Torres News_Edition 102_12 October 2023

Thursday, 12 October 2023

Stories and events of the Kaurareg homeland of Kaiwalagal, the Torres Strait homeland and Cape York homelands of the Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthathi, Yadhaykenu and Gudang Peoples.

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Referendum Vote on Saturday J Catch all the latest news on Pages 6 & 7 N

Making waves for climate action support

Ailan Ambassadors with Senator Penny Allman-Payne, Councillor Francis Pearson & Torres Strait 8 Claimants; Ted Billy, Kabay Tamu & Daniel Billy. Pics by Karl Bouro.

BY LISA VILIAMU & WANIKI MALUWAPI* One year after the Torres Strait 8 made international legal history, three of the eight claimants came together with young people from all over Zenadth Kes for a second 2023 Ailan Pawa youth summit, and to launch the next phase of the Our Islands, Our Home campaign from Poruma last weekend.

This time last year the United Nations found the Australian Government had

violated its human rights obligations to Torres Strait Islanders by failing to act on climate change.

Twelve young leaders, known as Ailan Ambassadors, came together to plan how they could continue to make waves for climate action with the support of the Our Islands Our Home campaign.

As part of the summit, the Ambassadors hosted a powerful community storytelling event and film screening, and took part in leadership building workshops.

Councillor Francis Pearson discussing climate impacts with Senator Penny Allman-Payne They were joined by Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne and Poruma Councillor Francis Pearson,

who took them on a walk around his Ailan home to show them the impacts of climate change.

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The group said it was a moving experience and a timely reminder of the importance of the fight for climate justice in our region.

The storytelling event on Saturday evening was also a success, with all the Ailan Ambassadors taking their turn to MC and share their stories with the community.

There were performances

by Poruma Ngurpay Lag Dance Team and by guest facilitators from Kiribati and Samoa.

On the final night they watched the screening of a

documentary about the Our Islands Our Home campaign, which featured Torres Strait 8 claimant Yessie Mosby and his son Genia.

For more information see www.ourislandsourhome. com.au

* Lisa Viliamu is a campaigner for Our Islands Our Home and Waniki Maluwapi (Gibuma-Marr) is a Malu Kiwai woman, Community Organiser and Digital Storyteller for Our Islands Our Home.

More coverage & interviews in our next edition J

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Health service issues mosquito warning Torres Strait, Cape York and Northern Peninsula Area residents are being urged to take all possible precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes this wet season.

Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) Executive Director of Medical Services Dr Marlow Coates said while mosquitoes were active all year round, they tended to be far more prevalent in normally wetter seasonal

conditions between November and April.

“But no matter the time of year, our advice to local communities remains the same,’’ he said.

“The very best protection against mosquito-borne diseases is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes in the first place.

“Some mosquitoborne diseases circulate locally and are relatively common, such as Ross River fever and Barmah Forest virus disease.

“We have had five cases of each within the

health service region so far this year.

“There are also sometimes imported human cases of dengue fever which can lead to local dengue cases, although we have had no cases of dengue fever across the region so far this year.

“However, earlier in the year, we recorded five cases of malaria in the Torres Strait, the first since 2013.

“Last year, cases of Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) also were recorded in Queensland, as well as elsewhere in

Australia, and could re-occur.

“Mosquito control and public education campaigns can only do so much.

“All residents also need to do their part and take action to eliminate mosquito breeding sites on their properties and protect themselves from mosquito bites.’’

He said the risk could be substantially minimalised by following a few simple instructions.

“If you follow these simple instructions, you can minimise

substantially the risk of being bitten and infected with a mosquito-borne virus,’’ Dr Coates said.

“And remember, even mosquito bites that do not transmit diseases can be harmful.

“Bites can be very irritating and itchy, causing some people to scratch them until they break the skin, leading to secondary infection.’’

More information about mosquito-borne diseases is available at: http://www.qld.gov.au/ health/conditions/all/ prevention/mosquitoborne/index.html

Personal protective measures against mosquitoes include:

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• Wear light-coloured clothing, (long-sleeved shirts and long pants wherever possible to cover exposed skin).

• Use personal insect repellent containing DEET (di-ethyl toluamide) or Picaridin.

DEET and Picaridin are safe for use by pregnant women. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions. Repellents usually only protect against mosquito bites for up to four hours.

• Use long-lasting ‘surface’ or ‘cockroach’ insecticide spray in places where mosquitoes can hide.

• Use other mosquito protection devices such as electric zappers and mosquito coils.

• Install insect screens that are in good working order in your home and office. If not, sleep under a mosquito net day and night.

• Tip it, store it, throw it — tip out water from containers weekly, or dry store containers under cover and discard rubbish properly. Mosquitoes breed in containers that hold water. Remember, under the Public Health Act 2005, you can be fined by your local council if your home or yard promotes the breeding of mosquitoes.

To prevent skin infections from mosquito bites: • Try to avoid scratching the bite.

• Apply calamine lotion or another anti-pruritic preparation to bite areas to prevent itching.

• Keep affected limbs elevated.

• Wash hands before and after touching open wounds.

• Watch skin sores for signs of infection. If the bite areas become inflamed, clean with soap and water at least once a day, apply an antiseptic lotion and keep covered with a dry dressing. Application of a cool compress (i.e. icepack wrapped in cloth) also can reduce inflammation. If skin sores become hot, red, swollen, or painful, see your doctor immediately.

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TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023

Local businesses gather to grow Last week the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) kickstarted Indigenous Business Month (IBM) celebrations with a Speed Networking event on Waiben to connect aspiring and established business owners with various government agencies and private sector contacts, including Meriba Ged Ngalpun Mab (MGNM), who provide employment, training and small business support in yumi region.

The event was supported by the IBM theme of #ToGatherTogether.

Businesses and organisations who got behind the event included included Gur A Baradharaw Kod Land and Sea Council Torres Strait Islander

Corporation (GBK), TAFE Queensland, @ One Business, DESBT, DSDATSIP, Ergon Energy, Saltwater Blue Consultancy Services and the TSRA. Minister for Treaty, Communities and the Arts Leeanne Enoch said throughout the state this month events and

activities were expected to showcase locallyowned businesses in a call to action for First Nation businesses and suppliers to connect, share ideas, grow opportunities and further strengthen the sector.

“Indigenous Business Month is a

chance to recognise and celebrate the many First Nations businesses operating in Queensland, and their contributions to our communities and the economy,” she said.

“The Government is also developing a new, whole-of-government First Nations economic

strategy to support self-determination and economic empowerment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, peoples and communities in Queensland.

“This new strategy will align with other key partnership-based reforms and inform and support Queensland’s progress in working to Close the Gap. “We want First Nations peoples, communities and businesses to be at the forefront in progressing economic development opportunities and pathways to jobs, skills and training, education and business development across a diverse range of current and emerging sectors.”

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JOIN US TO CELEBRATE

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Bright spark: Diane’s electrical contract business a first for Zenadth Kes The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) is celebrating local business owners, such as Diane Sabatino, during Indigenous Business Month (1-31 October) and beyond.

When Diane Sabatino completed her electrical apprenticeship in 2016, she did not know that she would be the first Torres Strait Islander woman to start her own electrical contracting company in the region.

Mrs Sabatino wanted to achieve her dream of starting an electrical contracting company on Badu to create local employment and provide an essential service to her local community and others, as well as other local businesses.

While juggling her family responsibilities, she completed the TSRA’s three-part You Sabe Business workshop series.

Her journey continued when she successfully applied for a TSRA Business Growth Package, based on the strong demand for electrical services across the Torres Strait region.

This year, Mrs Sabatino established her business, Torres Strait Electrical.

She said the process had been challenging.

“I could not have done it without the TSRA,” she said.

“It was a marathon not a sprint, but having gone through the whole process with the TSRA, I can

Local business owner Diane Sabatino. Pics supplied.

Family business: Torres Strait Electrical. definitely say it was worth it.

“I am the first Torres Strait Islander woman to operate my own electrical contracting business in the region.

“My goal is to create employment opportunities to keep the next generation here lor ples (at home), because without them we have no future.

“I successfully applied for a TSRA Business Growth

Package and would like to personally eso TSRA for helping me start my own business.

“I would also like to eso my family and my community for their encouragement and support.

“Without this support, my journey would not have been possible.”

Torres Strait Electrical offers electrical installations,

repairs, maintenance, and test and tag services.

In 2023 – 24 Mrs Sabatino planned to employ a fulltime, Indigenous electrical apprentice based on Badu.

Her aim was to build a local Indigenous workforce providing electrical services to all Torres Strait communities.

TSRA Chairperson Napau Pedro Stephen AM said the TSRA continued to support local businesses through workshops, mentoring, professional advice and business support packages.

“TSRA offers year-round business support including You Sabe Business workshops, business loans, products and services to help local businesses start up and succeed,” Mr Stephen said.

“Access to business support and advice for local people is critical for creating sustainable businesses, successful industries and generating income and wealth in our region.”

Indigenous Business Month (1-31 October) was an annual celebration of Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal owned business across Australia.

This year’s theme To Gather, Together invites everyone to celebrate Indigenous business success and strengthen connections.

For more information about TSRA’s Economic Development program and products, contact economic@tsra.gov.au or (07) 4069 0700.

ART AWARD 2023 OPENING NIGHT THURSDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2023

Image Credit: Women’s Business (2023), Flora Warria.

Photography by George Serras.

