Torres News_Edition 100_28 September 2023

Torres Stories and events of the Kaurareg homeland of Kaiwalagal, the Torres Strait homeland and

Thursday, 28 September 2023 Cape York homelands of the Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthathi, Yadhaykenu and Gudang Peoples.

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News

NIBT Under 17s on their way to represent Zenadth Kes was proudly represented in Brisbane this week when our two Under-17 teams took on their mainland counterparts in the National Indigenous

Basketball Tournament (NIBT) competition.

The teams are pictured here at the jetty with mascot, Jahmeil Nakata, 3.

See full coverage PAGE 19 N

Pic by Carli Willis.

Government ignores compo ruling One year on from the historic legal decision linking the human rights of Torres Strait Islander people to inaction on climate change, Zenadth Kes climate activists are still waiting for the government to act after their historic legal win at the United Nations.

The claimants made international legal history in September last year, after the UN Human Rights Committee found the Australian government had violated its human rights

obligations by not helping communities under threat to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

In their official reply to the case the government agreed with the finding that climate change was impacting the claimants’ daily lives and cultural practices.

However they have maintained their rejection of the key UN Committee’s recommendation to award compensation to the claimants.

Claimants have called on the government and

the planned ‘Torres Strait Climate Change Centre of Excellence’ to negotiate further with their communities, particularly about what the centre would deliver on the ground.

Since the ruling claimants have entered dialogue with MPs in Canberra and, despite constructive discussions, claimants said further concrete commitments were needed.

“The government is accountable for the damages and losses we have been through in the Torres Strait

due to climate change, and their response is disappointing for our people,” Kulkalgal man, Traditional Owner and claimant Yessie Mosby said.

“We can’t pack our bags and go – we are not connected to any other place but this beautiful island we call home.

“Masig holds our lineage, our loved ones, our memories, our ancestral beliefs and our way of living.”

Warraber Traditional Owner, and another claimant

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in the case, Daniel Billy said they needed more.

“Looking at the response from the government, it’s clear there is not enough funding for the region for projects such as seawalls,” he said.

“I don’t see enough commitment from the government to slow down climate change and the companies that cause it.

“Climate change is still happening right before our very eyes, and still the government is not taking the action needed on this

serious issue.

“Words are just words, we want to see action now.”

Although they noted the government’s commitment to implement measures necessary for their communities’ continued safe existence on their islands, the claimant TOs said they were concerned that substantially increased funding commitments to adaptation measures such as seawalls were needed.

More climate change news PAGES 12 & 13 N

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THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023 TORRES NEWS

Torres Strait Islanders take to the Cape

In Pormpuraaw at the Youth Summit (back row) are Thomasina Foote, Hope Gibuma, Jade Hema, Josephine Szilagyi, David Bosun, Jerry Savage & Zechariah Kelly (ZMK); front row: Josh Mene, Walford Kelly, Trevor Tim & Wais (Naima) Daniel.

STORY AND PICS CHRISTINE HOWES Young people in the western Cape York town of Pormpuraaw hosted several Torres Strait Islanders at the 2023 Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation’s (PPAC’s) Youth Summit in several and varying

roles last week.

The four-day event was MC’d by Bumma Bippera 987FM’s Trevor Tim and included health and job expos, touch and basketball comps, a colour run and music workshops run by ZMK and his team.

It was a huge week on the tiny community, and a massive success.

Your North Queensland airline connecting the islands of the Torres Strait with Remote polling booths on the way Cairns and Bamaga

FLY WITH A QUEENSLANDER

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) have been visiting remote locations so people can register to vote in the upcoming Voice referendum (Saturday 14 October).

A record 97.7 per cent of eligible Australians have enrolled to vote for the referendum.

AEC’s Tom Rogers said such a complete electoral roll was the result of years of hard work by the AEC. “In between the announcement of the referendum date and close of rolls, approximately 79,000 people were added to the roll with 376,000 other eligible Australians updating their details,” Mr Rogers said.

“The youth enrolment rate has also increased to 91.4 per cent which means approximately 1.8 million 18-24 year olds are ready to vote and have their say in their first referendum.”

He said First Nations enrolment sat at 94.1 per cent and was the highest it has ever been.

“Well done Australia, now it’s time to have your say,” he said.

All Australian people

aged 18 years and older must vote in the referendum.

Postal vote applications must be received by the AEC by 6pm on the Wednesday before voting day (11 October).

Remote polling booths started early voting on some of the outer Torres Strait Islands from today.

A polling booth for early voters (those who cannot vote on Saturday 14 October) will open on Waiben at the Anglican Parish Hall from Monday 9 October (9am-4.30pm) to Friday 13 October (9am-6pm).

For more information about when and where to vote in the Torres Strait outer islands see

https://www.aec.gov. au/referendums/vote/ mobile-polling-schedule. html

For more information about how to vote see https://www.aec.gov. au/referendums/

For Referendum Remote Mobile Polling in Queensland see advertisements on Pages 6 & 7 N

NEWS 03

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023

Police condemn alleged NPA arson

Island and Bamaga is reckless and can put lives in the community at risk.”

BY CARLI WILLIS Bamaga police have condemned a series of fires they say have been deliberately lit in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) over the past week.

The NPA Rural Fire Service said they had attended an overall total of nine fires since early September, with six of those started since the school holidays began on 16 September.

Bamaga Police said they were aware of several vegetation fires they believed had been

Sgt Burke said at the time of printing no infrastructure had been damaged and no persons injured.

Our service provides: • Detailed assessment • Hands-on treatment • Exercise programs • Home-visit or in-clinic • NDIS physio support • No referral needed and many more private health funds...

“We need to work together in our community to practice responsible behaviour,” he said.

Rural Fire Service volunteers working to control a fire. Pic supplied. deliberately lit through Injinoo, Seisia and New Mapoon.

Bamaga Police Station Acting Sergeant

Jamie Burke said anyone caught deliberately lighting fires could face criminal charges.

“The Torres Strait is

vulnerable to disaster events, both natural and man-made,” he said.

“Lighting fires during dry season on Thursday

“I urge anyone that has information or witnessed fires being deliberately lit to contact local police and we will investigate the matter.”

Much-needed repairs for Seisia boat ramp The Seisia boat ramp has been given a much-needed face-lift this month.

The damaged and worn concrete flexmat used for the ramp has been replaced with a new five metre-wide concrete modular ramp.

Works were undertaken in early September after they were prioritised following concerns raised by local boaties and facility manager, the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC).

Local MP Cynthia Lui said safe and reliable access to the Torres Strait

waterways was integral to Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) communities.

“This project has restored the condition of the modular boat ramp at Seisia so it can remain safe and functional, which is great news for boaties and the wider community,” she said.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey thanked local boaties for their patience.

“My department is working with NPARC and the local community to determine the best long-term solutions

for recreational and commercial marine facilities,” he said.

The new design had a crossfall towards the middle to provide better surface drainage and reduce the risk of shoulders eroding from stormwater runoff. Two shoulder mattresses were added alongside the ramp to assist with alleviating sand build up. The new mattresses were heavier and more stable than the previous mattresses.

The $686,000 project was funded by the Queensland Government’s Maritime Infrastructure Investment Program.

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Unit working to fight infectious diseases

Dear Son

BY CARLI WILLIS A new public health unit established earlier this year to help fight a range of infectious diseases has already seen some great results, Torres & Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) says.

The TCHHS Public Health Unit targeted community responses to malaria, diphtheria, tuberculosis (TB), COVID-19 and influenza within its first few months.

TCHHS Executive Director of Medical Services Dr Marlow Coates said melioidosis, diphtheria, tuberculosis, malaria, Ross River virus and Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) were also among the embattled diseases in their sights.

“More than two thirds of our residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples who suffer a higher incidence of chronic disease,” he said.

“This new unit allows us to partner with local stakeholders to respond to outbreaks very quickly and in a culturally appropriate manner, with over half of all positions in the unit being identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander roles.”

Dr Coates said there were 20 Public Health Unit team members based on the ground in Thursday Island, Cairns,

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Beaded Earrings LEFT: Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Public Health Unit staff Dr Allison Hempenstall, Jared Noah, Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, Melissa Sprague & Rotona Martin. RIGHT: Nancy Lui-Gamia & Emma Pickering. Pics supplied TCHHS. Weipa, Bamaga, Badu Island, Hopevale and Moa Island.

Operations Manager Emma Pickering said the team was making a concerted effort in the RHD space.

“We’ve got staff placed based in communities with high incidence of RHD in Badu, Hope Vale, Thursday Island and Bamaga,” she said. “[They] do case management for those clients, to make sure that they’ve got access to all of the health services that they need.

“They do care coordination, make sure that they’re getting their medications each month that they’re required to take.

