BIG BETTY BLOOMS IN COOKTOWN
LNP supporting Lakeland dam push
Scheme backed
An ambitious $1.6 billion irrigation project earmarked for Lakeland is an “exciting and worthy” fit for a Dutton government’s plan to use water infrastructure projects to drive regional growth, says the LNP candidate hoping to secure Leichhardt. Full story – Page 3
Massive smelly flower was seven years in the making. Story – Page 5
Malaria case no cause for alarm: TCHHS
managed appropriately,” he said on 16 January.
the bite of particular types of mosquitoes.
AGM
Our Annual General Meeting will be held: from 6pm Thursday, January 23 on The Deck at the Albatross Bay Resort
All committee positions will be declared vacant
For more information, email admin@weiparunningfestival.org.au
TUXWORTH & WOODS CARRIERS
Need a reliable freight service to the Cape?
Tuxworth & Woods have all your refrigerated, dry & heavy haulage needs covered – from 20 grams to 20 tonnes
WEIPA DEPOT
Iraci Ave, Evans Landing Mob: 0429 003 743
Ph: 4069 7183 Fax: 4069 7472
COOKTOWN DEPOT
Cnr of Endeavour Road and McMillan Streets, Cooktown Ph: 0419 759 892
CAIRNS OFFICE: Ph: 4035 4022 25 Redden St, Portsmith
Get carried away with Tuxworth & Woods Carriers
HAMBELL PLUMBING
TORRES and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) says there is no need for community concern after a malaria case was recorded at Lakeland last week.
While TCHHS has confirmed the patient does have malaria, acting public health medical officer Dr Richard Gair said it had been acquired overseas.
“The Lakeland case was acquired overseas and is being
“No further details can be provided due to confidentiality. The community should be aware that malaria is treatable and there is no cause for community alarm.”
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease and is not transmitted directly from person to person, rather, it is spread to people via
Dr Gair said Lakeland residents should be on alert for symptoms of malaria and take measures to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes.
The most common symptoms of malaria are high fever, headache, backache, nausea, vomiting, and muscle and joint pains.
“If anyone exhibits any of
these symptoms, they should seek advice and support from a healthcare professional, or private GP at Cooktown or Mareeba, or attend the Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service,” Dr Gair said.
Early malaria can usually be easily treated whereas late, severe, or complicated malaria can be a life-threatening medical emergency.
Australia Day a chance to celebrate our top citizens
By CHISA HASEGAWA
THE twenty-sixth of January means different things to different people, but here on Cape York, the day is commemorated with a reflection on its history, enjoying the beautiful land we call home, and a celebration of local achievements.
Whether its a fishing trip, a quiet day in or attending the annual Australia Day Awards, leaders across the region shared how their communities were gearing up to spend the day.
“The Australia Day weekend in Cook Shire is all about enjoying the things we love – fishing, boating, camping, and spending time with our families and friends,” Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes said.
“It’s about bringing people together to connect, reflect and celebrate some of the things that make this part of the world so great. In Cooktown, council is hosting the Australia Day Awards and citizenship ceremony, which will also include a very special presentation to recognise our Tropical Cyclone Jasper community heroes.”
Mayor Holmes said the day was also an opportunity to pay respect to its complex history while uniting as a community.
“It’s a time to reflect on our history – both its challenges and achievements – while also celebrating the many cultures that call Cook Shire home,” she said.
“For some, it’s a day of quiet reflection on our shared history, including the impact on First Nations people, while others see it as an opportunity to come together in celebration.
“At its heart, it’s a day to honour stories of resilience, connection, and the strength of our community as we move forward together with understanding and respect.”
In Lockhart River, the Northern Peninsula Area and Aurukun, communities will be making the most of the outdoors, with a fishing competition in Lockhart Riv-
a
on Albany
and the Great Australian
festival set to be held in Aurukun on 1 February.
Weipa Town Authority Chair Jaime Gane said the western Cape York township would also be hosting its annual Australia Day Awards before community members enjoyed the outdoors.
“WTA will hold an Australia Day Awards dinner on the twenty-second, which is a really nice way to celebrate what it means to be Australian, and to thank those who have been nominated,” she said.
“We don’t hold anything on Australia Day itself, as our community prefers to celebrate their own way on the day and make the most of the long weekend, [but] spending time with friends and family enjoying the outdoors is always a favourite.
“It’s a day that highlights how fortunate we all are to call ourselves Australians, especially in today’s world; it’s about celebrating our shared beliefs, such as mateship and a fair go, and recognising that what we all have in common is greater than our differences.”
er,
beach barbeque
Island,
Bites food
The contributions of community members and groups across the Cape will be recognised over the next week, including tomorrow night, when Weipa Town Authority hosts its Australia Day Awards at the Albatross Bay Resort.
By LYNDON KEANE
AN irrigation project poised to inject $500 million per year into the Cape York economy could be championed through a Coalition plan to boost Northern Australia growth with water infrastructure, says the candidate hoping to keep Leichhardt in conservative hands at this year’s federal election.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton released his blueprint for the country – Let’s Get Australia Back on Track: the Priorities of a Dutton Coalition Government – in Melbourne on 12 January, with the plan identifying regional economic growth opportunities through an investment in local water infrastructure projects to support agriculture and industry, and capitalising on the competitive advantages of regional and remote areas.
Liberal National Party (LNP) candidate for Leichhardt Jeremy Neal, who is aiming to get his hands on retiring MP Warren Entsch’s crown when voters go
to the ballot boxes, said he believed the aims of the Coalition plan aligned strongly with those of the proposed Lakeland Irrigation Area Scheme (LIAS), which would unlock more than 10,000 additional hectares of irrigated cropping land in the region.
“The proposed Lakeland Irrigation Area Scheme is an exciting and worthy project,” he said.
“With the world needing more food to feed its growing population, Cape York and Northern Australia is in a prime geographical position to cater to this demand.
“The [scheme] also has the potential to play an important
role in the sustainable growth of our region’s agricultural sector and the community in the Lakeland district by creating new jobs and underpinning investment in infrastructure for the Cook Shire.”
The LIAS has already received conservative support, with Cook MP David Kempton promising $190,000 to the Lakeland Progress Association during his election campaign last year to help growers respond to a detailed business case for the project released by Regional Development Australia Tropical North in May 2024.
Mr Neal committed to being a “strong advocate” for the LIAS once additional economic and technical assessments had been completed, acknowledging the project’s potential to deliver an estimated tenfold population boost for Lakeland.
“When the LIAS project has completed the necessary business and technical assessments, I will be a strong advocate for it,” he said.
