06 NAIDOC
THURSDAY 13 JULY 2023 TORRES NEWS
Townsville Elders enjoy morning tea STORY & PICS BY VELMA GARA More than 60 people from the Townsville community gathered for the first NAIDOC Week event held specifically for Elders last Wednesday. NAIDOC Committee member Topsy Mola said the morning tea was held in support of the national For Our Elders theme. “We usually organise an elders luncheon later in the year but we’ve
included the morning tea as well,” Mrs Mola said. The Elders were treated to performances by the Bindal Dancers, and Eddie Savage and family. Queensland Youth Services’ social enterprise Chameleon Upcycled Products designed the table centrepieces created by staff and young people from Project Overhaul. They were made especially for NAIDOC’s Corporate Breakfast, Elders Morning Tea and Elders Luncheon.
Big turnout for Townsville march STORY & PICS BY ALF WILSON ABOVE: Delphine Geia & Dulcie Isaro. LEFT: the NAIDOC table Centrepieces. BELOW: Topsy Mola (NAIDOC Committee) & Malcolm Tamwoy. BOTTOM: Alma Pilot & Agnes Tapim.
Hundreds of Torres Strait Islanders were amongst a record number of people who took part in the Townsville NAIDOC street march on Friday. It was one of the highlights of NAIDOC week in the north Queensland capital and the Torres News was there to capture the atmosphere. More than 1000 men, women and children gathered near Kirwan High School for the
march along Thuringowa Drive for a 10am start. A large group from the Mer dance group Bulu Kebile prepared several hundred metres from the march take off point and joined it just before it reached Ross River Road. Stella Tapim, Abadad Tapim, Mariah Dow and May Tapim who had baby Rakaiya Dow, one, said they were delighted to participate. Thomas Dau was there carrying a lumut and others had warups. Police escorts in cars and a motorbike led the march and those in the lead proudly held
Stella Tapim, Abadad Tapim, Mariah Dow & May Tapim with baby Rakaiya Dow.
Above & right: Townsville marchers carry the Torres Strait flag
aloft the Aboriginal and Torres Strait flags. Former champion NRL Cowboys and West Tigers rugby league player Robert Lui held a banner featuring Torres Strait colours. Francis Tapim also marched and many held banners with the NAIDOC For Our Elders theme printed on them. Thuringowa Drive was closed off to traffic for 30 minutes and after a 30 minute walk to the Riverway Complex most stayed for a Family Fun Day. It was dubbed one of the most successful NAIDOC events in Townsville for many years.
Mer dance group Bulu Kebile.
