Stepping up to serve

BY TALEI ELU

Six young Torres Strait Islander men and women are the newest recruits to the 51st Battalion (51 FNQR – the far north Queensland regiment) just ahead of the anniversary of the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion celebrations on Waiben.

Shanique Bamaga, Elfeder Tabo, Joey Kulla-Kulla, Kalimo Nain, Kenny Sailor and Jumav Wailu were enlisted on Friday 3 March.

Raised in 1943 to protect Australia’s north from the threat of invasion during World War II, the Battalion successfully used deep connections with communities across the region to enhance their surveillance and reconnaissance activities.

The newest recruits hail from across the region including Murray, Stephen and Darnley Islands.

Recruits said their family and love for the protection of the region were amongst the main reasons for stepping up to serve.

Elfeder Tabo said hs family inspired him to join.

“And I wanted to be an example for the younger behind me from Murray Island,” Elfeder said.

Jumav Wailu was also about his family.

“One of the reasons for joining was to help protect and defend my family,” Jumav said.

All of the new recruits said they were excited about their future of service.

For Shanique Bamaga, joining the army was a goal and, she said, it was an easy process to enlist.

“I’ve always wonted to join since I was small, it was my dream job to be an infantry patrolman,” Shanique said.

“It was easy to apply, I just walked in at the barracks at Weipa”.

Kalimo Nain has embarked on the same journey.

“My role is an infantry patrolman so now I’m doing the four week course to learn that,” Kalimo said.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Rod Glover said the program and process to enlist provides a lot of cultural and mentoring support for residents of the region.

“I’m one of the recruit instructors and there is a team of five or six that put them through the course,” he said.

“We also have a handful of mentors, both male and female, from the Torres Strait and Cape York region to support recruits through.”

All the companies have Elders who also provide additional support for recruits, and provide cultural advice for the company.

“In the 51st we have Aunty Josie from Masig, and Robert Poipoi and Aaron Sebasio from the NPA,” Rob said.

Joey Kulla-Kulla and Kenny Sailor said they learned a lot about leadership from company Elders.

“I’ve learned to be a leader and to look after the younger ones. I’ve learned about respect and teamwork,” Joey said.

They said joining the 51st Battalion had inspired them to encourage their family and friends to enlist as well.

“I would recommend for friends and family for join, it has taught me timeliness, preparedness, organisation, and listening,” Kenny said.

Mr Glover said having local recruits in the company was incredibly important.

“Local recruits come with a wealth of skills and innate knowledge of the region,” he said.

“The skills that locals bring to the Company is second to none.”

The next recruitment course for Charlie Company will be in August.

For decades the private funeral insurance company aggressively targeted First Nations people and families selling funeral plans with some families pressured to buy multiple funeral policies, including for children and teenagers.

The company collapse left thousands of people unable to access funeral plans they had already paid for, with many left unable to cover the cost of grieving for loved ones through Sorry Business.

The company was the only funeral insurer approved to collect premiums via the government-operated Centrepay scheme.

The Federal Government committed to provide a resolution for those harmed by Youpla.

Bettina Cooper, a proud Boandik woman who works as an Aboriginal Financial Counsellor and the Save Sorry Business Coordinator, said she had spoken to many people affected by the collapse over the past 12 months and seen the impacts on First Nations people’s communities and lives.

“Every day I hear from people living in a cloud of confusion and crisis,” she said.

“People have lost their money and they have lost trust.

The Save Sorry Business coalition believes the Federal Government’s final scheme must include these four key important components:

1. First Nations people have been listened to and given a chance to meaningfully shape the final scheme.

2. All policyholders that were harmed are provided with a fair and proportionate response to their financial losses.

3. Culturally appropriate options that recognise diversity within households and communities are included, such as refunds, replacement funeral bonds and savings plans.

“They are weighed down by the stress of not being able to pay for Sorry Business and passing on intergenerational debt on their kids.

“We need a resolution that provides culturally appropriate options for everyone who has been harmed – no one should be left behind.

“The people I speak to say: ‘We made good choices to keep our culture, yet we were harmed. Give us back our freedom of choice and empower us to plan and pay for our sacred ceremonies with our money.’” on policyholders and payments.

On 28 March the Save Sorry Business coalition will hold a National Day of Action to demand the Federal Government provide compensation and culturally appropriate options to people who have been harmed. The group asked as many people as possible voice this demand by:

1) Sharing a photo on social media holding the #SaveSorryBusiness sign and share these on your social media channels with a short statement of support.

2) Emailing Linda Burney – linda.burney.mp@ aph.gov.au stating your support for a fair and culturally appropriate resolution for those harmed by Youpla and the associated regulatory failures.

4. The final scheme is designed with a low barrier to participation and proactively communicated to First Nations communities, making use of liquidator data

For more information see https://ican.org.au/ preparing-for-a-national-day-of-action/

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