Torres News Thursday, September 23 2021
News and events of the Kaurareg homeland of Kaiwalagal, the Torres Strait homeland and Cape York homelands of the Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthathi, Yadhaykenu and Gudang Peoples.
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Festival vibrance Torres Strait unites us in culture tops vax rates in First Nations communities
Families, communities and visitors united on Kaurareg land in Waiben to celebrate the biennial Winds of Zenadth festival last week. Torres Shire Council, with Kapua Gutchen, Saila Savage and families, transformed ANZAC Park into a vibrant festival hub with over 16 ailan kai kai, art, souvenirs, cultural artefacts, and jewellery stalls surrounding a lively performance area. The festival program attracted eager crowds across the two days. Pictured: left Herbert Warusam and right Kevin Mye from the TSRA Rangers. Pic by Jaz Ford. More photos on P6 and 7
TORRES Strait residents who have not yet been vaccinated have been urged to do so when the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service COVID–19 vaccination teams return to their communities in coming weeks. “Currently in the Torres Strait, 67 per cent of the eligible population have now received their first dose of vaccine, and 52 per cent of people are now fully vaccinated with both doses,’’ Torres and Cape HHS Chief Executive Bev Hamerton said. “In the Northern Peninsula area, 52 per cent of the eligible population have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination so far, with 35 per cent fully vaccinated. “We hope these percentages will improve substantially as our vaccination teams begin delivering catch-up clinics in the Torres Strait and NPA.” She said over the next week vaccination teams would return to Ugar, Erub and Thursday Islands. “We will continue delivering catch-up clinics right through October in the Torres Strait and also the Northern Peninsula Area,” she said. “It’s important that as many people as possible aged 12 years and over, including pregnant women, are vaccinated in the Torres Strait because of the growing risk of COVID-19 from Papua New Guinea. “We will be offering the Pfizer vaccine to everyone, unless you have already had one dose of AstraZeneca, in which your second dose must be AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca can be accessed via the Thursday Island Town Pharmacy.”
She said it was more important than ever to protect our communities. “While some communities rolled up their sleeves and recorded quite high vaccination levels, others recorded very low rates indeed,” she said. “As we have seen in New South Wales and Victoria, once COVID–19 variants like Delta get into a community they can spread like wildfire. “Quite apart from the risk from Papua New Guinea, once borders start to reopen with other states, the risk of Delta or other variants entering Queensland can only increase. “Being fully vaccinated offers the highest level of protection, both against being infected and in helping minimise the seriousness of any illness if you do become infected. “So, if you have not yet been vaccinated, please come to one of our catch-up vaccination clinics and get immunised.” She said the second dose was just as important as the first. “If you have already had one dose of a vaccine and have been putting off having the second dose, please come and have that second dose,” she said. “You absolutely must have two doses of the same vaccine for maximal effective protection. “We need to get to the national target of 80 per cent of the eligible population being fully vaccinated. “Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are especially vulnerable to COVID–19, so you must get immunised to protect yourself, your family and your community. Continued P4
The Torres News is back! And we’re excited to now present your weekly news here in the Torres Strait and NPA again through your local media association TSIMA.