“I’ll continue to work closely at the local level with David Kempton and the Lakeland community to ensure the project is moving forward, because it has the potential to make a huge contribution to economic development in our region.”
Labor candidate for Leichhardt Matt Smith declined a request for interview about the LIAS, telling Cape York Weekly in an email he was willing to support “any project that stacks up economically and environmentally”, but said it was up to the State Government to drive the Lakeland plan.
“The federal Labor government invested $10 million into the project through the National Water Grid Fund, and that project was completed in August 2023,” he said.
“I am willing to consider any project that stacks up economically and environmentally, but at this stage, it’s up to the State Government whether they want to proceed with the project and apply for any additional funding.”
LNP candidate Jeremy Neal.
Lakeland could eventually be home to about 3,000 people if the ambitious plan to dam the Palmer River to support 10,050 hectares of additional irrigated cropping in the region comes to fruition.
Rio Tinto Employee End of Year Recognition Vouchers are accepted at the following businesses:
LiveLife Pharmacy Weipa
Albatross Bay Resort
Business Leisure Travel
Capeaccino Crew
Carpentaria Contracting
Carpentaria Golf Club
Eight Little Indians
Enzed Weipa
Gulf Parts & Service
Heritage Resort
Karla’s Kandles
Kym-Maree's Beauty Room
Sunshine Mitre 10
Tableland Veterinary Service
TackleWorld Weipa
Tableland Veterinary Service
TackleWorld Weipa
Weipa 4WD Fishing & Camping Supplies
Weipa Camping Ground
Weipa Community Care Centre
Weipa Bakery & Café
Weipa Bowls Club
Weipa Business Equipment
Weipa Furniture & Electrical
Weipa Gourmet Meats
Weipa News & Traders
Weipa Pottery
Weipa Servicentre Pty Ltd
Weipa's Beauty Within
Whiskey & Wildflowers
Vouchers must be spent in one transaction and cannot be redeemed for cash.
Vouchers will expire on 01 March 2025
No charges laid over snake ‘poaching’
CHARGES are yet to be laid against the individuals allegedly involved with the attempted poaching of eight snakes from Cape York on New Year’s Eve.
On 31 December 2024, the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) received information about snakes being taken from the Lockhart River area, leading to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers, along with police, undertaking a vehicle intercept around Coen.
Six green tree pythons and two brown snakes were allegedly discovered during a
search of the vehicle, and were returned to their natural habitat by rangers several days later after receiving a clean bill of health.
The stunning pythons are believed to be worth up to $50,000 each on the black market if they can be exported to overseas buyers.
Last week, DETSI confirmed a QPWS investigation into the incident was continuing, meaning it could be months before it is known what charges, if any, the alleged poachers will face.
Cape York Weekly understands from several reliable sources one of the alleged of-
fenders is known to police, and has previously been convicted on a raft of poaching and illegal animal trafficking charges in New South Wales.
A Queensland Police Service spokesperson confirmed police had played no role in the incident to date other than assisting with the vehicle interception.
“As this is an ongoing Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service investigation, we are unable to comment,” the spokesperson said.
“The Queensland Police Service will support partner agencies if criminal charges are brought before the court.”
Seven years in making: Big Betty blooms at last
By CHISA HASEGAWA
AFTER steadily growing in a vegetative state for seven years, Cooktown’s titan arum flower, nicknamed Big Betty, put on an epic performance as she finally blossomed on 15 January.
Community members arrived in droves at the Cooktown Botanic Gardens to see Big Betty, with the so-called “corpse flower” only remaining in bloom for 24-48 hours.
Curator Nikko Menzel said the rare and fascinating plant, which stands over a metre tall, was impressive even to the most experienced botanists.
“I’ve been in botanic gardens and collections management for probably over 15 years now, and it never ceases to amaze me when these flower, they are truly something else,” he said.
“This particular one, we were very fortunate to have donated by the Cairns Botanic Gardens, so we’ve been looking after it here in Cooktown since 2019, and it’s never flowered until today – it’s only ever had vegetative growth.”
He added the titan arum itself, which is native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra, was incredibly rare to see in Australia.
“It’s an amazing feat in itself, the fact that we’ve got it here in Far North Queensland, in our humble Cooktown, which
punches well above its weight,”
Mr Menzel said.
“We’ve got this dramatic bloom for our community, and just to see the constant stream of people coming to see her is just fantastic.”
Aside from her impressive size, rare flowering cycle and vibrant colours, Mr Menzel said Big Betty and her family were also famous for their pungent odour when in bloom.
“I thought it was quite impressive for something coming from a flower,” he said.
“The smell is like a rotting
odour, almost like a rotting fish, so for those who are keen fishers like myself, it’s not really that bad; it’s almost like something that you get used to smelling when you’re on the boat.
“This smell is what attracts the beetles and the flies that help with pollination.”
Big Betty took her final bow on Friday after an impressive 48-hour flowering cycle, and is now in the process of being prepared for another possible bloom in coming years.
The flower at the top, which can separate itself from the rest
of the plant, will be cleaned and inspected for damage before being replanted.
“Next year, the chance of it flowering is very low – there is still a possibility, but the normal cycle from all the data is between seven and 10 years,” Mr Menzel explained.
“We’ll see what happens, but it’s very, very uncommon for one to flower again the following year, but I have seen one flower within two years, so it’s happened before. It’s a very unusual plant – she chooses when she wants to flower.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
Cape boy faces court
A 17-YEAR-OLD Aurukun boy faced Cairns Childrens Court on 15 January after being arrested in regard to an incident in the Cairns suburb of Bungalow last week.
Police alleged the boy entered a hotel on Amuller Street just after 1am on 13 January and, when asked by security to leave, he lifted his shirt to reveal a pair of scissors tucked into his waistband.
The boy left the venue a short time later before allegedly returning and taking a stool from an outdoor smoking area.
Police further alleged the boy used the stool to smash the side window of a vehicle parked near the hotel.
Officers located the boy on Mulgrave Road and he was taken into custody just after 2am.
He was charged with one count each of assault, stealing, and wilful damage.
Cook Shire celebrates
COOK Shire Council will honour the outstanding contributions of individuals and community groups at a special celebration in Cooktown on Australia Day.
The council’s Australia Day Awards will be held at the Cook Shire Hall from 9am, with the usual categories to be recognised, as well as the Cyclone Jasper Hero Awards, which will acknowledge the bravery and resilience shown by individuals during the 2023 natural disaster.
A morning tea will be held after the ceremony to give members of the public an opportunity to congratulate recipients.
Red tape slashed
SMALL and family-owned Cape York and Torres Strait businesses are being told to look forward to a reduction in red tape following the State Government appointment of a Small Business Commissioner.
