NAIDOC 07
TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 13 JULY 2023
Cairns health service celebrates their Elders STORY AND PICS BY CHRISTINE HOWES It was all about their Elders at the Wuchopperen Health Services Community Day held for NAIDOC Week last Wednesday in Cairns, deputy CEO Rachael Ham says. “That’s what we’re doing here today, celebrating our elders, giving them the best special treatment that we possibly can,” she said. “We’ve actually done a few things this week in the lead up, we had an Elder’s Lunch last week and we’ve done that again today. “So it’s been about making sure that they’re seated first, feeding them first, giving them gifts, making sure that they’re all together, and sitting with their family and friends and sharing their stories. “And I guess, from our point of view, it’s been honouring their contribution to our community and in particular today, with Wuchopperen.” She said their contribution and role to what they did “couldn’t be underestimated”. “They’re so important,” she said. “We exist because of them in terms of just our presence and being here and being able to contribute. “Our health service wouldn’t have existed without our Elders, and in my own family, my grandparents all played a really key role in establishing Wuchopperen, and without them we wouldn’t be here 44 years later.”
Patrick & Del Clive, Kailang Wigness, Eslyn Wargent, Justine Wilson & Margaret O’Shane.
Rod Burke, Wilma Geia, Rachael Ham, George Salee & David Gela.
Brancis Baragud, Lala Leftwich, Maureen Mossman, Joe Lui, Rosalie Meeks & Bethalia Lui.
Back: Tisha Sambo holding Jeremiah Sambo & Albert Sambo. Front: TK Campbell, AJ Sambo & Ellen Mosby.
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Sharmian Sailor (6) & Gabriel Bani.
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Dimple & Danny Bani.
Rod Burke & Torres News correspondent Bel Lui.
