GBK Cairns open for business

Gur A Baradharaw Kod Sea and Land Council Torres Strait Islander Corporation (GBK) board members, staff, and more than 100 family and friends celebrated an official opening of new offices in Cairns last Wednesday night.

GBK chair Ned David described the event as a “an incredible milestone”.

“Family, look, I’m just proud you can come and celebrate with us this incredible milestone where we went from these humble beginnings of meeting underneath a tree,” he said.

“And it’s taken us a little while, but now our presence is in probably one of the more prominent addresses in Cairns, the Corporate Tower, for our staff and people who deserve the best.”

He said he was pleased to welcome leaders from other organisations, including the Cape York and North Queensland Land Councils, to the event.

“I want to acknowledge their presence here because this is what GBK is about,” he said.

“This organisation gives a collective voice and platform for Traditional Owners.

“This is, in many ways, the genuine voice for Traditional Owners.

“This is the way yu-mi continue to carry on all them things that define us as a group, all the customary laws, the practises, the traditions.

“This is the organisation that protects it for you.

“GBK is the only organisation in this country that represents two First Nations groups, Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginals – you got no other nation, no other group in this nation that does that.

“I’m proud and humble to be chairman of this organisation.”

The new offices are on the ground floor (MGNM) and 15th floor (GBK) respectively, of the Corporate Towers between Lake and Grafton Streets in Cairns.