Weipa Town Authority Chair Jaime Gane congratulates Community Spirit Award winner Judey Haeusler, Young Citizen of the Year Annabelle Slingo and Citizen of the Year Shayna Reeves. Check out who else was recognised for their contributions as part of our special Australia Day coverage on Pages 10-12.
The future of the iconic Laura Quinkan Dance Festival is a mystery as angry performers from across Cape York say they were not told organisers had canned this year’s event. Exclusive story – Page 3
MINING giant Rio Tinto has welcomed a Federal Government announcement of a $2 billion investment to incentivise the use of renewable energy by Australia’s aluminium industry.
The investment will come in the form of tax credits that will support the switch to renewable energy by aluminium smelters before 2036, and facilities will be eligible for support for every tonne of aluminium produced over the next decade.
Aluminium production has traditionally been a high consumer of power, relying primarily on coal-fired power stations
for smelters. The reliance on coal has influenced the location of smelters, with five large bauxite mines, six alumina refineries and four aluminium smelters all located in regional areas including western Cape York, Gladstone and in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales.
Australia is unique in having most or all of its aluminium supply chain located locally, from the raw material bauxite to the coal and the renewable energies used to power the smelters, to the finished products.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week said the gov-
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ernment’s Future Made in Australia plan was designed to make more things locally.
“Investing in the Australianmade aluminium industry is a massive opportunity – to create well-paid jobs in our regions and suburbs, and set Australia up for the future,” he said.
“We’ve got the resources, the workers, and the know-how –the only thing we don’t have is time to waste.
“If there is a lesson from the pandemic, it’s that Australia cannot continue to be just at the end of supply chains, be vulnerable as a national economy by not mak-
ing things here. We need to be more than a quarry; we need to be a country that value-adds ourselves, not that exports the raw material, waits for someone else to create jobs and value-add and then import the products back.”
Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said Australia had to capitalise on having the entire aluminium supply chain in its backyard.
“With an entire aluminium supply chain uniquely located right here in Australia, we’re well positioned to capture the rewards of the global green energy transition,” he said.
A CAIRNS-based organisation has received $200,000 in State Government funding to deliver training to participants in Thursday Island, Bamaga and Lockhart River as part of a program aimed at upskilling Indigenous communities.
Wakaid is one of 15 projects to receive a combined $2.8 million funding green light through the the government’s latest round of the Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development grant program.
The program provides opportunities for former offenders, young people, school leavers
and women to gain the skills and training they need to secure local jobs, with approved projects including workplace confidence development, cultural onboarding, mental health support and learner driver assistance.
In a boost for Lockhart River, Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation also received $45,700 to assist young women aged 15-24 gain employment as Indigenous rangers and take on the responsibility of managing the Indigenous Protected Area overseen by the organisation.
Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros
Bates said the funding would pave the way for genuine local employment opportunities.
“Organisations like Wakaid Pty Ltd will support up to 14 participants from Cairns, Thursday Island, Bamaga and Lockhart River to obtain the skills and qualifications needed for jobs in the marine dive industry, including the crown of thorns starfish control program,” she said.
“An important project tailored to the region, participants will gain the regulatory dive certification requirements and additional training in first aid, advanced resuscitation and oxygen
therapy to be part of the control program or work in marine tourism, marine research, or the commercial sector.”
Wakaid director and part owner Frank Aragu said the project would provide training and employment pathways to safeguard the pristine marine environments in the northernmost part of the state.
“Our Malu Gubal project will help address local workforce needs, establish a direct connection to local services and employers for our participants and help protect the Great Barrier Reef,” he said.
By CHISA HASEGAWA
PERFORMERS may have shared their stories and culture in the dust of Laura’s ancient bora ring for the last time after organisers decided to scrap the 2025 Laura Quinkan Dance Festival without any consultation.
The biennial celebration of traditional dance was due to be held later this year and attract thousands of patrons from across Australia, but Ang-Gnarra Aboriginal Corporation (AGAC) has confirmed the festival will not be going ahead.
AGAC chief executive officer August Stevens told Cape York Weekly via text message on 23 January the popular event had been cancelled after being asked about its status, however, when presented with follow-up questions about the decision, he said he had “retired from the position of CEO” and referred this masthead to AGAC chairman John Ross.
“[T]he festival is not happening and had been shelved for the time being,” Mr Stevens said in his text message.
“I am no longer the spokesperson for Ang-Gnarra corporation (sic) as I have retired from the position of CEO.”
Despite Mr Stevens’ assertion he was no longer in AGAC’s top job, the organisation’s website and the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations –which oversees the governance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations – still show him as holding the position.
Mr Ross did not respond to multiple phone and email requests for an interview, but Cape York Weekly has confirmed through another AGAC source there will be no festival in 2025.
