closed for two or three days each year, down from a current figure
of about 85 days each wet season. While the bridge was initially promoted as being ready for use in 2022, Cape York road users have since been playing a waiting game for the infrastructure to be finished.
The TMR spokesperson said it was now expected vehicles would be using the new bridge and approaches instead of the existing river crossing by the end of the year.
“The Archer River bridge is expected to be open to traffic by late 2024, weather and construction conditions permitting,” the spokesperson said.
REGIONAL and remote communities across the state will now have access to more than $5 million to utilise for investment in arts and cultural programs following a funding injection to the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF).
The total combined investment in RADF, which is a partnership between the Queensland Government and regional councils, for the 2024-25 financial year has grown by almost $1m to reflect the importance of locally-led arts investment decision making to grow creative economies.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the increase in funding would “enable the unique stories, knowledge and exceptional talent from communities in every corner of the state to enrich local arts and cultural experiences”.
TO celebrate National Water Week, Weipa Town Authority is holding a water-themed poster competition and is inviting local primary school students to show off their creativity.
The competition will feature four categories – prep, year 1 and 2, year 3 and 4, and year 5 and 6, and students are being asked to design an A3 poster showing why water is important and what actions can be taken to conserve it.
Each child who enters the competition will receive a pool access pass. Entries close at 4:30pm on 25 September.
Visit www.weipatownauthority.com.au/ national-water-week for information.
THE final stage of the Reef Assist 2.0 project at Normanby Station aimed at reducing sediment run-off has been completed.
The Cape York Gully Remediation and Creation of Indigenous Employment Pathways Project was led by Cape York Natural Resource Management, with project officer Katelyn Greaves saying it delivered several significant employment and social outcomes on Country.
“I’ve only been here for the final stage of the project and can’t thank everyone enough for their involvement from partners, contractors, previous employees and, of course, the Harrigan brothers,” she said.
Two gullies were remediated during the project, which resulted in reduced sediment run-off into the Normanby River and other waterway catchments.
By CHISA HASEGAWA
UNINTENTIONALLY feeding a crocodile could now land you with a $6,400 fine, but not everyone agrees heavy fines and new offences are the solution.
The State Government’s increased fines and new offences announcement came after the fatal attack of New South Wales man Dr David Hogbin, 40, by a large saltwater crocodile on the Annan River last month.
Social media footage posted after the tragedy showed the same crocodile being fed fish frames at the same spot the attack on Dr Hogbin occurred.
The two new offences will now make it unlawful to unintentionally feed a crocodile by discarding food, and remain in close proximity to a crocodile.
Discarding food, including fish frames, scraps and bait, in a way that may attract crocodiles to a public place such as a boat ramp, jetty, pontoon or camping area can now result in an on-the-spot fine of $483 or a maximum court-imposed fine of $6,452.
Knowingly remaining within close proximity to a crocodile that is on, or partly on, land can now result in an on-the-spot fine of $806 or a maximum court-imposed fine of $16,130.
The government has also significantly increased penalties for existing offences which aim to
deter people from engaging in behaviours that pose a serious risk to public safety and animal conservation.
The on-the-spot fine for deliberately disturbing or feeding crocodiles has increased from $483 to $2,580, with the maximum courtimposed fine increasing from $6,452 to $26,615, while the fine
for interfering with a crocodile trap has increased from $645 to $2,580, with the maximum court-imposed fine increasing from $19,356 to $26,615.
“These new offences and increased fines are designed to reduce the risks associated with deliberately feeding and interacting with estuarine crocodiles,” Min-
“People may think feeding crocs or interacting with them is fun or harmless, but experience shows that doing so increases the risk to public safety.”
Katter’s Australian Party Member for Hill Shane Knuth slammed the government’s latest move, sug-
gesting it was “nothing more than a band-aid fix”.
“The State Government has failed to manage the crocodile crisis for over a decade, and now it’s completely out of control,” he said.
“Ask anyone who regularly fishes or uses our waterways –they’ll tell you the crocodile population has exploded; no matter how Croc Wise you are, you’re under constant threat of attack.
“This is a Northern Queensland issue, and it should be managed locally, not from over 1,800km away in an ivory tower.”
Mr Knuth first introduced his Safer Waterways Bill in 2018, which the government voted against.
He said the crocodile problem has only worsened since, leading him to recently table the Crocodile Control, Conservation, and Safety Bill.
“A key component of this bill is establishing a Queensland Crocodile Authority based in Cairns, with full control over crocodile management across the state,” he explained.
“This includes a zero-tolerance policy on crocodiles in populated waterways, annual culling, and developing a crocodile industry for Indigenous communities and landowners. This latest announcement is just another throwaway line that does nothing to resolve the explosion in crocodile numbers and the threat to human life.”
Cook Shire Council advises that critical construction works along Bloomfield Road are scheduled to commence in the area with crews mobilising on site from:
MONDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2024 until EARLY DECEMBER 2024
Works will include:
Major culvert and slope repairs
Road reconstruction across multiple sites
Pothole patching and repairs
Traffic managment plans will be in place, with possible delays. Please plan your travel accordingly, be mindful of crews working in the area, pay attention to signage and drive to conditions.
