Winners are grinners!

The winner of the December 2022/January 2023 Ailan Life photo competition is Seranna Shutt – Congratulations Seranna.

Seranna submitted her beautiful pic of her Ailan life on Friday Island, celebrating warm sea vibes and a mother and son enjoying the water before storms come. For your chance to win, email us your pic showing your Ailan Life along with your name, phone number and a 25-word description to ads@torres.news

Part of the reason I marched today was to acknowledge, give respect and honour the 85 years of protests that have been happening since the first day of mourning, Sunshine Coast Survival Day organiser Stephen Mam says.

“Without those old people that have come before us marching and advocating for our rights, we wouldn’t have the community services and the rights that we have today,” he said.

“It’s really the day of mourning and the protests that have come after it that have set the foundation for reconciliation now.”

He said the Torres Strait community was very much in evidence on the day.

“The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have a long and intimate relationship that’s been happening since colonisation, and the South Sea Islander community, particularly here where there were a lot of black birders and slavery helped to develop the Sunshine Coast,” he said.

“We’re all part of the history here and I think of the people that quote, ‘if you don’t have your culture and know your history, you’re like a tree without roots’.

“The Tree of Life is very much a metaphor for community, but also an understanding and acknowledgement of the relationships that how we’re all connected through country, through bloodlines and through mutual respect and responsibility – it’s community, sharing stories, listening, connection, that’s what it’s all about.

“I think it’s a testament to how strong and connected the community is here, with the turnout we have today.”

He said his own upbringing had helped him develop his perspective and commitment.

“I feel honoured and privileged to have learnt so much as a small boy,” he said. “The long nights at community meetings, the many introductions to people in the community, and there’s a lot of wisdom that has been passed down, not just from my dad, but from all the old people.

“I love listening to my elders and you have to listen deeply and give them that time and space.

“It is very much, I think, up to everyone to carve their own path and my dad also used the metaphor of culture as a boat that is anchored by values, but over time those traditions change or can ebb and flow with the currents and the tides.

“This is part of Torres Strait Islanders Sibwannan contribution, being part of the community, building relationships with Aboriginal people, nurturing those relationships.

“Now we’re very much all part of the one family, but it’s a way that we also give respect and Sibwannan for Torres Strait.”