For more information about the 2023 Gab Titui Indigenous Art Award, please contact: 07 4069 0888 | info@gabtitui.gov.au | www.gabtitui.gov.au

04 NEWS

THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023 TORRES NEWS

Masig gets behind second WomenSpeak

BY FLORA WARRIA

Torres Strait Islander women from Masig have enjoyed a second Womenspeak Our service provides: workshop to become • Detailed assessment part of a movement • Hands-on treatment that supports women • Exercise programs of all ages to learn the • Home-visit or in-clinic art and soul of public • NDIS physio support speaking.

• No referral needed WomenSpeak Brisbane Circle Leader and many Chantal Roelofs worked more private with Torres Strait Island health funds...

Regional Council’s (TSIRC’s) health and wellbeing to facilitate 12/10/23. _____ the first Womenspeak AdsIN E Exce lE Dummy E Visit www.zkphysio.com workshop at Warraber 16x3 colour ad @ $6.50 locals $312 incl..2034 Call rate07 4229 earlier this year, which Susan De Groot Heupner 0499 435 541 s.degrootheupmer@griffith.edu.au Email josh@zkphysio.com was a big hit with

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women of all ages.

Womenspeak provided a platform for setting up programs to help mentor and inspire women to educate themselves, to empower others and to provide an excellent platform to give women a voice.

It was also about learning to speak with confidence, clarity, and impact.

Womenspeak volunteers Susannah Mosby and Loice’ Naawi have since been working to form a women’s group on Masig to build and strengthen their relationships.

By uniting and planning activities, the women shared their gifts and knowledge with each other from weaving and cooking to sewing.

They said they were only at the start, but keen to see where it went.

Susannah said the program was beneficial because it was important for women’s voices to be heard.

Masig Womens Group leader Susannah Mosby (left) with Chantal Roelofs from Womenspeak Australia. Pics supplied.

“It teaches us the necessary skills to speak up so that we can motivate, inspire, give guidance and share our views and opinions confidently,” she said.

She said her involvement came from yarns about supporting a group on Masig with TSIRC’s Health and Wellbeing manager Aunty Ella Kris.

“Aunty Ella mentioned this workshop and asked if I was interested,” she said.

Susannah said she was glad for the opportunity to have the workshop on Masig.

“Chantal is amazing,” she said.

“She taught us some new skills, was energetic and understanding.

“She gave us tips and insights to feel the freedom and clarity to share our voice in any circumstances.

“She changed our mindset about public speaking.

“WomenSpeak is about empowerment.

“The workshop is only a few days but within that short time, it was amazing to see young women who are generally shy to get up and speak in front of us and share their thought and ideas with the group.”

Susannah said she hoped they would be able to share with their families and friends from what they had learned, so they could continue to raise strong and confident women.

“If an opportunity comes around to do Womenspeak in your community, I encourage you to get in on it.” she said.

Shekhinah Mosby, Gikana Mosby, Hilda Mosby, Nama Filitonga, Elizabeth Warria, Loice’ Naawi (kneeling), Virginia Billy, Elizabeth Messa, Retimoi Gela, Akai Mosby & Chantal Roelofs at the Womenspeak workshop at Masig.

NEWS 05

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023

Calls for better engagement on ocean health STORY AND PICS

BY CARLI WILLIS

Traditional Owners and community leaders met with representatives from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) to offer their input on how best to create a sustainable ocean plan for the region on Waiben last week.

In 2020 former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison joined 13 other nations in a global call to action to collectively commit to protecting the health of oceans while also realising their economic potential.

Now 48 nations – who speak for over 50 per cent of the world’s shorelines – have formed the ocean panel which was to inform the plan.

Chair of the Gur a Baradharaw Kod (GBK) – the Torres Straits Land and Sea Council – said a sustainable ocean economy was critical to the survival of Torres Strait Islanders.

“As people who, reside on islands, we are incredibly reliant on ocean waters or Malu, or Gur,” he said.

“As a seafaring group, people that are strongly connected to waters, that needs to be emphasised and everything else just has to hang off there.”

He said it was well known that the islands of the Torres Strait were vulnerable to climate change.

“Not just physical connection to the environment but you know, the long spiritual and historical connection that we have with our waters,” he said.

“You can’t place a value on that.

“Those are those are the things I would love to see reflected in in the plan.”

Mr David said he would also like to see better engagement with Traditional Owners.

“There’s only one group that the reference group can have a nomination from, and that’s Malu Lamar, which is our Registered

Native Title body corporate for our sea country,” he said.

A spokesperson from DCCEEW confirmed it had established a First Nations Sustainable Ocean Plan Reference Group, which included two Torres Strait Islander people.

“The department has established a non-ongoing First Nations Sustainable Ocean Reference Group to provide strategic advice on the first phase of developing the Sustainable Ocean Plan,” they said.

Masig Island man Fraser Nai, who started tourism business Strait Experience based out of Waiben, welcomed the high-level plan.

He said plastic pollution from neighbouring countries was damning to sea life in the Torres Strait.

“What is Australia’s role and responsibility in making sure we look after the ocean from a national perspective, and take into consideration all the different stakeholders – from Traditional Owners, to mining to the fishing industry to every other industry that interfaces with this beautiful sea country, which is one of Australia’s biggest selling points,” he said.

“What is the best way we can deal with all of those different variables?”

He said keeping the oceans of the Torres Strait pristine should be at the heart of the plan.

“To find the most, dignified way of serving our sea country for future generations,” he said.

He said creating more industries within the Torres Strait was crucial to addressing low employment rates.

“This is a part of our real estate, how do we create opportunities from our sea country so our young people can make a living and have a have purpose?” he said.

“Nothing gives ownership more to people more than when they start to have a buy-in and see a direct benefit to their life.”

GBK chair Ned David has called for better engagement with Traditional Owners on matters of the ocean’s health.

Strait Experience business owner Fraser Nai.

How to make your answer matter

REFERENDUM | SATURDAY 14 OCTOBER Voting in a referendum is different from an election.

1. You need to complete one ballot paper.

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

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

All Australian citizens aged 18 and over must vote.

Don’t worry if you make a mistake. Ask for another ballot paper, and start again.

Sample ballot paper

Learn more at aec.gov.au or call 13 23 26 Authorised by the Electoral Commissioner, 10 Mort Street, Canberra, ACT.

06 VOICE TO PARLIAMENT The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament referendum seeks to alter the Australian Constitution to recognise Indigenous people as the First Peoples of Australia and to create a permanent advisory body, to be known as the Voice.

To successfully alter the constitution, the proposed referendum must achieve a Yes vote

THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023 TORRES NEWS

by a national majority of voters (more than 50 per cent) from all states and territories, and a majority of voters (more than 50 per cent) in a majority of states.

This is referred to as a double majority.

If this is not achieved, the referendum will not be successful in changing the constitution.

The result of the referendum is binding,

meaning the Australian Government must act on what voters decide.

Polling booths will be open across the country on Saturday and the results will be counted on Saturday night. An indication of the outcome should be known shortly after, allowing for the count and processing of postal votes.

AT THE FORUM IN WAIBEN LAST WEEK LEFT: GBK chair Ned David.

CENTRE: That’s a Yes! from Torres Shire Council Mayor Yen Loban.

RIGHT: Director of the Cape York Institute and lead Yes23! campaigner Noel Pearson spoke passionately in support of the Voice.

Mental health warning as referendum result nears Racism and discrimination towards First Nations people has triggered a spike in suicide rates, prompting calls for support from the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), Executive Director Monica Barolits-McCabe says.

Ms Barolits-McCabe said crisis support line 13YARN had reported a 108 per cent increase in callers reporting abuse, racism and trauma between the months of March and June this year.

“It’s uglier than ever than I’ve experienced, and I think many of us have,” Ms Barolits-McCabe said.

“People are coming up, they’re challenging us – it’s like, OK, this is an Aboriginal issue, so it’s free rein [on] social media, walking down the street, [or] in your own front yards.”

Ms Barolits-McCabe said she also had concerns about the continued impact the referendum could have on communities long after the vote this coming weekend.

“There will be relief one way or another, but you can never un-ring a bell,” she said.

“The exposure to the high levels of ugliness and racism that we’ve experienced in discrimination, across all areas, where we wouldn’t normally want to see it or experience it, it is not going to just be fixed overnight.

“All the trauma is not going to go away; it’s still going to be there for quite some time.”

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the government had put about $10 million towards Indigenous Mental Health in this year’s budget, to be deployed through NACCHO. “We know through often the bitter experience of the plebiscite around marriage equality that these things do have an impact on levels of mental distress on parts of the community that are subject to an Australian vote,” Minister Butler said.

“And in that case, it was gay and lesbian Australians, and in this case will be First Nations people.

“So we have set aside money to support the mental health of Indigenous Australians through this process because we know that sometimes, at the edges, the debate can become bitter, it can become personal, it can become distressing and hurtful.”

The Black Dog Institute joined Indigenous advocates for mental health who have called on all politicians to champion a respectful referendum.

Black Dog Institute Director of First Nations Partnership and Strategy, and Gamilaroi-Gomeroi man, Dr Clinton Schultz said the organisation had seen and heard first-hand the negative impacts of the debate in communities.

“We know the tonality of the debate has a significant effect on mental health,” Dr Schultz said.

“The more divisive the debate, the greater the impact; the more respectful and inclusive, the lesser the impact.

“This referendum is a muchneeded conversation that we should not shy away from.

“But we should be aware of the risks involved in having the debate, and be proactive in reducing its potential harms.”

