Torres News_Edition 113_18 January 2024

Thursday, 18 January 2024

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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Cheerful BAMMOA makes Pam-Le happy Communities on Badu, Mabuiag, and Moa islands celebrated the New Year with a colorful and spiritual expression of traditional song and dance through

BAMMOA, creating ‘Pam-Le Happy’, over the new year.

The name BAMMOA represents a tradition in which communities on

Badu, Mabuiag, and Moa Islands, including Kubin and St Paul’s communities, engage in reciprocal visits as a series of day trips to spread festive cheer

through traditional island dancing and songs across the communities.

See full coverage PAGES 12 & 13 N

‘Fantastic’ festive season for police

BY CARLI WILLIS

Thursday Island Police have congratulated inner and outer island communities, saying the 2023 to 2024 Christmas break period saw the regions lowest crime rates in three years.

Acting-Officer in Charge Cory Stevens said all types of crimes and offences reported were below average compared to previous years.

police were told New Year celebrations had seen some mess from flour on the wharf, but no damage was reported.

“I probably could ask some consideration be held for the wharf [as] flour will get slippery,” he said.

“We have got to be conscious of that as well, and be conscious of Ports North [as] there are vessels there that need to respond quickly.

“But all in all, no malicious damage with flour.

“New Year, I believe there was one incident we responded to,” he said.

“New Year was absolutely fantastic and I think community members should be very proud there were minimal calls for service over that period.

“From us, we thank you very much for being extremely well behaved and enjoying that family time.

“People made the right choices over that period.”

Mr Stevens said the

“People weren’t putting flour on people’s motors and things like that.

“It was all in jest, all in good fun.”

Mr Stevens said after New Year celebrations occurrences of property crime did pick up, but still fell below rates of previous years.

He said it was notable there was less than 10 occurrences of property crime across inner and outer islands.

“In relation to previous

years, that is well and truly under the average,” he said.

“Over Christmas and holiday periods, generally across the state, we see a spike in property crime.

“Willful damage, attempted breaking, breaking in stolen cars – that’s what we classify as property crime.

“That’s why I’m so ecstatic to report that the community has been so great over this period.”

Mr Stevens also

congratulated the region on adhering to water safety guidelines during the period, and said there had only been one Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) activation.

“Fantastic that they had an EPRIB on board and were being conscious of safety,” he said.

“There was no incident, they got it back up and running.

Continued P2 N

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THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024 TORRES NEWS

‘Fantastic’ festive season for police M Continued from P1

Thursday Island Police station. Pic Carli Willis.

“Marine safety over this period has been absolutely fantastic, people are taking safety seriously.

“They’re telling family, they’re going in pairs or three boats in convoys.”

Mr Stevens urged anyone witnessing a crime or in danger to call 000.

“It’s not just about you being in immediate danger, it could be

that there’s an offence or criminal conduct occurring in front of your eyes,” he said.

“Whether it’s against you, someone else or against property, we want to respond to that, that’s our job.

“We want to get out there and stop it as soon as possible so we aren’t waking up in the morning and there’s more damage, when we could have stopped it early.”

Super monies lost and found – yours?

Your North Queensland airline connecting the islands of the Torres Strait with Cairns and Bamaga

FLY WITH A QUEENSLANDER

Demystifying superannuation is the subject of a six-part podcast series running on 4MW this week on Gilly Jay’s morning program.

According to the Australian Taxation Office’s ‘Lost and Unclaimed Super by postcode’ webpage (https://www.ato.gov.au/about-ato/researchand-statistics/in-detail/super-statistics/ super-accounts-data/lost-and-unclaimedsuper-by-postcode#Queensland) just under 1800 superannuation accounts have been lost or remain unclaimed in 4875, to a value of more the $4 million.

AustralianSuper partnered with the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) in 2022 to produce the podcast series, called Australian Super Made Easy.

It explores the essentials of superannuation and insurance as they relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Australian Super Made Easy aims to teach how to do several things including: • engage with their super • learn which fund their super is with • keep track of their balance • know how to access their super and when • understand their insurance benefits • know where to get more information.

We’ll have more on this in our next issue J

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NEWS 03 ‘Back to School’ prep packs on offer from Waiben TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024

BY KANTESHA TAKAI ADDITIONAL REPORTING

BY CHRISTINE HOWES Mura Kosker Sorority Incorporated’s Child and Family Support Service has donated 50 ‘back to school’ packs for prep students starting their first academic year on Monday next week.