“We have in health screening appearing regularly at schools, kindies, day cares because that’s where it can begin.”

She said since the team was first established in January, they had responded to a range of outbreaks.

“We’ve had malaria on Saibai and Boigu, which we mounted a community response to,” she said.

“Diptheria is on Cape York, and we worked with the community to develop the most appropriate response.

“We also had a tuberculosis screen screening in the Torres Strait.”

Ms Pickering said thanks to local First Nations team members, the unit was making a big difference in the communities.

Public Health Officer, Nancy Lui-Gamia, was one of the team’s Torres Strait Islander cultural leaders, based out of Weipa, and working across the Torres and Cape.

As a traditional language speaker, she said part of her role was to help break down information to community members.

“Language is the barrier we have issues with all the time in our communities,” she said.

“If you don’t understand what universal sickness is, they won’t respond to follow up.

“For the response at Boigu and Saibai to that malaria, we actually went door to door doing awareness and actually talking to the people.

“So they were comfortable in their own home.”

Ms Pickering said the locally-led team approach was part of a ‘whole of community’ approach TCHHS wanted to achieve.

She said that involved working with primary health care teams and councils, and looking for wider support from other agencies they hadn’t necessarily worked with before.

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04 NEWS

THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023 TORRES NEWS

Hopes high Bamaga health services will benefit from upgrades Architect Alanna Coburn spoke to consumers outside the IBIS store in Bamaga about the plans.

TCHHS staff Terry Harvey & Lindsay Pickstone with the plans. Pics Carli Willis.

BY CARLI WILLIS Calls for better quality health services in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) are being heard as plans for an upgrade to Bamaga’s hospital were revealed last week, Torres & Cape Hospital and Health Services (TCHHS) says.

The plans included a new Renal Unit with a covered entry, and new ambulance and emergency bays.

TCHHS staff said they ran community

information sessions in Bamaga to gain feedback and insights from the community on the plans before they went ahead.

TCHHS Acting Chief Executive Director for Strategy & Investment Lindsay Pickstone said the expansion was part of a list of improvements outlined for the remote service in a master plan developed by the hospital in 2018.

“We were looking to progress some of those works that were identified as key priorities,” he said.

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“Some of the key drivers are the renal service and Emergency Department workflows, as well as concern around the privacy around ambulance ramping at the hospital.”

The plans have come after a coalition of Torres Strait Mayors and communities wrote to the Queensland Premier in May this year calling on the government to address declining health in the Torres Strait and NPA communities.

In June a toddler’s death at the hospital sparked fear in the community.

Mr Pickstone said the Bamaga Hospital has acquitted a series of recommendations made by a previous inquest by the Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) into a toddler death in 2017.

“These recommendations related to improvements in clinical recordkeeping, processes, and procedures, regular visits by our Consumer Liaison Officer, as

well as increases in medical staffing and staff training,” he said “The TCHHS completed the implementation of all OHO recommendations for improvements at Bamaga Hospital in October 2022 and advised OHO of this.

“On 17 January 2023, OHO wrote to the TCHHS agreeing with this assessment and closed the case.”

Mr Pickstone said that the hospital’s proposed upgrade was unrelated to these matters and was part of the TCHHS long term goals for improvement.

He said he was in Bamaga last Friday to consult with community about what they wanted to see in their hospital and health services as part of the first stage of an extended approvals process before the project would be funded.

He said there had been some insightful feedback.

“Things around access to the renal service in terms of

having covered car parking so that there’s ease of access for the vehicles coming in,” he said.

“They enjoy the fact that we’ve got an ensuite and a local toilet so that they can easily utilise that.”

He said the current resuscitation bay was no longer compliant and rooms would be enlarged to meet compliance.

“Bamaga has a two-bed resuscitation bay, [but] that size of the room it is in is actually not a compliant space,” he said.

“In terms of the ambulance bay, the intent behind that is to provide culturally appropriate screening.

“So there will be a discreet entry for the ambulance, to be able to take patients in and out of the hospital, without being visible to people in the waiting area in the emergency department, and just generally out the front.”

Architect Alanna Coburn helped design

the expansion and also spoke to residents outside the town’s local IBIS last Friday.

“People are keen to see improvements at the hospital,” she said.

“Especially being able to expand the renal dialysis unit, which will hopefully have a big impact on being able to let people in the community access dialysis services here rather than having to travel all the way to Cairns or TI.” She said improving the ergonomics in the Emergency Department and other shared spaces was her main priority.

“As part of that, we’re moving the staff station, so that has better visibility over that area and also down to the rest of the wards,” she said.

“We’re also looking at co-locating some consulting rooms with the emergency department at the moment.

“There’s a little bit of shuffling around of office spaces and other storage

areas to enable that to happen.”

Mr Pickstone said the expansion would take 6-12 months of planning and then another 12 months to deliver.

After that, he said, there was the issue of a shortage of staff accommodation.

He said the TCHHS and the state government were working together to find solutions to the problem.

“We are looking at putting in some staff accommodation on the hospital site,” he said.

“This will be a mix of single accommodation for short stay in single health providers and then we’ll also provide a balance of family houses, so people can relocate with their families.

“We have had some funding provided by the state government and that’s going to make a huge impact to the amount of staff accommodation provided in Bamaga.”

November 6-7 -Saibai November 7-8 -Thursday Is. November 9-10 -Bamaga See you soon!

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NEWS 05

Scams expected to keep on coming STORY AND PIC

BY CARLI WILLIS A national identity and cyber-crime support service has visited Waiben for the first time in its decade-long history to raise awareness around cyber-crime.

ID Care Community Outreach Educator Robert Blackmore said he had visited more than 100 communities across the country so far.

“We have seen a massive increase in cyber-crime and we know in regional areas it is worse,” he said.

“Our main job is to help people who have been scammed, that is, they’ve had a financial loss, or they’ve had their ID compromised.

“Scammers might be able to start up credit cards in your name, bank accounts in your name, take out loans in your name, which will then be your problem to fix – particularly after the big data breaches recently of Optus, Medibank, and Latitude Finance.”

Mr Blackmore said the Cyber Resilience

Robert Blackmore from ID Care visiting Waiben to raise awareness around cyber crime.

Outreach Clinic, held on Douglas Street, was there to help educate community members about how they could keep themselves safe from cyber-crime.

“To give people face-to-face support and assistance around cybercrime, cryptocurrency identity theft, there’s a range of scams now, they’re impacting everybody,” he said.

“If you’ve got a

mobile phone, you are going to be targeted through your emails, through your texts, through phone calls.

“It’s about knowing what to trust and what not to trust.”

He said ID Care had helped more than 800,000 Australians.

“We have found our face-to-face clinics across Australia to be supremely important because people are really

nervous about cybercrime,” he said.

“They’re nervous about losing all of their money to a technology they haven’t fully understood, so they might avoid it.

“We know 90 per cent of people wouldn’t have told anybody, so it’s a hugely under-reported crime.”

Mr Blackmore said there were some basic things ID Care helped

Law Centre calls for Australian Human Rights Charter The introduction of an Australian Charter of Human Rights to ensure dignity, equality and respect guide all government laws and decisionmaking is an opportunity for the Federal Government to leave a lasting legacy, the Human Rights Law Centre has told a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

In a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework, the Centre emphasised the urgent need for a federal Charter and how it would work in practice to: • Ensure everyone in Australia was treated with respect by government authorities • Ensure people could seek justice when their rights are breached • Implement the international legal protections Australia has agreed to and expected of others • Provide a holistic framework for balancing competing rights fairly and transparently • Improve law-making and government policy to be consistent with human rights standards

• Improve the fairness of public service delivery and outcomes • Raise public awareness and knowledge of human rights as an integral part of Australia’s democratic and civic culture The research detailed a series of recent case studies in which Australian government actions have breached people’s human rights. The people featured, and many more like them, could have avoided this harm or obtained redress if Australia had a strong federal Human Rights Charter.

Human Rights Law Centre CEO Caitlin Reiger said a federal Human Rights Charter was essential to preventing the next Robodebt-like failure and the harm it caused to so many.

“A Charter ensures that government decision-making respects our human rights, and empowers people to take action when they don’t,” she said.

“Human rights are the basic minimum standards of dignity, equality and respect to which all people are entitled to wherever they live and whoever they are.

“In ratifying seven international human rights treaties,

the Australian government has committed to protecting these rights through its laws, policies and actions.

“However, we see every single day in aged care facilities, immigration detention centres and royal commission findings, these commitments alone are not enough to change outcomes.

“A federal Charter will help prevent systemic rights abuses experienced by marginalised communities, hold public authorities accountable and build a rights respecting national culture.