If you or anyone you know needs help with mental health issues contact: • Wakai Waian Healing on 1800 732 850 • 13YARN on 13 92 76 • Lifeline (24-hour Crisis Line) on 131 114 • Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 • MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 • Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 • Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 • Headspace 1800 650 890 • ReachOut @ au.reachout.com

Kaurareg Elder Milton Savage at the monument on Bedanug marking Captain Cook’s claim of sovereignty for the British crown in 1770. Pics by Carli Willis, Flora Warria, AEC, Ned David & Perina Drummond.

Yes23! visits Possession

BY CARLI WILLIS AND JENNIFER ENOSA A lone monument, which has been facing the sea since 1925, is all that marks the spot on Possession Island – called Bedanug or Tuidin by the area’s two First Nations groups – where it is believed Captain James Cook planted a Union Jack flag to claim British sovereignty over this country on 22 August in 1770.

Last week Traditional Owners took Yes23! lead campaigners Noel Pearson and Ritchie Ah Mat to a little-known island, which held an important place in this nation’s history.

Kaurareg Elder Milton Savage said it was important for ‘Yes’ campaigners carry the voices and stories of the Torres Strait on their journey to the referendum, which sought to alter the Australian Constitution to recognise Indigenous people as the First Peoples of Australia and to create a permanent advisory body, to be known as the Voice to Parliament.

“Cook came here claiming the British sovereignty, right under our Kaurareg sovereignty,” Mr Savage said.

“Noel has to understand this connection, the guidance and the knowledge of the spirits of this country, they will guide the leadership of Noel, [to] give us recognition.”

Mr Pearson, who spoke at a second referendum forum on Waiben last Friday, said he had last been to Bedanug-Tuidin in the early 2000s while working for the Cape York Land Council to assist

the Kaurareg People with their Native Title determination.

“We wanted [to] reflect on the meaning of Possession Island and those events from 1770,” Mr Pearson said of the visit. “[Constitutional] recognition is about fixing up the lack of recognition that happened in the earliest days of Australia.”

Gur A Baradharaw Kod Sea and Land Council Torres Strait Islander Corporation (GBK) hosted several of the Yes23! campaign forums in the region.

As opinion polls around the country continued to show a rise in support for the ‘No’ vote, GBK chair Ned David said the Traditional Owners he represented were focussed on ‘Yes’.

“We will never get an opportunity like this again,” Mr David said.

“So in terms of importance, there’s nothing more important than that facing us.

“We are doing our best to convince our non-Indigenous brothers and sisters, who are the voting majority in this country, to vote ‘Yes’.”

Torres Shire Council (TSC) Mayor Yen Loban supported the event and reiterated the region’s struggles with housing, health and employment opportunities.

He said TSC believed having a Voice to Parliament would help ensure issues from remote areas were heard in Canberra, 3000km to the south.

“I think the representatives from the Torres Strait [once they are selected] will do justice to Torres Strait Islanders,” Mayor Loban said.

“Closing the Gap is the most important thing that has to be done.”

Mayor Loban said Voice operations would be subject to national anti-corruption laws and members would be accountable.

He said the TSC position was one of solidarity, even though everyone in the Torres Shire region was entitled to vote in their own way.

“I’m thinking about my kids future, my grandchildren’s future and future of all First Nation people,” he said.

Torres Strait Islands Regional Council (TSIRC) Mayor Phillemon Mosby could not attend last week’s event but said they were also in support of a Voice.

“The health status of our people in our region is going from bad to worse and we have deaths in this region at unprecedented rates,” Mayor Mosby said.

“I continue to ask myself, do we have the appropriate voice that advises government because nobody seems to be listening to us.”

Mayor Mosby said he hoped a Voice to Parliament would change that.

The show of unity came after Member for Leichardt Warren Entsch denounced Mr Pearson’s support for the Voice and took a swipe at other projects lead by the ‘Yes’ campaigner.

Mr Pearson said Mr Entsch had become a national hero when he championed for the Marriage Equality Act but he had failed his First Nations constituents.

“When it comes to our issues, he’s missing an action,” he said.

VOICE TO PARLIAMENT 07

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023

Will your vote be counted? Several ‘No’ claims debunked A video opposing the Indigenous Voice to Parliament that has gone viral incorrectly says boycotting the referendum will count as a ‘Yes’ vote, an Australian Electoral Commission spokesperson says.

The claim was made by First Nations woman Mebbingarri Cindy Roberts in a video in which she encouraged people to cast a vote because, she claimed, boycotting the referendum would automatically count as a ‘Yes’ vote.

Ms Roberts, a Widjabul woman and activist from Lismore in northern NSW, said she did not support the proposed Voice.

“A lot of people out there are saying boycott – don’t boycott

because that gives them a ‘Yes’ vote, an automatic ‘Yes’ vote,” she claimed.

But the voting information Ms Roberts passed on was incorrect, Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) spokesperson Evan EkinSmith said.

“If someone doesn’t cast a vote they simply do not get a say,” Mr Ekin-Smith said.

He said voting was compulsory in Australian referendums for eligible voters aged 18 and over.

He said there had been an increase in electoral misinformation in the lead up to the referendum, including claims the referendum

would include a second question on whether Australia should become a republic, or that American voting machines would be used to “rig” the referendum result – both were false.

More false claims ...

(1) What was Claimed: The Indigenous Voice to Parliament will provide “special rights” to one race of people in Australia.

The Verdict: False. Legal and constitutional experts say the proposed Voice to Parliament will not provide anyone with “special rights” but rather provide an opportunity to Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander people to make representations to parliament on matters that impact them.

(2) What was claimed: The federal government is funding the ‘Yes’ campaign for the upcoming referendum.

The Verdict: False. The government is funding neutral civics education programs on the Voice to Parliament. Both the Yes and No campaigns are funded by private donations and were both granted tax deductibility status by the government.

(3) What was claimed: The Uluru Statement from the Heart is a 26-page document with policies including reparations for First Nations peoples.

The Verdict: False. The Uluru Statement from the Heart is a one-page document, as confirmed by its authors.

Papers released under FOI contain the statement, but also include 25 pages of background information, including minutes of meetings held with Indigenous communities, which are not part of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Local ‘no’ supporters have their say

BY CARLI WILLIS & JENNIFER ENOSA Despite the support of major institutions across the region, it is clear not everybody in Zenadth Kes is in support of this weekend’s referendum for changes to the Constitution and the establishment of a Voice to Parliament.

Wakaid Elder and Badu Island Traditional Owner Robert Sagigi said he would be vote ‘no’.

Mr Sagigi said he did not want to give others, such as an advisory body, consent to speak on his behalf.

He said he believed it would relinquish his sovereign rights.

“I never give you my inheritance … for somebody to talk on my behalf without my consent,” he said. “If I will give my consent, I want that fella to talk to me about the consent I will give him.”

Sovereignty has long been an argument for those not in support of the Voice to Parliament, but others have debunked the idea as a myth.

The Australian National University said leading Indigenous and non-Indigenous constitutional and international lawyers, such as Megan Davis, Asmi Wood, Hannah McGlade, George Williams and Anne Twomey examined the issue and agreed the Voice to Parliament could not and would not cede sovereignty.

Torres Strait Island man Harry Seriat said he was worried about the cost of the Voice to Parliament, and that it would distract the government from delivering funding into communities.

“We don’t want money to get tied up down there, we want money to get released down to the grassroots people in our local community based organisations,” Mr Seriat said. “We can deliver and tailor programs to suit our people.”

If the ‘Yes’ vote wins, the federal government would legislate on what the Voice to Parliament would look like, a move which has left the potential cost of the new body unclear.

Mr Seriat said he believed there were existing community organisations and people who were already using their ‘voice’.

“We should be empowering those voices, not giving individuals more power,” he said.

For more information about the Voice: https://voice.gov.au/

60-day prescriptions save me money and trips to town Some medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) can now be prescribed for 60 days at once, giving you twice the medication for the cost of a single prescription.

Which saves you money and time.

Have a yarn to your doctor or health worker to see if a 60-day prescription is right for you, or visit health.gov.au/cheapermedicines

Part of making Medicare stronger.

Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.

08 NEWS

THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023 TORRES NEWS

Fishers mental health focus

BY CARLI WILLIS & JENNIFER ENOSA Significant changes to fishing rules and regulations over many years have been a source of mental health stress across the industry and beyond, Seafood Industry Australia’s (SIA’s) Program Manager for Mental Health and Safety Jo Marshall says.

Ms Marshall was at a risk assessment workshop held for fisherman and fisheries workers hosted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) on Waiben last week.

She said in recent years there had been significant changes to fisheries in northern Australia.

“Regulations have changed significantly, the ways that we can fish have changed significantly,” she said.

“When we’re looking at multi-generational practices, having to change your business, and potentially for some people lose chunks of all of their businesses, is causing what we call non-traditional stressors that are pushing people towards worsening mental health.”

She said a study published in 2017 found commercial fishers experienced almost twice the

base rate of severe psychological distress than the average population.

“We know there are all of the traditional stressors, such as weather events and changes to markets, and all those types of things that affect our fisheries,” she said.

“We know they’re a stoic bunch, they’re a resilient bunch.

“We must respect that people already deeply care about their safety, they already undertake a range of practices to keep themselves safe.

“But like with any other major industry, in Australia and around the world, we want to make sure that we take what’s already happening, and, and share that information.”