For more information, contact our Roads and Infrastructure team by calling 4082 0500 or emailing mail@cook.qld.gov.au
By LYNDON KEANE
THE Liberal National Party (LNP) says it will reopen the Cape York Biosecurity Centre at Coen if it wins the state election on 26 October, but it has not indicated how it will overcome the main obstacle in the plan – the facility no longer being under government control.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli flagged the centre’s reopening as part of a $50 million election commitment to biosecurity at the Rural Press Club in Brisbane on 5 September, saying it was
imperative the state’s northern line of biosecurity defence returned to operational status.
“The LNP will beef up our biosecurity frontline to protect crops and livestock from the threats facing the future of agriculture in Queensland,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Labor has created vulnerability in our northern line of defence by closing the Cape York Biosecurity Centre.”
The State Government closed the Cape York Biosecurity Centre in mid-2023 despite overwhelming industry criticism and handed the
keys back to the Southern Kaantju Traditional Owners, with the land the facility sits on located in the middle of a native title claim.
The vehicle inspection shed that once stood at the front of the facility adjacent to the Peninsula Developmental Road was demolished and removed earlier this year, and the LNP has not indicated how it intended to reclaim the facility, or what the cost of doing so and constructing new infrastructure at the site would be.
In addition to reopening the Cape York facility, the four-year
LNP plan will add 100 biosecurity officers to hotspots across the state.
One Cape York primary producer, who asked not to be named, told Cape York Weekly they had “zero bloody faith” in either major party’s biosecurity credentials.
“Labor didn’t listen when we were screaming out for them not to shut Coen the other year and just handed the place back to the local mob,” they said angrily.
“Now the LNP’s saying it’s going to reopen it – how are they bloody well going to do that when the government doesn’t have it
anymore and the main part of the centre’s been pulled down and taken away?”
Shadow Minister for Agriculture Tony Perrett said biosecurity safeguards had crumbled.
“Our biosecurity should not take a backseat because of Labor’s billions in budget blowouts in southeast Queensland leaving nothing for rural and regional biosecurity. That’s why the LNP will review the closure of the Cape York Biosecurity Facility and move to reinstate our northern line of biosecurity defence,” he said.
By CHISA HASEGAWA
AS riders prepare to experience the dramatic terrain of Far North Queensland on their way to Cooktown for the 18th QSuper Cardiac Challenge, a rugby league legend is throwing his weight behind the annual regional cardiac services fundraiser.
Sam Backo, who is lucky to be alive after a massive heart attack, has joined the Brother’s League Club team in Cairns to promote their innovative involvement in the event.
Staff and members of the club’s football team will get on the bikes in the club foyer during the three-day challenge in hopes of encouraging donations from sponsors and club visitors.
Club general manager Jason Salecich said they were inspired to take part because of Mr Backo and many other community members who have
WITH less than 50 days to go until the state election, two candidates vying to wrestle Cook from Labor have now unveiled their Mareeba offices.
needed cardiac services in the region.
“The Cardiac Challenge is doing amazing things in providing critical services for our entire far north community,” he said.
“We are busy and may not be able to get away to do the ride in person this year, so what better way to engage my team and support this amazing cause [than] by completing the same distance from right here in the foyer.”
The 333km ride will commence on 14 September, when cyclists take on the monstrous 127km journey to Mount Carbine.
On day two, riders will pedal through difficult terrain as they travel to Lakeland, before reaching Cooktown on day three.
Since the first ride in 2007, the Cardiac Challenge has brought together patients, supporters, and healthcare workers, and raised more than $6
The location of the Cook electorate office has been a contentious issue, with incumbent MP Cynthia Lui backing her decision to base herself and her staff in Cairns, outside the seat boundary.
All four challengers to Ms Lui have indicated they will scrap the Cairns office and reopen one within the electorate if successful on 26 October.
Katter’s Australian Party candidate Duane Amos last week opened his Mareeba office, with LNP candidate David Kempton saying last month he had already “secured an option” for the previous electorate office if he reclaimed the seat.
million to support rural hospitals and improve quality of care.
Cairns Hospital registered nurse Peyton Williams said she was looking forward to participating in the challenge for the first time this year, adding that she had seen first-hand the upgrades to services the Cardiac Challenge had secured in the past.
“The funds raised by QSuper Cardiac Challenge help us better support our patients who receive heart procedures,” she said.
COOK Shire residents are being invited to attend one of two upcoming workshops being held from tonight designed to provide an update on the issues that really matter to the community.
The Rubbish, Roads, Rates and Water information sessions will be held at the Cooktown Shire Hall on 10 (tonight) and 17 September from 4:30-6pm, and give stakeholders an opportunity to ask questions about the key local government topics in the region.
For more information, call 4082 0500 or email mail@cook.qld.gov.au.
SUITABLY qualified nurses and midwives can now perform the medical termination of pregnancy using drug MS2-Step in the early stages of pregnancy following legislative changes passed by Parliament last week.
The State Government said the reforms would particularly benefit women in remote areas, including Cape York and the Torres Strait. The new laws have come into effect to allow registered nurses and midwives who have undertaken the necessary qualification and training to be able to administer termination of pregnancy medication.
Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman said “every Queenslander, regardless of where they live, deserves equitable access to this vital care”.
“A few years ago, our lab got upgraded through the additional funding the community secured; we went from one procedural unit to two, which meant we could help more patients and expand the services we provide.