Each pack includes a lunch box, water bottle, mini magnetic whiteboard, sharpener, eraser, glue sticks, pencil case, colouring-in pencils and felt pens, library bag and scrapbook.

Program Coordinator Daniel Aitken (pictured) said some of the packs would be available for collection on Thursday Island and Horn Island, while Outer Island families could contact him to arrange for their packs to be sent to them directly.

“Parents can collect packs from Miss Rizah Nona at the Thursday Island Tagai State School Campus, Mrs Sarah Barsah at the Horn Island Tagai State School Campus, and Mrs Tari Sagigi at the Thursday Island Sacred Heart Campus,” he said.

“Prep students need essential supplies for a successful start to their educational journey.”

Mura Kosker Sorority Chief Executive Officer Aletia Twist said the initiative

aimed to help relieve parents of some of the financial costs involved with sending their children to school.

“The start of the school year is always a tough time on parents, following the financial impacts of Christmas and school holidays,” she said.

“Mura Kosker Sorority Incorporated is aware of the high cost of living for families across the region and provides support wherever we can.

“At the Buai Mudh Community Neighbourhood Centre, we have pre-loved clothes, non-perishable goods, toys, and other items generously donated from the community, and we welcome families to come in and collect what they need.

“We also facilitate a playgroup program and offer computer and printing services as part of Mura Kosker Sorority’s commitment to helping our communities and families across our region,” she said.

Waybeni Buway Ngurpay Mudh principal Rick Cass said they were grateful for the contribution.

“We’re really grateful for this initiative

by Mura Kosker in supporting families in getting their children ready for school, since it relieves the financial pressure,” he said.

“We look forward to all the kids being back at school on Monday.

“We’ve got some great things happening at the school this year.

“We’ve got the new hall, to be opened soon, the whole school is being repainted and we’ve got one-to-one devices provided to our students at all year levels.”

Mura Kosker Sorority Inc ‘back to school’ packs are available from today or parents can contact Daniel on 0477 979 771.

Are you a First Nations artist, creating works in Zenadth Kes? The Gab Titui Cultural Centre is available to help you take the next step in your career, including: Exhibiting your works Selling your art through our on-site and online shop

GBK questions came from community – Thorpe Questions raised in last year’s Senate Estimates hearings about Gur A Baradharaw Kod (GBK) originated from Zenadth Kes community members, Senator Lydia Thorpe (pictured) says.

Senator Thorpe asked nine specific questions about the registered Native Title Service Provider (NTSP) in Canberra last November, around management of its finances and corporate structure.

GBK Chair Ned David told Torres News last year the organisation had complied with all requests for information put forward, but had also questioned the Senator’s motives for the interrogation.

Senator Thorpe said she had directly engaged with GBK. “I have directly engaged with GBK around their concerns on the questions raised at Senate Estimates and can reiterate here that the questions originated from community concerns

raised with me,” she said.

“It is part of my role as a Senator to assist the community with such concerns, including through parliamentary processes available to provide accountability and transparency by government or governmentfunded agencies.”

Senator Thorpe said the Senate Estimates hearings was an opportunity for Senators to better understand processes of government including their decision making and spending.

“This is an important part

of Australian democracy as it promotes good governance through transparency and accountability towards the public,” she said. “In many cases, constituents or community organisations will have questions or concerns we can elevate through this process which enable access to information that would otherwise have been difficult to obtain.

“As our democratic institutions are supposed to work for the people, this is an essential accountability measure towards them.”

The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), as GBK’s main funding body, and the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) were responsible for compiling responses from GBK, along with their own answers, to the Senate Estimates by early December.

The answers were then supposed to be available for

the public to view at the Senate Estimates Portal.

A spokesperson for ORIC said they had responded to all the questions.

“Questions about their publishing are best directed to the Minister Burney’s Office,” a spokesperson for ORIC said.

A spokesperson for NIAA said their organisation was waiting on clearance processes.

The office of the Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Linda Burney, confirmed tabling re-opened from the Christmas break on Monday this week.

At the time of going to print the answers to the Questions on Notice had not been published.

Answers were to be made publicly available here (search for GBK): https://www.