Ms Marshall said that was why the SIA created the Stay Afloat mental health and wellbeing program, which had $1.5 million over two years to help build resilience into Australia’s struggling fishing industry.

She said individuals could seek help through the program but it also empowered workplaces to become trained and accredited in understanding and managing mental health in the workplace.

For more information see:

https://www.stayafloat.com.au/

A clean-up crew on Darnley Island as part of ReefClean. Tangaroa Blue is calling on volunteers for this month’s clean-up. Picture supplied.

Call out to clean up our beaches The Tangaroa Blue Foundation is inviting ocean enthusiasts to participate in the annual Great Barrier Reef Clean-up, spanning from Bundaberg to the Torres Strait throughout this month.

Now in its fifth year, the ReefClean Great Barrier Reef Clean-up was a significant community-driven event, which mobilised volunteers to clean hundreds of kilometres of coastline.

Tangaroa Blue CEO Heidi Tait said the team aimed to focus on the Torres Strait from 23-25 October.

“Over the past five years, volunteers and partners participating in ReefClean events

have removed a staggering 97.5 tonnes of rubbish from along the Great Barrier Reef,” she said.

“We are keen to see this total kick over the 100 tonnes this year.”

The clean-up call came as the Australian Marine Debris Initiative Database showed disposable plastic items still ranked among the top 10 items of litter affecting the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding waterways.

“Stewardship of the environment on a local, community level is vital to turning the tide on marine debris around the Great Barrier Reef,” Heidi said.

Volunteer opportunities were available at various clean-up sites across the reef, including on Moa Island from 23-25 October.

She said everyone was invited to register for any event at no cost.

“Participants are provided with all the gear and info they need to help make a difference on the day,” she said.

“By pulling together as a community and recording the type of marine debris that continue to impact the Reef, we’ll get the data we need to work with industry and government to solve this problem once and for all.”

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10

THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023 TORRES NEWS

YUMI College News

TA G A I S TAT E C O L L E G E Empowering Education: Insights from ACEL’s National Conference During the recent school holidays, I had the privilege of attending the Australian Council for Educational Leaders’ (ACEL) annual flagship national conference in Brisbane alongside Michael, Zoe, Paula, and Amara.

Executive Principal - Michael Ward

Our college team have hit the ground running for our final sprint in term four. There will be much to celebrate through the usual endof-year student celebration events, culmination activities, awards and graduations.

Since my last update here, we have received the report for our recent college review. This was conducted by a large team of 26 external reviewers who engaged with our staff, students and community across all campuses over a whole week.

This is the most comprehensive review of Tagai State College ever undertaken. The review summary below illustrates the scale of this exercise. I am delighted with the outcome, indicating our college is on a definite path forward of steady improvement and focused efforts.

This important review also gave us detailed feedback to inform the next steps of our improvement journey.

The executive summary is available on our college website for your information.

In my notes later this term, I will update you all here on our progress towards preparations for the 2024 school year. By the time this goes to print there will be only seven weeks remaining, with all campuses closing for the Christmas-New Year break on Friday 1st December.

My executive team leaders and I look forward to working with all of our community partners in the time ahead and meeting as many of you as possible during our times working on campus across the beautiful Torres Strait.

Michael Ward Executive Principal.

The conference, held from September 27 to 29, offered a profound and research-based exploration into the challenges and opportunities that our education system faces nationally and, indeed, globally.

Leadership emerged as a recurrent theme throughout the conference, with a focus on the enduring culture created and the depth of people development.

The adoption of Systems Leadership as our Signature Way of Working Together was aligned with the characteristics illustrated in the discussions.

The graph below, from the OECD 2022, vividly contrasts the Australian education system, known as “The Aussie Way,” revealing disparities that are evident in our public school system. This visual representation underscores the need for tailored solutions within our island

microcosms of the Torres Strait Nation.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) took center stage at the conference, posing challenges and opportunities for education akin to those faced by societies and organisations worldwide.

Notably, AI, including tools like ChatGPT, holds the potential to enhance student learning experiences.

A dedicated team is developing student materials that leverage AI to improve reading fluency and comprehension.

Head of School - Yolanda McLean

Kindy and Prep registrations now open

In the context of a rapidly evolving job market, technology and AI are positioned to empower educators by reclaiming time, allowing a more focused approach to teaching.

As we embark on preparations for 2024, we kindly remind you that children within the specified age range in the image are ready for Kindergarten and Prep registration.

The Future of Jobs report highlights the significance of preparing students for roles that don’t yet exist, with 65% of children entering primary school today expected to work in entirely new job types.

Each campus will provide updated registration packages for you to complete. Please ensure registration is accompanied by the necessary birth certificates.

As we navigate the transformative landscape of education, conferences like ACEL’s serve as beacons, guiding us toward a future where leadership, innovation, and technology converge to shape the next generation’s success in an ever-changing world.

Our dedicated Heads of Campus and Business Managers stand ready to offer guidance. Feel free to reach out directly; they are committed to supporting you throughout this process.

11

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023

Waybeni Buway

We’re pleased to announce that Miss Adams and Mr Hibbard (below) will be joining our Prep team in 2024.

Ngurpay Mudth Head of Campus Rick Cass

Special awards presented at school assembly

Queensland Police Services officials presented awards at assembly on Friday 6th October to present Junior Rugby League trophies. Notably, the Zenadth Kes Junior Rugby League received recognition as the best Junior League in Australia.

Term 3 Attendance - 280 Students Enrolled Current

75% (210 students)

Target Goal

90% (252 students daily) Positive Culture for Learning

Literacy Our Prep Team has resumed its Literacy sessions, equipped with new furniture and additional support to enhance the learning experience.

This week’s focus lesson has centered around the importance of wearing hats. As the temperature rises, it’s crucial to protect ourselves from the sun’s rays by wearing appropriate headgear.

Badhulgaw

in supporting all students. For those who require more individualized support, we provide Tier 3 intervention.

Ngurpay Lag

In the upcoming months, we are looking forward to involving our families more in our efforts and sharing how they can be more involved in their child’s learning.

Exciting times lie ahead!

Head of Campus Paula Tweedie

Positive Culture for Learning Term 3 Attendance - 127 Students Enrolled Current

84% (106 students)

Target Goal

90% (114 students daily)

Literacy We are thrilled to receive positive feedback as a campus and college, as our focus on literacy has proven to be a success. Our students have excelled in various learning areas, thanks to the evidence-based practices we’ve implemented to prepare them for the future.

Our staff use reading and spelling screeners to ensure that every student receives Tier 1 teaching at their point of need. We conduct frequent assessments to monitor their progress, and when needed, teachers plan focused Tier 2 interventions that are delivered daily by both teachers and teacher aides.

I am proud of the wonderful staff for their fantastic work

Badhulgaw Ngurpay Lag is focusing on behaviour expectations for the new school term, teaching students to be Proud Learners who are Respectful, Responsible, and Safe in their classrooms.

The school’s focus on Positive Culture for Learning has reduced behaviors that interrupt learning, and the students take pride in their work.

Head of Campus Ben Maplas Term 3 Attendance - 35 Students Enrolled Current

80% (28 students)

Target Goal

90% (32 students)

We have received grants of $10,000 and $15,000 over the past 2 years to support the preservation of our traditional language, Kalaw Lagaw Ya. We are proud to have developed a range of books and communication boards to support traditional language learning for all students.

Over the last year, the dramatic improvement in campus culture has seen our students learning to learn, often taking the initiative in their classrooms to drive their educational outcomes.

Literacy At Dauan Ngurpay Lag, our Structured Synthetic Phonics programme has shown great outcomes for our students.

The students who have high levels of attendance are progressing in leaps and bounds. The development of strong spelling and reading skills are transferring to more confidence in all areas of the curriculum, such as writing and mathematics. More importantly, their improvements are leading to great confidence in themselves.

Have a look at how amazing the first publications that have been created are! We are currently planning some exciting new steps that will engage local language speakers and artists.

Language Grants

Self-control - One of the great improvements across our campus has been the increased levels of self-control in our students. Self-control is a great skill in developing positive outcomes. Our focus is on developing students who are academically and emotionally strong. We call this: Strong Mind, Strong Heart and Strong Person

Ngurpay Lag

We also want to recognize Laura Loucks for her diligent work in applying for these grants and for promoting an inclusive approach that allows access to all.

Attendance remains a priority within our campus, with the school’s current attendance at 83.9%.

Positive Culture for Learning

Dauan

We extend our gratitude to our Community Teacher and Language Teacher Coordinator, Susan Baira, for her tireless work in translating English terms into our native language. Susan collaborated extensively with community and traditional language speakers throughout the translation process.

exception. This themed event will provide an opportunity for students to engage in a diverse range of literacy and numeracy activities on the day.

We eagerly anticipate seeing our students dressed in their costumes, prepared to participate in a day of learning and fun on Friday 3rd November.

Welcome Miss Elisala!

Dauan Ngurpay Lag this term extends a warm welcome to our newly appointed Student Welfare Officer, Miss Dengham Elisala. We anticipate her diligent efforts in aiding our campus and the community to collaborate towards better educational outcomes for our students.

Students Paiwan and Devon working on their photography skill during Art.

Student Fun Day Our students are enthusiastic about dressing up, and we anticipate the upcoming Halloween celebration will be no

Miss Colgan and Miss Elisala with students Devon, Aliyana and Thomas on the first day of term 4

12 NEWS FEATURE

THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023 TORRES NEWS

Taking a closer look at ailan kastom adoption practices After the successful opening of the Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa Program Support Office on Waiben last week, Torres News cadet Flora Warria takes a closer look at the ailan kastom of traditional adoption.