“I’m really excited to see how much we raise this year and witness the benefits the department gains from it.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Wellbeing Services (FWS) support families to safely care for and protect their children. FWS are a culturally safe and free service for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families who have children under 18 living in their care.
The service covers the whole of Queensland, including the Torres Strait Islands and Cape York Peninsula.
Each year more than 4,000 families attend FWS for support with parenting and family issues.
Available to all family members including parents, grandparents, and other kin, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations deliver support based on the family’s strengths and local community needs.
Families facing challenges are encouraged to reach out to their local FWS as support is readily available and only a phone call away. FWS can assist with common parenting issues such as day-to-day care needs, family routines and structure in the home. FWS providers are
also experienced in supporting families affected by drug use, alcohol, and domestic and family violence.
Kelvin* has become a more stable parent and has a stronger relationship with his kids after seeking help from FWS through a local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service referral.
Dad to two young children, Kelvin spent years trying to
break his drug addiction. He had also spent time in jail.
He thought all he needed was support to prove to the courts that he was stable enough to look after his children after being released from prison, but quickly realised that FWS could offer him so much more.
A case plan was developed between Kelvin and his male case worker which included one-on-one guidance, referrals to support agencies, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, mental
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health and GP health services. With this support, Kelvin noticed a big change in his behaviour and attitude towards life.
Kelvin said the best things about FWS are that he gets to yarn with someone outside the family, they take him seriously, listen to him, and he feels like he’s in control of his plan.
Finding new ways to manage
Desleigh*, a 33-year-old mother of seven, was facing
some challenges due to a gambling addiction. She had trouble feeding her children and they were not attending school.
When a concerned friend warned Desleigh that welfare may take her children and kindly suggested she reach out to FWS, this set Desleigh on the right path to building a better future for her family.
With the support of her local FWS worker, Desleigh has been able to manage her children’s behaviour and create a more stable home environment. She has developed timetables to help them attend school regularly and created a budget to repay her gambling debts while providing the essentials for her family.
Desleigh’s FWS worker has been a vital source of support, listening to her and helping her discover new ways to overcome her challenges.
To find free and confidential support near you, visit www.familywellbeingqld.org.au or call 1300 117 095.
*Names have been changed to protect people’s identities.
For our children, we all walk together, to keep them safe, strong and connected to culture. Community organisations you trust are here to walk with you. To contact them and find free and confidential support near you, visit the Family Wellbeing Services website. Because we all want the best for our kids.
COOKTOWN is one step closer
to a new supermarket after Cook Shire Council voted unanimously to approve the project’s development application at a special meeting on 2 September.
The Cornetts IGA will be constructed at 81 Savage Street and include a supermarket, bottle shop, laundromat and cafe.
It is understood the project is valued at about $10 million, an investment council chief executive officer Brian Joiner said represented significant developer confidence in Cooktown and the region’s growth potential.
“The project does reflect confidence in development in the area,” he said.
“With other major projects, such as the hospital redevelopment and the State Government’s build of more than 40 staff houses, Cooktown will see considerable growth over the next five years.
“Employment, services and retail sectors will increase, all of which will contribute to considerable economic growth.”
The unanimous council vote was passed with minor amendments to the wording of two of the conditions of the development application, and two members of the community present in the public gallery for the meeting were permitted to ask questions.
Bruce Jenkins asked the council why the town needed a larger supermarket when he believed the
existing store often struggled to meet customer demand.
“I feel that the current IGA is not coping as it is. Shelves are of-
ten empty, they cannot always get stock in, storage facilities are not the biggest or best and, quite often, there are staffing difficulties,”
he told the Cook Shire councillors and staff at the meeting.
In response, the Mr Joiner said it was not up to the council to de-
termine the viability of local businesses.
“That would be a question for the developer, rather than for council,” he said.
“Council should not comment on the rationale of private business decisions.”
It is understood the developer, Graham Cornett’s Kwikbridge Pty Ltd, has indicated it would like to have earthworks on the Savage Street site completed by the arrival of the 2024 wet season.
Spacious camp
Modern amenities
Pets welcome
WEIGH-IN & PRESENTATION NIGHT
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 FROM 1PM @ THE ALBATROSS BAY RESORT
Spectators come on down & check it out!
• Toad Buster weigh-in 1-4pm
• Main Event weigh-in 1-5pm
• Presentations 5:30-8pm ATGIVEAWAYS THE EVENT!
ENTERTAINMENT: JAYSON WATKIN & SUPPORTING BAND
Main Event sponsors: Cape York Weekly
Toad Buster sponsors:
By CHISA HASEGAWA
FAMILY, love and loss are the drivers behind award-winning Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) artist Colina Wymarra’s first solo exhibition works.
After winning the 2023 Queensland Regional Art Awards Remote Artist Award, Ms Wymarra unveiled her first show, Bloodlines, in Brisbane at the Judith Wright Arts Centre on 7 September, with her second show, Seasonal Bloodlines, to open three days later at the University of Queensland Atrium.
Although she had been working as an artist for more than three decades, Ms Wymarra said she stopped painting for a while before the prestigious award win as life got in the way and other things became a priority.
When she lost her father last year, she decided to pick up her paintbrushes and create once again.
“After my dad died, I locked myself in my room for five weeks and I just started painting again,” Ms Wymarra said.