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THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024 TORRES NEWS

Rebel struggles to overcome cost of living price crunches

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Despite being the main ferry service in the Torres Strait, Rebel Marine is struggling with costs.

STORY AND PICS

BY CARLI WILLIS

Rising costs are forcing the Torres Strait’s main ferry service to raise their prices, Torres Strait Tours, Rebel Marine and Torres Strait Seafood CEO Sandie Edwards says.

What’s On IN TORRES SHIRE To Lead, Provide and Facilitate a sustainable, safe and culturally vibrant community.

Meetings & Events

January 2024

Tuesday 24 January Ordinary Council Meeting Friday 26 January Australia Day Public Holiday Friday 26 January Australia Day Awards & Family Fun Day Friday 26 January TI Splash Park Official Opening

To view all current public notices and alerts, visit www.torres.qld.gov.au and follow and like us on Facebook All enquiries to Council Office J P (07) 4069 1336 J E admin@torres.qld.gov.au J 68 Douglas St, Thursday Island

She said the greatest costs facing the business were wages, freight and compliance.

Ms Edwards said the ferry service had absorbed costs for 10 years, but was forced to raise prices twice in the past two years.

She said if costs continued to rise, another price hike could be on the horizon for customers.

“We raised our price last year to $4.50 and prior to that, we raised the price by $2.50,” she said.

She said over the Christmas period local service stations ran out of fuel and she made inquiries about shipping fuel from Cairns.

She said it was lucky they were prepared with back-up fuel supplies, as it would have cost them $4 per litre to ship fuel to Waiben.

She said the business paid the same price as residents at the pump.

“We have to increase our costs with the rising cost of living,” she said.

“We don’t get any concession with Sea Swift or anybody else, we’re just another resident.”

Ms Edwards said the business used between 3000-4000 litres of fuel per week.

“We don’t have any special prices given to us, so all the things the community is feeling, we are feeling as well.

“We can’t pass on any discounts because we’re not getting any discounts.”

But, she said, the biggest cost rise was wages as she had found

Torres Strait Tours, Rebel Marine and Torres Strait Seafood CEO Sandie Edwards.

it difficult to attract suitably qualified staff.

“People coming to remote area don’t want to come here unless they’re going to get X amount of dollars,” she said. “We have had to attract people to come and work here and [to do that] we’ve had to put up the staff wages by something like 40 per cent.”

Ms Edwards said the business would like to attract more local staff.

“We will train anybody who is here, who has certain certificates, and then they get trained into being able to operate the ferries and all the buses,” she said.

She said the housing crisis had impeded their ability to attract staff for as long as they had been in operation.

“Staff expect a certain standard of living and the cost of building anything here is considerable,” she said. “It’s something like three times the

amount that you pay to build a house in Thursday Island that you would in Cairns.”

She said stricter government compliance on vessels in recent years coupled with rising freight costs also attracted greater costs.

“I did have a quote two years ago of something like $8000, it’s now $36,000, if we wanted to send one of our smaller vessels to Cairns for maintenance,” she said.

“The urgency of the of the repairs and maintenance that we have to do is sometimes not in our control. We have to fly out mechanics and diesel fitters, which includes the flight, their accommodation and bringing up their tools of trade.”

Ms Edwards said the exercise often came in at around $10,000.

She said she would be reaching out to governments for assistance.

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024

R I E H S C O S U E N R C R IL O T

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In 2024, we anticipate welcoming more than 8,000 delightful cruise guests, arriving on 17 grand liners and anchoring off the beautiful shores of Thursday Island.

Let us prepare to showcase our island paradise and greet our visitors with a warm island welcome!

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Torres Shire Council provides a ‘Meet & Greet’ service and offers local arts & craft stall holders an opportunity to promote their work.

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06 NEWS

THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024 TORRES NEWS

Animal group keen to encourage volunteers

BY CARLI WILLIS Stacks of bottles are building up, up and up as the Thursday Island Animal Support Group (TIASG) calls for volunteers to help them sort what they have ahead of their next vet visit in March.

Containers recycled through the scheme are shipped off the island to a depot in Cairns to raise money for the charity group.

For the past two years the local group has helped raise much needed funds to assist Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ) and Vets Beyond Borders (VBB) hold clinics on Waiben.

TIASG President Sonia Einerson said the vets – who completely volunteer their time – were crucial to keeping pets on the island safe and well.