The cultural and traditional practice of thoeradhai (adoption) has been part of our ailan kastom since time immemorial.

It is of great importance in our way of life and within Zenadth Kes. This ancient practice has been passed down from generation to generation, between immediate families, extended family and kinsmen with blood ties and

connections on neighboring islands.

Its value runs deep and it is a fundamental practice here. It strengthens the family bond, the clan, and tribal kinships. Family and blood connections can also be made stronger.

Traditional adoptions and child rearing between kinsman have their own cultural protocols.They have boundaries and guidelines that cannot and must not be broken.

The traditional practice also has particular cultural protocols with particular sacred taboos. In ancient times, if protocols were broken the consequences were severe.

Three years ago the Queensland state government made this cultural

practice of adoption into prapa law.

Speaking on the third anniversary of this legislation being passed in the Queensland parliament Aunty Ivy Trevallion said it was a “taboo issue for yumpla when youpla give your pikinini away”.

There are four traditional adoption child-rearing practices, and each has its own role and guidelines to uphold and live by.

Two – Thoeradhai kazi and Kamadhin arai kazi – cannot be spoken about publicly because of cultural sacred taboos.

Kisimai kazi This way, the biological parents agree to share the responsibility of

TN0461 • 09/02/23

the child with cultural parents in raising and rearing it together within the immediate and extended family kinship. This adoption expands within and beyond the community or islands with family blood connections and extended families who also share the responsibilities of raising the child. This strengthens the family bond and the blood relationships both ways.

This age-old tradition of Kisimai kazi is still practiced to this day.

The characteristics, personality, influences and the upbringing of both parents can be witnessed throughout this child’s life.

In this adoption, the culturalfather can now grant custodianship

for the child, and a place of belonging and heritage within the family kinship, clan, tribe, and island.

Kubar yupay kazi This form of adoption is when a child, children, or anyone else is claimed or chosen by individuals or families and extended families and adopted into kinship informally, by word of mouth.

This means the person will automatically become part of the adopted family, their home and lifestyle.

This form of adoption is much more open and freer with no barriers, and it extends beyond the boundaries of family kinship, or blood.

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Ph: (07) 4069 1586 Thursday Island/Horn Island Ferry Timetable from 06/02/2023 dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ /ƐůĂŶĚͬ,ŽƌŶ /ƐůĂŶĚ &ĞƌƌLJ dŝŵĞƚĂďůĞ ĨƌŽŵ ϬϲͬϬϮͬϮϬϮϯ All TI Transfers Include Complimentary Bus Service on Thursday Island.

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IMPORTANT NOTE: - We will ALWAYS meet any QANTAS and Skytrans flight from Cairns - should extra services be scheduled (eg School Holidays) we will add services that may be outside this schedule. For late flights - you MUST have a booking

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.

For late flights – you have a booking.

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SUN

Ex-smoker and -drinker John Barsa reading the Torres News in his hometown of Townsville.

Ex-smoker/drinker feeling ‘much better’ STORY AND PIC

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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Office hours are Monday to Friday - 08:00 - 17:00 - Please consider these hours to make bookings - our office is not manned outside of these ŽŽŬŝŶŐƐ ĂƌĞ ĞƐƐĞŶƚŝĂů ĨŽƌ ϭϴ͗ϬϬͬϭϴ͗ϭϬ ĨĞƌƌLJ DŽŶͲ&ƌŝ͕ ĂŶĚ ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ Ϭϲ͗ϭϱͬϬϲ͗ϮϬ Θ ϭϯ͗ϰϱͬϭϰ͗ϬϬ hours and we can not look up bookings or emails. We answer the phone whilst the ferry is running, but please try to book during office hours.

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As a teenager, and well into his 40s, John Barsa smoked heavily before he began to feel very unhealthy.

So in 2011 this proud Torres Strait Islander decided to quit, and he hasn’t touched a cigarette since then.

“I have been 12 years since I had a smoke, I feel so much better and am living life to the fullest,” John said.

Now 59, John has lived in Townsville for 30 years and wanted to educate youngsters and adults that smoking was not good for their health in the long term.

“Not only has my lifestyle improved but I have saved heaps of money over the years – a lot of money, as smokes cost heaps and the price is going up all the time,” he said.

John has also quit drinking alcohol, but was still a regular at the Kirwan Sports Club.

“I drink soft drink or water but still enjoy going down the club and meeting lots of people,” he said.

He said he never felt like a cigarette, even if people near him were having a puff and the smoke was around him.

“No I never feel like a smoke these days and I am so happy,” he said.

Quietly spoken John also was part of a vibrant Mer Island community in Townsville.

“I keep in touch with relatives on Mer and around the Torres Strait a lot on the phone and get up there regularly – I hope to get back up there soon,” he said.

To keep up with what was going in the Torres Strait, John said he liked to read the Torres News.

13

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023

Gathering Voices Media and Arts

Tuesday, 17 October

Community Workshop Program (Pre-Festival)

Festival 2023

AFTRS Film Workshop Port Kennedy Association Hall

9:30am – 12:30pm

Facilitator: Cornel Ozies Who: Community (limited places)

Dance Workshop with Pryce Centre for Culture and Arts TRAWQ Community Hall

3:30pm - 5:30pm

Community Workshop Program (Pre-Festival)

Facilitator: Cleo & Rita Pryce Who: Young people (12-26yrs)

Community Workshop Program (Pre-Festival)

AFTRS Film Workshop

9:30am – 12:30pm

9:30am – 12:30pm

Island Stars

Facilitator: Cornel Ozies Who: Community (limited places)

3:30pm - 5:30pm

Dance Workshop with Pryce Centre for Culture and Arts

Additional Workshops:

Zenadth Kes Youth Choir supported by Jade Bligh

10am 2pm

Tagai Primary

3.30pm 5.30pm

Facilitator: Dennis Fay Who: Aspiring young film makers

Koori Mail Journalism Workshop

Koori Mail Journalism Workshop

TSIMA Office

6.00pm - 8.00pm

ANZAC Park

9:30am - 12:30pm

Festival Newsroom Makem Music Contemporary Dance Songwriting

• • • •

Arts & Culture Mabu Mabu Salty Monkeys Graffiti Lane

Youth Arts Concert featuring Kee’Ahn and Zenadth Kes Youth Choir 12:45pm - 1:30pm

Salty Monkeys Film Workshop 3.30pm - 5.30pm

Facilitator: Dennis Fay

Who: Aspiring young film makers

Artist Networking Event & TSIMA Logo Launch REGISTER AS A LOCAL ARTIST

(registrations required)

Media Industry Forum

Salty Monkeys Film Workshop

Port Kennedy Association Hall 10am - 12pm Featuring a panel of media experts; AFTRS, NFSA, Koori Mail, Batchelor College and hosted by TSIMA

12pm -2pm

7pm – 10pm

Featuring films made by Torres Strait Islander Creatives and Premiere Screening of Katele by John Harvey, winner of the Best Short-Documentary Film in Australia.

Tagai College & Community 3.30pm - 5.30pm Facilitator: Dennis Fay Who: Aspiring young film makers

Inspiring Voices Concert

The Taste of Mabu Mabu

ANZAC Park 7pm – 10pm Christine Anu, Kee'Ahn, Northern Xposure, Daniella Williams, Jack Bani, Jessie Lloyd, Lingu Karay Women's Choir, Zenadth Kes Youth Choir, Airileke Ingram, guests and community artists.

BOOK TO JOIN Cost: $80pp

Torres Strait Islander Chef from SBS “The Cook Up”, will showcase our local ingredients

“The Gathering Voices Festival is brought to you by TSIMA, with the support of:”

Dread Sound

Zenadth Kes Film Festival ANZAC Park

Who: Musicians and songwriters

Bowls Club

Tagai College & Community

5:30pm - 6:30pm

Tsima

Festival Program

Rotating Media Workshops

Who: Artists of all genres (by invitation)

6.00pm 8.00pm

Getano Bann will host 1:1 support and mentoring for musicians and songwriters pre-festival.

Saturday, 21 October

Festival Program

Bach Beach

Tagai College High School

Music Support & Mentoring

Who: Aspiring writers and journalists

Friday, 20 October

ANZAC Park

TSIMA Office

Afterschool Workshop 3:30pm - 5:30pm

Facilitator: Cleo & Rita Pryce Who: Young people (12-26yrs)

Who: Aspiring writers and journalists

12pm - 1pm

Who: Primary school students

Salty Monkeys Film Workshop Tagai College & Community

12pm - 2pm

Who: Community

Facilitator: Cleo & Rita Pryce Who: Young people (12-26yrs)

Dance Workshop with Pryce Centre for Culture and Arts

• • • •

Port Kennedy Association Hall

TRAWQ Community Hall

Facilitator: Cornel Ozies Who: Community (limited places)

TRAWQ Community Hall

National Film and Sound Archives Workshop

AFTRS Film Workshop

Wednesday, 18 October

Port Kennedy Association Hall

Thursday, 19 October

14 NEWS

THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023 TORRES NEWS

Big crowd for Garmai in Waiben The tombstone unveiling of the late Garmai Robert Martin John Trevallion drew a large crowd of family

and friends at the cemetery on Waiben.