“I didn’t think anything was going to come out of it; I just thought I needed to paint for healing.
“This healing journey has taken me on a different path, and it’s no longer about my grieving, you know, I want people to know my story.”
The artist said the introduction
pieces to Bloodlines were two portraits of her mother and father, in celebration of their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, and the pride they instilled in her as a First Nations woman.
“My mum was a Murray Island woman and my dad was an Aboriginal activist,” she said.
“[They] have both passed away, but I can continually celebrate them and who they made me to be as I present them through their family and tribal totems.
“My father and mother continue to live in me through these totems.”
Ms Wymarra shared that one portrait was based on her mother’s experience with cultural adoption, and not knowing she was an identical twin.
Her father’s portrait shared a glimpse into his final birthday party, when preparations for a fun country theme brought back mem-
ories of a culturally traumatic time.
“I did a portrait of him on his 80th birthday where he’s wearing a cowboy hat, and how re-traumatising it was getting his head measured for the Akubra,” Ms Wymarra said.
“He had his head measured as a kid – on TI (Thursday Island), they measured their heads to determine their intelligence and put them in
KATTER’S Australian Party has slammed the condition of the Myall Creek bridge as an “absolute disgrace” and “national embarrassment” during a recent campaign tour of Cape York.
KAP leader and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter and Cook candidate Duane Amos inspected the bridge, west of Weipa, last week and condemned the state of the infrastructure, saying it should be a historic tourist attraction, not the only thing linking Weipa, Napranum and Mapoon to the rest of the region.
“It’s a national embarrassment that the only road access to our northern precincts with more than 8,000 permanent residents
and 80,000 more tourists each year still has 145 kilometres of unsealed ‘highway’ and rickety wooden bridges such as the Myall Creek bridge in use – and this is the National Highway 1,” Mr Katter said.
Mr Amos echoed his party leader’s sentiment and said the current situation was having significant economic and social impacts on the region during the wet season.
“Myall Creek bridge should be an historic tourist attraction at best for the 80,000 southern tourists, not an integral part of the national highway, and it’s a visual reminder of the failed investment into our road network,” he said.
“This heavy vehicle alternate deep concrete culvert goes under at the first sign of a river flow, while the 25-tonne rated timber bridge quickly follows, however, remains wholly unsuitable for heavy traffic. If the government, 3,000 kilometres away, invested in wet season-proofing the Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) and key crossings, Weipa could have a secure future and all-year access to bauxite mining as far down as Aurukun.”
Mr Katter said he believed if investment to seal the PDR and construct suitable river and creek crossings was not made urgently, the growth and prosperity of Cape York would be hamstrung.
the grades, so when he turned 80, we had to sort of tiptoe around getting his head measured again.
“I just wanted to tell people about what our parents went through, and there’s quite a few stories like that.”
Ms Wymarra said she was “over the moon” to have the opportunity to share her artwork, adding she was grateful for the support and
encouragement of NPA Art Centre manager Dev Lengjel.
“I would never have thought about entering, but Dev, he just kept shoving this piece of paper in front of me [to enter the award], and I kept saying ‘yeah, yeah, I’ll do it’, but I didn’t do it until the very last day that it was closing” she said.
“He’s really encouraged me to look beyond my grief and he said to me, ‘girl, you got something’.
“It just means so much to me and I can’t believe where I am today; something big is coming my way.”
Mr Lengjel said Ms Wymarra’s recent achievements were incredibly important in raising both her profile as an artist and the NPA as an art hub.
“She has a gift there, and I believe this is just the beginning for her to get great attraction within the art world,” he said.
“With having reached this level, as in exhibiting at such a renowned gallery such as the Judith Wright Centre, it could go further, and with each step up, things change for the artists, including the price for the artwork.
“The way the world is going to get to know her and her story, I think it’s a great opportunity for her to really explore her creativity and to be able to become a fulltime artist.”
By LYNDON KEANE
THE Pandanus Park War Veterans Retreat (PPWVR) has used this year’s Vietnam Veterans’ Day commemoration to sound the call for more younger former and current defence personnel to utilise the Cape York facility.
Dozens of veterans and their families made their pilgrimage to Pandanus Park for the annual service and breakfast on 18 August, and PPWVR president Roly Walker told Cape York Weekly most now stayed for several weeks before the event to catch up with friends and fellow service personnel.
“They have a memorial service on 18 August and veterans from all over Australia come in, usually two or three weeks before-
hand, and they stay for the service and then they start to head back to wherever they come from in Australia,” he explained.
“They get together every afternoon and have a bit of a yarn and a bit of a laugh.”
Pandanus Park was established more than 20 years ago and Mr Walker said the facility, located on the Normanby River near Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park, provided a place for anyone who has served in the defence force to tell their story in a supportive and understanding environment.
“Our motto is ‘peace in the bush after war’ and, basically, they get away from their day-to-day lives and the cities,” he said.
“When they’re isolated and they’re older, that’s the killer, so
they can actually get together [at Pandanus Park] with people who understand them and their stories.
“Since the park opened 20 years ago, there have been no recorded suicides for anyone who has attended the park, which were pretty proud of.”
Despite the success of Pandanus Park, Mr Walker said they needed to convince a new cohort of younger veterans to start making the pilgrimage to ensure the facility’s long-term legacy.