“We do free desexing, worming, parasite treatments for ticks and fleas and then they provide other services as well,” she said.

But she said the organisation’s core group of volunteers had shrunk, due to transient staff moving away from the region.

“I really want to encourage more local people to be involved,” she said.

“This should be a community endeavour because it’s something that’s really important for the whole community.”

Ms Einerson said the vets needed

Stacks of containers build up as TIASG President Sonia Einerson struggles to find volunteers to deal with them. Pic supplied. a lot of help during the clinics.

“Whether it be washing the bedding or sitting with animals when they wake coming out of the anaesthetic, make sure they’re comfortable, taking them on a toilet break and things like that,” she said.

“All of those kinds of things take up time.

“If we had to rely on the vets and nurses to do all of that work, they

wouldn’t be able to see as many patients as we try to get through.”

Ms Einerson said one of the ways she tried to raise funds to cover the costs of the vet clinics was recycling containers.

She said locals were encouraged to drop their recyclable bottles to her office at Rebels Wharf.

“We get a very generous support from Sea Swift, who take our

containers back to Cairns for free,” she said.

But she said there was a lot of work required to clean up the containers to shipping standards, which required the help of volunteers.

“First they have to be put into bulk bags, then they go into a freezer container,” she said.

“They’re frozen for, I think it’s

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three days to a week, to ensure there’s no bugs or anything like that, that can be taken down south.

“And then they go to a Containers for Change depot there and that money all goes to help funding us for all of the things that we do.”

She said funds raised through the scheme also went towards setting up the remote clinic, as well as medicines and equipment.

“While the vets and nurses and everybody donate their time, there is a lot of expense,” she said.

“There’s surgical equipment, electronic devices and anaesthetic machines, that’s all stuff that we have managed to put together over the last couple of years.

“We’re very well equipped back clinic, to be honest, and that’s all comes at a cost. “[The vets] really are able to get through things a bit quicker and very importantly for the animals much more safer.”

Ms Einerson and TSIAG have also reached out to flood victims in the south.

“I have some tick and flea medications that I’d like to send from Thursday Island Animal Support Group Inc to help the dogs,” she said in a Facebook post to the Wujal Wujal TC Jasper Recovery page.

The medications were dropped off in Cairns last week.

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THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024 TORRES NEWS

Interested in Joining the GBK Team?

GBK is always looking for passionate and experienced people to join our growing multidisciplinary team of professionals.

What is GBK?

Gur A Baradharaw Kod Sea and Land Council Torres Strait Islander Corporation (“GBK”) is the peak body of all Registered Native Title Bodies Corporates (“RNTBCs”) across the Torres and Endeavour Straits. We represent the collective interests of the regions’ Traditional Owners and providing an avenue to respond and have input into policy and program development.

GBK is driven by traditional owners. Our aim is to champion initiatives in a strengths-based, communityled approach to enable positive change, improve national statistics of inequality and build sustainable communities.

In addition to this important advocacy work, GBK is the Native Title Service Provider for the Torres region. In this role, GBK is responsible for assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with all aspects of native title under the Native Title Act.

HAVE QUESTIONS? NEED ASSISTANCE? Visit out website to find out more about GBK

In addition to working for a community-focused organisation, the benefits that GBK offer to our staff include: • Flexible working arrangements • competitive remuneration • generous salary packaging (PBI).

If you want to work cooperatively with our First Nation groups, focusing on initiatives in a strengths-based, community-led approach, then GBK is the place for you.

CURRENT VACANCIES EXPERIENCED TRAVEL OFFICER GBK is looking for an experienced travel bookings officer to join our Corporate Services team.

Full time, with flexible working arrangements Immediate start available.

Based from Torres Region or Cairns

COMMUNITY WORKCREWS GBK is looking for jobseekers to join our community project workcrews. On-the-job support and certified training available.

Casual employment.

Vacancies on Erub, Mer, Badu, Thursday Is. and Hammond Is.

INTERESTED? Contact us on hr@gbk.org.au for more information

GET IN TOUCH WITH US www.gbk.org.au 07 4083 1000 admin@gbk.org.au

09

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024

SUPPORTING LOCAL EMPLOYERS At Meriba Ged Ngalpun Mab (MGNM), we are committed to supporting local employers to find the right staff and retain them.