“December 2023 will mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“Australia is lagging far behind our peers in bringing it into our domestic law.

“Australians do not yet enjoy comprehensive legal protection of our fundamental human rights.

“It’s past time for concrete discussion of a draft Australian Charter of Human Rights, and we stand ready to assist in this process.”

Read the Human Rights Law Centre’s submission here:

https://www.hrlc.org.au/ submissions/2023/8/8/hrlccharter

people to do to help them protect their identity.

“Do you need to have your device cleaned of any malware spyware programs that are tracking what you’re doing on your device?” he said Mr Blackmore said ID Care believed a lack of access to reliable internet and local services had contributed to the growing problem of cyber crime in remote areas.

He said analysis had shown people aged 3565 were at the greatest risk of being targeted by cyber crime.

“We talk about password management, changing your passwords, making them hard,” he said.

He said cyber-crime was growing fast and experts expected it to get worse.

“We need to be on top of it with our ID management, and how we behave online, it’s really important to really think about how you’re doing that,” he said.

KING’S

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Due to the public holiday on Monday, October 2, for the King’s Birthday, please note the following revision to deadlines for the Torres News:

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Contact Shaz for enquiries or bookings: 0419 828 639 or ads@torres.news

Non-Executive Chairs and Members

Contribute to your local community to deliver exceptional healthcare • Chair and Member opportunities across Queensland Hospital and Health Boards • Part- time statutory appointments commencing April 2024 • Diverse skills and experience required for Member and Chair positions The Opportunity The Queensland Government delivers free universal healthcare to five million Queenslanders through Queensland Health. The Queensland Government is investing a record $25.8 billion into healthcare.

Queensland’s 16 Hospital and Health Boards provide governance to their respective Hospital and Health Service (HHS) and are responsible for the delivery of healthcare in their region. The Boards are accountable to the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women and must perform the functions in accordance with the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011.

Board members are leaders in their local communities and have the ability to shape the future of health care in their region, whilst enhancing the efficient, effective and sustainable delivery of health services.

Applications The Queensland Government is seeking applications from appropriately experienced individuals to fill a range of Board vacancies across the State.

To be successful in this role, you: • are ready and able to add value to the Board through your skills, knowledge and experience, including but not limited to, any of the following areas of expertise: health management; business management; financial management; human resource management; clinical expertise; legal expertise; primary healthcare; health consumer and community engagement; and persons with skills, knowledge and experience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and community issues; • are able to analyse, critically assess and drive performance; • have the confidence and connections to strengthen community engagement and collaborative partnerships; • are a leader who thinks strategically, embodies personal integrity, has political astuteness, commercial acumen, resilience and are a team player; and • are available to travel to the HHS communities if you are located outside the region.

Applications are to be submitted online. To obtain the Applicant Information Pack and instructions on how to submit your application, please visit www.executivequarter.com.au/hhb These opportunities are remunerated in accordance with Queensland Government guidelines.

We strongly encourage First Nations people, women, people with expertise in multiculturalism, young people and people with disabilities to apply. A range of probity checks will be undertaken for persons being considered for appointment.

Applications close midnight, Wednesday 11 October 2023.

Should you wish to receive assistance on submitting your application, please contact Executive Quarter who are facilitating this process on 0497 499 749 or hhb@executivequarter.com.au

M9276

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023

06

THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023 TORRES NEWS

Mobile Voter votingServices teams Remote for the 2023 Referendum The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) will be visiting soon, so you can vote in the referendum.

Check the remote voter services schedule below for the dates and times you can vote in your area.

DIVISION OF CAPRICORNIA MARLBOROUGH

Marlborough Public Hall, 21-23 Milman St

Thursday, 28 September 2023

1:30pm-4:30pm

OGMORE

Centennary Park, Dempsey St

Thursday, 28 September 2023

8:15am-11:15am

STANAGE

Plumtree Store, 253 Banksia Rd

Friday, 29 September 2023

10:15am-1:15pm

CRACOW

Cracow Community Hall, 57 Tenth Ave

Wednesday, 4 October 2023

10:30am-1:30pm

DINGO

Dingo Community Hall, 10 Normanby St

Thursday, 28 September 2023

10:00am-1:00pm

GINDIE

Gindie State School Carpark, Old Cullen-La-Ringo Rd

Friday, 29 September 2023

9:00am-12:00pm

DIVISION OF FLYNN

ROLLESTON

Rolleston Memorial Hall, 17 Warrijo St

Monday, 2 October 2023

9:30am-2:30pm

WILLOWS

Willows Recreational Centre, Willows Rd Cnr Cabochon St

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

9:30am-12:30pm

BURKETOWN

Burketown Nijinda Durlga Hall, Sloman St

Friday, 6 October 2023

9:00am-12:00pm

CLONCURRY

Cloncurry Community Precinct, Ernest Henry Mining Function Rooms

DIVISION OF KENNEDY

Monday, 2 October 2023

8:45am-4:15pm

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

8:30am-4:00pm

Wednesday, 4 October 2023

8:30am-4:00pm

CROYDON

Croydon Shire Hall, 54 Samwell St

Monday, 9 October 2023

10:15am-1:15pm

DAJARRA

Jimberella Hall, Matheson St

Friday, 29 September 2023

10:15am-1:15pm

EINASLEIGH

Einasleigh Public Hall, 1 Daintree St

Thursday, 28 September 2023

9:30am-12:30pm

GREGORY

Gregory Downs Hotel, Wills Developmental Rd

Thursday, 5 October 2023

11:15am-2:15pm

HOMESTEAD

Homestead Community Hall, 42 Home St

Monday, 2 October 2023

9:30am-12:30pm

MAREEBA

Mulungu Aboriginal Corporation Primary Health Care Service, 162-164 Walsh St

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

9:00am-3:00pm

Wednesday, 4 October 2023

9:00am-3:00pm

Thursday, 5 October 2023

9:00am-3:00pm

MILLAROO

Millaroo State School, 1-13 Cunningham St

Friday, 29 September 2023

10:00am-1:00pm

MOUNT CARBINE

Mount Carbine Community Hall, Mt Carbine Caravan Park

Friday, 29 September 2023

10:30am-1:30pm

NORMANTON

Normanton Shire Hall, 99 Landsborough St

Tuesday, 10 October 2023

8:30am-4:00pm

Wednesday, 11 October 2023

10:00am-5:00pm

Prairie Hall, 19 Savage St

Thursday, 28 September 2023

9:00am-12:00pm

RAVENSWOOD

Ravenswood Town Hall, 106 Macrossan St

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

9:30am-12:30pm

STOKES

Roadside Mobile Poll, Cnr Burke Developmental Rd

Thursday, 12 October 2023

9:45am-12:45pm

TOWNVIEW

Gidgee Healing, 121 Marian St

Thursday, 28 September 2023

10:30am-4:30pm

BADU ISLAND

Jack Ahmet Stadium, 194 Blanket Yabu

Thursday, 28 September 2023

8:30am-2:30pm

BOIGU ISLAND

Boigu Community Hall, 37 Chambers St

Thursday, 28 September 2023

10:00am-1:00pm

DAUAN ISLAND

Dauan Community Hall, Main Rd

Monday, 2 October 2023

10:00am-1:00pm

HAMMOND ISLAND

Hammond Is Community Hall, Francis Rd

Wednesday, 4 October 2023

9:30am-12:30pm

IAMA ISLAND

Iama Community Hall, Mosby St

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

9:45am-1:45pm

MAPOON

Mapoon Council Chambers, Red Beach Rd

Friday, 29 September 2023

8:45am-2:45pm

MASIG ISLAND

Masig Community Hall, Dans Rd

Thursday, 5 October 2023

10:00am-1:00pm

MOA ISLAND

St Pauls Community Hall, 207 Saveka St

Wednesday, 4 October 2023

10:30am-1:30pm

NAPRANUM

Napranum Community Hall, 130 Naprunum Rd

Monday, 2 October 2023

9:00am-3:00pm

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

9:00am-3:00pm

PALMER

Roadside Mobile Poll, Palmerville Rd

Thursday, 28 September 2023

10:30am-1:30pm

PORUMA ISLAND

Poruma Community Hall, Olandi St

Monday, 2 October 2023

10:45am-1:45pm

PUNSAND BAY

Cape York Camping, Lot 11 Bottom Crossing Rd

Friday, 29 September 2023

9:45am-12:45pm

PRAIRIE

DIVISION OF LEICHHARDT

This schedule can change. To confirm details, visit aec.gov.au or call 13 23 26.

All Australian people aged 18 years and older must vote.