Rumours of the festival’s demise have been met with disappointment and claims of a lack of transparency by the organiser, with one stakeholder, who
spoke to Cape York Weekly on the condition of anonymity after co-ordinating their community’s performers to attend the 2023 event, saying the lack of communication was “an insult to everyone who makes an effort to dance at Laura”.
“We’d heard a few rumours before Christmas it wasn’t going to go ahead, but there’s been nothing official and nothing to tell dance groups who have performed every two years they (AGAC) were ditching it,” they said angrily.
“There’s a huge effort involved with organising dancers, getting the performances polished and then transporting a big group of people to the festival from hundreds of kilometres away or more.
“If they’re scrapping it without telling us, it’s an insult to everyone who makes an effort to dance at Laura; it’ll hurt the Cape and the reputation of what has been an iconic Indigenous festival.”
Dev Lengjel, who helped take Bamaga dance team Gu-
to the iconic event in 2023, said a phone call from Cape York Weekly was the first he had heard of the festival’s cancellation.
However, as the Northern Peninsula Area Cultural Festival co-ordinator, he offered an understanding perspective of the work and funds needed to put on an event as big as the Laura Quinkan Dance Festival.
“I could only say that there are always reasons beyond our control for things not to happen, and it’s sad that such an iconic event is not going ahead, but wishing everybody the best to move forward,” he said.
“As outsiders, we can only be supportive of them not going ahead because there must be some pretty good reasons.”
In May 2024, Mr Stevens told Cape York Weekly the event was in danger of becoming a “memory” after stating “the cost to produce and operate the event is an enormous sum, more than $600,000”.
He added the festival broke even in 2021 and cost AGAC
“$60,000 out of its own business finances” in 2023, however, no publicly available audited financial statements are available to support the veracity of his claims.
In 2023, festival patrons paid between $160 for a three-day adult pass and $480 for a threeday family pass and four nights camping, but according to Mr Stevens, the sales were not high enough to keep the festival alive.
“As a business, our corporation can no longer afford to operate or produce this iconic Indigenous event just to break even or [go] into debt,” he said last year.
“Funding has been a constant issue over time; this has required grant applications to the Queensland Government departments for financial support to produce the event each two years.
“The applications for funding involve a myriad of hurdles to clear and a time lapse to await an outcome of approve or not approve.”
Mr Stevens’ criticism of the funding process is at odds with an assessment by Arts Queensland, which has funded the festival through its Backing Indigenous Arts multiyear funding stream since 2011, with the government department telling Cape York Weekly it had been given no indication the event would not be going ahead this year.
“Historically, the Ang-Gnarra Aboriginal Corporation received $70,000 for each festival,” an Arts Queensland spokesperson said.
“This year, the Corporation will also receive a 10 per cent uplift of $7,000 to support its delivery of the 2025 event, recognising the increasing costs of delivering the festival.
“Funding of $70,000 for each festival beyond 2025 has also been confirmed within Arts Queensland’s annual base funding allocations.”
WEIPA may be a welcoming community, but no one is rolling out the red carpet for the Indian myna.
Listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s list of the 100 most invasive species in the world, the Indian mynas have a track record of having a significant detrimental impact on native bird species. A pair of the pests was discovered by the Evolution Mining and Civil team earlier this month, with managing director Sandra Kemp adding it was the first time she had heard of the pest in Weipa.
“We were just reviewing the area and we pulled up to speak to a team, and they were just there on the ground close to where we were,” Ms Kemp said.
“One of our supervisors, who’s very knowledgeable about birds, spotted it and he was very upset. When I reported it to WTA (Weipa Town Authority), it was new to them, too, so they had to do a bit of investigation into what problems they could bring to our community and what could be done.”
WTA Chair Jaime Gane said ensuring the pests did not become an issue was a priority.
“We are working on getting together everyone who needs to be across this and figure out the best way to deal with them,” she said.
“There’s nothing set in stone at this point in time, but the Evolution guys are really onto it, they’re keeping an eye out and reporting, because they’re the ones who are out and about the most often.”
Artemis Nature Fund senior conservation officer and bird expert Patrick Webster said the aggressive and territorial nature of the Indian myna made them a threat to native bird species.
“There’s definitely competition for nesting sites and food resources, and it’s a species that’s well-known for their aggression,” he said.
“The Indian myna birds, to my knowledge, are pretty big carriers of diseases like avian malaria, so that’s also concerning for native bird species.
“Thinking in the context of Australia and all the invasive species we’ve got and all the threatened native species we have, we know that invasive species have led to the decline and extinction of dozens of Australian species.”
By CHISA HASEGAWA
IT may be hot in Cooktown, but things are going to get even hotter this Valentine’s Day with a cheeky burlesque performance by the Bellahdi Dance Troupe.
Tickets are selling quickly for the group’s first self-produced show, Cupids Chaotica, which will offer a fabulous adult-only night of singing, dancing, cabaret, burlesque, strip tease and comedy on 15 February.