With solutions focused staff available across the Torres Strait Islands we are here to work with local employers to support their specific recruitment, staff training and retention requirements.

CONSIDERING EXPANDING YOUR WORKFORCE? MGNM offers comprehensive support to employers with multiple job openings and specific skill requirements.

We specialise in creating structured pre-employment programs tailored to your needs.

Our dedicated team collaborates closely with employers to design customised job pathways, which involve identifying suitable job seekers and providing accredited and soft skills training to prospective candidates.

LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE WITH A NEW EMPLOYEE? MGNM is here to ensure that your new hire becomes a valuable long-term investment for your organisation.

We provide individualised support to employers during the crucial first six months of a job seeker’s placement. Our support includes on-the-job accredited training, obtaining necessary work clearances, supplying branded clothing, offering mentoring, and addressing any personal issues or barriers that may affect job performance.

ACCESS EMPLOYER INCENTIVE FUNDING MGNM offers a pathway to access up to $10,000 in Employer Incentive payments.

By hiring local job seekers through MGNM, employers may be eligible for this funding opportunity. The funds, which can go a long way in covering the costs of employing remote job seekers, are disbursed after the initial 26 weeks of employment, subject to specific conditions. Employers have the flexibility to utilise these funds as they see fit.

We recommend you discuss your planned recruitment with us prior to commencing a job seeker in employment to understand what funding may be available.

CONTACT US RIGHT JOB RIGHT PERSON RIGHT FIT

jobs@gbk.org.au p 07 4212 0000

10 NEWS

THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024 TORRES NEWS

Funding boost expands palliative care service An award-winning palliative care service that has supported people across the Torres Strait, Cape York and Northern Peninsula Area has received a funding boost to bring their care even closer to home.

Three additional staff members have joined the Torres & Cape Hospital and Health Service’s (TCHHS’s) Pop-Up Palliative Care team, including two on-Country Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers.

The new staff appointments come after a funding boost of $1.4 million over four years by the state government to support the growth in demand.

TCHHS initially launched the Pop-Up

Palliative Care team in 2021 and the service has been named as a finalist in the National Palliative Care Awards.

Palliative Care clinical nurse consultant Charlene McCall said the new health workers would be based in both the Torres Strait and Cape York regions and will travel directly to support terminally ill patients and their families.

She said the extra positions would bring their service to 10 full-time staff which includes nurses, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, a social worker, an occupational therapist and administration staff.

“The main thing we want to achieve is to assist people to get home and be with their

New finance for Pacific climate crisis New climate finance from Australia will be delivered directly to the Pacific region to deal with the climate crisis and protect people, housing and infrastructure as a response to last year’s COP28 summit in Dubai.

The Australian Government has promised to contribute a foundational $100 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) and will re-join and contribute $50 million to the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy and Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Senator Jenny McAllister said climate change was the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of climate vulnerable countries and regions, including the peoples of the Pacific.

They said the PRF was the first Pacific-led, owned and managed community resilience financing facility.

It was to support locally led, small-scale projects across the Pacific region and included grants for climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, nature-based solutions and projects which responded to loss and damage.

The GCF, the world’s largest global climate fund, was set up in 2015 as part of the landmark Paris Agreement on Climate Change and has approved projects across 128 countries.

In 2018 the former Morrison Government withdrew Australia from the GCF. By rejoining the GCF, Australia could effectively advocate for GCF funding to meet Pacific needs.

The Australian government said it committed to amplifying the collective Pacific voice on the international stage by supporting more than 50 Pacific delegates to attend the UN Climate Conference, COP28, in Dubai last year.

The Albanese government said it welcomed the decision taken at COP28 to operationalise the Climate Impact Response Fund for supporting particularly vulnerable developing countries responses to climate impacts, including loss and damage.

“The Pacific Resilience Facility will benefit Pacific communities directly and make access to climate finance for adaptation and loss and damage needs quicker and more accessible,” Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said.

The TCHHS Pop-Up Palliative Care team (from left) Charlene McCall, Kate Richardson, Vesta Sexton, Megan Lui, Kirsten Standage & Lucy Burke. Pic supplied. families in the last stages of their life,” she said.

“Our model of care is based on a lot of

community consultation.

“We meet with families, talk through options, and provide

them with as much support as we can.