2023 Referendum, Saturday 14 October

aec.gov.au | Authorised by the Australian Electoral Offi cer for Queensland, Level 7, 488 Queen Street, Brisbane

13 23 26

AEC23_REFREMQ_TN_380x262

Appropriate COVID-19 safety measures will be in place at all polling places.

07

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023

ROCKY POINT

Weipa Storm Surge Shelter, 1 Hibberd Dr

Wednesday, 4 October 2023

9:00am-3:00pm

Thursday, 5 October 2023

9:00am-3:00pm

Friday, 6 October 2023

9:00am-3:00pm 9:30am-1:30pm

SAIBAI ISLAND

Saibai Community Hall, Main Rd

Friday, 29 September 2023

SEISIA

Seisia Indigenous Knowledge Centre, Tumema St

Thursday, 28 September 2023

2:00pm-5:00pm

UGAR ISLAND

Ugar Community Hall, 57 Randall St

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

10:15am-1:15pm

UMAGICO

Umagico Community Hall, 14 Charlie St

Thursday, 28 September 2023

9:00am-12:00pm

WARRABER ISLAND

Warraber Community Hall, 24 Ganaia St

Friday, 29 September 2023

10:00am-1:00pm

DIVISION OF MARANOA AMBY

Booringa Shire Hall, Warrego Hwy

Thursday, 28 September 2023

9:15am-12:15pm

BEDOURIE

Bedourie Community Hall, 18 Herbert St

Monday, 2 October 2023

10:15am-1:15pm

CLARA CREEK

Roadside Mobile Poll, Cnr Landsborough & Hwy Wellwater Rd

Friday, 29 September 2023

10:00am-1:00pm

EULO

Eulo Town Hall, Lot 6 Leo St

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

9:30am-12:30pm

HEBEL

Hebel Community Hall, 40-50 William St

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

10:15am-1:15pm

ILFRACOMBE

Ilfracombe Recreational Centre, Torrs Rd

Monday, 9 October 2023

9:00am-12:00pm

JERICHO

Jericho Town Hall, 45 Darwin St

Friday, 29 September 2023

10:30am-1:30pm

JUNDAH

Jundah Community Hall, 11 Dickson St

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

11:00am-2:00pm

MUNGALLALA

Mungallala Hall, Redford Rd

Friday, 29 September 2023

10:00am-1:00pm

MUTTABURRA

Muttaburra Memorial Hall, 15 Bruford St

Friday, 6 October 2023

9:00am-3:00pm

NIVE

Roadside Mobile Poll, Landsborough Hwy Rest Area

Thursday, 28 September 2023

10:00am-1:00pm

STONEHENGE

Stonehenge Community Centre, Stratford St

Thursday, 5 October 2023

9:15am-12:15pm

THALLON

Thallon Public Hall, 41-43 William St

Monday, 2 October 2023

11:45am-2:45pm

WINDORAH

Windorah Community Centre, Edward St

Wednesday, 4 October 2023

9:30am-12:30pm

WYANDRA

Wyandra Hall, Macks St

Monday, 2 October 2023

9:45am-12:45pm

YOWAH

Yowah Opal Mining Community Hall, 16 Harlequin Dr

Wednesday, 4 October 2023

10:00am-1:00pm

I

A L US E

O

OF F

CI

Commonwealth of Australia

NL Y

How to make your answer matter BALLOT PAPER State/territory

Referendum on proposed Constitution alteration

REFERENDUM SATURDAY 14 OCTOBER

DIRECTIONS TO VOTER

Write “YES” or “NO” in the space provided opposite the question set out below.

The ballot paper will show a question about a proposed change to the Constitution.

A PROPOSED LAW: There would be a description of the proposed constitutional change here.

To vote, write either ‘Yes’ OR ‘No’ inside the box on your ballot paper.

WRITE “YES” OR “NO”

Don’t worry if you make a mistake.

Ask for another ballot paper and start again.

S

A

M

P

LE

DO YOU APPROVE THIS PROPOSED ALTERATION?

On voting day, you will be given one ballot paper.

2023 Referendum, Saturday 14 October

aec.gov.au |

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All Australian citizens aged 18 and over must vote Practise voting at aec.gov.au/referendums or call 13 23 26

08 NEWS

THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023 TORRES NEWS

Career chances boosted for 8 Bamaga cadets

Back row, from left: Lieutenant Colonel Michael Creedy, Tassiana Riordan, Cadet Corporal (CDTCPL) Rebekah Nona, CDTLCPL Maudie Whap, CDTCPL Phyllis Wilson, 2LT Richard Kelly, Indigenous Support Officer Lucy Nelson; front row, from left: CDTCPL Kadesh Charlie, CDTCPL Imasue Phair, CDTCPL John Nona & CDTCPL Molly Billy.

Cadet Corporal Phyllis Wilson and Commander Michael Creedy.

STORY AND PICS

BY ALF WILSON

The cadets head along Lavery Lane at Lavarack Barracks.

Rebekah Nona and Phyllis Wilson were amongst a group of eight cadets from Bamaga who have boosted their prospects of gaining careers in the Australian Army after attending a cadet camp at Townsville’s Lavarack Barracks.

The others were Tassiana Riordan, Maudie Whap, Kadesh Charlie, Imasue Phair,

John Nona, and Molly Billy. One of their trainers was Bamaga teacher Richard Kelly.

They were amongst 350 Army Cadets and staff who participated in the annual North Queensland Cadet Camp at Lavarack Barracks earlier this month.

They learned there were five values for Australian Army cadets: service, respect, courage, integrity and excellence, to match the five individual awards given after the camp.

Cadet Corporal (CDTCPL) Phyllis Wilson received the integrity award, as voted by her peers and staff.

Award winners also received a challenge coin which was very special – only 10 were given out annually by the Commander.

The Torres News was invited to attend and was guided by Indigenous Support Officer Lucy Nelson and Captain AAC Sue Beyer.

“We are hoping that many of the cadets

will gain careers in the military,” Miss Nelson said.

Cadets participated in activities which included survival skills, team building and science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

They also undertook a trek loaded with gear along the Lavery Trail in steaming hot conditions, with temperatures around 34 degrees.

They stayed in Townsville after the camp to visit the Army Museum at Jezzine Boigu

Barracks Precinct and take in some sight seeing.

CDTCPL Wilson (aged 16) and CDTCPL Nona (15) said they enjoyed the camp and hoped to get careers in the military.

“I will certainly look to join the Army and this has been good experience,” CDTCPL Wilson said.

CDTCPL Nona said the camp had given them an opportunity to learn skills and about Army life.

Saibai Ugar

Dauan

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Iama

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Mer

Wug (St Pauls) Poruma Warraber

Arkai (Kubin)

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Tamwoy

Napranum Lockhart River

Waibene

Nurupai

Horn Island

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TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023

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10 NEWS

THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023 TORRES NEWS

Elders honoured for courage, strength and determination

TN0461 • 09/02/23

Enjoying event were Daisy Zaro, Ida Musu, Gertie Paiwan, Alma Pilot, Harriet Martin, Ellen Akee & event co-ordinator Topsy Mola.

ABOVE & BELOW: Event-goers enjoyed a relaxing game of bingo at the special event.

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IMPORTANT NOTE: We will ALWAYS meet any QANTAS and Skytrans flight from Cairns – should extra services be scheduled QF = QANTAS WATER TAXIS AND CHARTERS AVAILABLE QN =MUST SKYTRANS (eg school holidays) we will add services that may be outside this schedule.

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STORY AND PICS

BY ALF WILSON

P J 07 4069 1586 • F J 07 4069 1408 • E J info@rebeltours.com.au • W J www.rebeltours.com.au & Ϭϳ ϰϬϲϵ ϭϰϬϴ ŝŶĨŽΛƌĞďĞůƚŽƵƌƐ͘ĐŽŵ͘ĂƵ Important: please request pickups at least 1 hour prior to Ferry departure �me ǁǁǁ͘ƌĞďĞůƚŽƵƌƐ͘ĐŽŵ͘ĂƵ Please note: Please be aware that we will have ferries to meet EVERY QANTAS and SKYTRANS flight from /ŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ͗ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ƌĞƋƵĞƐƚ ƉŝĐŬƵƉƐ Ăƚ ůĞĂƐƚ ϭ ŚŽƵƌ ƉƌŝŽƌ ƚŽ &ĞƌƌLJ ĚĞƉĂƌƚƵƌĞ ƚŝŵĞ Cairns. If you can not see a ferry that suits your flight please CALL the office on 4069 1586.

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Six Torres Strait Islander women were amongst a group of 20 Elders who were celebrated and appreciated at a special event in Townsville last week.

The Shield of HERS (SOH), founded by Topsy Mola, acknowledged and celebrated the continuous courage, strength and determination women showed when going through obstacles and challenges in their lives.