“We’re trying to get the younger veterans there into the park,” he said.
“I went there five years ago for the first time, and I now go up there three times a year just to get out bush and get away from everything.”
By CHISA HASEGAWA
WUJAL Wujal residents will have their eyes on some new outfits when clothing charity Thread Together comes to town this week.
As the community continues to rebuild their lives after the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Jasper’s flood event in December 2023, Thread Together hopes the choice and dignity behind new clothing will help residents thrive, not just survive.
Based on the uncomfortable truth of clothing being sent from factories to landfills every year while many people do not have adequate access to essential clothing, Thread Together diverts excess fashion to communities in need.
Thread Together operations manager Ross Mitchell will travel to Wujal Wujal to distribute clothing for around 600 people on 13 September.
“It’s a three-hour event that we’re inviting folks in to have an opportunity to look through all the clothing, and choose whichever size and style they would like,” he said.
“We’ve got T-shirts, shorts, footwear, wet weather ponchos, caps – we’re hoping to provide a little bit of dignity to those folks re-entering the community with some brand new clothing.
“It’s always a fantastic opportunity for us to hand out the clothing in person – it really shows the benefit of what we can provide to the community.”
Mr Mitchell said he hoped the wardrobe upgrade would help residents with something that wasn’t always a number one priority after hardship.
“In general cost of living crisis, clothing is not the first choice,” he said.
“We have the opportunity to provide some brand new clothing, so that they can spend their money on greater priorities of food and living conditions.”
Thread Together is part of the
RACQ Foundation’s 25th community assistance project.
“Across two weeks, we will have 27 RACQ volunteers supporting with a range of recovery initiatives, such as restoring the community gardens, refurbishing the
community and sports complex, as well as helping to repair several local buildings,” RACQ’s advocacy boss Joshua Cooney said.
“Through collaborations with Wujal Wujal Disaster Management Committee, Thread Together,
Ration
and My Pathway’s local trainees, we hope our community assistance project can leave a meaningful impact on a community which is still struggling following a catastrophic weather event.”
Cape kids enjoy time in spotlight
“EVERY child in every community needs a fair go.”
This year’s National Child Protection Week theme was recognised across the Cape, with community youth centres and organisations driving the message home with various activities.
PCYC Napranum started the week off with a gratitude wall, highlighting the importance of love and kindness for children’s wellbeing.
“Throughout the week, all of our youth [got] the opportunity to write or draw messages of thanks,” club manager Sergeant Rhonda Spence said.
“[It was about] the safety and wellbeing of all children, focusing on positivity, encouragement, wellness, kindness, gratitude, enjoyment, supporting each other, and embracing all our children through the connection of love, passion and having fun together.”
Later in the week was the annual Amazing Race, during which children and stakeholders came together for an afternoon of fun challenges.
Lockhart River had to postpone its family fun day due to weather, but the Puuya Foundation’s Strengthening Our Next Generation families and staff are still set to come together for a barbeque in the sun.
“Child Protection Week is extremely important for the community of Lockhart River, as it is the responsibility of the whole community to protect children and keep them safe,” Puuya Foundation chief executive officer Emma Schuh said.
CALL me out of touch, jaded or plain clueless, but I cannot for the life of me get my head around a fad gaining momentum on the tourist trails around Cape York: the obsession with plastering personalised stickers on any flat surface within arm’s reach.
Are we really at the point as a society we feel compelled to not only create individualised merchandise for our travels, but leave them at random spots along the way in a self-indulgent, adhesive trail that would shame Hansel and Gretel into rethinking their penchant for breadcrumbs?
I know, I know, it’s probably at the lower end of atrocities perpetrated by visitors to our part of the world each dry season, but it genuinely perplexes me why people would obsessively cover road signs, fences, toilet walls and myriad other inanimate objects with glossy, graphic-designed proof of their being?
I’m sure Baz and Rhonda are having the time of their life on their “Big Lap 2024” but how many people do they honestly think are going to see their sticker slapped on the Pajinka turnoff sign on the PDR and ponder what the couple thought of the burgers at the Archer River Roadhouse?
I saw their sticky offering when I pulled up to get a photo of the sign for this editorial, but every other time I’ve been doing at least 100 kilometres an hour when in its vicinity. I expect the same could be said for most motorists, so I’m not sure how big an audience Baz and Rhonda are expecting to amass and lure to their Instagram account with their questionable self-promotion choice. Yes, they had even come up with a hashtag for their adven-
ture that was about as original and cringeworthy as you’d expect. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: an influencer isn’t a real profession – just get a merchandise-, hashtagfree job and be miserable like the rest of us.
Unfortunately, it’s not the strangest place I’ve seen a sticker during my dry season travels this year. The gold medal performance for that goes to the individual who thought it would be a marvellous
idea to slap evidence of their stopover on the back of a toilet door at a well-known Cape York roadhouse. Do you really want the sort of followers who are going to whip out their phone on the throne in the middle of an important transaction to give your Gunshot effort a like and supportive comment?
On my way to Weipa a few weeks ago, I drove past a young bloke putting his sticker on a road sign on the PDR. Seeing an oppor-
tunity to get inside the head of a decal fiend, I hit the brakes, spun around and pulled up beside him to have a yarn. The brief conversation went something like this:
Me: What’s the go with the stickers?