Group founder Jasmine Sieverding, also known as Madame Maehem on the stage, said there were some misconceptions about what they did, but it was all about having fun and owning who you are.
“It’s quite funny hearing all the misconceptions about what people think the night is going to be,” she laughed.
“I think some people are expecting a cabaret, some people are expecting a strip show and all sorts of crazy stuff, but it’s probably going to be something in between everything people are assuming.
“We do get a little bit silly, but people should just expect a fun night that’s all about celebrating fun and silliness and sexuality.”
She said the group had been
performing at various local events, such as the Wallaby Creek Festival, for the past couple of years, and producing their own show had been a new goal for 2025.
“We love performing, and we’ve always found that there’s a space for us at local festivals and those kinds of big events,
but pubs and clubs are pretty limited in Cooktown and we’re not always everybody’s cup of tea,” Ms Sieverding said.
“We’ve got lots of opportunities outside of the community, but we really wanted to be able to produce something where we could have our community be there and bring something fun
and a little bit different to Cooktown.
“I think we’re all just super excited to be able to create something together; when you’re producing your own show, you have a lot more responsibilities, and you’re essentially putting together a whole group’s passions and ideas and talents.”
EXPRESSIONS of interest are now open for round nine of the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Program, with grants of up to $20,000 available to help deliver small infrastructure projects that strengthen Cape York and Torres Strait communities.
Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch urged community-based organisations with an ABN and local governments to apply for the funding to “build stronger, more vibrant communities in Far North Queensland”. Expressions of interest can be downloaded from www.warrenentsch.com. au and must be submitted by close of business on 14 February.
A NEW rent-to-buy scheme could make its way to Cape York to give renters in Indigenous communities an opportunity to own their home.
The State Government announced the Palm Island Home Ownership Scheme on 22 January, which will allow residents to purchase their Department of Housingowned social home by entering into a rent-to-buy agreement with the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council.
Following completion of the payment plan, a 99-year home ownership lease will be registered, and ownership of the dwelling will be transferred.
Queensland’s overall home ownership rate is 64 per cent, but this drops to only 38 per cent for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households, and just 5.3 per cent in discrete communities.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson said the government would continue consulting with other Indigenous communities about whether there was a local appetite for the plan.
STAFF that have yet to use their Rio Tinto Employee End of Year Recognition Voucher are being reminded they have a little over one month left to take advantage of the program.
The vouchers can be used at 15 Weipa businesses and clubs, and must be used by 1 March.
The vouchers cannot be redeemed for cash, and must be used in a single transaction.
For more information about the program, check out the Rio Tinto Weipa Facebook page or email RTAWeipafeedback@riotinto. com.
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
By CHISA HASEGAWA
ONE of Cooktown’s top musical products says 2025 is shaping up to be her year after being selected for two prestigious music mentorship programs.
Singer-songwriter Ella Hartwig was announced as one of 12 finalists for Brisbane City Council’s The QUBE Effect, an annual music development program which brings together young artists with some of the country’s top industry experts.
“It’s actually pretty surreal; it makes me feel more involved in the Brisbane music community and like I’m being recognised for what I’ve done” she said.
“I’ve moved from a tiny town to the big smoke, and I’ve started to see the results of my hard work, which is so encouraging that I’m on the right track.
“The motto that I’ve had since I moved away is ‘if I make enough noise, the right person is bound to hear me’ and it’s kind of coming true; I’ve been doing all the groundwork, making the noise, playing at every opportunity and putting my videos out there on social media, and it’s all kind of coming to fruition.”
Since launching in 2015, The QUBE Effect has helped
269 young Brisbane musicians develop the skills to grow their careers, with past finalists performing at Valley Fiesta, BIGSOUND, Splendour in the Grass, Byron Bay Bluesfest and Laneway Festival, and some touring as support acts on national and international stages
to major artists, or as their own headline tours.
As well as networking and live performance opportunities, the program will also support the finalists in filming their own music video, which will then be voted on for the People’s Choice Award later this year.
ICN-: 7792
ABN-: 31 253 232 422 PO BOX 751 EDGE HILL QLD 4870 www.omac.net.au
10 AM - TUESDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 2025 MAPOON CULTURAL CENTRE CAFE
The Agenda for the meeting is as follows:
1. Welcome to Country
2. Opening of Meeting
3. Attendance and Apologies to be read
4. Proxies to be confirmed/ratified
5. Director Diane Nichols appointed by the Board of Directors to Chair this AGM
6. Confirmation of Minutes of previous AGM
7. Check the register of Names (members)
8. Check the Interests Register
9. Presentation of the Board’s Report
10. Presentation of the Financial Audit for 2023/2024
11. Presentation of the Accountant’s report
12. Presentation of the 2025 Budget
13. Appointing/ratifying the appointment of an auditor and auditor’s fee
14. Asking questions about how the corporation is managed[P&E Law1]
15. Presentation of proposed changes to the rule book
16. Vote on the following special resolution: a.that the current rule book of the corporation be amended as set out in Annexure A of the notice of Annual General Meeting; and b.that the rule book, as amended, be adopted as the rule book of the corporation.