‘HERS’ stands for Honour, Empower, Respect, Survive.

The special SOH event was organised

by Community Gro Townsville at the Upper Ross Community Centre earlier this month. “[SOH] also depicts the power of love and care to protect herself and those close to her,” Community Connect co-ordinator and chief organiser Topsy said.

“Honour, empower, respect and survive are the key foundations of this women’s group and is spoken about every time we get together.”

She said an SOH First Nations women’s group had met every Tuesday during the school terms, from 10am to midday.

“Community Gro assists by providing transport for the women who live in the Upper

Ross area suburbs Kelso, Rasmussen, Condon and Weir and provides space for the women to meet,” Topsy said.

“This program is not funded, it was established based on a need from the community.”

Attending the event was Daisy Zaro, Ida Musu, Gertie Paiwan, Alma Pilot, Harriet Martin and Ellen Akee.

They were joined by Bethel Cassady, Dorothy Savage, Bren Viellaris, Jennifer Reuben, Florence Onus, Faye Gee-Hoy, Nina Mairu, Beverely O’Brien, Wendy Yarnold, Gertie Paiwan, Josephine Smallwood and Leita Rodgers.

“Some of these women had participated in our groups by assisting and providing advice to the women group,” Topsy said.

“SOH acknowledged the amazing work our Elders who have paved the way and continue to do great work in their families, workplace and-or community.

“The Elders received many gifts, they had a wonderful time participating in craft activities, Elders bingo, singing, lucky door prizes and a wonderful lunch together.”

Busy in the kitchen preparing the food when the Torres News visited was Kasey Cassady, Polowia Santo and Aziku Paiwan.

NEWS 11

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023

Bamaga high school celebrates 50th year STORY AND PICS BY CARLI WILLIS Former teachers, students and community members travelled from across the country to Bamaga last week for a three-day celebration of 50 years of senior education in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA).

The gathering shared food, yarns and memorabilia, and were treated to live music and cultural dance.

The also buried a time capsule, to be unearthed in 10 years’ time.

Those present shared their personal connections to the school, a place that for some was harsh and unforgiving, but also served a bridge for them to be able to traverse the western world.

Former student Windsor Kepa Snr said he was grateful for the education he would later use to teach and work in government roles advocating for his people.

But, he said, it was a harsh learning environment, especially for someone who only spoke Kalaw Lagaw Ya and Torres Strait Creole, which was the only way to communicate with families on the outer islands.

“If we ever spoke that language we got a big strap at school,” he said.

“That was a really hard time.

“The teachers told us, you know, ‘speak English and keep on’, but we still had to speak Creole, that’s all we knew when we grew up.”

Jeffrey Aniba Waia, one of the organisers of the event, said he was also sent to primary school on Waiben not knowing English or Creole.

He said he was passionate for young Torres Strait Islanders to be empowered to speak their own language as well as English.

“I only knew then the language of Saibai,” he said.

He said he worked hard and eventually won an English-speaking competition.

“Which proved that education can [be] the differences to our children to Indigenous Australians,” he said.

“Today, I believe the Islander is a codeswitcher.

“I can fit into the world because I know the culture, I know how to behave.

“I can also fit into the western world because I know how to fit in.”

He said he became a teacher at Bamaga High School in 1991 where he was able to apply his ability to code-switch while teaching Indigenous children.

Today he runs a language program that visits schools and communities across the Torres Strait and NPA.

Past students travelled from across the country to attend the 50 year celebrations at the Bamaga campus.

Windsor Kepa Snr with his grandchildren Yazlyn, Anaya and Rhianna, who now go to school in Bamaga.

At the Elders table (in front, left & right) were Annie Elu & Bakara Sebasio.

Elders Thelma Elu & Grethel Agie showing their support for the event.

Jenny, Cassius & George Ropeyarn.

A TORRES NEWS LIFTOUT INFORMATION FEATURE

EDUCATION “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela.

To advertise in our Education feature on Thursday 2 November issue please email ads@torres.news or call 0419 828 639

12 CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS

THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023 TORRES NEWS

Call for GPs and government to act ‘decisively’ on climate change

Ailan Life

Each month our proud sponsor CEQ will pick their favourite Ailan Life entry and the winner will receive a $150 GIFT CARD to use at any of your local CEQ stores!

Each week we will publish a pic showing the Ailan way of life in the Torres Strait and the NPA – the kids swimming, a BBQ at the beach, fishing, scenic shot, etc – from local photographers and readers across our region. Just email us your pic of Ailan Life along with your name, phone number and a 25-word description to ads@torres.news

This week’s pics were submitted by Hue Nhi Ton. Nhi’s pics were taken at Green Hill Fort on Thursday Island.

PIC ABOVE: “The sunset picture captures the breathtaking beauty of nature as vibrant hues paint the sky in a mesmerizing display,” she said.

PIC LEFT: “The Milky Way picture showcases a stunning celestial display amidst tranquil surroundings.”

Nhi is now in the draw to win this month’s $150 gift card! Good luck!

Multiple entries may be submitted, but every entry (or entrant) may not be published.

All pics submitted will be considered in the draw for the monthly gift voucher. Winners of the CEQ Ailan Life competition are determined by CEQ. Entries to the Ailan Life photo competition may be used by the CEQ marketing/promotions team as background images for store promotions such as posters, digital noticeboard specials, counter-facing displays (POS) screens, and/or on their website and social media. Entries may also be used in-store to promote the ‘Ailan Life’ competition.

Dr Catherine Pendrey speaking to the Canberra rally. Pic supplied.

Government, GPs, and practice teams must act decisively and ensure the nation’s general practice care system is prepared for the rising impact of climate change the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) says.

The call came as part of the RACGP submission to the federal Government’s National Health and Climate Strategy, which aimed to protect the health and wellbeing of Australians from the effects of climate change.

The RACGP recommendations included: • data from general practice and primary care being incorporated in the measuring, monitoring, and reporting of emissions • the need for guidance for practices on how to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare • ensuring prevention activities are in place to protect vulnerable patients as well as boosting access to telehealth.

Recently, the RACGP joined 11 other leading medical colleges who issued a joint statement claiming Australia’s healthcare system remained unprepared to grapple with the risks to health and health systems climate change posed.

Last month Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Climate and Environmental Medicine Dr Kate Wylie and spokesperson Dr Catherine Pendrey attended a Doctors rally in Canberra where they spoke out against new Northern Territory fossil fuel projects.

They called for the extraction and processing of gas to be stopped because of the potential health impacts.

RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins called for action.

“Natural disasters in Australia, including bushfires and floods, will increase in frequency and severity as climate change progresses, and we must be prepared,” she said.

“Recent news reports about the heatwave and bushfires striking

parts of the northern hemisphere are just another reminder of what the new ‘normal’ looks like in a world impacted by climate change, and GPs and practice teams have an important role to play. Preventive action is crucial and something that must be front of mind.

“We know that people aged 65 years and over, children, and those with underlying health conditions are particularly vulnerable to climate-related extreme events and that includes the loss of health infrastructure and disruption to care.

“So, before a disaster occurs, GPs have a role in discussing and motivating patients to prepare emergency plans based on local climate threats and their own personal circumstances and health needs.

“We must also consider the environmental impact of primary care. Our entire healthcare system contributes to seven per cent of the nation’s total carbon emissions.

“While general practice only accounts for four per cent of the health sector’s total, we have a role to play and data from general practice care should be incorporated in the measuring, monitoring, and reporting of emissions.

“However, we do need to make sure that any reporting doesn’t tie us down in overly burdensome red tape because that is the last thing busy practices need.

“Telehealth is vital too.

“A telephone or video consult can help facilitate access to care and reduce emissions associated with patient travel.

“So, for example, for some rural and remote patients a telehealth consult may be perfectly suitable rather than a long drive to sit face-to-face with their GP. “The Government has announced funding to enable access to longer telehealth consults for patients registered through MyMedicare.

“Let’s go a step further and make Medicare rebates for longer telehealth phone consultations a

permanent fixture of our telehealth system for all patients.”

Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Climate and Environmental Medicine Dr Kate Wylie said the current state of climate action was a “health emergency”.

“At the rally in Canberra last week I saw a large group of people committed to protecting the health of people in the Northern Territory,” she said.

“We are talking things like bad pregnancy outcomes, miscarriage, low birth weights, we are talking childhood cancers.

“We are also talking obviously the effects of pollution on adults as well – so heart attacks, strokes, chronic lung disease, and then also the effects of lack of water.

“It’s time for change – the health of our communities must come first.

“As a doctor I have a duty of care to look out for my patients’ health.

“The politicians have a duty of care to look out for the best interests of the people of Australia and they are not doing that when they expand coal and gas.