In addition to cutting red tape, the commissioner will have a focus on dispute resolution to identify practical solutions which, according to Premier David Crisafulli, will save small and family businesses time and money.
“These are the first steps to unleashing the true potential of small and family businesses here in Queensland,” he said.
“With the refocusing of the Small Business Commissioner, we can ensure these small businesses spend more time ensuring their customers are serviced rather than servicing government.”
Commissioner Dominique Lamb said red tape reduction was the key to unlocking the growth of many small businesses.
After a seven-year wait, Cooktown Botanic Gardens curator Nikko Menzel was understandably thrilled to witness the town’s most popular and pungent flower, Big Betty, bloom on 15 January. Photo: Supplied.
Major milestone for iconic event
By LYNDON KEANE
FORGET platinum necklaces and rings, it is platinum shirts and shorts that will be the most sought after treasures when the Weipa Fishing Classic (WFC) turns 20 later this year.
The milestone edition of the event will be held on 6-8 June and the committee has unveiled the design for its 2025 merchandise, complete with a colour scheme befitting a 20th anniversary.
WFC president Lisa Lui told Cape York Weekly the eye-catching design had been welcomed by the Weipa community, with many rushing to put in early orders for the clothing.
“The modern theme for a 20th anniversary is platinum, so we’re embracing that for the Weipa Fishing Classic’s 20th anniversary to make it extra special,” she explained.
“The feedback from both the local community and beyond has been overwhelmingly positive; everyone loves the new design, and it’s gotten everyone excited for this year’s Classic.”
While some competitors collect WFC merchandise every year, Ms Lui said she believed the significance of the 2025 platinum design meant it would quickly become a must-have item.
“We believe this year’s shirts will become true collector’s items,” she said.
“It’s a milestone event and everyone is eager to get their hands on one.
“We’ll have extra merchandise available for sale at the Classic, but our online store has been live for a few weeks now; we’ll update the website with the closing date for online orders, so those who can’t make it to Weipa or attend the event can still get their shirts.”
After a successful annual general meeting, Ms Lui said the new committee was already in full
planning mode with five months to go before gates open at Andoom Oval.
“Expect bigger and better prizes, entertainment, stalls, food, and more,” she said.
“If you’re interested in joining the committee, becoming a sponsor or vendor, or just want more information, visit the Weipa Fishing Classic Facebook page for updates or questions, and we’ll make sure to connect you with the right person.”
There will be no mistaking the 2025 Weipa Fishing Classic merchandise, which has gone platinum to mark the event’s 20th anniversary.
While it is already a must-do event for many, the 20th anniversary of the Weipa Fishing Classic from 6-8 June is shaping up to be the biggest yet as anglers from across the country get set to converge on western Cape York to join the celebration.
Rio Tinto’s cadetship program backs next generation
MONTANNA Homosi, a proud Ankamuthi woman and local university student, is thriving in her new role at Rio Tinto’s Weipa operation as the first engineering cadet engaged through the mining giant’s cadetship program.
Ms Homosi grew up in Weipa and said she always dreamed of pursuing a career in mining in a role that combined her love of engineering with meaningful
contributions to her community, and now, as part of Rio Tinto’s mechanical engineering team, she is putting her classroom learning into action.
After starting her cadetship last year, Ms Homosi is expected to complete her Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in 2027.
“This last year has been great for me,” the cadet said.
“I’ve learned things I couldn’t have learned in a classroom;
every day brings something new, and I love being part of a team that supports my growth.
“I would really recommend this program to other young people; it’s a fantastic way to get your foot in the door.”
Rio Tinto’s Weipa cadetship program is a localised initiative specific to Local Aboriginal Persons (LAP) and combines fulltime university study in miningrelated disciplines with paid,
practical experience in specialised fields, including geology, environmental science, humanities and law.
The program fosters local talent and strengthening ties between the miner and the community. Applications for the 2025 Weipa cadetship program are now open. For more information, or to apply, contact Rosselle Christie at Rosselle. Canilao@riotinto.com.
Bloomfield honours flood victim
By CHISA HASEGAWA
MORE than a year after Degarra resident Ray Dark was lost in the region’s worst flood disaster, community members are still feeling the hole he has left behind in their tight-knit group.
Mr Dark was the only person to lose his life during the Tropical Cyclone Jasper flood event, when residents desperately clung onto roofs and trees through the night. His body has never been found. In a heartwarming gesture to honour his life, volunteers from
the Bloomfield River District Residents Association (BRDRA) came together to organise a memorial rock in Degarra, near the land on which his house used to sit.
“It’s hard to put into words what happened that night,” BRDRA secretary Robyn Guedes said.
“We had people on roofs and hanging onto trees and saying goodbye to each other.
“The flood normally only came up to the top floor of Ray’s house and he thought he was okay; he was up on the top floor ready to sit the flood out, but this flood went
metres above his house and we lost him and never found him.”
Ms Guedes said Mr Dark had been beloved local who was a close friend to many.
“I first met Ray when I came into the [Bloomfield] River in 1978 after sailing from Darwin, and Ray was also on a boat as one of the boaties,” she recalled.
“He became close friends with a lot of people in Bloomfield, and he was very friendly, easy to get along with, and just an all-around nice guy.”
She said the volunteers were
currently in the process of finalising plans to tile and cement the area around the memorial rock, as well as installing a plaque.
“It’s actually been really great to see everyone pulling together to make this happen,” Ms Guedes said.
“People have just been putting their hands up, saying ‘we need this, we need that, we need to go to Cooktown to get it’; it’s an orchestration and these things don’t come about easily, but people are happily volunteering, getting supplies and attending the meetings,
and everyone’s had a say on what words we want on the plaque.
“Ray’s son and daughter actually came back with some lovely words to put on the end of the plaque, so it’s been really nice having their contribution as well, because they’ve put their own little plaque on his tiles, which is all that was left (of Mr Dark’s house).
“Lots of people have been contributing, the jobs are shared, and everybody has a feeling that it is a community effort; I think it’ll shape up to be a very special place.”
Montanna Homosi is to taking advantage of Rio Tinto Weipa’s cadetship program.
The Bloomfield community is pulling together to honour former Degarra resident Ray Dark, the only person lost to the catastrophic flood event that followed Tropical Cyclone Jasper in late 2023.
MP wants ban on cattle seizures
By LYNDON KEANE
A FAR North Queensland MP says he hopes a landmark court ruling will end a “disgraceful” State Government program to manage cattle in Cape York national parks and give pastoralists a genuine chance to retrieve their livestock.