17. Election of Directors/Directors’ rotation
18. Other Business
19. Close of meeting
Lunch will be provided after the meeting.
Contact and Further Information
For information about the meeting please contact 0499 581 884 or info@omac.net.au
“Brisbane’s music scene is so iconic here and abroad, and we want to support the next generation of artists that will represent our city on the world stage,” Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.
“This fantastic program provides a priceless experience for musicians to work with some of the industry’s best, and learn from years of experience so that they can forge their own path.”
In a massive start to 2025, Ms Hartwig also performed at the Tamworth Country Music Festival last week after being selected for The Academy of Country Music, where she met like-minded musicians and was mentored by some of Australia’s best-known artists of the genre.
“It was about 30 people, and not just from Australia – someone came from Nashville (in the Unites States), three of them were from New Zealand, and there were people from every state and territory in Australia; it was a pretty big deal,” she said.
“Toyota sponsored me to go to it which was pretty crazy, and I’m so grateful because pretty much anyone who’s done anything in the Australian country music scene has been through the academy.”
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is calling for community input into what names should adorn three bridges on the Peninsula Developmental Road.
TMR is seeking suggestions for suitable names for the new Archer River bridge, as well as the Saltwater Creek bridge at Musgrave and the South Laura bridge.
A TMR spokesperson said it was “important that the selected names honour the heritage, culture and aspirations of the communities they will serve”.
Community members have until 1 April 2025 to put forward their preferred names for the three bridges by visiting www.tmr. qld.gov.au/projects.
QUEENSLAND will be a staggering $217.8 billion in debt by the 2027-28 financial year, the latest Mid-Year Fiscal and Economic Review (MYFER) has revealed.
Treasurer David Janetzki made the announcement on 23 January and said the figure represented nearly $40,000 debt for every man, woman and child living in the state, and blasted the former Labor government for what he described as “secret cost blowouts and unfunded services”.
“The government has already taken decisive action to cancel the $37b PioneerBurdekin pumped hydro project, pause the CFMEU tax, establish the Productivity Commission and set up Queensland Government Consulting,” he said.
Mr Janetzki said the state’s capital project costs would rise from $107.3b in 2025-26 to $129.9b by 2027-28.
you an employer in a remote community 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.
By CHISA HASEGAWA
WHETHER a preppy entering school for the first time, a year 12 starting their final year of school, or anything in between, Cape York and Torres Strait schools will welcome their 2025 cohort of students for a new year this week.
After a well-deserved holiday, students across the Cape put on their uniforms and backpacks today (28 January) for another year of learning.
At Weipa’s Western Cape College (WCC), students will have
met many new teachers after the school welcomed 40 new staff members to the team last week.
“That’s about a third of our staff, so a whole lot of work has been done to support them to be inducted and understand how we do business here, and it’s definitely brought some new energy,”
principal Dan Tonan told Cape York Weekly after an onboarding day for the new team members last week.
“We’ve spent a lot of time finding the right people, and that’s not just people who are qualified, but
also have the skills and interest in teaching and connecting in a remote community, and we’re lucky that we had a strong pool of people to choose from.
“This year’s priorities are about building connections within our school community, working hard for our kids and having some fun, so it should be a great year.”
At Cooktown State School, senior secondary deputy principal Danielle Furmage said she loved the fresh start and energy that came with a new school year.
“The beginning of a new year
is always really exciting; it’s when everybody is relaxed and energised and ready for a fresh start,” she said.
“There’s always a little bit of anxiety and fear of the unknown, too, but it’s just like any beginning.
“You’ve got the opportunity to write the end because you’re at chapter one, so anything can happen, and that really excites me, because it means it doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past, we can learn from our mistakes and we’ve got so much to hope for and look forward to.”
WITH everyone now back at school for another year of learning, we want to showcase the day one – or week one – smiles in the 4 February edition of the Cape York Weekly.
While we’d love to see students of all ages from across Cape York and the Torres Strait, nothing gets us grinning quite as much as seeing our prep and year 1 kids in their uniforms and preparing to embark on their education adventure.
If we receive enough photos from across the region, we’ll run them as a feature in next week’s edition – perfect for sending a copy to family and friends scattered across the country.
Who knows, we might even be able to convince a certain editor to show off his day one photo from about a million years ago.
Seeing your students in print is simple – just send your photos, the full names of everyone appearing in them, and the year level of the students to editor@ capeyorkweekly.com.au, text them to 0419 891 666 or flick them in our direction via our Facebook page.