“We should not be throwing petrol on the climate change fire.”

Dr Wylie also urged practices to explore how they could make small but important differences in the fight against climate change.

“Making information public about the environmental impact of different drugs and treatments would be an important tool for GPs’ decision making in day-today practice,” she said.

“For example, I want to know out of Crestor and Lipitor, which one has the highest carbon footprint.

“The two most prescribed drugs in Australia, if one has a lower carbon footprint than the other, I can save a whole heap of carbon just by what I choose to prescribe – easy.”

The RACGP advocated for policies to protect human health from risks of climate change at local, state, national and international government levels.

CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS 13

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023

Climate change fight fuelled by ‘Ailan Pawa’

The Ailan Pawa group in February 2023. Pic supplied.

“On the Saturday the Ailan Pawa summit will host a public community storytelling event on Poruma.

“A feast will be held, with storytelling from Torres Strait 8 claimants as well as ailan ambassadors.

“They are calling for the government to commit a significant increase in funding for adaptation measures, particularly seawalls and to end fossil fuels.”

She said the Ailan Pawa program had already supported 30 young Torres Strait Islanders to build networks and mobilise communities to take climate action in the region and on the mainland.

“Communities in the Torres Strait realised there was a need for a youthled climate movement, and the Ailan Pawa program was created as part of the Our Islands Our Home campaign,” she said.

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The Our Islands Our Home campaign is set to bring together a group of young Torres Strait Islanders for a second Ailan Pawa (island power) youth summit in the next few weeks.

Campaign Community Organiser and Digital Storyteller Waniki Maluwapi (Gibuma-Marr), also a proud Malu Kiwai woman, said participants from Warraber, Poruma, Erub, Boigu, Saibai, Masig, Mabuiag, Badu, Ugar, Iama and Meanjin would meet on Poruma from 6-8 October.

“The Ailan Pawa summit will support young Torres Strait Islanders also known as ‘ailan ambassadors’ to become climate movement leaders,” she said.

“They will build connections with one another, share their powerful stories and be supported in developing actions to raise awareness for their island homes.

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14 NEWS

No shame in saying I AM NOT OK

THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023 TORRES NEWS

The Torres Health team at the R U OK? Day on Waiben earlier this month: L-R Thomas Fujii Jnr, Charleeja Viti, Natasha Fujii, Agnes Bani, Ché Stow, Kurtis Gibson, Margaret Wymarra & Rennee Williams.

STORY BY CADET FLORA WARRIA. PICS BY FLORA WARRIA & DARREN MONCRIEFF. Shame is a major factor that works as a barrier for Torres Strait Islanders when it comes to talking about mental-health issues, a point of discussion at an RU OK? Day event held on Waiben earlier this month.

Torres Health, in collaboration with Queensland Health’s mental health, social and emotional wellbeing teams, were host to the day which aimed to offer support around mental health and wellbeing.

Statistics show since 2021 around nine people per day in Australia have taken their own lives.

More than 10 million Australians know of someone who has died by suicide, and an estimated 65,000 people have made suicide attempts since 2009.

R U OK? Day provided formal and informal support for families, workmates and teammates to build up the confidence and motivate everyday Australians to have

conversations, to checkin with people, and to build up relationships.

Barriers in our own communities to addressing these things include shame, fear and discouragement.

Shame can lead to someone who has gone through some kind of life crisis to suicide, or attempted suicide, because they were ‘too shame’ and unable to talk to anyone about it.

There could also be a fear of what people may say or think for someone just asking those questions.

A person may also feel they were unable to fully trust the person they confided in, that they may break their confidence.

Also, after talking to friends, family, or even a professional, people may become discouraged at their responses.

Torres Health Promotions and Practice Support Officer Margaret Wymarra said there were four simple steps that could lead to starting conversations with people.

“One is asking if you are OK,” she said.

“Two is listening to people; actively listening

and say, ‘I’m here if you want to talk more’.

“Three is to encourage action, for example, ‘What do you think is the first step to help you through this?’

“And four, checking in with somebody regularly to make sure that they are OK.” The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s 2023 statistics census has found young Indigenous Australian suicide rates were more than twice as high as non-Indigenous Australians.

“R U OK? Day also contributes to suicide prevention efforts by encouraging people to invest more time in their personal relationships in building the capacity of the informal support networks that is available today for our people in this region,” Margaret said.

“The promotion aims to inspire and empower people to meaningfully connect with friends, families and colleagues who might be struggling with life.”

Research also found when asked if they were okay, two in five people (38 per cent) who said they were okay were not.

There may come a time in someone’s life when they might see a family member or a friend who was not feeling well or going through some kind of hardship, or battling with issues in their life.

When asked the question ‘RU OK?’ most of the time the response will be, ‘yep, good as gold!’ or ‘yes, I’m all good’, when really they are not.

Events such as R U OK? Days were important to remind others there were people who would listen, to encourage and support them in whichever way possible.

There are health and wellbeing services and agencies here that we can all access.

There is no shame in utilising these services.

If you know of someone, a friend, family members or someone else close to you struggling with mental health, or who might have suicidal thoughts, or if you know of someone who has attempted suicide, remind them that they are not alone, that you are not alone.

There is help.

Nhi, Natasha from Torres Health, Laurance, Joy, Gesima from Queensland Health & Thomas Jnr.

Deirdree Whap & Gesima Olney from Queensland Health.

Betty Tekahika, Narazeth Adidi & Selona Namok at the RU OK? Day event.

Charleeja Viti, Natasha Fujii, Kurtis Gibson & Rennee Williams

Back row: Brendan Joe, Ellie Joe & Patricia Joe. Front row: Michael Joe, Thaddeous Joe & Eric Joe with the flowers behind them.

Sisters taking their time to smell the ... bougainvillea STORY AND PIC

BY ALF WILSON Five days a week Torres Strait Islander sisters Ellie and Patricia Joe walk past colourful flowers near their residence and get emotional thinking about their home Kubin Village on Moa Island.

“At our family home on Kubin there is a lot of bougainvillea flowers like these are here and we just think of our beautiful Torres Strait Island,” Ellie said.

The family lived in South Townsville and the garden bed of flowers is situated near a railway level crossing about 100m from their unit.

The close knit sisters have to walk past the flowers twice on school days to take and pick up their sons, who attend South Townsville State School.

Ellia’s sons are Brendon, aged 12, and Michael, 10, whilst Patricia’s sons are Thaddeous, 10, and Eric, eight.

Aged 41, Ellie had another son Sesmo, 13, who attended Townsville State High School.

Patricia, aged 48, left Kubin for Townsville in 2012.

Ellie was born in Townsville but was raised on Moa and moved back to the North Queensland capital in 2006.

Committed Christians, Ellie and Patricia used to attend regular local Anglican church services before Covid struck in 2019.

“Now we have Christian fellowships at home every Sunday morning and our lives revolve around our faith and our belief in God,” Ellie said.

Members of the Joe family live on many Torres Strait islands, including Mabuiag, where the sisters and their children went for a wedding in 2020.

“Our children were born and raised here in Townsville, we were so thrilled because it was their first time to go home to Torres Strait,” Patricia said.

“That was when our cousin Sam Joe got married and we loved it.”

Sam Joe was a former Melbourne Storm NRL player who captained Moa side Mua Razorbacks to their win in the 2010 Island of Origin carnival on Badu when they beat Malu Kiwai in the final.

Now living on Mabuiag, Sam recently coached the outer islands junior team Strait Stars at the Laurie Spina carnival in Townsville.

The family also keeps on eye on other carnival teams who have competed over the years such as Arkai Brothers and Goemu Bau Raiders, who won the 2023 Island of Origin series.

In Townsville they all barrack for the North Queensland Cowboys and, as a bonus, their unit is just a few hundred metres from the giant Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

“The boys went down there yesterday and took some pictures of the Cowboys players training before the last fixture of the season,” Ellie said.

“Our sons play for Souths Junior Club in the local junior comp.”

The sisters also love going fishing as a family and having barbecues along the scenic Strand.

“Our other sister Sarah also comes to barbecues and we all go fishing at nearby Ross Creek and have caught snapper, bream and other species,” Patricia said.

“Our favourite seafood is prawns.”

The sisters also enjoyed walking along Palmer Street in Townsville where there were many quality eateries.

A few times a week, they said they go to either the Shamrock or Bellevue Hotels for a meal.

The Bellevue Hotel was 30m across the road from the flower garden.

“The patrons there always look out to ensure we are safe when we walk over the level crossing,” Ellie said.

Hotel patrons were glowing in their praise of Ellie and Patricia.

“They are the most delightful, courteous and well-liked people you would ever meet,” long-time patron Peter told the Torres News.