“We are so excited by the growth of our service

and the dignity and continuously improving care we are able to give people in our remote

communities.”

TCHHS executive director Allied Health Amanda Wilson said the additional staff would mean half of the positions in the service were identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

“Our health service is committed to providing and increasing opportunities for First Nations people who want to pursue a career in the health sector,” she said.

“Palliative care and the death of a loved one can be a very emotional time for families and we understand the importance of offering our services in a culturally sensitive way.”

Recruitment for the new positions was due to begin in the coming weeks.

Class action launched over ‘systemic failure’ to reunite families in protection First Nations children and parents have launched landmark class actions against the Queensland government for their systemic failure to reunite families removed under child protection laws.

The cases allege Queensland’s Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services breached the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) and failed to follow the Child Placement Principle in the Child Protection Act 1999 (Qld) by refusing or failing to reunite or restore family relationships, failing to support children within the system to learn and practice their culture, language, or maintain their connection to Country, and failing to place children with Indigenous family members.

The Child Placement Principle in the Child Protection Act required the Department to place Indigenous children removed from their parents with family, or First Nations carers if possible.

It was only when these options were exhausted that First Nations children should be placed outside their community with non-Indigenous carers.

It was also claimed that in some cases the Department failed or refused to provide information about removed children’s First Nations families.

Bottoms English Lawyers Special Counsel, Jerry Tucker, was leading the class actions, which covered First Nations parents and children across Queensland.

“The cases do not make allegations about Departmental

Bottoms English Lawyers Special Counsel Jerry Tucker.

Pic supplied. decisions to remove a child, but instead focus on their actions once a child is removed, specifically the actions taken when placing a child in the care of others, and actions taken when families attempt to reunite with removed children,” Ms Tucker said.

“We expect that the evidence will demonstrate a deeply concerning culture of failing or refusing to reunite or restore family relationships between removed children and their parents, even after the parents have wholly or substantially complied with the Department’s stipulated conditions.

“Systemic failure to adhere to the Child Placement Principles breaches internationally recognised human rights, and has resulted in fractured family units as well as severing connections to culture and community.

“Every one of these stories is shocking and heartbreaking but we know there’s so many more

out there. We’re encouraging as many people as possible who have been through similar experiences to register their interest in the class action and join our pursuit of justice for First Nations families.”

Lead applicant for the parents case was Aboriginal man, Brett Gunning, who spent more than a decade trying to reunify with his three children.

He was removed from his own biological mother at 30 days old.

“DOCS kept moving the bar,” he said.

“I kept reaching their milestones and then once I did, they kept moving the bar higher and higher.

“I could never obtain my children.

“This is just intergenerational abuse of my family, from my grandfather to my mother, my mother to me, now me to my kids.

“Four generations.

“I’ve suffered greatly with depression; I’ve had to leave everything behind.”

Lead applicant for the children’s case, Madison Burns, was taken into the care of the Department when she was born.

She was placed in numerous foster homes, residential group homes and motels until she was 18.

“DOCS saw me deteriorate,” she said.

“As a kid, you start blaming yourself.

“You start getting into your own head that it’s me – and that’s why they won’t tell me why this stuff is happening to me.

“I know nothing about my culture.

“I have dark skin and I know I’m Aboriginal and that’s it.

“When DOCS told me there were no foster carers, and residential group homes were full, I would ask ‘why remove us if you can’t even give us somewhere to go?’”

The Department also refused to tell her anything about her First Nations relatives.

“Our applicants and many thousands of group members across Queensland seek both financial and non-financial remedies from the Queensland Government,” Ms Tucker said.

“They want a well-resourced consultation process designed to facilitate the restoration of family relationships for those impacted by the Department’s actions.

“They want training for staff to interact with First Nations families in a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive manner.

“They want a formal and public apology for the Department’s child removal practices.

“They want financial compensation.

“But most of all, we want to remedy the negative effects of the Department’s actions on generations of Queensland families, including the significant intergenerational trauma which has followed the Department’s actions.”

Ms Tucker said they expected they would travel to the Torres Strait to do outreach and meet claimants in person in the future.

For more information or to register as a claimant see: www. docsclassaction.com.au

(1): TN0568 18/1/24 *2024 44yrs - AdsF T Dummy T Excel T TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024

NEWS 11

Kaurareg opportunity to grow language revival project

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Kaurareg language project participants Louise Manas, May Seriat, Saliman Bin Juda, Waubin (Richard) Aken & Jodi-Rae Mills. Pic by Flora Warria.