THE siting of a re-established biosecurity presence on Cape York remains up in the air as the State Government continues its review into the controversial 2023 scrapping of the previous facility at Coen.
The Liberal National Party made a $50 million commitment ahead of last year’s Queensland election to add muscle to the state’s crippled biosecurity footprint, a promise that included reopening the Cape York Biosecurity Centre.
The Peninsula Development Road (PDR) facility, located 22 kilometres north of Coen, was closed by the former Labor government 18 months ago, despite concerns its absence would create a biosecurity hole and
put the state’s northern agricultural sector at risk.
While the Department of Primary Industries and Biosecurity Queensland continue a review into the centre’s closure, Cook MP David Kempton said he was not sure utilising the existing infrastructure would be an option after the site was handed back to Traditional Owners.
“I think it’s a serious issue, and I think it’s becoming more serious all the time,” he said of the threat no Cape York biosecurity presence represented.
“If a review reveals that’s
the most appropriate location for that to be done, so be it, but my personal view is that there may be some difficulties around the location in terms of ownership and that sort of thing.
“The effectiveness of that centre had been in decline over a number of years; we are reviewing the decision to close it, and we definitely need a physical barrier for biosecurity on Cape York.”
Mr Kempton’s assessment of the Cape York Biosecurity Centre’s effectiveness has been echoed by Dr Kevin Dunn, who headed Queensland’s biosecurity
effort for a decade and was instrumental in the establishment of the Coen facility in 1999.
In October 2024, Dr Dunn told Cape York Weekly he believed a “staffing policy failure” was responsible for the downfall of the centre and the decision to close it.
“It was only intercepting 40 or 44 per cent of the traffic that’s moving south – that’s kind of shake-yourhead-at-it type material,” he said at the time.
“That percentage had nothing to do with the strategically valid siting – that had to do with whether or
not the switch was turned up to check up to 100 per cent of the traffic; that was a staffing policy failure, not a failure of the facility or its capability.”
Dr Dunn added “[t]he general Coen location, in principle, would again be the place to select in my view, if the former facility cannot be resumed”, adding to questions about just how much the government will be willing to spend to either reacquire it or to establish new infrastructure at a yetto-be-identified site on the PDR.
By LYNDON KEANE
A PEAK agricultural organisation says a gaping hole in Cape York’s biosecurity left by the former Labor government must be closed as a priority to protect the future of Queensland’s multibillion-dollar farming sector.
The Cape York Biosecurity Centre at Coen was shuttered in June 2023 and handed back to Southern Kaantju Traditional Owners, who have since removed key infrastructure at the Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) site.
Ahead of last year’s state election, the Liberal National Party (LNP) promised to reopen the facility as part of a $50 million campaign promise to boost Queensland’s biosecurity footprint, however, the outcome of a State Government review into its closure is yet to be finalised.
AgForce general president Shane McCarthy said the organisation had been given assurances the review was on the agenda of the new government, and that it was “encouraged” by the commitment to re-establish a biosecurity presence on the PDR.
“AgForce has been assured that the Crisafulli government is committed to reviewing the closure of the Cape York biosecurity facility at Coen,” he told Cape York Weekly
“We are encouraged by this government’s early signs of com-
mitment to enhancing biosecurity across the state, particularly in the north, which is critical to protecting broadacre agriculture in Queensland.”
Mr McCarthy said AgForce would continue to monitor the Coen situation and was prepared to hold Premier David Crisafulli and his government to account if reopening the facility fell off the radar.
“[W]e will continue to hold the government to their commitment to strengthening biosecurity with an additional $50m over the next four years, including the employment of staff in key regional locations – which should include Cape York,” he said.
“AgForce will continue to monitor this matter closely and be prepared to strongly advocate for solutions that avoid any detrimental
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.
impact on broadacre agriculture in Queensland.”
A spokesperson for Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said the outcome of the review would dictate what path was taken to re-establishing a Cape York biosecurity presence.
“There are a number of factors to be considered, and we are seeking and reviewing information to formulate our plan for the best way forward,” the spokesperson said.
“The minister is working through this with his department and the local Member for Cook, David Kempton, at present.
“We took a bold commitment to the election to beef up biosecurity across the state; our northern line of biosecurity defence is a critical part of our plan to protect Queensland.”
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• Financial assistance up to $1,500 in cash or vouchers
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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.
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By CHISA HASEGAWA
THERE is nothing quite like the community-mindedness of a small town, which is exactly what is celebrated each year at Cook Shire Council’s Australia Day Awards.
Whether for contributing to a rich community life or lending a hand after a tumultuous year postTropical Cyclone Jasper, nominees stood proudly alongside residents on 26 January as they were recognised for their hard work.
Mayor Robyn Holmes said choosing a winner had been challenging, as every nominee contributed in unique and significant ways.
“Their efforts have enhanced community life, promoted social inclusion, and demonstrated respect for others,” she said.