NEWS 15

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023

Islanders take lead roles in DanceRites comp

Sani Townson & Elma Gada Kris. Pics supplied.

ABOVE & ABOVE RIGHT: Lockhart River’s Kawadji Wimpa Dance Group performing at DanceRites in 2019. Pic by Jaimi Joy.

An all-star judging panel led by NAISDA-trained dancer Sani Townson (Koedal, Dhoeybaw, Samu Saibai Island) and 2019 NAIDOC Artist of the Year Elma Gada Kris (Wagadagam Kigus, Kai Dangal Buai, Sipingur) will cast their eyes over contestants at DanceRites in Sydney in November, at Australia’s only national dance competition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups.

Twenty-five dance groups and more than 350 performers from over 30 nations and clans across Australia were expected to take to the Opera House

forecourt in a joyous celebration of First Nations music, dance and culture.

Two days of competition, with heats on Saturday 25 November and finals on Sunday 26 November, will see each group present a Cultural Dance and Song cycle representing their local storytelling and language, with many also performing an optional ‘Wildcard’ dance to showcase their unique style.

Groups will be judged by on their technical dance skills, engagement with language and culture, skin-markings and traditional instrumentation.

Several Torres Strait

groups will compete at DanceRites 2023 for the total of $36,000 in prizes, which include group awards for the winner and runner-up, as well as a separate prize for the best ‘Wildcard’ dance.

Two Rites of Passage awards will also acknowledge individuals’ outstanding contributions to revitalising cultural knowledge and practice.

Competitors include: • AFL Cape York Aboriginal Dance Team (Umpila and Djabugay/Yirrgay, QLD) • Boigu Island Dance Group (Karbay/Baidham, Torres Strait Islands) • Eip Karem Beizam

•

• •

• • •

(Meriam, Torres Strait Islands) Kutaw Zoeru Torres Strait Island Dance Group Brisbane (Koedal, Torres Strait Islands) Muimuu Bumer Gedlam (Peiudu, Torres Strait Islands) Ngagalayg Kabaw Buway (Baidham Augadhalaig Moegi Buai Tribe, Torres Strait Islands) Ngaran Ngaran (Walbunja, Djirringanj and Ngarrigu, NSW) Of Desert and Sea (Yankunytjatjara, SA) Sundowners Kalkutungu Dancers (Kalkutungu, QLD)

• Swan Hill Aboriginal Dance Group (Wemba Wemba, VIC) • Walanmarra Malungan (Wiradjuri, NSW) • Warradhaa Dancers (Wiradjuri, NSW) • Yalanji Warra (Kuku Nyungkal, QLD) • Yangkay Cultural Connect (Ngemba, NSW) • ALLKUMO Malpa Paman (Southern Kaantju and Ayapathu, QLD) • ANPY Central Desert Mob Dancers (Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantatjara and Yankunytjatjara, NT) • Brolga Dance Academy (Gamilaroi and Murrawarri, NSW)

Gathering Voices Media and Arts Festival 2023 Friday 20 October to Saturday 21 October 2023 ANZAC Park, Thursday Island Activities:

Media Workshops, Inspiring Voices Music Concert, Zenadth Kes Film Festival Mabu Mabu Food Experience featuring Nornie Bero

• Budaabang Bari (Budaabang, NSW) • Deaf Indigenous Dance Group (Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, QLD) • Dinawan’s Connection (Ngemba, NSW) • Dunghutti South West Rocks (Dunghutti, NSW) • Giingan Yiiliwiyay Dancers (Gumbaynggirr, NSW) • Gumaraa Dancers (Gadhu, NSW) • Maarli Nhuuhngkhus Pikilarna maarni Men & Women dance and sing (Ngympyiaa, Barkindji & Maaura, VIC) • Ngadju Dancers (Ngadju, WA)

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TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023

Principal Advisor (Stakeholder Relations)

Customer Services Safety & Regulation Department of Transport and Main Roads Salary: $ 117,662 - $ 126,011 per annum Location: Cairns Job Reference: QLD/514541/23 Key Duties: Join the Torres Strait Islands Marine Infrastructure Program (TSIMIP) team in Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) and contribute to safer, more accessible and resilient marine infrastructure for the region.

Skills/Abilities: Develop and implement engagement plans and strategies for community and stakeholder engagement with Torres Strait Islanders and local councils. Applicants should have excellent written and oral skills and high level project management and administrative skills.

Enquiries: Peter Wood (07) 3066 3620. Or visit smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-514541-23 Closing Date: Friday, 13 October 2023

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SPORT 17

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023

Strong team spirit leads AFL across the region St Paul’s.

Injinoo.

AFL ROUND UP

BY AFL CAPE YORK DEVELOPMENT OFFICER KEIRAN SCIBERRAS The team from AFL Cape York delivered a full-on Aussie rules football program for around 150 kids across five schools in the Torres Strait and NPA during two months of this year’s third term.

It began with an Auskick program at schools at Bamaga, Injinoo, Badu Island, St Paul’s and Kubin, where kids from kindy to Year 12 had access to more than 130 in-school and community footy sessions.

From the Tagai and NPA state colleges, nine students played at the North Queensland AFL diversity championships in Cairns.

Boys and girls footy players from Cape York and the Torres Strait joined students from AFL Cape York House for Boys and AFL Cape York House for Girls to take on Cairns and Townsville in the multi-day event.

A round-robin carnival, tours of AFL House’s boarding facilities and performance testing sessions were on the cards for the young people during the four-day event.

Torres Strait players were supported by the Torres Shire Council.

REPRESENT Sulia Ingui (Injinoo) was selected to represent Queensland at the

School Sport Australia 12-years and under Australian Football Championships.

While in Brisbane, representing the Queensland Blaze, Sulia took part in training and recovery sessions toured the Brisbane Lions’ AFLW facilities and met some of the players.

Sulia was proudly supported by Bamaga Enterprises Ltd, AFL Cape York House Foundation and Yeronga Devils AFC.

NPA-STRONG The Annual Chris Johnson and Angie Nadredre Participation Cup saw a tightly contested carnival between teams from AFL Cape York House for Boys, AFL Cape York House for Girls, Mount St Bernard College, Tagai State College and Northern Peninsula Area State College at Yusia Oval in Bamaga.

AFL Cape York House for Boys took out the boys division, while AFL Cape York House for Girls took home the silverware for the girls.

The under-12 Crusader Cup carnival on Waiben saw 55 students from NPA State College, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School and Tagai State College play in an entertaining event. NPA State College Crows, made up of students from Years 5 and 6, took out first place at the carnival.

This event was proudly supported by CEQ IBIS. NPA State College was also among four other schools invited to the Crusaders Community Development Camp in Coen.

The three-day event saw young people

All NPA Diversity U15 Tagai NPA.

from across the Cape engaging in education sessions, team-building activities and the Central Cape Crusader Cup Carnival.

CAPE YORK HOUSE Students and staff from AFL Cape York House for Girls and AFL Cape York House for Boys visited school campuses across the NPA to deliver in-school football sessions this term.

This was an opportunity for young people from AFL House to give back to community and to engage with the next generation of potential footy players.

Back at Yusia-Ginau Oval in Bamaga, over 250 participants from across the NPA played at the annual ‘No-school, No-play’ Colour run, barbecue and football clinic.

The event was used as a tool to encourage positive behaviours and school attendance with students and staff from AFL Cape York House running the big community event.

Mistee Sagigi was among 20 girls selected to represent North Queensland at the Gold Coast Suns Academy Championships on the Sunshine Coast.

Mistee’s under-14 team will take on teams from the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane North and Brisbane South.

Throughout the camp, teams will undertake recovery sessions, advanced AFL training sessions, team-building activities and match reviews.

Mistee was proudly supported by the Torres Shire Council and the AFL Cape York House Foundation.

U14 Suns selected player Mistee with her Mum at NQ Diversity.

All U12 Crusader Cup participants – TI.

Sulia Ingui

Tagai, NPA Diversity Boys.

Tagai, NPA Diversity Girls.

St Paul’s.

Kubin.

U15 Diversity Tagai, NPA & AFL House.

18 SPORT

THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023 TORRES NEWS

Mulga contests Murri comp Sonia NBL1 West champion

BY ALF WILSON

BY VELMA GARA

Badu Island side Mulga was one of 26 men’s teams who contested the 12th annual Arthur Beetson Foundation Queensland Murri Carnival in Redcliffe last weekend.

Titans and Queensland Maroons forward David Fifita was the official Carnival ambassador for 2023.

Mulga coach was respected Waiben-based rugby league official Terry Abednego.

The open men and women sections started last Friday and the finals were on Sunday.

Games were held at Kayo Stadium and the adjacent Dick “Tosser” Turner Sporting Complex.