Him: What do you mean?
Me: Why are you on your tippytoes trying to slap your sticker on a sign that’s already covered in them?
Him: Well, everyone else is doing it.
Me: I get that, but what are you hoping to achieve?
Him: It lets people know I’ve been here.
Me: Are you anyone of renown that people would be familiar with?
Him: Nup, but I’m trying to get to 500 followers on Instagram and this lets everyone find me.
Me: But none of the cars driving past are stopping – it’s a sign on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.
Him: You’ve got to be out there to be a player.
Let’s have a collective rethink on the whole throw-a-sticker-onany-surface mentality. If one of the high points of your Cape York experience is attempting to peel the adhesive backing of a cheap sticker and whack it on public infrastructure a few dozen times, you probably need to take a long, hard look at your life in your undoubtedly sticker-covered mirror.
CAPE York and Torres Strait shoppers will now receive a 20 per cent discount on certain items at the supermarket checkout after the State Government’s increase to the Remote Communities Freight Assistance Scheme took effect on 9 September.
Premier Steven Miles foreshadowed the increase in June in response to criticism the original 5.2 per cent discount was making no tangible cost of living difference to residents of the state’s far north.
The discount applies to “eligible essential goods”, such as milk and bread, at participating retailers, but does not include other everyday items people rely on including fuel, clothing and whitegoods.
Following the June announcement, Cape York Weekly asked Premier Miles if his government would expand its definition of what constituted essential items when it boosted the discount to 20 per cent but he refused to make a commitment.
“I’d make the point again, this is a big new subsidy that didn’t used to exist, that will make fresh food cheaper, and we will monitor its impact,” he said at the time.
“And over time, of course, we’ll continue to do more, but right now, this is a major announcement to reduce the costs of fresh fruit and vegetables.”
Currently, about 34 supermarkets across Cape York, the Torres Strait and Gulf of Carpentaria are applying the discount instore.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
Bart Mellish said the increase to the subsidy was “about delivering practical and tangible results for our communities”.
“Queensland has some of the most remote communities in Australia and more broadly, so it’s important that we do what we can to support them,” he said.
“By applying an increased discount percentage of 20 per cent at the cash register at participating retailers from [9 September], the weekly grocery shop will be even more affordable for residents living within the Northern Peninsula, Torres Strait and Gulf region”.
The government said it would continue to engage with retailers on effective implementation of the subsidy and encourage additional retailers to participate in the scheme.
Gungarde Community Centre Aboriginal Corporation 92 Charlotte Street, PO Box 6, COOKTOWN QLD 4895
T: 07 4069 5412
(This meeting has been called to Propose Rule Book Changes)
Date: 20-September-2024
Time: 10:00am
Place: Gungarde Hall, 92 Charlotte St Cooktown Qld 4895 A GENDA S PECIAL RESOL u TION /S
The members resolve that:
• The whole current rule book of the corporation be repealed and
• The proposed rule book attached to the notice of the meeting of the members of the corporation be adopted as the rule book of the corporation.
Discussion points
1. Proposed name change
2. Proposed area change
To obtain a copy of the proposed rule book, contact the Gungarde office.
Tender No: KASC-2024-024
MAGNIFICENT CREEK BANK STABILISATION – KOWANYAMA CATEGORY: CIVIL WORKS
For suitably qualified parties for the Supply and Construction Delivery of the Magnificent Creek Bank Revetment Works in Kowanyama QLD.
Interested parties should obtain a copy of the Tender Documents at www. kowanyama.qld.gov.au/tenders or on Vendor Panel.
Tenders Close at 12PM Friday 20th September 2024
All tender enquiries, requests for information can be submitted electronically to tenders@kowanyama.qld.gov.au quoting the tender description above. All tender responses can be submitted either through Vendor Panel or electronically to tenders@kowanyama.qld.gov.au
Kevin Bell, Chief Executive Officer
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.
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.
By LYNDON KEANE
THE Northern Pride will be hoping an army of hometown supporters will help the team book its spot in the 2024 Hostplus Cup grand final when they host the Redcliffe Dolphins in a preliminary final on Saturday.
The minor premiers had week one of the finals series off after a 38-0 demolition of the Sunshine Coast Falcons at home in Cairns on 31 August, with Pride boss Garreth Smith praising players and saying the rest was well deserved.
“Our dominant win against the Sunshine Coast Falcons … was nothing short of outstanding,” he said.
“The team showed tremendous determination on the field, and I couldn’t be prouder of their performance.
“We unfortunately had a casualty in the Falcons game and lost winger Rob Derby to an ankle injury that will see
him out for the rest of the season but, in good news, we are hoping to have Josh Allen back on deck.”
The Dolphins will make the trek north on the back of an impressive 3618 victory against the Central Queensland Capras at Kayo Stadium, and will be aiming to repeat their winning performance the last time they met the Pride in round five in April.
With a 17-3 win-loss record for the 2024 season, the Pride will go into the clash with confidence, but Smith acknowledged finals football took the challenge to a new level.
“This is a crucial game, and the stakes couldn’t be higher as we continue our journey towards the ultimate prize,” he said.
If the Pride can tame the Dolphins on Saturday, they will battle the winner of the Sunday showdown between the PNG Hunters and Norths Devils in the season decider.