The traditional practice took place on Saturday 23

Billy Oui, Malakai Sebasio-Murray, Melanie-ann Sebasio–Fuller, Mackapilly Sebasio, Sunni Sebasio, Rothana Sebasio, Silas Sebasio, Seini Sebasio & David Sebasio.

Pics supplied.

Brisbane comes together for Thomas Thomas Sebasio’s tombstone unveilling was held on Saturday 30 September in Brisbane,

bringing the Torres Strait Island community together to connect and share memories, meet new

families, and reconnect with each other in a beautiful setting with traditional kai kai and dance.

Pic supplied by Minister Shannon Fentiman.

ABOVE & BELOW: Celebrating the life of the late Thomas Sebasio.

Feast table.

Pic supplied by Minister Fentiman.

Mackapilly & Seini Sebasio.

Procession at the tombstone unveiling.

Pics supplied.

September and was attended by those who remembered him and whose family ties in the Torres Strait run deep.

ART NEWS & CLASSIFIEDS 15

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023

Jeremiah stars in crime music classic ‘Chicago’ CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Contact us J M: 0419 828 639 J E: ads@torres.news

The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) is a Commonwealth statutory body located on Thursday Island, delivering a wide range of services to Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people living in the Torres Strait region.

Project Manager, Healthy and Safe Communities (Expected Vacancy) EL1 SALARY RANGE $106,801 – $129,949 LOCATION – THURSDAY ISLAND Plus 15.4% superannuation, district allowance, housing subsidy, and leave fare allowance (payable after 12 months’ service).

TSRA subsidised housing may be available.

The EL1 Project Manager position will oversee the management of the Healthy Communities and Safe Communities Programs.

The Project Manager will coordinate strategic policy advice from working groups that assist the TSRA. You will lead a small grants and contracts team who manage a range of projects and initiatives, including grants for social support services, legal services and other direct initiatives targeting healthy lifestyles.

Jeremiah Pau and Kylie Ball at Chicago rehearsals. Pics courtesy of NQOMT.

Chookas to Jeremiah Pau who is a director of the production, Chicago the Musical, playing this week at the Townsville Civic Theatre.

Set in the jazz age, the musical is about criminals and crimes,

including murder and corruption.

Rehearsals kicked off in July this year after auditions were held in June at the North Queensland Opera and Music Theatre (NQOMT) Hall.

Jeremiah said he was excited about NQOMT bringing the

razzle dazzle to the stage after the opening night last week. He shared the director and choreographer roles of Chicago with Kylie Ball and nearly 40 cast members.

The show’s final performances were set for tomorrow night and on Saturday.

Applications close at 11:30pm, Sunday 22 October 2023. To Apply: • View this vacancy on our website at https://tsra.nga.net.au/ and apply online.

• If you do not have access to the internet please contact the HR Team on (07) 4069 0700.

For further information please contact contact Charles Turner on 0439 776 441 or email Charles.turner@tsra.gov.au

The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) is a Commonwealth statutory body located on Thursday Island, delivering a wide range of services to Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people living in the Torres Strait region.

LEFT: Jeremiah Pau and Kylie Ball at Chicago rehearsals. RIGHT: Jeremiah Pau.

Content creator program winners Fifteen of the country’s emerging First Nations social media talent, including Royston Sagigi-Baira, Samuel Savage/Tainga Toa and Sené Maluwapi, have been selected by Instagram and Screen Australia’s First Nations Department for the third edition of its successful First Nations Creator Program.

This year’s winners will take part in the initiative aimed at accelerating First Nations talent and amplifying diverse voices in the social media landscape as they participate in a series of dedicated workshops and training sessions later this month, covering a

Image by Melissa Smith-Haimona, 2021 First Nations Creators Program participant. range of valuable skills about building their brand and business.

The First Nations Creator Program was an initiative in partnership between Screen Australia’s First Nations Department and Instagram Australia.

Meta Australia and New Zealand Creator

Partnerships Lead Kirsty Wilson said they were proud of the program.

“We’re really proud to see this program thrive in its third year,” she said. “With a goal to empower First Nations Creators, this Program aims to equip these talented individuals with the information and tools

they need to grow their online communities and build their brands and careers.

“We can’t wait to see them continue to flourish.”

The Program’s ultimate aim was to foster long-term career opportunities in the realms of social media and digital content creation.

The other selected recipients of the 2023 First Nations Creator Program were: Bree Buttenshaw, Brooke Scobie, George Coles, Jayden Oakley, Katerina Roe, Kylan Ambrum, Matilda Langford, Molly Hunt, Nartarsha Bamblett, Olive Snell, Shania Watson, and Tibian Wyles.

Senior Natural Resource Management Officer (SNRMO) – Ranger Supervisor APS6 SALARY RANGE $83,311 – $95,698 LOCATION – TOP WESTERN CLUSTER (SAIBAI, DAUAN, BOIGU) & EASTERN CLUSTER (ERUB, MER, UGAR) Plus 15.4% superannuation, district allowance, housing subsidy, and leave fare allowance (payable after 12 months’ service).

The TSRA Land and Sea Management Unit (LMSU) is seeking suitably experienced, enthusiastic, and motivated persons to fill 2 positions available as SNRMO - Ranger Supervisors for Top Western cluster and Eastern cluster.

As a SNRMO - Senior Ranger Supervisor, you will supervise a large team of APS1-3 Rangers and APS5 Ranger Supervisors within your Island cluster.

You will be responsible for strategic and operational planning with the Project Manager (Planning and Policy) and Project Manager (Ranger Operations) with contributions from other Project Managers within LSMU. Your Ranger teams will be responsible for caring for land, sea, and people, recording Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and working with scientists to collect and report information that will contribute to the state of environment.

Applications close at 11:30pm, Sunday 22 October 2023. To Apply: • View this vacancy on our website at https://tsra.nga.net.au/ and apply online.

• If you do not have access to the internet please contact the HR Team on (07) 4069 0700.

For further information please contact contact Damian Miley on Tel: 0428 781 140.

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TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023

The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) is a Commonwealth statutory body located on Thursday Island, delivering a wide range of services to Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people living in the Torres Strait region.

Torres News @TSIMAtorresnews News and events of the Kaurareg homeland of Kaiwalagal, the Torres Strait homeland and Cape York homelands of the Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthathi, Yadhaykenu and Gudang Peoples.

Executive Officer to the CEO APS6 SALARY RANGE $83,311 – $95,698 LOCATION – THURSDAY ISLAND Plus 15.4% superannuation, district allowance, housing subsidy, and leave fare allowance (payable after 12 months’ service).

TSRA subsidised housing may be available.

The Executive Officer sits alongside the Governance and Leadership function but works directly to the TSRA Chief Executive Officer.

The Executive Officer provides daily administrative assistance and executive support to the CEO, including facilitating correspondence, briefings and workflow prioritisation. Ensuring effective diary management and inbox support, operating as an initial contact point for high level stakeholders. Maintaining records of meetings, actions arising as well as other logistical support.

Applications close at 11:30pm, Sunday 22 October 2023. To Apply: • View this vacancy on our website at https://tsra.nga.net.au/ and apply online.

EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF – DIAT ALFERINK E editor@torres.news NEWS DIRECTOR – DARREN MONCRIEFF M 0431 148 881 • E darren@torres.news NEWS & CHIEF SUB EDITOR – CHRISTINE HOWES M 0419 656 277 • E christine@torres.news

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For further information please contact contact Caitlin Paton on 0407 755 248 or email Caitlin.paton@tsra.gov.au

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NEWS & PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS Kantesha Takai, Jillian Bowie, Talei Elu, Shanella Majid, Bel Lui, Alf Wilson and Velma Gara.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Palm image by rawpixel.com

“Mina Big Esso/Thank You” On behalf of Mrs Cecilia Cook & children; Maryanne, Millar, Stanley (Jnr), Ina, Nancy, Walter, Angelina, Frank, Johnny & Poyono, grandchildren & great-grandchildren of the Late. Mr Stanley Robert (“Alo”) Cook (Snr), wish to extend their sincere gra�tude to all families & friends for their love, prayers, condolences & support, who has contributed in their own special way during our �me of bereavement.

We would like to say big esso & acknowledge the following local businesses who have kindly contributed & assisted during the funeral arrangements: Local Businesses: J Waibene Indigenous Funeral Services (WIFS) • Mr Allen G. Reid & Mr Barry Williams J Community Enterprise QLD • Mr Fred Gela & Mr David Curran J TI Butchers • Management & Staff J Torres Shire Council J Petrou’s Pty Ltd • Ms Adoulla Petrou J TSIRC & NPARC J TSIMA Radio J TI Hire Car J Disability Support Services J Kazu Pearl Farm (Friday Island) • Mr. Takami & Ms. Rhonda Shibasaki J TI Main Events • Mr. Michael Bon Special acknowledgement to Pastor. Wilson David & fellow Church Members of United Pentecostal Church (UPC) for conduc�ng the funeral service.

And a special big esso to all the Hunters & Families who have contributed towards kaikai.

If we have missed anyone, we apologise but know that we are truly grateful for your contribu�ons.