BY GILMORE JOHNSTON & CARLI WALLIS Kaiwalagal Development Indigenous Corporation (KDIC) have launched a language recording project to help preserve Kaurareg language for future generations.

With support from TSRA and Balkanau Cape York Development Corporation, workshops were held on Ngurupai and Waiben last week, to brainstorm ideas with the community on how the project might move forward.

Elders Louise Manas and Waubin Aken travelled from Kubin and the Cape to lead the workshops and provide cultural guidance, community liaison and

project support.

Ms Manas said she was excited for the community to come together and revive the language.

“It’s just being here and listening to how we can come together and restore this language,” she said. “Bringing this language out, it is going to be there for pikinnini blo yumpla for generations to come.

“This knowledge is directed or given by our elders, our knowledge keepers.”

She said she grew up in a household where both parents were fluent language speakers.

“To understand the language is to understand what’s around me, it gives you a meaning,” she said.

She said she was worried for future generations as the number of people speaking the language had dwindled.

“Our language is a bridge and it has a value to songs through our stories that echoes on,” she said. “Our elders, they’ve been our knowledge keepers they have kept the fire burning because they have passed that knowledge. This is a blessed opportunity where Kaurareg for come together and collectively bring their language together and restore it. It’s never too late for makeh the connection, where heart blo you.”

Ms Manas said she also felt it was important to educate the non-

Indigenous population on the importance of language and protocol.

“As you go along and you will see that connection how people respond to you because it creates that harmony that respect and then that’s a very beautiful thing about the language blo yumi,” she said.

“Stay confident because there’s no right or wrong because we’re singing our songs all the time and those songs that make us happy “We’re dancing, we’re connecting.”

KDIC said further community consultation and language recording workshops were planned for late April, and to watch social media and council noticeboards for more information.

Waubin (Richard) Aken, Flora Warria, Jodi-Rae Mills, Saliman Bin Juda, Louise Manas & May Seriat.

Pic by Carli Willis.

IPP consulation underway Public consultations on how to strengthen the Commonwealth Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) are open until 1 March 2024.

Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said since 2015, the IPP had generated over $9 billion in contracts for more than 3600 businesses.

“This consultation process will provide valuable insight into ensuring economic benefits are flowing to First Nations people, businesses and communities,” she said.

She said the consultation sought to gather perspectives around several priority reform areas, including a proposed shift to require Indigenous enterprises were majority Indigenous-

owned, managed and controlled.

Consideration was also being put into the issue and perception of ‘black cladding’ – when a business unfairly uses policies not intended for them, like the IPP, to access markets.

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12 NEWS

THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024 TORRES NEWS

Cheerful BAMMOA makes Pam-Le happy STORY BY OLIPHANU JACKONIA & RANETTA WOSOMO PICS BY GEIZA BLANKET, IVY TRINKOON, HANS AHWANG & RANETTA WOSOMO

BAMMOA celebrations – making Pam-Le happy – meant big smiles all round, for young and old.

Badu Elders.

Women dancers for BAMMOA.

Communities on Badu, Mabuiag, and Moa islands celebrated the New Year with a colorful and spiritual expression of traditional song and dance through BAMMOA, creating ‘Pam-Le Happy, over the new year.

The name BAMMOA represents a tradition in which communities on Badu, Mabuiag, and Moa Islands, including Kubin and St Paul’s communities, engage in reciprocal visits as a series of day trips to spread festive cheer through traditional island dancing and songs across the communities.

The last time a big BAMMOA came together was in 1989 at Kubin, when it was called the BAMMOA Family Festival.

This year community members from St Paul’s visited Badu where they danced and sang to celebrate New Year’s Day. The visitors were a pleasant and welcome surprise to the community of Badu.

In response, on Saturday 6 January, families from Badu Island community travelled to St Paul’s to celebrate and create “Pam-Le Happy”.

Celebrations like these were regular occurrences on significant days such as

church days, Christmas, or New Years in the past and have made a longawaited return.

They are an important part of the island way of living, strengthening relationships and kinship ties between the four communities and help to pass on traditions and culture to the next generation.