For the wards of Badu Island, Bamaga, Boigu Island, Dauan Island, Erub Island, Hammond Island, Iama Island, Kubin, Mabuiag Island, Masig Island, Mer Island, Ngurapai and Muralag, Port Kennedy, Poruma Island, Saibai Island, Seisia, St Pauls, TRAWQ, Ugar Island and Warraber Island.
Saturday 30 November 2024
About the election
There will be an election on Saturday 30 November 2024 to elect board members for the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA). An election is held every four years to elect one Torres Strait Islander or Aboriginal member from each of the 20 wards.
Candidate Nominations
Nominations for candidates open on Tuesday 1 October 2024 and close at 5pm (AEST) on Wednesday 30 October 2024.
Nomination forms and the Election Guide will be available from: –TSRA Office, Level 1 Torres Strait Haus, 46 Victoria Parade, Thursday Island –Australian Electoral Commission, Ground Floor Level, Commonwealth Centre, 104 Grafton Street, Cairns City or –Online at www.aec.gov.au/tsra
Completed nomination forms can be delivered to the Returning Officer in person, by email or post.
Who can vote?
You can vote in the 2024 TSRA election if you are: –A Torres Strait Islander or Aboriginal person; and –Aged 18 years or over on polling day; and –Enrolled at an address within a ward by 5pm on Friday 15 November 2024
If you need to enrol or update your enrolment details, head to www.aec.gov.au/enrol, or pick up an enrolment form from any AEC office, or the TSRA Office, and return it to the AEC as soon as possible and by no later than Thursday 14 November 2024, so that you can be correctly enrolled in time. More information
For any further information about this election and how to nominate as a candidate, or how to enrol to vote, contact:
Jacqueline McHenry
Returning
Officer
P O Box 5024
Cairns QLD 4870
Telephone (02) 9375 6366 or (02) 8201 4010
Email: tsra@aec.gov.au or visit www.aec.gov.au/tsra
CARPENTARIA Golf Club will take on a pink hue next month when players tee off for a good cause in the 2024 Pink Ribbon Charity Golf Day.
The event will be held on 19 October and take the form of a nine-hole, four-person Ambrose, with the day’s fun and golfing action to start at 8am with a buggy auction ahead of a 9am shotgun start.
Nominations are due by 13 October. For more information, or to register a team, call the clubhouse on 4069 7332.
STEVE Head chalked up a comfortable twostroke win when 12 players contested the weekly Wackers competition at Carpentaria Golf Club on 4 August.
Head finished the front nine holes with 52 off the stick to post nett 30.5 to claim the chocolates, with Scott Andrews (gross 46/nett 32.5) securing runner-up honours. Jim Lucas and Pom bagged the nearest to the pin prizes on the 7th and 9th holes respectively.
Viv Dick returned to the clubhouse as the recipient of the Bradman’s gong.
COMPETITORS will pit themselves and their gear against some of the biggest opponents in the ocean when they vie for glory in the 2024 Weipa Billfish Tournament next month.
Anglers will be on the water from 5-7 October for the annual billfish showdown, with a gala dinner and presentation night to be held on 8 October once the on-water action has finished.
Nominations received before 27 September will go into the draw for an early bird prize. Contact details on Page 21.
KIDS and adults are being encouraged to take to the court for social basketball games in Weipa after weekly sessions commenced this month.
Adult sessions will run from 6:308:30pm on Fridays and are open for players aged 15 and older, while players aged 8-14 will show off their skills on the Weipa Storm Surge Shelter court from 124pm on Saturdays.
Check out the Weipa Basketball Facebook page for more information.
INTERMITTENT rain could not dampen the spirits of a big crowd when gates opened for the 2024 Red Dust Rodeo and Show on 5 September.
The annual event provided two days and three nights of excitement for spectators at Yusia Ginau Oval, with the weather alternating between brief showers and cloudless skies.
Despite being shortened to 300 metres, the annual Trumby Cup horse sprint did not disappoint, with Tyrhys Sailor piloting Gypsy to secure the win and bragging rights for the next 12 months, while George Williams and Oliphanu Sagigi claimed second and third places.
On the Friday afternoon, Yunara Wymarra had the crowd on its feet when he saddled up JD to claim the first race of the event, the Cape York Weekly 300-metre dash.
Results for the rodeo events had not been supplied when Cape York Weekly went to press.
CAMARADERIE, passion and a competitive spirit have left young Weipa netball enthusiasts hungry for more after the Fowler’s Cup Netball Carnival in Cairns late last month.
New and experienced players of Western Cape College (WCC) put on their bibs and drew on their skills gained throughout 10 weeks of intense training for the secondary school tournament.
Twenty-seven students across three teams – Thunders (year 7), Lightning (years 8/9) and Strikers (years 10-12) – travelled down for the carnival, led by manager Bianca Lynch and coach Kini Rokosoi.
“Once kids hit grades 9, 10, 11, 12, they’re either into the sport or they’re not, so it was great seeing that bunch of kids who
were really passionate and wanting to give it a go,” Ms Lynch said.
“There’s not a lot of kids that commit to training twice a week, so there were some dropouts during the training process.
“For a carnival like this, we don’t always pick the best kids, we pick the kids who really want to have a good go at it, and those kids come back and they want to play netball, because they know they can play.”