VACANT POSITION FULL TIME RECEPTIONIST

Level 2.1 SACS Award dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ /ƐůĂŶĚ :ƵƐƚŝĐĞ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ĂƌĞ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĞŶŐĂŐĞ Ă &Ƶůů dŝŵĞ ZĞĐĞƉƚŝŽŶŝƐƚ ƚŽ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƚŝǀĞ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ DĂŶĂŐĞƌ͘ dŚĞ ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ :ƵƐƚŝĐĞ 'ƌŽƵƉ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ ǁŽƌŬƐ ƚŽǁĂƌĚƐ ƌĞĚƵĐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŽǀĞƌͲƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƚŝŽŶ ŽĨ dŽƌƌĞƐ ^ƚƌĂŝƚ /ƐůĂŶĚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ďŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů ŽĨĨĞŶĚĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ǀŝĐƚŝŵƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐƌŝŵŝŶĂů ũƵƐƚŝĐĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌLJ ŽĨ ĐŽƵƌƚ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ͕ ƌĞĨĞƌƌĂůƐ ƚŽ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂůůLJ ĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ƚŽ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ŽĨ ůŝĨĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵƌƚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ǁŝĚĞƌ ĐƌŝŵŝŶĂů ũƵƐƚŝĐĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ͘ ƉƉůŝĐĂŶƚƐ ŵƵƐƚ ŚĂǀĞ ĂŶ KƉĞŶ ͲĐůĂƐƐ YƵĞĞŶƐůĂŶĚ Driver’s >ŝĐĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŚĂǀĞ Žƌ ďĞ ĞůŝŐŝďůĞ ƚŽ ĂƉƉůLJ ĨŽƌ Ă tŽƌŬŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ůƵĞ ĂƌĚ͘ ZĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ ƚƚƌŝďƵƚĞƐ͗ • ĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ ĂďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ĞĨĨĞĐƚŝǀĞůLJ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚĞ ǁŝƚŚ dŽƌƌĞƐ ^ƚƌĂŝƚ /ƐůĂŶĚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ďŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů ƉĞŽƉůĞƐ͘ • ĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ ĂďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ǁŽƌŬ ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚůLJ͕ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ Ă dĞĂŵ ĂŶĚ ƵƐĞ ŝŶŝƚŝĂƚŝǀĞ͘ • ^ƚƌŽŶŐ ƌĞůĂƚŝŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ ĞdžŝƐƚ ǁŝƚŚ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ŶŽŶͲŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ĂŐĞŶĐŝĞƐ ƐŽ ƚŚĂƚ ĞĨĨĞĐƚŝǀĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŝŵĞůLJ ƌĞĨĞƌƌĂůƐ ĂƌĞ ŵĂĚĞ͘ • EĞƚǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƐƚĂŬĞŚŽůĚĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƌƐ͘ ,Žǁ ƚŽ ƉƉůLJ͗ ĨƵůů WŽƐŝƚŝŽŶ ĞƐĐƌŝƉƚŝŽŶ ŝƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ŽŶ ƌĞƋƵĞƐƚ͘ ƐƚĂƚĞŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ŶŽ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ Ϯ ƉĂŐĞƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ŚŽǁ LJŽƵ ƐĂƚŝƐĨLJ ƚŚĞ ZĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ ƚƚƌŝďƵƚĞƐ͘ ůŽƐŝŶŐ ĂƚĞ͗ ϭϵ KĐƚŽďĞƌ ϮϬϮϯ͘ WůĞĂƐĞ ƐĞŶĚ LJŽƵƌ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ ƚŽ͗ ŵŽƐ >ĞǁŝŶ DĂŶĂŐĞƌ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ /ƐůĂŶĚ :ƵƐƚŝĐĞ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ŽƌƉŽƌĂƚŝŽŶ ϭϬ WĞĂƌů ^ƚƌĞĞƚ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ /ƐůĂŶĚ Y> ϰϴϳϱ DŽďŝůĞ͗ ϬϰϮϵϲϬϬϮϱϴ ŵĂŝů͗ ĂŵŽƐΛƚŝĐũŐ͘ŽƌŐ͘ĂƵ

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula regions. We pay our sincere respects to the Elders and the Peoples of the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula Area, across whose traditional lands and seas we report.

This newspaper is dedicated to recognising, preserving and promoting the traditional cultures and customs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of these regions.

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SPORT 17

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023

Popular Jillaroos on Waiben for tropical training session M Continued from P20 “We always see them on TV so to have them here shows our kids that we’re not that isolated,” Elsie said. “They are the first Australian national team to visit us, complete.

“We’ve had individuals from other national teams in the past but not their full teams.”

Next question, why stop at the Jillaroos, Elsie?

“That’s right!” she said.

“Let’s get the Broncos men’s and women’s teams here, the Boomers, we’d love for all of them to come up, too.

“I’m sure there’s a list for all the teams that could come up because now they’ve seen it can be a success.

“This has set a precedent for other teams and other sports codes to follow, in that we do have the facilities and infrastructure to host them, and that we as a community can cater to them.”

Elsie Seriat with Shaylee Bent.

Kennedy Cherrington was roped into ‘aunty’ duties.

Kids and adults alike line up to get an autograph.

Jillaroos Isabelle Kelly (left) & Tarryn Aiken with a young fan.

The Jillaroos and a field full of kids played a game of Touch football. Pics thanks to NRL Photos.

May Seriat & Talisha Harden.

Students and community take to Auskick on Erub

BY AFL CAPE YORK DEVELOPMENT OFFICER KEIRAN SCIBERRAS

Year 11 AFL Cape York House for Boys student, Cairns Eagles player and Erub local Masie Mosby was on hand for the after-school session to help the students with their footy skills.

Masie was a great role model for the kids and was a perfect example of the opportunities out there with hard work and doing the right thing.

For him to volunteer his time to help out, before flying back to Cairns for school, was outstanding.

On the last day of the

visit, students performed traditional dance for visiting staff and received prizes from the Gold Coast Suns, Brisbane Lions, Williamstown (junior) football clubs and from the team at AFL Cape York.

This week, the game development team was headed off to work with school students at Mer and Masig.

AFL Cape York thanks the Torres Strait Youth Recreational Sporting Association and Tagai State College for supporting the outer island clinics this term.

Ailan Life Photo Competition ENTER & WIN! Pic courtesy of Nadja Mack.

Erub last week played host to in-school Aussie rules football and an after-school Auskick program delivered by AFL Cape York.

For a lot of the students, it was their first time playing Aussie rules but they were quick

on picking some of the skills.

After learning the basics in school students had the option of attending after-school football training where they played one-on-one game and group minigames. Just about every student who attended the in-school games stayed for the after-school program.

The one-hour program ended up running for around two hours and by the end of it parents, families and siblings had come to the school oval to watch.

We want to see your pic showing your Ailan Life!

Email your pic along with your name, phone number and a brief description of the pic to ads@torres.news

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 CEQ store!

Students at Erub enjoy in-school and after-school Aussie rules football clinics delivered by AFL Cape York. Pics supplied.

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.

18 SPORT

THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023 TORRES NEWS

Jade & Arthur to run in New York Taipans travel to USA

BY VELMA GARA

Jade Ware & Arthur Pitt will run the New York City Marathon with eight others as part of the Indigenous Marathon Project next month. Pics supplied.

Torres Strait Islanders Jade Ware and Arthur Pitt will run with the support of an entire Ailan nation when they tackle the 42km New York City Marathon next month.

The pair are part of a 10-strong team selected from across the country to run the iconic event.

They were part of the 13th intake of the Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP) whose charter stipulated an athletic, health and whole-of-life approach for young people in the

18-30 age range.

If they complete the iconic race, they join the less than one-per cent of the entire world’s population as marathoners.

Final selection for the event for Jade, Arthur and their fellow runners was offered to those who committed to their training throughout the year and successfully completed a 30km testrun in Alice Springs.

With many of the squad coming from non-running backgrounds, what

they learned about themselves over the past six months was to be tested when they took on New York, one step at a time, alongside 50,000 other runners.

The squad members were from diverse backgrounds – remote communities, cities, regionals towns – each with their own set of experiences, triumphs, and challenges.

It was hoped crossing the finish line at New York would propel them into their next chapter – the start of a different kind

of change-making journey.

While it may have seemed daunting, the 2023 squad drew at least some of their inspiration from the courageous footsteps of the 132 IMP graduates before them.

In 2024 the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) was due to celebrate 15 years of the IMP. Applications for the 2024 Indigenous Marathon Project Squad were due to open in midDecember.

The Cairns Taipans may be in the United States of America this week but their journey was not before notching up a win against the Brisbane Bullets, 89-86, in Round 2 of the National Basketball League last weekend.

It was a physical game in which two players, Lat Mayen (Cairns) and Aron Baynes (Brisbane) were ejected before play began in the third quarter.

In their first home game, four days earlier, the Taipans got their first win against the

South East Melbourne Phoenix, 87-80.

The far north Queensland side lost their Round 1 opener for the NBL24 season away against the New Zealand Breakers, 98-87.

Cairns and NZ were in the USA until 17 October to play NBA teams Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards.

Of the 10 NBL teams, there were only four First Nations players in this NBL24 season, and one assistant coach Kuku Yalanji man Kerry Williams for the Taipans.

The players were former-Taipan Keanu

Pinder (pictured above, thanks to NBL), now with the Perth Wildcats, Will McDowell-White for NZ Breakers, and Biwali Bayles alongside William ‘Davo’ Hickey for the Illawarra Hawks.

Wongai winners have that grinning feeling after finals PICS BY CARLI WILLIS

Kai Woodfall, Nagalayg, A-Men’s division final MVP.

Pirates’ Deba George, A-Men’s Carnival MVP.

Nagalayg’s Alana Fraser A-Women’s Carnival MVP.

Joseph Kaddy, B-Men’s division final MVP.

