Big turnout for Townsville march

march along Thuringowa Drive for a 10am start.

aloft the Aboriginal and Torres Strait flags.

ABOVE: Delphine Geia & Dulcie Isaro.

LEFT: the NAIDOC table Centrepieces.

BELOW: Topsy Mola (NAIDOC Committee) & Malcolm Tamwoy.

BOTTOM: Alma Pilot & Agnes Tapim.

BY ALF WILSON

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

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

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.