On 29 November 2024, the Supreme Court of Queensland found in favour of Olive Vale Pastoral –which operates Cape York’s wellknown Fairview and Koolburra stations – that a seizure notice issued by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) was “invalid and of no effect”.
The notices were issued by the former Miles government and new Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell put an interim pause on the program and confirmed “there will be no shooting of cattle in Cape York national parks in 2024 or over the current wet season”.
Member for Hill Shane Knuth said while he welcomed the minister’s decision, he wanted to see a permanent end to the practice and bureaucrats work with pastoralists to design a new system trimmed of red tape.
“[W]e are seeking a complete halt to these operations,” the Katter’s Australian Party MP said.
“Indiscriminate shooting of branded and unbranded cattle is a pointless waste of a valuable re-
source, serving no purpose other than throwing a free feast party for feral pigs and wild dogs.
“The permit system must be overhauled and be granted for a 12-month period, with an option for another 12 months, and be processed within seven days of application. No grazier should be denied the right to find and or retrieve his livestock from a neighbouring park; these disgraceful operations
have been going on long enough and this is an opportunity for the new minister to step in, halt this practice for good and ensure landowners are finally treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
Cape York Cattle Growers (CYCG) chairman John Witherspoon was more scathing in his assessment of the current seizure program, describing it as “stock theft” as he called for a meeting
between Minister Powell and impacted graziers.
“The minister needs to understand this is absolute stock theft, especially in light of the recent court case,” he said.
“To own cattle, you must have a history of the beast – for example, you had purchased the cattle, or they were progeny of cattle you had owned.”
Mr Witherspoon said while
the CYCG supported the temporary halt to the shooting program, members were concerned by the language used by the minister in correspondence sent to Mr Knuth about the situation.
“This indicates more of the same in 2025,” he said.
“No shooting in 2024 and over the wet season, but look out when the wet stops. The minister should come clean about it.”
Have your say in naming key infrastructure on the Peninsula Developmental Road
Here’s your chance to have your say in naming the bridges along the Peninsula Developmental Road. The Department of Transport and Main Roads is looking for ideas for names that highlight the area’s culture and histor y – be it a person, place, event, flora or fauna.
We are seeking ideas to name the Archer River bridge, Saltwater Creek bridge at Musgrave and South Laura bridge.
Naming the bridges will help simplify finding locations on the Peninsula Developmental Road for tourists, freight operators and residents. It will also provide a unique opportunity to give meaning to the bridge names from the community.
To make a submission and learn more, visit the website: www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/cape-york-region-package-stage-2
Submissions close 5 pm Tuesday 1 April 2025
For more information:
Visit: www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/cape-york-region-package-stage-2
Email: cyrp@tmr.qld.gov.au
Phone: 1800 184 317
Post: Peninsula Developmental Road Infrastructure Naming Department of Transport and Main Roads
Far North District Office PO Box 6185 Cairns Qld 4870
Shane Knuth, who has been a vocal opponent of the current cattle seizure program, says no cattle owner should be denied the right to retrieve their livestock.
Elder abuse inquiry needed: government
A JOINT report into Elder abuse by the Queensland Government and Uniting Care has revealed an urgent need for an inquiry, according to Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services Amanda Camm.
The Elder Abuse Statistics in Queensland Year in Review report found 4,458 phone calls were made to the Elder Abuse Helpline in 2023-24, with 2,674 notifications of abuse.
In December 2024, the State Government established a Parliamentary inquiry to investigate the devastating consequences of Elder abuse, with Minister
Camm acknowledging it is currently underreported.
“This inquiry will also help increase awareness right across Queensland, as we work towards better protecting some of the most vulnerable in our communities,” she said.
“All Queenslanders have a role to play in preventing elder abuse including families, communities, service providers and all levels of government.
“Increasing our understanding of elder abuse and boosting community awareness is vital to stopping the abuse.”
The report comes on the back
of a warning from the Cairns Community Legal Centre (CCLC) last month of anecdotal evidence suggesting Elder abuse and financial exploitation was being ignored in some remote parts of Cape York and the Torres Strait.
“In a community where everyone knows everyone, people often find it hard to access our service without others knowing, and there is a very real fear of the repercussions if they do speak with us,” CCLC social worker Lauren Esposito said.
“Elder abuse can have serious physical and mental health, fi-
nancial, and social consequences.”
The report highlighted the largest group of older people experiencing abuse was aged 80–84, with women twice as likely to be the victim of Elder abuse.
Sons and daughters are the perpetrators in 95 per cent of reported cases of abuse, with the report finding more than half of victims lived with the perpetrator.
For support regarding Elder abuse or financial exploitation, call the CCLC on 1800 062 608 or the Elder Abuse Prevention Unit on 1300 651 192.
Health service doubles donation in second year
By CHISA HASEGAWA
IT’S an iss-shoe common enough to warrant an annual donation drive – patients medevaced from Cape York or the Torres Strait and unable to set foot on their flight home because the last thing they thought about after a medical emergency was needing a pair of thongs.
The Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) travel team found patients were often taken out of their communities without shoes, and when returning, were being turned
away at the boarding gate at Cairns Airport, a situation that inspired the first thong donation drive in 2024.
After donating more than 60 pairs of thongs to patient accommodation centre Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan in Cairns last year, the team was able to nearly double their donation to the Australian Red Cross this year.
“Airlines need all patients to have footwear before they board an aircraft, and Red Cross are just an amazing accommodation partner for our patients and escorts as well, so we were very
Escaping Violence Payment
RAATSICC are excited to announce the Escaping Violence Payment (Cairns-based trail) has been extended until 30 June 2026.
The Escaping Violence Payment offers support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) to have access to financial support and goods / services for their immediate needs to live safely.
www.raatsicc.org.au F | facebook.com/raatsicc
happy to work together,” acting travel supervisor Olivia Smith said.
“This year, we decided on a theme – every journey begins with a single step, and we’d love to be able to continue to make it an annual thing and be able to help the communities.”
The donations, which were entirely from members of the travel team and their families, also included basic toiletries this time.
“Also, with this donation, we understand that patients and escorts do require basic necessi-
Support includes:
ties, such as toiletries, so pretty much anything we could add to the tubs, we did,” Ms Smith said.
“Torres and Cape patients and escorts that are medevaced out of community are pretty much just picked up with whatever is on their back, and majority of the time, it doesn’t even include their handbags, let alone additional clothes and bare essentials like toothbrushes and soaps.
“By having these items available, it reduces stress on families at an already incredibly stressful time.”