“While volunteering is in decline, these nominees continue to lead by example, motivating others to get involved.”
This year’s Citizen of the Year Award winner, David “Chappy” Kamholtz, has led by example for 17 years since moving to the town, and was described by the mayor as a “pillar of the Cook Shire community”.
“I was so humbled and felt so honoured,” Mr Kamholtz said.
“Just standing up there with an amazing crew of nominees was enough; the people up there were all community-minded people who have done so much for the shire, so being a part of that alone was a great honour. It was a really exciting summary of years of loving the community and being a part of the community.”
Over the years, Mr Kamholtz has served as a school chaplain, firefighter, and an active volunteer
for the Cooktown Discovery Festival re-enactment, but said his most recent highlight was seeing the lasting effects of a fathers and sons bike ride program he started in the community eight years ago.
“It’s a four-and-a-half day bike ride through part of the Cape after nine months of preparation, and that’s designed to build community for young men and restore connections between dads and sons,” he explained.
“I think seeing long-lasting results coming through the rite of passage program has been amazing; seeing the connections that form between young men in the community and mentors and role models, and how that continues year after year, that’s been special.”
Sarah Frew, who was named this year’s Young Citizen of the Year, was celebrated for her contributions to the Cooktown Horse
Sports Association as president, and for providing a guiding voice as the acting disaster management co-ordinator in the tragic aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
“I’m very grateful and I didn’t expect it at all, so it was a complete shock to find out that I was nominated when I got the call a few weeks ago,” she said.
An avid rider herself, Ms Frew revitalised the Cooktown Horse Sports Association when she joined the committee two years ago, leading the team in organising more community events, building up its member base, and upgrading the arena to make it safer for riders and horses. When the cyclone hit the region in December 2023, she was asked to fill in at the call centre, where she had to learn quickly on the job, proving her competence under pressure.
“I got the opportunity to step into that role, and it just kept on going, so it was probably about two months in the end,” Ms Frew said.
“I had no experience at the time besides a couple of training sessions I’d been to in previous years, but having grown up in Cooktown, I had a lot of local knowledge which I think helped, and I just did the job that needed to be done.”
By LYNDON KEANE
A COMMUNITY leader with a passion for finding forever homes for some of Cape York’s most vulnerable four-legged residents is Weipa’s 2025 Citizen of the Year.
Weipa Town Authority (WTA) hosted its 2025 Australia Day Awards in sticky wet season conditions at the Albatross Bay Resort on 22 January, with a big crowd on hand to celebrate the contributions of a record number of nominees and congratulate the three category winners.
Cape Animal Protection Shelter (CAPS) president Shayna Reeves was crowned Citizen of the Year, with Annabelle Slingo continuing her family’s 2024 dominance of the awards to be named Young Citizen of the Year.
Judey Haeusler topped a strong field of nominees to receive the Community Spirit Award for her efforts to make Weipa a better place to work and play.
Ms Reeves told Cape York Weekly she had been surprised to hear her name read out as the township’s Citizen of the Year.
“I was extremely surprised – it was totally unexpected,” she said.
“It’s a really, really lovely feeling to be acknowledged for the work I do; to me, it’s just that next level of support seeing that your community stands behind you.
“I was very chuffed and honoured for the award.”
Weipa’s new Citizen of the Year thanked her CAPS team and said the success of the organisation and its contribution to the community required a full-time commitment that was often not completely understood.
“You volunteer every day,” she explained.
“It’s not just a couple of days here or there, it’s before work, after work, weekends, when you’re on holiday – it doesn’t stop; our team works really hard all year round. We’re quite a small committee and we volunteer to make a difference.
“Rescue can be very thankless
and it can also pull on heartstrings, but having that recognition is lovely; it’s nice to see people see what we’re doing and that it is making a difference.”
WTA Chair Jaime Gane praised the winners and said it had been a tough job for judges to separate the 21 nominees, all of whom have made significant contributions.
“It was my first time hosting the event as chair, and it was a real honour to shine a spotlight on some of the incredible people within our community who put so much time and energy into doing things for the enjoyment and betterment of others,” she said.
“These people are literally the fabric of the community, and their care and dedication make our town such a wonderful place to live.
“With a record number of nominees this year, all of which were deserving, choosing just one winner was a tough job; this year’s winners have continuously demonstrated such a high level of commitment and dedication to their causes and community, all in a volunteer capacity, that we really couldn’t go past them.”
By LYNDON KEANE
AN overwhelming sense of community support helped western Cape York’s newest Australian overcome citizen ceremony nerves, something she says helped reinforce her love of the country and Weipa community.
Papua New Guinea-born Angelique Songoa was the only participant in the Weipa Town Authority (WTA) citizenship ceremony at the Albatross Bay Resort on 22 January and admitted she had been a
bundle of nerves before making her pledge.