Like any other sport in a remote community, Ms Lynch said lack of exposure was one of the main challenges of player growth, so the experience at the Fowler’s Cup lit a fire in the girls.
“Our kids are so sheltered here, in that they only play each other, and they kind of know who’s good and who’s not. Then they
go to Cairns and they are blown away by how many kids can play netball and play it well,” she explained.
“Those kids get to play club netball on Saturday mornings and they get to do other things, whereas our kids don’t; if the teachers aren’t running these things after school, then you don’t get to do it.”
Ms Lynch said being a mum to two kids passionate about sport was what drove her to chase opportunities for the students.
“That’s a big reason why I volunteer,” she said.
“Some of the kids, they started off as beginner netball players and had expected to go and get flogged, but they weren’t and had the best day ever, so they were happy with their results.” – story by Chisa Hasegawa
By LYNDON KEANE
NOT even the flu and a week of missed training could topple Jack Barton as the 16-year-old Weipa boxer fought his way to a spot on the national stage with a unanimous decision in the ring in Townsville on 1 September.
Barton donned the gloves to claim the Sunstate Amateur Boxing League Junior 75-78 kilogram crown with an impressive win in his first fight of the weekend before getting the nod from the judges in all three rounds in his title bout against Townsville fighter Alan Sheret.
Cape York Boxing Weipa coach Scott Wallace said it had been a horrible preparation for the young boxer but praised Barton’s tenacity, talent and focus against the odds.
“Jack did a week of training in Brisbane before the state titles in Townsville and got the flu on the way home,” he said.
“All that next week I tried to train him and the poor bugger was so sick, so I just kept sending him home; you just can’t fight with the flu, so we made the plan to go down and do his best and just see what happened.”
Barton will now represent Queensland at the 2024 Australian Amateur Boxing League National Titles in Gosford from 28-30 November, but not before celebrating his 17th birthday
LENNY Dick used a fantastic round of 46 off the stick to secure his first Dawnbusters victory and the coveted winner’s shirt when a bumper field of 19 golfers teed off in Weipa on 8 September.
Dick returned to the clubhouse with nett 14 and a four-stroke win over bridesmaid Scott Andrews, who also carded a gross 46 round but could not match the player ahead of him on handicap.
The Sunday win has come at a cost for Dick, who will tee off with a shaved handicap of 10 when competitors tackle the Carpentaria Golf Club fairways and greens next week.
Andrews savoured a win of sorts by claiming the nearest to the pin prize on the 18th hole.
Ross Craven and Viv Chan showed they were in red-hot form with the big stick to secure the men’s and women’s long drives for the day, and Beth Dall was crowned the weekly Hoffman’s recipient.
Two new players were welcomed to the Dawnbusters family – Bernie Single and Dion Bronnfield.
New golfers are always welcome and the field will battle the front nine on 15 September, with the first group getting away from 7am.
THE Top End Taggers are western Cape York’s undisputed touch football masters after the team chalked up a big win in the Weipa Touch Association A-grade grand final on Friday night.
The team kept grand final opponent Thypan at bay for the game to finish with a 20-8 victory at the full-time siren.
In the B-grade showdown, Razorbacks trumped Muddies 16-9.
and, as a result, moving up to the 17-19 year division.
He told Cape York Weekly he was now back in full training for his national campaign, adding the sport had provided him with discipline and an outlook that was delivering major victories inside and outside the ring.
“Boxing has given me the mental toughness to be able to perform under pressure and
while fatigued. It’s also given me strength and a high level of fitness, and the confidence to be motivated in training and in life – it shows in my schoolwork,” he said.
“You only get back what you put in and this is true in boxing.”
Back in Weipa and reflecting on the fight, Mr Wallace described Barton’s effort as a “Cinderella story” that further
cemented the township’s growing reputation as a breeding ground for young boxing talent.
“It was like a Cinderella story – it did not go to plan at all, but it ended up being a good plan all the same,” he laughed.
“We just went in there and decided Jack just needed to fight, and that’s what he did.
“It was pretty awesome being a coach getting a win like that.”
A club spokesperson thanked players for their dedication during the 2024 season and praised the spectators who converged on Andoom Oval to create an incredible atmosphere for the games.
A STRONG field took to Cooktown Golf Club to challenge for the Sovereign Resort September Medal in blustery conditions on 7 September.
Steve Butler (73/62) claimed the narrowest of wins from runner-up Paul Sperring (82/62) to keep the competition interesting, while club president Brent Hetaraka claimed the bronze with 72/66 to finish four strokes off the pace.
In addition to a fourth-place finish (87/70), visitor Peter Efstathis claimed the pin prizes on 2/11 and 9/18, with Darren Powell landing his ball painfully close on the tough 14th hole.
On 14 September, players will go head to head in a four club and putter Stableford from the dreaded white tees.
EQUINE enthusiasts from across Cape York and Far North Queensland are set to converge on Lakeland later this month for a two-day event aimed at unleashing the full potential of riders and their horses.
The Lakeland Horse Sports Association will host the event on 21-22 September, with free camping at the club’s facility for participants.
A bar and canteen will operate to ensure riders are fed and watered over the two days.
For more information, check out the Lakeland Horse Sports Association Facebook page.