• Financial assistance up to $1,500 in cash or vouchers
• Up to $3,500 in goods and services (Eg. removalists, bond, items for a new home)
• Confidential support and referrals up to 12 weeks.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Festival season windfall
A LUCKY Cooktown woman has kicked off 2025 half a million dollars richer after winning the major prize on an Instant Scratch-Its ticket over the festive season.
The woman said she had been left in shock and tears after discovering the Instant Scratch-Its ticket she initially thought she’d won $50,000 on was actually worth 10 times that amount.
The winning $20 Diamond 7s Instant Scratch-Its ticket was purchased in Holloways Beach, and the woman said the $500,000 prize would be “life changing” after she was contacted by The Lott.
“This is a massive surprise!” she cried.
“Did you just say $500,000? Are you kidding? Holy hell! I thought I’d won $50,000 and that was crazy.
“Half a million dollars is going to be life changing; I can’t hold back the tears; I think it’s going to take me a while to process the news – I can’t stop shaking.
“I’ve always wanted a house of my own and now I’ll finally be able to buy somewhere.”
Rocky Point outage
RIO Tinto Weipa’s power distribution team have advised there will be a six-hour planned electricity outage tomorrow (22 January) in parts of Rocky Point to allow critical repairs and maintenance to be undertaken.
The affected area will be all of Anzac Avenue, Sunbird Court and Kookaburra Courts, and parts of Fairway Avenue.
A detailed map of the outage area is available on Page 16 of this edition.
Hope Vale boy arrested
A 16-YEAR-OLD Hope Vale boy has been arrested after being located by officers from the Cairns Dog Squad on 13 January.
The reportedly stolen Toyota Rav4 the boy had been allegedly driving was subject to a tyre deflation device on the Kamerunga bridge just after 2:30pm and was abandoned near the Redlynch Intake Road a short time later.
The boy fled from the vehicle into a cane field and was tracked by Police Dog Elvis and his handler to the back of a nearby retirement village, where he was taken into custody.
Police further alleged the boy had been involved with a Mitsubishi Lancer stolen from an Arlington Esplanade address on 5 January and the break-in of a Castleton Entrance address on 6 January. He was charged with two counts of unlawful use of motor vehicle and one of enter dwelling and commit, refused bail and faced Cairns Children’s Court on 14 January.
Eligibility
an Australian citizen, permanent resident or holder of a protected special category visa over the age of 18, living in Australia. have changed your living arrangements within the last 12 weeks due to intimate partner violence are experiencing financial stress. have not accessed EVP in the past 12 months.
Want to know more Contact us on 1300 605 092 or email evp@raatsicc.org.au Funded by Department of Social Services
The Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service travel team have donated over 100 pairs of thongs to patients in need.
CapeYorkWeekly
andtheireffortsthatsavedlivesacrosstheCape disasterFarNorthinwhatwastheregion’sworst Puttinginlivingmemory.theirownlivesatrisktohelp boththetheirmatesandcompletestrangers,theyare WhenembodimentoftrueblueAussiespirit.
InAndtheydiditallforfree. manythisspecialedition,welooktoshareas highlightingofthosegoodnewsstoriesaspossible, thebestofwhathasbeenahor
littleasaresultofCycloneJasper,whoproduced bomb”fanfareonarrival,onlytoleavea“rain ofbiblicalproportionsinhiswake.
Amrun delivers the goods as Rio Tinto beats record
A RECORD production year at Amrun and Gove has helped Rio Tinto notch up an improved year-on-year result for its 2024 Australian bauxite operation.
The mining giant released its fourth quarter (Q4) 2024 results last week, with an extracted 15.4 million tonnes (Mt) during the period representing a 2 per cent improvement on its output for the same period in 2023.
In total, 58.7Mt of bauxite was produced in 2024, up 7 per cent on Rio Tinto’s 2023 result, with chief executive Jakob Stausholm attributing the improvement to the implementation of the company’s Safe Production
System at its Amrun and Gove mines, with the western Cape York site operating above nameplate capacity.
“Our operating performance in 2024 was good, consistent with our ongoing commitment to strengthen the business as we execute our strategy to deliver profitable growth,” he said.
“The implementation of our Safe Production System has again contributed to greater consistency across key operations, including our iron ore assets in the Pilbara and our bauxite operations in Australia, where Amrun and Gove achieved record annual production.”
Weipa company removes wreck
AFTER nearly a decade of failed attempts, the wreckage of the MV Reef Connection has been removed from Warul Kawa (Deliverance Island), a significant site within the Ugul Malu Kawa Indigenous Protected Area.
The milestone was achieved through a unique collaboration and adherence to strict cultural protocols, and represented the conclusion of Maritime Safety Queensland’s (MSQ) $2.7 million War on Wrecks program.
The latest chapter in the program, which was undertaken by Carpentaria Contracting after the Weipa company was awarded the contract in 2021, included the removal of 13 vessels in the Cairns maritime region.
The 18-metre MV Reef Connection caught fire and sank during a voyage in February 2015 and, while all of its seven crew survived, its whereabouts was unknown until it was discovered a year later by Torres Strait Regional Authority rangers, washed ashore on Warul Kawa – an island of deep spiritual and cultural significance for Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The success of the latest clean-up attempt hinged on the guidance of the local Kuiku Mabaigal (cultural authority) and the active involvement of Traditional Owners and rangers from five connected communities –Boigu, Saibai, Dauan, Badua and Mabuiag.
Prior to the removal, the Kuiku Mabaigal performed a traditional cultural ceremony to seek the approval and protection of their ancestors.
Malu Kiai senior ranger Nelson Gibuma,
who was on the vessel when it sank, expressed his deep relief the wreck had finally been removed.
“I am very happy, I feel good,” he said.
“I’m glad they took the boat off of Warul Kawa.”
MSQ general manager Kell Dillon praised the operation, which was completed on 20 November 2024.
“I am very pleased that MSQ and our contractors have finally closed the chapter on the MV Reef Connection,” he said.
“It is even better that Warul Kawa has been returned to its natural state and that MSQ was able to involve Torres Strait Islanders to ensure their spiritual and cultural needs were met during removal of the wreckage.
“This brings to an end a single $2.7 million contract to remove 13 wrecks from Far North Queensland.”
Since 2018, 120 wrecks have been removed from the Cairns maritime region as part of the War on Wrecks program.
you an employer in a remote
or want to become one?
You can apply for a grant to create new jobs in your community, through the Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) program.
This is the first stage in replacing the Community Development Program (CDP).
Grants will support eligible employers to employ local people in new jobs by funding wages and equipment.
To apply or find out more –visit www.niaa.gov.au/remote-jobs call 1800 079 098 or visit your local NIAA office.
Ishmael Gibuma, Nelson Gibuma and Laurie Elisala observe the removal of the vessel.