“I was so nervous, as I didn’t know anyone in the room except my partner, but I was so lucky to have the ladies who ran the show to comfort me by explaining everything, and how my ceremony was going to go before it happened,” she said.
“Everyone in the room was so supportive and welcoming.”
Ms Songoa has lived in Weipa for the past two years and in Australia for “about nine or 10 years
now” and said she was proud to call the township home as she got accustomed to being a citizen.
“It’s an achievement to me that took dedication and time, and I am so grateful to be accepted as part of this country,” she reflected.
“I love the fishing lifestyle up here; we get to adventure to all the swimming holes when it’s the wet season, and we have the beautiful sunsets and sunrise shows; I also love how amazing the locals are, and so friendly to be around.”
WTA Chair Jaime Gane shared
Ms Songoa’s nerves as she officiated her first citizenship ceremony and said it had been a thrill to be part of the process.
“I was so nervous not to stuff up, because it is a very prescriptive process, and it is the final step in what I’m sure would be a long and arduous journey to become an Australian citizen, so I didn’t take the responsibility lightly,” she said.
“I was really humbled to be able to share that moment with Angelique; I think that being an Australian citizen is a privilege, so
it’s quite special to be the person who gets to welcome new citizens within our community.”
In Cooktown, Holly Mably and Lewis Micklewright became Australian citizens in a ceremony officiated by Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes on 26 January.
“I want to congratulate our newest citizens, Holly and Lewis,” Mayor Holmes said.
“It’s always good to see members of our community wanting to take that final step and become Australian citizens.”
THE incredible efforts of
Cook Shire Council
Jasper Community Heroes awards to the residents on 26 January for their courage,
teamwork and selflessness during one of the region’s most challenging times, and were met with a wall of community praise as the full house at Cook Shire Hall rose to offer its thanks.
Nominated by the community, the local heroes played crucial roles in safeguarding the wellbeing of others, and embody just some of the extraordinary efforts made during the natural disaster as elected
members and residents paused on Sunday to recognise the countless heroes who stepped up to support their communities when it mattered most.
Mayor Robyn Holmes said it was only fitting the 29 individuals were acknowledged by the community as part of the council’s 2025 Australia Day Awards ceremony.
“The Tropical Cyclone Jasper
Community Heroes remind us of the incredible strength and unity within our community,” she said.
“It is our privilege to honour their contributions and sacrifices today alongside our Australia Day Award recipients.”
The recipients of the Tropical Cyclone Jasper Community Heroes award are Albert Dear, Alec Dunn, Andrew Chamberlain, Anna Cleary, Ariah Bolton, Belle New-
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AUSTRALIA Day has come and gone, which means it’s time to reflect on the incredible achievements individuals and groups in our communities have recorded over the past 12 months, and the positive effect their efforts have had in our own backyard and beyond.
It’s also the time of year that brings out the worst in humanity as advocates for and against changing 26 January as the date we celebrate our nation lock horns in a vile battle of divergent opinions, cringeworthy slogans and a tsunami of online vitriol. The annual onslaught of name calling, dog whistling and shaming from both camps has become a national disgrace, and the main reason it is now the most hated of public holidays for a growing number of Australians, this frustrated scribe included.
There is no doubt the date has genuinely traumatic associations for generations of Indigenous Australians. That in itself is enough to warrant shifting it to an arbitrary spot on the calendar that provides for a long weekend in summer for us to celebrate what, if we’re honest, are the key elements of a true Australia Day celebration – mateship, community spirit, a sense of
unity, and the opportunity to burn a few snags on a barbecue at the beach while wondering how the hell we got so lucky to live here.
Oh, and the perennial Australia Day lamb ad campaign.
Calls to change the date have become a flaming political football, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejecting calls to do so while clumsily avoiding having any real skin in the debate, ostensibly as to not disenfranchise more moderately-leaning voters with a federal election on the periphery.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, on the other hand, says we should
be “ashamed” of those who don’t want to celebrate Australia Day on 26 January in an iron-fisted, blinkered political flex that not only offers authentic insight into the man’s personal views, but is also designed to garner support from the punters with a penchant for sharing jingoistic memes on social media and wearing our flag as a cape.
The most vocal push to separate Australia Day and 26 January is coming from Indigenous leaders who are so far removed from everyday Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as they spit bile and rhet-
oric from their multimillion-dollar homes in some of the best postcodes in the country, and metropolitan lefties with form for championing the cause of whatever the internet has told them is trending that week, and whose sole exposure to Indigenous Australians has been watching the first season of Redfern Now, or that one time they sat across from a blackfella on a bus from Fitzroy into the city. The problem is that so many of us are banging on about changing the date at the top of our voices without acknowledging doing so will do nothing to solve the more
pressing problems crippling everyday Indigenous Australians in spots like Cape York and the Torres Strait.
