Tributes for Denne ...

A small sample of the many tributes to Denne on social media from around Australia and beyond, including Cook Islands and Norfolk Island.

“This is absolutely shocking and so unreal. Bala Denne garr, you will be dearly missed by everyone. You will remain forever in our hearts,” Kali McKeown said.

“Bala Denne was an all round great family guy with a heart of gold, loved by everyone.

“Torres Strait Outriggers paddled for Bala Denne this morning, Saturday 20 May at 6.30am, laying flowers in his honour and loving memory. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with his Georgia and Kiva, siblings, family and friends and the Thursday Island community.”

Pics with thanks to the groups mentioned and to Tarita Bin Doraho, Noel Green and Chris Boon.

Last Saturday at sunrise the Torres Strait Outriggers Canoe Club came together to paddle for club president, partner, brother, son, father, bala, and friend Denne Bourke. The paddle began with three blows on the bu shell and a prayer delivered by a friend.

From the club HQ to Sadies Beach, Denne’s partner Georgia led the flotila while Denne’s sisters Shelley, Diana, and Kathleen were on board to bid Denne a smol yawo.

The club was honoured to paddle with Georgia and her sisters-in-law on the waters he loved so much.

“Today, all I kept thinking was that I couldn’t paddle home from Sadies but then I thought, ‘Denne couldn’t paddle home’, so I had to paddle home for him,” she said.

The club said as a paddler, Denne was strong, outgoing, and supportive of everyone who wanted to give it a try.

“Since his arrival on Waiben the Outriggers grew and grew to become the much loved club it is today – he was forever recruiting people, every morning while they waited for their coffee,” they said.

J Last weekend the Mission Beach Outrigger Canoe Club stopped to remember Denne who shared his beautiful soul with Mission Beach outriggers.

“We send our thoughts, love and prayers to Georgia, Kiva, and family and to the Torres Strait community. RIP mate,” they said.

“We all raised our paddles and shared stories of what he meant to us and the wider community,” they said. “Then with the final blow on the bu shell we lay flowers to be with Denne, all while Denne’s son Kiva watched on from Queensland Police vessel.

“As the sun rose on our backs, we splashed our paddles three times, and Georgia paddled us all home for Denne.”

Georgia said she paddled for him.

“Denne coached most of the people who have paddled with the Outriggers, and pushed people to acheive things in outrigging they would have never have otherwise tried. Our juniors looked up to him as a mentor and superman.

“His love and support for the club and for outrigging was the reason so many of us on Thursday Island paddle – and we will continue to do so.

“On behalf of the Torres Strait Outriggers Canoe Club, we can not thank Queensland Police, the community of the Torres Strait, and the wider outirgging community enough for their continuous support throughout this time.”

J The Hekili Outrigger Canoe Club in the Cook Islands also paddled in Denne’s honour, along with many other clubs and paddling family along the coast.

“We paddled out in honour of our friend Denne Bourke of TSOCC,” they said.

“To the call of the Conch shell and the beat of the Cook Island drums we remembered Denne for his big smile, caring nature and love of paddling.

“He will forever be in our hearts. Our thoughts and love to Georgia, their son Kiva and all Denne’s family and friends.”

J Townsville’s Coral Sea Outrigger Canoe Club sent their heartfelt thoughts and prayers to their beautiful paddling friend Denne Bourke, Georgia, Kiva, family, friends, the Thursday Island community and our paddling friends from the Torres Strait Outriggers.