$1.6b project deserves more love
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
IT’S not every day somewhere like Cape York has the opportunity to unlock a large-scale project with the capacity to inject $500 million into one of the remotest economies in the country.
Even rarer is it for a plan concocted in the urban-centric halls of Parliament House to so perfectly align with the ambition of a project in a spot most politicians couldn’t point to on a map, so you’ll forgive the zealous interest I showed when I realised one of the key elements of Peter Dutton’s strategy to “get Australia back on track” could have been describing the proposed Lakeland Irrigation Area Scheme (LIAS).
The Opposition Leader all but kicked off his election campaign when he unveiled the plan – uninspiringly called Let’s Get Australia Back on Track: the Priorities of a Dutton Coalition Government – to the party faithful in Melbourne on 12 January, and while it is light on policy detail, it was three of the bullet points under the aim to grow a stronger regional Australia that piqued my curiosity. It’s on pages 28 and 29 of the plan, for those playing along at home.
The first is a commitment to “[i]nvest in practical local water infrastructure projects to support
agriculture, industry and economic development”, while the second is an undertaking to “[s]upport existing regional industries to grow and foster new manufacturing and processing opportunities to capitalise on the competitive advantages of our regions”.
The third bullet point, and one that admittedly gets thrown around every time there’s an election on the horizon, is a promise to unlock the economic potential and growth of Northern Australia which, last time I checked, included Cape York.
If those three goals don’t align with the predicted outcomes of the $1.6 billion LIAS project, I don’t know what does.
When my excitement subsided, I contacted the Liberal National Party’s (LNP) Jeremy Neal and Labor’s Matt Smith, the only runners who have formally announced their candidacy for Leichhardt, to get a feel for what they thought about the project and what they believed an additional half a billion dollars a year would mean for economic and social prosperity in the northernmost part of the vast electorate.
Labor’s man declined a phone interview, with his media adviser – who, as it so happens, is also Queensland Senator Nita Green’s spin doctor – telling me via email the call wouldn’t be possible “as there is a lot on” this week. Look-
ing at the candidate’s social media, that appears to involve commentating basketball games and attending as many community events – and photo opportunities – in the voteheavy metropolis of Cairns as humanly possible.
When Mr Smith’s comments did appear in my inbox, they were disappointingly nothing more than a throwaway willingness to “consider any project that stacks up economically and environmentally,” before handballing responsibility to the State Government to drive the LIAS bus.
Mr Neal, who the LNP is banking on to ensure Leichhardt remains blue after long-serving MP Warren Entsch rides off into the
sunset, has flagged support for the project, but perhaps not as enthusiastically as one would expect – for the liking of this bitter, twisted old scribe at least – for something that would provide the water security needed to crop 10,050 additional hectares in the Lakeland region and trigger a tenfold population boom for a part of the electorate crying out for locally-driven economic stimulus.
If a potential $500m-per-year economic injection that will result in a forecast 3,000 people eventually calling Lakeland home doesn’t get the candidates seeking to champion the best interests of Cape York out of their camp chairs and singing from the chandeliers, what the hell will?
The LIAS concept deserves more than being a political afterthought only mentioned in passing and viewed as the slightest of blips on a candidate radar, especially when its potential to provide jobs, new industry and a local food security option for our region is factored into the equation.
Candidates wanting to represent us should be aware of the project, speaking to stakeholders and fiercely advocating for it as one of Cape York’s most significant current opportunities, not turning their backs and offering a hollow commitment, as long as someone who isn’t them takes the lead.
The project deserves better than that. So do Cape York voters.
•
•
•
RDA Tropical North Chair Professor Hurriyet Babacan, Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes and RDA Tropical North CEO Sonja Johnson inspect the proposed $1.6 billion Lakeland Irrigation Area Scheme at last year’s launch of a detailed business case for the project.
Cape York Weekly Puzzles Page
Fill in the blank cells using numbers from 1 to 9. Each number can only appear once in each
and 3x3
Quick Workout
Fit the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 into the hexagons so that where the hexagons touch, the numbers will be the same. No number is repeated in any hexagon.
29 words
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.
Public Notice
Awonga Point Waste Water Treatment Facility
Due to elevated stormwater levels the Awonga Point Waste Water Treatment Facility is expected to reach full capacity within the next week.
In accordance with standard operating procedures once the treatment facility is at full capacity, stormwater from the network will be discharged simultaneously with treated effluent through the approved existing outfall infrastructure, under the Mission River Bridge. This action is periodically required to alleviate the system and ensure continued safe operation.
The discharge will be at minimal flow and will continue until stormwater levels abate.
As a precautionary measure, fishing is not recommended within the immediate vicinity of the outfall which is located on the sea floor under the Mission River Bridge, approximately 60m offshore.
TORRES STRAIT REGIONAL AUTHORITY
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Torres Strait Cultural Keeping Place
The TSRA is calling for Expressions of Interest (EoI) from suitability qualified Suppliers for the development of a feasibility study for the establishment of a Torres Strait Cultural Keeping Place on Thursday Island
Tender documentation can be obtained by sending an email to tender@tsra.gov.au with ‘EOI REQUEST – TORRES STRAIT CULTURAL KEEPING PLACE in the subject line or on www.tsra.gov.au – under tenders
Tenders are to be clearly marked as “TENDER RESPONSE –TORRES STRAIT CULTURAL KEEPING PLACE” by email to tender@tsra.gov.au
Alternatively, tenders may be posted to “TENDER RESPONSE – TORRES STRAIT CULTURAL KEEPING PLACE” PO Box 261 Thursday Island Qld 4875.
Tenders must be received by 4:00pm AEST 19 February 2025
The Western Cape Communities Co-Existence Agreement (WCCCA) is an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) over the Rio Tinto mining lease areas of the Western Cape York region of Northern Queensland. The Agreement is between the eleven Traditional Owner Groups, four Shire Councils (Aurukun, Napranum, Mapoon and New Mapoon), Rio Tinto, the Queensland State Government and the Cape York Land Council on behalf of the Native Title Parties.
The Western Cape Communities Coordinating Committee (WCCCC) and its three SubCommittees transparently monitor, implement and review the objectives of the WCCCA to ensure that all parties’ obligations under the agreement are met. The WCCT office is the administration arm for all the Trusts and the WCCCC. It manages the overall business of the company including servicing, assisting and supporting the above entities. WCCT is committed to providing high quality services to our Traditional Owners, and we recognize the importance of employing the most suitable candidates. Currently we are seeking applications for the position of:
FINANCE GRANTS OFFICER
To meet our corporate and legislative requirements as a charitable trust, the WCCT has a highly complex financial structure. Reporting to the Finance Manager, the Finance Grants Officer is responsible for managing the overall Grant Application process, and supporting the finance manager with finance and reporting functions.