You know, shameful gaps in health, education and welfare outcomes, overcrowding that makes you ask if it’s physically possible to fit that many people into one house, horrific rates of domestic violence, racism and appalling stereotypes that cause many to be looked down upon as a lesser class of human by their fellow Australians.
Those things cause more grief to Indigenous Australians on a daily basis than spending countless time and resources arguing what date we fire up the barbecue and wave Chinese-made national flags in a poor attempt at unified patriotism.
As one Cape York Traditional Owner observed when I spoke to him recently – “That day (26 January) has some bad memories, yes, it does, but us mob have enough problems every day of the week to worry about when people in the city wanna celebrate together”. Is there a case to change the date? The smart money is on absolutely yes, but only after we work together to find a solution to the embarrassing disparities impacting Indigenous Australians 365 days each year. That way, when a new date is chosen, all of us can passionately celebrate everything that’s great about our communities and this country we call home.
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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.
4047 TODAY’S Good: 13 words FOCUS Very good: 23 words Excellent: 30 words
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IT was a case of new faces and some community stalwarts pounding the pavement when a bumper field ran, jogged and walked its way across the finish line for Weipa parkrun #403 on 25 January.
Fifty-four participants tackled the 5-kilometre circuit, with Inyika Nadredre, Nikki Parkinson, Lorraine Woods and Paris Saunders joining the Weipa parkrun family for the first time, while well-known Weipa locals Michael and Yvonne Rowland marked an impressive milestone of 37 years of living on western Cape York.
Victoria Stevens, Mia Despot, Lily Jewel, Sam Aschenbrenner and Nigel Tait recorded personal best performances on the day.
Ross Dawson was the first male home in a time of 22 minutes, 25 seconds, while Tash Tapper and Tiffany Barber were side by side when they said hello to the timekeepers in 27:53 to be the quickest women around the course.
Ali Scott, Alister Munro, Camille Freiberg, Emma Eyre, Fiona Dyer, Lisa May, Mel Scott, Michael Collins, Rebecca Munro, Vide Freiberg and Ziggy Freiberg made up the big volunteer army that ensured the 403rd running of the weekly event went off without a hitch.
Weipa parkrun is held every Saturday – rainy wet season mornings included – from 7am at the hospital roundabout in Nanum, with new participants always welcome to join.
PLAYERS could have been forgiven for thinking they had teed off on an equatorial golf course when genuinely subtropical conditions greeted the Australia Day contingent of Dawnbusters in Weipa on Sunday.
Thirteen golfers vied for
bragging rights, with Chelsea Buckley (63/17) taking clubhouse honours ahead of runner-up Dave Sands (54/18). Buckley was surprisingly confident about her chances in next weekend’s round, despite her handicap taking a 19-stroke clip as a result of the
victory. Jim Lucas and Vivian Chan were the best on the day with the drivers, taking the men’s and women’s tee shot gongs respectively.
The weekly Hoffman’s was won by Beth Dall, but she did attribute her loss to the coaching of her husband, a finger
pointing the Cape York Weekly can absolutely understand and support.
New players are invited to take on the back nine on 2 February, with the first group scheduled to get away from the tee boxes at Carpentaria Golf Club at 6:30am.
AFTER a long absence from the game, Campbell Venables made a spectacular return to Cooktown Golf Club by claiming honours in Saturday’s red tee Stableford.
In what one player described as “really crappy conditions”, Venables dug deep to card 36 points and take the chocolates, with countbacks needed to split a gaggle of golfers on 32 points before Wal Welsh took second place ahead of Alice Burton, Steve Butler and Graham Burton.
The top three nearest to the pin winners for 2024 shared bragging rights on Saturday – Rick Butler (2/11), Brent Hetaraka (14) and Steve Butler (9/18).
ANYONE interested in netball and wanting to help with the coming season is invited to attend a general meeting of the Weipa Social Netball Club this Thursday.
The meeting will commence at 5:30pm on 30 January at the Albatross Bay Resort.
While all committee positions for the 2025 season have been filled, there are plenty of opportunities for those helpers wanting to be “hands-on” for events and on game days.
FINE weather finally welcomed Wednesday golfers when a field of 12 teed off on the front nine at Carpentaria Golf Club.
A countback was needed to determine the winner, with Richard Dawe (49/34.5) ultimately securing the victory over runnerup Scott Andrews (48/34.5).
Andrews bagged the pin prize on the 7th hole, while none of the Wackers were close with the short sticks on the 9th.
Chelsie Chan added her name to the weekly Bradman’s gong.
THE Weipa Junior Soccer Club is making a shoutout for people passionate about keeping the sport thriving to attend its annual general meeting next Wednesday.
The AGM will be held on 6 February at 5pm at the Weipa Bowls Club, and a spokesperson said committee members and volunteers were needed. For more information, check out the club’s Facebook page.
My
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
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Dr Avril Howard