Men’s section winners Michael Purcell Memorial (formerly Purga Wagtails) will meet the victor of the NSW Knockout in the 2024 Murri v Koori Challenge.

Going above and beyond has paid off for Sonia Townson who has earned an NBL1 West Club Person of the Year award for her contribution to the Goldfields Giants in West Australia.

She now holds the Noelene James Trophy, given every year to the person who has dedicated endless efforts and support, in her case, to the Giants Basketball Club.

Sonia was the club’s first team manager.

She was with the club for seven years as player liaison before being appointed as NBL1 team manager.

Sonia was well-known for going above and beyond, especially with travelling to games in Perth.

She said the road trips from the eastern town of Kalgoorlie were about sixand-a-half-hours one-way.

Although her focus was with the men’s team, she said she could also see there was an overall need to engage Indigenous culture.

“I wanted to uplift our Indigenous representation by acknowledging the first player for Goldfields Giants, Richard Bourne, who has family connections to the Eastern Islands of the Torres Strait,” she said.

The Bourne family were well-respected in the Kalgoorlie basketball community.

His daughters, Jacinta and Talisia, played in the State Basketball League in WA with the Rockingham Flames.

Sonia said she reached out to Talisia to play with the NBL1 team this season and she designed their First Nation Round uniform for 2023, which incorporated the history of Goldfields Giants.

Goldfield Giants have played representative basketball since 1990 in the State Basketball League and won the championship back-to-back in 2007 and 2008.

ABOVE: Ben Barba in action for winning team Michael Purcell Memorial team in the QMC grand final.

BELOW: Jon Reuben was on-side for runners-up Darkies Connection in the QMC final.

Pics by Erick Lucero/QRL.

Brenko Lee in action for Mulga.

Mulga coach Terry Abednego (second from right).

Sonia Townson with her club award. Pics supplied.

The Goldfields Giants’ Indigenous jersey created by Talisia Bourne. Pic supplied by NBL1 West.

It’s been many years since finishing high on the ladder – their men’s and women’s team both finished 11th in the recent NBL1 West season.

As the biggest region in Western Australia, Goldfields extended from Warakurna Aboriginal community to the north toward the NT border, Junjunjarra to the east toward the SA border, Esperance to the south, Southern Cross to the west, toward Perth.

Sonia said their basketball reached the country towns in those areas and beyond.

She was also a support for former-Olympian and family member, Nathan Jawai, when he started playing international basketball in Russia, Turkey and the United States.

When Nathan suited up for the Perth Wildcats and won the championship in 2016, Sonia’s passion for basketball drew her to get involved in the Kalgoorlie region.

She has been a Giants board member since 2016 and a voice for First Nations people which the Giants have respected and acknowledged.

“I am big in having both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation in our Goldfields Giants Basketball Club,” she said.

“We are looking to recruit more of our mob to come this way to Kalgoorlie, it is a different lifestyle as it is a mining town, but rest assured our Indigenous community and families would love to see our mob in our teams.”

PM’s XIII wins over PNG

BY ALF WILSON

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and forward Reuben Cotter were part of the winning Australian Prime Minister’s XIII men’s side who defeated their PNG counterparts the Kumuls at Port Moresby last weekend.

The Australian men’s

PM’s XIII won 30-18 at Port Moresby Stadium.

The PM’s XIII women’s team had a big win over the PNG Orchids 56-4, led by captain Tallisha Harden, who was solid in attack and determined in defence against an inexperienced PNG team.

Essay Banu played for the Orchids.

Thousands of parochial

locals turned out for the double-header.

In the men’s team were eight Rugby League World Cup-winning players, and 12 who played at Origin level this year, including Maroons Hamiso and Reuben.

Last year the Kumuls lost 64-14 to the Aussie team.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is swamped by fans during the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII team’s flying visit to PNG at the weekend. Pic by Anthony Kourembanas/NRL Images.

SPORT 19

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023

School holiday fun thanks to Nate and Deba Former basketball stars Nate Jawai and Deba George were on centre-court for school kids across Zenadth Kes this week, as part of the Torres Health school holiday program.

The pair ran through several clinics, training and skills sessions, and community hubs for kids

who were enjoying their holidays.

Nate was born in Bamaga and enjoyed a productive career in basketball here and overseas, including for the NBA. Deba was a star in the national and state scenes.

We’ll have more pics in our next issue! J

MAIN PIC: Nathan Jawai (front middle) celebrating the school holidays with Waiben kids and Torres Health staff. INSET: Deba George.

Pics supplied.

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SEPTEMBER 2023

Under 17s on their way to represent

BY DARREN MONCRIEFF

M From P1 The Torres Strait was proudly represented in Brisbane this week when two teams took on their mainland counterparts in the Under-17s National Indigenous Basketball Tournament (NIBT).

The boys and girls team representing their island communities played against sides in their age division from Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory Metro, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland North and Queensland South.

The NIBT was the on-court component of Indigenous Basketball Australia (IBA) which began in early 2020 – the brainchild of NBA star and home-island hero Patty Mills.

The under-17 teams

were the first to represent the Torres Strait in this age group.

Previous teams were from the 14s and 16s divisions.

Thomas Loban coached the boys team.

While there was no formal under-age competition on the islands, Thomas said he hoped the teams’ visit could go some way towards changing that.

Some of the teenagers played in the recent 3x3 competition run by the Wongai Basketball Association at Waiben.

“Some of the regions, like Victoria, WA and SA, have good competitions because they have a lot more programs and doing these things from a young age,” he said.

“For our teams to be able to go down there for this is pretty good; I hope the girls and boys go pretty good.”

Monday to Saturday until 30 September

OCTOBER 2023

Monday, Wednesday & Friday Peddells ferry operating daily services on Monday 2nd October – King’s Birthday Public Holiday

THURSDAY ISLAND to SEISIA: Depart 6.30AM & 2.30PM SEISIA to THURSDAY ISLAND: Depart 8AM & 4PM “Linking the Cape with the Torres Strait”

The Torres Strait Under-17s boys and girls teams prepare to leave Waiben for Brisbnane to play at the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament.

Boarding strictly 15 mins prior to departure

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RESERVATIONS ESSENTIAL – TICKET ONLINE www.peddellsferry.com.au • Passengers please pre-ticket – online, agents (or by phone: booking and change of booking fees now apply) Concession fares available, conditions apply

Coach Thomas Loban embarks on the ferry at Waiben for Destination: Brisbane with the Torres Strait youth basketball teams. Pics by Carli Willis.

OFFICE HOURS MON–FRI, 9am–12noon & 12.30–2.30pm Office closed weekends and PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. LUGGAGE – Passengers are required to take their luggage directly to the ferry with them at boarding time (1 piece under 20 kg, excess charges otherwise apply) FREIGHT – Items under 20 kg carried, conditions apply.

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20

THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2023

J EMAIL: darren@torres.news J MOBILE: 0431 148 881

Our Ezra primed for grand final

BY ALF WILSON

Ezra Mam with his mum, Tomasina Ahwang.

Confetti image designed by Creative_hat/Freepik

Ailan boy-wonder Ezra Mam will have the support of the entire Torres Strait and NPA when the Brisbane Broncos clash with Penrith in the 2023 NRL grand final in Sydney on Sunday.

Twenty-year-old Ezra shone for the Broncos when they thrashed New Zealand Warriors 42-12 in Saturday night’s preliminary final at Brisbane’s Lang Park.

Ezra scored one of the Broncos’ seven tries (at the 59th minute) and turned in a great performance in attack and defence.

Overall he formed a great combination with halfback partner Adam Reynolds and dynamic fullback Reece Walsh.

The Broncos forward pack, led by Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan, dominated up front which gave eager backs like Ezra plenty of scoring opportunities.

Ezra also had a hand in several other Broncos tries firing out the second last passes in set plays to the scorers.

The rising NRL star also became the second 20 -year-old in Broncos history to score 15 tries in an NRL season, equalling the effort of the great Wally Lewis.

A big crowd of more than 52,000 people packed in at Lang Park, included among them was Ezra’s proud mother Tomasina Ahwang along with international basketballer and Broncos fan Patty Mills.

“I watched the game and went down to the sheds along with Patty and his dad Benny to see Ezra,” Tomasina said.

“Ezra bought a Patty Mills shirt the day before and got him to sign it.”

She said she would be at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney for the grand final.

“Ezra will get six free tickets for family and I will get one of them,” she said.

It will be the first grand final for the high rolling Broncos since 2015. They last won a premiership in 2006.

Premiers of the past two years, Penrith, will go in as favourites.

In two clashes between the sides in season 2023 both have a win each.

Ezra & family with Adam Reynolds.

Pics supplied.

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