SPORT 21 Island of Origin kicking off
TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 8 JUNE 2023
BY ALF WILSON
At the Reconciliation Awards ceremony in Brisbane was Garbutt Magpies Club President Leon Stubbs (left), Francis Tapim (Mer - centre) and Randall Ross (Darnley - right). Pic submitted.
Garbutt award for community work BY ALF WILSON Townsville’s Garbutt Magpies Sporting & Cultural Association has won a Queensland Reconciliation Award in the category of Community. “[It] was a dream come true to honour Our Elders of Past, Present and Future”, club stalwart Randall Ross said. “The recognition of the award is not only for our Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders, Australian South Sea Islanders but also our Non-Indigenous who we proudly call family. “We also honour our families and our great sponsors who have been apart of the Club in the past 10 years to ensure the legacy of Garbutt Magpies who formed in 1955, continues into the future. “Many of the Elders from the past were responsible for
developing future leaders and we want to ensure we continue to develop our future generations as future leaders of today.” Mr Ross travelled to Brisbane with club President Leon Stubbs and former great player and elder Francis Tapim for the award presentation. Two of the club’s founding members were the late Anastasia Maria Ross (nee Kanak) and her husband Manny Ross of Aboriginal Juro and Kunjuun heritage. They were the grandparents of Mr Ross who also played with the club. Mr Stubbs said the Garbutt Bombers Sporting and Cultural Association followed the following Kukatja saying: “Mariakarti nyawa, kurranyu nyinama. Look back if you want to go forward.” “Garbutt Magpies are intergenerational and are
proactive in reconciliation processes,” Mr Stubbs said. Mr Stubbs said the storylines they had created and maintained were responsible for many projects including The Garbutt Magpies Cup for schools, NQ First Nations Cricket Carnival, Cultural Camps, Community participation activities such as involvement in NAIDOC Day and Mabo Day. “Garbutt Magpies are about creating an identity for positive experiences,” he said. Meanwhile the club took 47 children and 23 adults to Magnetic Island in late May for an AFL participation day. They juniors were from the affiliated club the Garbutt Bombers Magpies and it was a huge family event. “We made a huge day of it having a barbecue at Alma Bay and going for a swim and just relaxing,” Mr Stubbs said.
Flames snap losing streak their games against Brisbane Capitals. The women’s final score was 86-72 and the men had a bigger margin loss, 123-75. Pirates guard, Chris Cedar, fought hard off the bench with 15 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. This weekend’s Round 11 games will see Sunshine Coast Phoenix travel north to play Townsville tomorrow night and Cairns on Saturday night. Darwin Salties will have a hectic road trip – Gold Coast (tomorrow), South West Metro (Saturday) and North Gold Coast (Sunday). At the time of printing the top four teams on the NBL One North ladder, with win-loss records were:
BY VELMA GARA Townsville Flames snapped their losing streak with a convincing win over the Salties, 86-59, in Round 10 of the NBL1 North competition last Saturday night. It was Darwin’s first loss at home. Flames guard Indiah Bowyer (pictured right) had 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals whilst teammate and Opals guard, Steph Reid, was very influential with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists. Darwin Salties men’s team got the win against Townsville Heat, 102-84. Guard Deba George had a quiet night, only scoring 8 points and two 3-pointers and for the visitors, Michael Cedar made three 3-pointers for 10 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Salties first quarter set the tone for the men’s game with 36 points scored. Home team shot 16 from 43
Mens
three-pointers for the game. In other fixtures, TJ Diop’s Gold Coast Rollers won both of their games against Northside Wizards (90-77) and Rip City (120-97). South West Metro Pirates wasn’t successful with both women and men’s teams losing
1. Logan Thunder 12-1 2. Gold Coast Rollers 11-2 3. Ipswich Force 8-3 4. Darwin Salties 8-3
Womens 1. Northside Wizards 11-0 2. Darwin Salties 9-2 3. South West Metro Pirates 9-3 4. Logan Thunder 9-4 Pic supplied by NBL1.
Nine men’s and at least three women’s teams will compete at the three-day Island of Origin rugby league carnival which starts on Badu Island next week. The carnival is one of two premier rugby league sporting events in the Torres Strait, along with the Zenadth Kes carnival held in October on Waiben. The Torres News has the men’s teams as: Surumau Gladiators (Warraber), Wakaid Warriors and Argun Warriors (Badu), Pioneer Knights (Waiben), Apudthama Brothers (NPA), Magun Warriors (Iama), Paga Panthers (Boigu), Goemu Raiders (Mabuiag) and Roxin Eagles (Dauan). Organised by Dhadhin Geai Dhadhin Geai Warriors, the best footballers from around the Torres Strait will line up for various teams and, we hear, some big names from down south may also make the journey. The most recent winners, NPA’s Apudthama Brothers, will be back to defend their title. We also understand champion back Aaron
Binawel (pictured) and his brother James will be in Roxin Eagles colours, along with sons of coach and former hard hitting forward Wrench Mau. Wakad Warriors will be boosted by the services of potential match winner Raymond Baira. Quality player Windsor Bowie will lead the charge for the NPA side whilst the highly skilled Kepa brothers look set to be with Magun Warriors. Paga Panthers will be strong with numerous boys from Boigu in their ranks. Under the guidance of Masi Nona, Argun Warriors will also field a formidable unit and hope to repeat the effort of 2011 when they beat Saguci in the final. Surumau Gladiators will be in their 10th year
since they were formed, with organiser Cr Kabay Tamu. He said the carnival will be entertaining and sure to produce some great action. “We have been training since late February and early March and will have 17 boys from Warraber,” he said. “Teams are allowed a squad of 30 but only 25 can play in each game and it will be unlimited interchange.” Front rower Cr Tamu will line up for the Gladiatiors and his teammates will be expecting him to make plenty of metres up the centre of the ruck. “This will be my 14th year of Island of Origin football,” he said. The women’s teams ready to compete were Pioneer Dames and Jillaroos with several others expected to take the field. Big crowds were expected to converge of the Joe Mairu Memorial Oval to cheer their sides on. The popular fastest man and woman in the Torres Strait sprint will also be held. The carnival started in the 1980s and has always been a great success.
Teyahna to play in top level Abu Dhabi basketball camp BY VELMA GARA Rising basketball star Teyahna Bond (pictured right) was selected to attend a high level basketball camp held in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates this week. Bond was amongst only 80 talented youngsters from Asia, Oceania and the Pacific who got to go to the 13th Basketball Without Borders Asia camp, hosted by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). Launched in 2001, Basketball Without Borders was the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program that brought together elite players from outside the US to learn the game from world-class players and coaches, showcase their skills in front of NBA, WNBA and FIBA personnel, and compete against top talent in the world. BWB has reached more than 3900 participants from 134 countries and territories since 2001, with 105 former campers advancing to the NBA or WNBA. The NBA and FIBA have staged 67 BWB camps in 44 cities on six continents. This year’s Asia camp brought together the top prospects from Asia,
Oceania and the Pacific. The 16-year-old Teyahna was joined by another two Queenslanders, Monique Bobongie and Roman Siulepa, in a group of 10 athletes selected from Australia. Torres News was told Teyahna was selected based on her outstanding basketball skills and leadership abilities. It was her opportunity to showcase her basketball skills and gain valuable knowledge on topics such as strength and condition, life skills and nutrition. Pic supplied by NBA Australia.