We anticipate that applicants will have a minimum of two years’ experience in a finance based role, class ‘C’ manual driver’s license, and an understanding of engaging with Aboriginal people.
It will also be beneficial to have a relevant tertiary qualification and prior experience with MYOB.
We anticipate that applicants will have:
• Minimum Year 12 education;
• Minimum 2 year experience in a finance based role;
• Sound IT and MYOB experience; C Class Driver’s license; and
• An understanding of engaging with Aboriginal people.
• Tertiary qualifications in Finance or higher will be considered favourably
• Traditional Owners and Aboriginal people are strongly encouraged to apply
All applications should be clearly marked “Private and Confidential” and addressed as follows:
Executive Officer PO Box 106 Weipa, QLD, 4874 Phone: (07) 4069 7945
Email: eo@westerncape.com.au
CLOSING DATE – FRIDAY 24TH JANUARY 2025
The Western Cape Communities Co-Existence Agreement (WCCCA) is an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) over the Rio Tinto mining lease areas of the Western Cape York region of Northern Queensland. The Agreement is between the eleven Traditional Owner Groups, four Shire Councils (Aurukun, Napranum, Mapoon and New Mapoon), Rio Tinto, the Queensland State Government and the Cape York Land Council on behalf of the Native Title Parties.
The Western Cape Communities Coordinating Committee (WCCCC) and its five Sub-Committees transparently monitor, implement and review the objectives of the WCCCA to ensure that all parties’ obligations under the Agreement are met. The WCCT office is the administration arm for all Trusts and the WCCCC. It manages the overall business of the company, including servicing, assisting and supporting the above entities. WCCT is committed to providing high quality services to our Traditional Owners, and we recognize the importance of employing the most suitable candidates. Currently we are seeking applications for the position of:
OFFICE MANAGER
Reporting to the Executive Officer, the Office Manager is responsible for the efficient and effective functioning of the WCCT Office in order to meet organisational objectives. This includes demonstrating appropriate and professional workplace behaviours, performing their responsibilities in a manner which reflects and responds to continuous improvement, managing Administration staff, managing IT and communications systems and other office equipment, and providing support to the Executive Officer. The Office Manager is also responsible for the coordination and planning of all WCCT, WCCCC, Sub-Regional Trusts and Sub-Committees meetings scheduled throughout the year.
We anticipate the applicants will have completed a formal training in Business Administration or a similar field and have experience in a similar role where they have been responsible for the efficient and effective functioning of an office, managing administration staff, document control, managing IT and communications systems as well as compliance with organisation policies and procedures and workplace health and safety regulations. A current C class driver’s license is also required for this role.
Prior experience with MYOB, centralized database, and a sound knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island protocols are highly desired.
Traditional Owners and Aboriginal people are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants must have the right to work in Australia.
For further information, including a position description please contact the Executive Officer directly.
All applications should be clearly marked “Private and Confidential” and addressed as follows: Executive Officer PO Box 106
Weipa, QLD, 4874
Phone: (07) 4069 7945
Email: eo@westerncape.com.au
CLOSING DATE – FRIDAY 24th JANUARY 2025
Underwater stars relish nationals
By CHISA HASEGAWA
AFTER donning green and gold and impressing on the world stage last year, members of the Cooktown Crocs Underwater Hockey Club headed into the 2025 Australian Underwater Hockey National Championships in Ballarat with a newfound confidence last week.
Australian representatives Sienna Thomason, Rocco Thomason, Eli Carroll and Sam Ryder returned to the pool for the Ballarat showdown, and Cape York Weekly
spoke to them as they prepared to fight for their spot in the national team for the current season.
In total, nine Cooktown players made the trip to Ballarat to don maroon for their state in six divisions.
Sienna, who was selected to play in the Elite Women’s team, said her Malaysian experience and first-time role as Queensland Elite Women’s vice-captain changed her confidence going into nationals.
“Having that experience from Worlds definitely does give you
Administrative Assistant/ Accounts Manager
Sovereign Resort Hotel Cooktown
a little bit of extra confidence, because you know you can play at that high level and take on the challenges that will arise at Nationals,” she said.
“I’ve gotten a leadership role this year, and a lot of the Cooktown players that went to Worlds have actually gotten a leadership role, which is awesome.”
Coach Scott Thomason, who also hit the pool in the Masters division, said it was exhilarating to see the teamwork and gameplay in the water, adding he was hoping
The Sovereign Resort Hotel Cooktown is a 4-star resort based in Tropical Far North Queensland. We are seeking a professional individual with strong financial skills & exceptional administrative capabilities to join our team as an Administrative Assistant/Accounts Manager. This position is being offered as part time or full time or the ideal candidate. This role is strictly Monday to Friday with flexibile working hours. You will play an important role in administration and finance department, working closely with the General Managers.
The Sovereign Resort Hotel consists of 38 rooms, Al A Carte Restaurant, Café Bar Bistro, Bottleshop, Transport, Freight and Aviation Agent.
Your responsibilities & daily duties will include:
• Data Revenue input
• Data entry of items such as disbursements and receipts
• Generating daily reports
• Month end reporting and reconciliations
• Answering calls a instructed
• Follow up on outstanding items
• Reception relief as required
• Payroll officer duties and support
• General day to day support to General Managers
• General administration
Skills & Experience:
• Excellent Organisation skills
• Proficiency in MS Office/Outlook
• Previous Accounts/Book-keeping experience
• Experience with an accounting program such as XERO, Attache or MYOB
• Experience of POS systems & Opera or equivalent RMS
• Literacy & Numeracy Skills
What we offer:
• A flexible work environment which encourages healthy work/life balance
• Training & Ongoing Support
• Annual Salary & Performance reviews
• Immediate Start
• Accommodation negotiable
Please email your resume to: rachael.webber@sovereignresort.com.au
Resumes only accepted by email. Applications close 27-01-2025.
for a fourth consecutive win for the under-19 men’s team.
“They’ve come back from Worlds as different athletes and the game has just improved so much with the experience at that level,” he said.
“Basically, the whole U19 Queensland [men’s] side is made up of Worlds players, so they’ve got an amazing side and they’ve been undefeated for three years.”
The U19A men’s side notched up its fourth consecutive gold medal, while the U15, Masters and
Elite Women secured silver, and the Elite Men won bronze.
