Multiple opportunities to maintain Muralag

The Kaurareg Land and Sea Ranger program will reap the benefits of having 12 new trainees assisting with cultural and natural heritage management on Muralag (Prince of Wales Island) in the coming months.

The project increases the qualified talent pool of Indigenous caring for country workforce and enables Kaurareg people to manage sacred sites and artefacts safely, strengthening cultural identity and connection to country.

Under the Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work Initiative, the trainees will be employed for six months to gain an accredited certificate in Conservation and Ecosystem management. Training will take place both through the important land and sea conservation tasks they undertake and also formal training provided by TAFE on Waiben.

The certificates and work skills gained in the project will set the 12 trainees up for future roles, continuing to contribute to the ecological upkeep and preservation of cultural heritage and sacred sites throughout the region long after the project concludes.

Project mentor, Kaurareg Ranger Co-ordinator Saliman Bin Juda (pictured top) said the Kaurareg Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (KNTAC) RNTBC supported any efforts and endeavours to improve the cultural, social and economic outcomes for Kaurareg people, and others in the region.

“We are however, a small, not for profit, communitybased organisation and are not able to deliver the land care program alone, which is why we have partnered with Community Owned

Enterprises (COE) to deliver this milestone project,” he said.

COE Director Kenny Bedford said they were grateful for the opportunity.

“COE is gratefully committed to this opportunity to support KNTAC in this way, to use our proven experience developing, connecting and growing SQW partnership opportunities and outcomes in the region,” he said.

“This is an important community-led project and we are very happy to be able to support Kaurareg aspirations.

“These are the sort of partnership projects that help empower traditional owners blo place, help build local capability, develop vocational skills and boost the local workforce development of our Torres Strait people.”

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people living on Thursday, Horn or Hammond Islands can apply for one of the 12 traineeships now.

See the advertisement on page 4 for more details or speak to the team at KNTAC.

Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion

80th Anniversary News

STORY & PICS BY ALF WILSON

Townsville City Council is getting behind the 80th anniversary celebrations for the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion in a big way after a meeting in the Council offices with Events Townsville last week.

The meeting was attended by Townsville celebrations co-ordinator

Therese Cowley, Lee Smallwood representing Defence, and Events Townsville’s Debbie Jimmieson.

Ms Cowley said the end result was the Council, through Events Townsville, would fund the placement of signs at strategic locations around Townsville to promote the anniversary.

“These will be put along the Strand, including ANZAC Park, the Riverway complex and some other places,’’ Ms Cowley said.

The former Army Reserve headquarters at Jezzine Barracks Precinct will be open for a big event on 17 March.

“There will be a display at the Museum there and Council will be displaying banners in the foyer of its building,” Ms Cowley said.

There were also plans for a special event for families of veterans who have ties with the Australian Defence Forces.

On 23 April a special ANZAC Church Service, with prayers by Anglican Diocese of North Queensland Bishop Keith Joseph and local community leader Father Elimo Tapim, was planned.

Then on ANZAC Day Torres Strait families will take part in the march along the Strand, traditionally in watched by more than 40,000 men, women and children.

“Four of our banners will provide a backdrop during ANZAC Day,” Ms Cowley said.

Planning for the Townsville event has been ongoing for months and several meetings have been held amongst volunteers.

“We are very thankful for the support from Townsville City Council and these celebrations are for people of all ages,” Ms Cowley said.

Ms Cowley will also be travelling to Waiben for their celebrations on 16 and 17 March and will take with her some banners.

The Chief of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, AO, DSC, will attend the Waiben celebrations.