Torres News Thursday, 28 April 2022
Stories 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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Thousands pay tribute to ANZAC legends Hundreds of people commemorated this year’s ANZAC Day across the Torres Straits and Northern Peninsula Area, along with thousands of their mainstream families and friends in capital cities and towns across Australia and the world on Monday. Pictured here is Marsat Ketchell escorting Elder Ms Silen David from leaving their tributes at the ANZAC Memorial Wall on Waiben where nearly a full day of activities, starting with a dawn service, was marked and enjoyed by around 800 people. INSET: In the centre of the pic is Saibai’s oldest living resident, Elder Mr Mebai Warusam, 97, who is one of the few surviving World War II diggers left in Australia, and one of the last surviving members of the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion. Also in the picture (left) is Corporal Jerry Babia along with young Ricky Aniba and Saibai-based members of the Queenland Police and Australian Border Force. Pics with thanks to Torres Shire Council and the Saibai Police. We have more on pages 14 & 15. Lest we forget.
Students stranded on Horn Island Story by Velma Gara and Jenni Enosa Photos (NEXT page) by Raina Kepa Nearly 50 school-aged students were left stranded at the Horn Island Airport for long hours after flights were cancelled last week, causing anger and
alarm in our Torres Strait community. The students of various ages were supposed to travel from their outer island homes to Horn Island, then
to Cairns, and from there to board connecting flights to their respective schools. The reasons for delays were not clear, but questions have since been raised about who should take responsibility for the students in such instances. Torres News was told
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students had long waits on not one, but two successive days – Wednesday and Thursday last week. Parent/supervisor Raina Kepa, from Iama Island, said she felt it was a wake-up call. “When we got to Horn Island around lunchtime on Thursday, other kids were
already there waiting since morning for their flight,” she said. “We checked in and then it was announced that the 3pm flight had been cancelled. “We were also told to contact ABSTUDY. “It was not right for us in the Torres Strait, as a parent,
we don’t want this to happen all the time.” Travel to schools is outsourced by ABSTUDY to a travel management service called QBT, which organises travel for government and corporate organisations. Continued P2