NEWS
New Torres Strait Fiction
Mabo scoops the pool at Deadly Awards AND THE WINNERS ARE . . .
An epic tale of adventure on the Queensland frontier 1859-70 by JOHN SINGE Available from: Col Jones Newsagency, Gab Titui, Cairns Regional Gallery and Fairview Books (PO Box 719, Cooktown, 4895). Email: johnsinge101@gmail.com Authentic Thai Cuisine Dishes made to your preferences 107 Douglas Street, T.I.
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JIMI BANI
PATRICK MILLS
JIMI Bani, Patrick Mills and Ben Barba have been voted the best in their field at the 2012 Deadly Awards. Local acting legend Aaron Fa’aoso also put in a strong showing, with the ABC telemovie The Straits, based on an idea by Fa’aoso, winning Television Show of the Year. But it was a telemovie about Eddie and Bonita Mabo (played by Jimi Bani and Deborah Mailman), and their fight for indigenous land rights, that scooped the pool at the awards on Wednesday, September 26. The ABC telemovie Mabo won: Best film, and; Its two lead actors, Jimi Bani and Deborah Mailman, took out the Best Male and Female Actor categories. Bani also starred alongside fellow actor Fa’aoso in The Straits, the award-winning series set in the Torres Strait. Produced by Penny Chapman and Helen
BEN BARBA
Our suppliers will be here so come get yourse
AARON FA’AOSO
Panckhurst and directed by Peter Andrikidis, the cast of The Straits also included Rena Owen, Firass Dirani and Suzannah Bayes-Morton. Set in Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait, the fictional drama followed the drugsmuggling Montebello family. Basketball player Patrick Mills, who was born on Thursday Island, was recognised as Australia’s leading indigenous sportsman at the Deadly Awards in Sydney. Mills was named Sportsman of the Year at the gala awards ceremony at the 18th Deadlys, held at the Opera House and televised on SBS. The 23-year-old Boomers point guard enjoyed a successful NBA campaign with the San Antonio Spurs and will play for the Melbourne Tigers in the upcoming NBL season. Mills beat a host of strong challengers for the award, including Kangaroos and Maroons halfback Johnathan Thurston and Carlton midfielder Andrew Walker.
There were no surprises when NRL Bulldogs fullback Ben Barba scored the Deadly for NRL Player of the Year in front of a capacity crowd at the awards. Barba, of Boigu heritage, also won the 2012 Dally M Medal last month. Picking up the award for Outstanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education was a tiny group who do a fantastic job - the Napranum PAL group. League legend, the late Arthur (Artie) Beetson was posthumously awarded The Ella Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderSport, while the original Sapphires, Beverly Briggs, Naomi Mayers, Lois Peeler, Laurel Robinson and TonyBriggs, who wrote the Sapphires play on which the hit film of the same name was based, were honoured through the Jimmy Little Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music.mkm
Jobs could be lost at the Star of the Sea Home By ALF WILSON THIRTY employees of aged care centres and schools around North Queensland have lost their jobs since the companies which ran them were placed into administration. At the time of going to press, the Torres News was unable to confirm how many, if any, worked at the Star of the Sea on Thursday Island. Like so many organisations on Thursday Island, staff from the Star of the Sea are banned from
speaking to media and may be sacked for doing so. Star of the Sea, Diji Meta (Cairns), and Shalom Elders Village in Townsville along with Shalom Christian College were placed under administration on August 20. Congress Community Development and Education Unit Limited (CCDEU), and Shalom Development Services Pty Ltd had run the facilities. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu were appointed joint voluntary administrators of CCDEU and Shalom on
August 20. A spokeswoman for administrator Deloitte confirmed a total of 380 staff redundancies were handed out on September 21 and 23, with 30 of these from the aged care centres and schools. Deloitte National Corporate Affairs and Communications manager Eileen Kerrigan told the Torres News on September 25 that some redundancies included the closure of Shalom, the building arm of CCDEU. “As voluntary adminis-
Climate change will leave islanders homeless: study << From Page 1 “In an orderly fashion we are going to have to move infrastructure back, and we are going to have to move some people. “I don’t think there is any doubt about that - the question is how best can we do that and how soon will these actions have to be taken.” It is not the first time that discussions have been raised on relocating people from the islands of the Torres Strait. After the Second World War, as enlisted men returned to Saibai, its leader, Bamaga Ginau, called a meeting to discuss problems caused by flooding and the effect it was having on the fresh water supply, the limited supply of wood for building and the area of land available for future housing.
In 1946, a decision was made to relocate to the mainland. Once all the families had arrived, Chief Bamaga, the Minister of Lands and some of the islanders chose a site inland from Red Island for settlement. The community, now known as Bamaga, was ideal location with two creeks for fresh water. The family of Mugai Elu chose to settle at Red Island Point using an existing army hut as their home, and in the 1970s, the name of the community was changed to ‘Seisia’. The name was formed by taking the first letter of the names of Mr Elu’s father and brothers: Sagaukaz, Elu, Isua, Sunai, Ibuai, Aken.
trators, we remain focused on ensuring the various CCDEU school, aged care and drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities continue to operate as normal during the administration,” Ms Kerrigan said. “At the same time, CCDEU is being restructured to ensure it, and its services, remain viable into the future.
“Around 30 people have been advised that their roles have become redundant. Some will leave the business immediately; some will remain for a further four weeks.” “We understand this is difficult for them, but our role is to do everything possible to ensure a future for CCDEU and the services it provides.”
Thursday Island
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Have your say… I WRITE on behalf of the Queensland Parliament’s Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee to tell you about some important work we are doing that may affect you and your family. The committee has been asked by the Parliament to examine a Bill to make new laws affecting leases over lands in these communities:
Badu
Masig
Boigu
Poruma
Hammond
Saibai
Iama
St Pauls Community
Kubin Community Mabuiag
Ugar Warraber
The Queensland Government has proposed these laws to fix long-standing problems with land rights in Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT) communities. Your parents or grandparents may have applied for leases (known as Katter leases) over land in these communities, or you may have applied. You or your family may be entitled to land but your claim may not have been settled. If you fall into one of these groups, our work will be important to you and your family. I urge you to find out about the Bill and what it means to you. You can call us for help and to ask questions on 1800 504 022 for the cost of a local call. Talk to your family about this as well.
Torres News
If you have concerns about the Bill, talk to your councillor or your community forum who act as a land panel in relation to DOGIT lands. Ask them to make representations to the committee on your behalf. Or tell the committee directly about your concerns. You can tell us by calling 1800 504 022 or by writing to us. Our address is: Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee Parliament House BRISBANE QLD 4000 Email arec@parliament.qld.gov.au We must report back to Parliament by 27 October 2012 about any problems with the Bill. We hope to hear from you soon. Ian Rickuss MP Chair
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