STATE REPRESENTATIVES
U15: Cruze Ryder (vice-captain), Emmet Dukes
U19A: Rocco Thomason (captain), Sam Ryder (vicecaptain), Eli Carrol
U19B: Jett Ryder, Joshua McDermott, Cruze Ryder
Elite Women: Sienna Thomason (vice-captain)
Elite Men B: Rocco Thomason, Sam Ryder, Eli Carrol Masters: Scott Thomason
Front Office Receptionist
Sovereign Resort Hotel Cooktown Front Office & Guest Services (Hospitality & Tourism)
Part Time to Full time 30 to 38 hours
Salary subject to hrs and experience up to $65000 to $72,000
The Sovereign Resort Hotel Cooktown is a 4-star resort based in Tropical Far North Queensland. We are seeking a professionally presented and well-spoken experienced Receptionist. You will be the first point of contact to all our clients and will play an important role in the front of house administration, working closely with the General Managers and Department Managers.
The Sovereign Resort Hotel consists of 38 rooms, Al A Carte Restaurant, Café Bar Bistro, Bottleshop and is a Hinterland Aviation Agent and Toll Freight Agent.
Your responsibilities & daily duties will include:
• Entering reservation into RMS operating system
• Answering calls & email correspondence
• Meeting & Greeting Clients & Groups
• Booking Transfers & Flights
• Liaising and Co-ordinating between departments
Skills & Experience:
• Experience in Administration
• Microsoft Office, Word, Excel & Outlook
• Excellent Customer Service Skills
• Opera or equivalent RMS systems not essential training provided on site
• Literacy & Numeracy Skills
• Ability to take initiative
• Communication Skills
• Must work well in a team
Please email your resume to: rachael.webber@sovereignresort.com.au
Resumes only accepted by email. Applications close 28-01-2025.
Members of the Cooktown Crocs Underwater Hockey Club impressed in the pool last week when they donned maroon for the 2025 Australian Underwater Hockey National Championships in Ballarat.
Dall claims narrow Dawnbusters victory
THEY say all good things come at a cost, and that was certainly the case when Jon Dall swapped a narrow victory for a pummelling by the handicap gods when a field of 16 teed off in Weipa on Sunday.
Unusually pleasant conditions greeted golfers for the weekly instalment of Dawnbusters, with Dall carding 52 off the stick to take the winner’s chocolates with a nett
18, and relegate Scott Andrews (44/19) to runner-up.
Dall attributed his win to “spectacular accountancy” and a handicap bigger than anyone else in the field – a handicap spectacularly slashed by 18 strokes after the dust settled on the course.
Peter Kelly and Chelsea Buckley impressed with the big sticks to win the men’s
and women’s long drive prizes. No one had their short game dialled in, meaning nearest to the pin bragging rights went unclaimed.
Beth Dall took out the coveted Hoffman’s crown for the round.
Golfers will challenge themselves against the front nine on Australia Day, with the first playing group scheduled to get away from about 6:30am at Carpentaria Golf Club.
Help required to ensure success of junior league
AFTER a stellar 2024 campaign which included hosting Hostplus Cup teams for a local Country Week showdown, Cooktown District Junior Rugby League (CDJRL) is putting out the call for eager helpers to ensure the coming season is just as successful.
With training for the year set to commence on 18 March, CDJRL secretary Jacynta Hunt said the club needed coaches and other game day helpers to ensure junior players could show off their talent on the paddock.
“We are off to a good start for the 2025 season, with registrations already coming in and the training due to start in March,” she said.
“The Country Week game was a major highlight for our 2024 season, which really inspired our young players; we are looking forward to fielding teams for under 6 to U14 tackle competition, as well as the 12-17 years League Tag, which requires a lot of on-field assistance.”
Ms Hunt said the club was aiming to secure the services of another three or four coaches, in addition to new referees and sports trainers.
SPORT IN BRIEF
Wackers washout
THE 19th hole was the only winner for the second Wednesday in a row as weekly Wackers action succumbed to the Cape York wet season on 15 January.
Ten players nominated to tackle the back nine at Carpentaria Golf Club and six managed to tee off before the rain came down to have them seeking refuge in the dry comfort of the clubhouse.
The wet weather failed to dampen spirits in the clubhouse, with the bar getting a solid workout as players reflected on how they believed they would have performed, had Mother Nature not intervened.
New players are always welcome, with Wackers teeing off every Wednesday before 4:30pm.
Brutal golf conditions
WITH no wind and an apparent temperature of nearly 40 degrees, the Cooktown Golf Club January Medal was played in “brutal” conditions that tested even the most resolute golfer on Saturday.
Jamie Dobson handled the heat best to return to the clubhouse with a winning nett 63, with Brent Hetaraka (nett 68) bagging bridesmaid honours, and Wal Welsh triumphing for third in a three-way tie with Ron Beacroft and Graham Burton.
Dobson (14), Devo Butler (2/11) and Rick Butler (9/18) were the pin prize winners. On 25 January, competitors will contest a Stableford from the red tees.
Junior soccer AGM
THE Weipa Junior Soccer Club is making a shoutout for people passionate about keeping the sport thriving on western Cape York to attend its annual general meeting on 6 February.
The AGM will kick off at 5pm at the Weipa Bowls Club, and a spokesperson said committee members and volunteers were needed to ensure a successful 2025 season.
And what does it take to be a successful junior coach?
“Patience and a love of footy,” laughed Ms Hunt.
“For those with first aid skills and not necessarily football skills, our existing sports trainers all have children in U13/14s, so we need some more who are able to cover the younger teams,” she said.
“All coaches must have or be able to get a blue card and complete a free online coaching course.
“The face-to-face training provided by NRL will happen later in the year in Cooktown; sports trainers do a course in Cairns, with expenses reimbursed by the club.”
“No experience is necessary, just a willingness to contribute and support our young players,” they said.
For more information about getting involved with the club, check out its Facebook page or email cooktownjrl@gmail.com.
“We’re also seeking volunteers to assist with coaching and refereeing in 2025; sadly, we are lost several of our amazing volunteers at the end last year, so we need help to keep the games going strong.”
Coaches, referees and sports trainers are needed to ensure the 2025 Cooktown District Junior Rugby League season is as successful as the club’s bumper 2024.
My
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION
Thank you for being able to manipulate your way through the positives and negatives that the recent buyer put you through before buying this property . . . can I thank you for your dedication in ensuring the transaction completed against the odds.
It was only because of your tenacity and professional determination that you were able to bring about a comparatively pleasing result.
Brian
Working with Deb was a great experience! She was extremely helpful, efficient, and knowledgeable throughout the
process. Her resourcefulness made navigating the details much easier, and she provided clear guidance when needed. I appreciated her professionalism and would gladly recommend her services to others.
Dr Avril Howard