Pirates Rishard Sabatino, B-Men’s Carnival MVP.

A-Men’s winners Nagalayg.

Expendabelles, A-Women’s division winners.

B-Men’s champions Pirates.

A-Men’s division runners-up Pirates.

Nagalayg, runners-up A-Women’s division.

Expendables, B-Men’s runners-up.

Wongai Basketball Association’s Zenadth Kes Basketball Carnival came to a thrilling finish last weekend, after an exciting finals series.

The WBA’s biggest event saw 17 teams across several divisions playing an exciting brand of ailan basketball at the courts on Waiben.

Nagalayg won the A-Men’s division trophy while the Pirates won the B-Men’s.

In the A-Women’s, the Expendabelles was the top of the lot, with Christine Watson voted the MVP of the final.

“A big Eso to all the teams that played,” WBA said on their Facebook page.

“And congratulations to the teams that took out the Zenadth Kes carnival.

“Also a big eso to Basketball Queensland’s Bala Simon Taylor and SportsMindset, and Sis Aja and Bala TJ for the basketball clinics throughout the week with our future ‘ballers.”

SPORT 19

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2023

Ezra ready to take on a busy Zenadth Kes break

BY ALF WILSON Young NRL superstar Ezra Mam arrived on Waiben yesterday, ready and set to go fishing, conduct clinics for juniors at Ken Brown Oval, starting this afternoon from 4-5pm, and spend time with family members on Hammond Island during his week-long stay.

Ezra arrived from Brisbane with Broncos club officials and was expected to stay on Waiben, as well as spending a few days with his mum, Tomasina

Ahwang, on Hammond.

The rising star turned in a memorable performance in the NRL grand final in Sydney two weeks ago, scoring three tries in what was a heartbreaking 26-24 loss by the Broncos to the Penrith Panthers, who recorded their third straight premiership.

His heroic effort to score the hattrick in an amazing 11 minutes saw the Broncos shoot to an 18 point lead but the Panthers then fought back to get up by two points.

Tomisina told the

Reece Walsh & Ezra Mam in April this year.

Pic thanks to Broncos.

Torres News on Monday afternoon Ezra was

looking forward to the trip and meeting junior

footballers during clinics, and also to go fishing and relax after a hectic NRL season.

“A fishing trip has been arranged for Ezra and my son really likes working with youth as he wants to do that when his football career is over,” Tomasina said.

“He will be doing clinics at the oval and they should be popular.”

The Broncos enjoy fanatical support around the Torres Strait, as do the Cowboys, and being a Ailan man it was expected he would be swamped on Waiben by

Erub to field two teams in Townsville for Bindal

BY ALF WILSON Champion side Erub United will field a team at the Bindal Sharks Indigenous Rugby League Carnival in Townsville for the first time this weekend, in amongst what will be a strong field of teams.

Organised by Elia Ware, Erub United were drawn to play their first match against Kokoberra at 8am on Saturday before going up against Arrow Blood Brothers - a side with several players from the Torres Strait- at 3pm.

Eastern Warriors, organised by Max Cedar and led by former West Tigers and Cowboys halfback Robert Lui was another side with a strong Torres Strait presence in the draw.

Erub United last year took their QMC trophy back home to celebrate with their community. Pic supplied.

An Erub United women’s side were also in the comp and drawn to meet the Rachel Saltner Memorial team at 10am on Friday before facing the Palm island Barracudettes at noon.

The 37th year for the carnival, second only to

the Queensland Murri Carnival for the number of teams competing, was expected to be huge.

The men’s division were Erub United, WA Black Magic, Walkabouts, OMS, Barry Prior Memorial, Fantome Hunters,

Palm Island Gold, Palm Island Green, AZI Memorial, Black Bream Charters Towers, Yarrabah, Rachel Saltner Memorial, Burdekin Delta, Arrow Blood Brothers, Alwyn Oui Titans, Woorabinda Warriors, Jumbun

Gunyjuy, KASL United, Jim Daisy Memorial, Kokoberra, Colleen Rose Memorial, Walkabouts and Saltwater Boys.

This year marked the Walkabouts 35th entry into the Bindal Carnival.

The women’s divisions were Erub United, Eastern Warriors, Palm Island Barracudettes, Burdekin Delta, AZI Memorial, Rachel Saltner Memorial, Walkabouts and Rani’s Angels.

The top eight placed men’s sides advance to the finals while those ranked 9-16 take part in plate qualifying finals, dropping teams 17-24.

Grand finals on Sunday start with the the women’s at 3pm before the plate final at 4pm and men’s decider at 5pm.

Teams put up a great effort in Mackay carnival

BY ALF WILSON Badu Island teams Argun Warriors and Kulpiyam reached the final stages of the annual Mackay Indigenous Rugby League carnival last weekend, only to fall agonisingly short.

Kulpiyam, cocoached by Jimmy Ahmat and Roy Baira, fell to defending champs Coastal Balaz in the semi-finals, while the Warriors got as far as the quarter-finals before their untimely elimination.

Football fans were treated to an intense Torres Strait ‘derby’ when the two Badu sides crossed paths in the qualifying rounds.

A hard-fought,

Co-coach Roy Baira urges his men for a big effort during a break at the Mackay Indigenous Rugby League Carnival. Pic supplied. low-scoring affair saw Kulpiyam win 10-0.

Both had won two of their three qualifying games in the lead-up to the finals.

Despite their eliminations, there was a distinct island flavour in

the final with NRL star Dane Gagai and brother Josh leading JH United to the title.

The JH United team defeated Coastal Balaz from Townsville 36-10 to take out the trophy.

JH United enjoyed

the services of other current and former NRL players Cody Walker, Josh Dugan and Josh Hoffman.

Last year, Coastal Balaz had beaten JH United in the decider but this time the tables

were turned.

In the women’s division final, Kulpiyam were up against Coastal Neurs but were heartbroken when their opponents crossed the line three minutes from full-time to win 22-16.

Coastal Neurs included several Torres Strait players including sisters, Theophelia and Zaleah Mosby-Nona, from Waiben.

The teams were two of eight in the women’s division.

In the under-17s, the girl’s division final, Murri Gammahz defeated GH United, while in the boy’s division GH United defeated Railways 14-10.

adults and youngsters alike, many of whom considered him to be a genuine role model.

The 20-year-old Ezra last visited Waiben after the 2022 NRL season and said he loved it up here.

“This will be the third time Ezra has been up here in the last three years,” Tomasina said.

Another Bronco champion and close friend to Ezra, back Reece Walsh, was also going to travel but could

not because of sorry business.

A humble young man, Ezra was expecting to be busy with signing autographs during his trip for the many young fans who aspired to follow in his footsteps.

Ezra was also due to be interviewed on Radio 4MW. A report on his visit, including pics, will be published in the next edition of the Torres News .

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Jillaroos wow Waiben

BY DARREN MONCRIEFF

A three-day stay last weekend means the Australian women’s rugby league team – the Jillaroos – will forever hold the distinction as the first Australian national sports team to visit Waiben.

The team was put through their paces in an arduous, hour-long training session under the hot ailan midday sun at Ken Brown Oval on Sunday, as a decent crowd of adults, families, diehard football fans, curious locals and heaps of kids lapped up the team’s welcome presence.

The session was the squad’s first in preparation for the upcoming Pacific Championships, a new event in the international rugby league calendar, between rugby leagueplaying nations in the Pacific.

Teams were to play a round-robin series of games and finals over four weeks from this Saturday, broadcast free-to-air on Channel Nine.

Tallisha Harden was a late inclusion to the Jillaroos training squad and was not chosen to play their first round game against the NZ Kiwi Ferns this Saturday in Townsville.

The seven Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander players named for the side were Tamika Upton, Shaylee Bent, Keilee Joseph, Caitlan Johnstone, Jaime Chapman and Olivia Kernick. Also part of the squad was Jillaroos assistant coach Jess Skinner, who was part of the team’s 2022 World Cup triumph and one of few Aboriginal women in top-level coaching.

Australian Jillaroos coach Brad Donald said the player-driven camp was a great opportunity.

“Six Jillaroos since 1995 have

come from Torres Strait, which is an incredible representation,” he said.

“It was a great opportunity to learn more about the community and a very worthwhile experience for all the players.”

Waiben-based Elsie Seriat said the sight of the Jillaroos and a swarm of locals around them brought joy to her heart.

Elsie was one of a small army of locals who made the visit possible and included Marita and Benji Sagigi and their children, Gavin Bin Juda and Kim Mene, her own family – the Seriat and Warrior families – Aaron Bon and sons, Anthony Moynihan and the ZKJRL committee, the crew at TSIMA, Pedro Stephen and Uncle Harry Seriat.

She said it was a monumental effort to get the entire Jillaroos contingent, which included the players, the coaching staff, support staff, trainers, medics and in-house media, to the Torres Strait – all of whom worked hard to keep the news from getting out before time.

Torres News ran an exclusive preview of the team’s visit in our 5 October edition (page 14) from longtime writer Alf Wilson, who delivered with an 11th-hour scoop.

“I was overwhelmed from the community support, from those that worked together who made it happen, and for the community who turned up,” Elsie said. “I think the community was on a high; they just couldn’t believe that we had the national team training here.”

Continued P17 N

TOP: Lizzie Ware with the Jillaroos on Waiben.

BOTTOM: Bubba Joseph Passi, 1, with Jillaroo Julia Robinson. Pics thanks to NRL Photos.

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