The festive season teaches about the principle of God, the core values of Ailan traditions and culture and the way of life, and to love one another.

It is all about “Pam-Le Happy” and creating an atmosphere where families can reconnect, reconcile, spend quality time, and share a season of expectation and hope.

BAMMOA generated excitement within the communities, providing a platform for everyone to showcase dances and stories with their families.

The BAMMOA experience left families feeling positively overwhelmed with emotions as their forefathers were remembered.

They were proud the simple act of celebrating a significant day reaffirmed those connections of the Maluyligal Islands of Zenadth Kes - BAMMOA will continue to be celebrated in years to come.

The community of Badu Island acknowledged and thanked the organisers on St Paul’s for their generosity and hospitality, especially Samantha Kris, Bana Salior, Eunice Hosea, John Wigness, Mr and Mrs Toshi Kris, Hans Ahwang, George Eroa Kris and Michelle Ware.

St Paul’s dancers.

St Paul’s arriving at Badu for BAMMOA celebrations – making Pam-Le happy.

Badu & St Paul’s Elders.

Badu & St Paul’s Elders.

Proudly representing their communities at BAMMOA.

Badu dancers.

NEWS 13

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024

Badu boys dancers.

Pam-Le happy at this year’s BOMMOA celebrations.

Badu dancers walking to the halL.

Moa TO welcome.

Badu Company Rice Last Dance.

Badu men dancers.

Smiles all around at BOMMOA.

St Paul’s dancers.

BOMMOA smiles.

Badu men dancers.

Preparing gift Kaikai to St Paul’s Community.

Pam-Le happy at BOMMOA.

Badu boys dancing – Saying goodbye to St Paul’s families.

Everyone enjoyed this year’s BOMMOA festivities.

14 NEWS

THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024 TORRES NEWS

Kulkalgal celebrate Zarr ngu Aiy on Waiben STORY AND PICS

BY FLORA WARRIA

TN0461 • 18-01-24

Aunty Silen David and Pauline Ahwang.

Kulkalgal families from the central islands of Warraber, Iama, Poruma, and Masig came together to celebrate the end of the festive season at ANZAC Park on Waiben on Saturday 6 January.

Zarr ngu Aiy is a cultural event celebrated throughout the Torres Strait, where church

decorations, kept up from Christmas Eve until the week after the new year, were taken down and feasting celebrations began.

The pulling down of the Zarr (coconut and plant leaf decorations) was the focus.

“Out on Yam Island we would make a big feasting in the centre of the Island where the big church now stands,” Elder Aunty Silen David said.

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“After taking all the decorations down from church, all the community people would do a big cook up while we had cultural games like skiddle, casty ball,where you hit the ball with stick and water games. “[We] must not forget the flour rubbing play, where in-laws dump one another with flour.”

Aunty Silen said she grew up on Iama.

“When came afternoon, the Zarr ngu Aiy feasting starts which all the people e race for Island dance,” she said.

“And doob wooradan sagul goes too.

“We can hear all people singing everywhere on the Island, it was a very happy happy times back then.”

Aunty Vida Bon (nee Mosby) said she grew up on Masig.

“We there lor Masig when I been young,” she said.

“After when we put the decorations down from the church, the four wind sides, Kuki (West), Naigai (North), Sager (East), and Zei (South) side go big cook up for the Zarr ngu Aiy feasting and take the food with singing and dancing go for the Public Hall (now called Community Hall).

“We carry the tables with the cooked food on it to the hall.

“Sometimes we go hide some food too which we call Doob wooradan sagul, sometimes all the men hid the food and all the mothers and us all girls go help our mothers to look for it.

“Sometimes the women hid the food for the dads and the boys to find it, or sometimes it

can be any of the four wind sides will hide the food and the other groups will go to find it, then we all bring it to the hall to share the foods together and celebrate.

“This doob wooradan sagul is displayed by the songs that is sung and the actions in the song that is danced which gave directions of where the foods were located.

“Once the foods were found, the feasting and celebration would continue well into the early hours of the morning, even sometimes go all the way to daylight with Island dancing and of cause the flour rubbing play between all the in-laws is non-stop too.

“In the Central Islands we play flour rubbing play for one week from January one to the last day when the decorations were pulled down.

“It is important that we must pass on the knowledge of this kind of cultural event to our next generations, if we do not teach and pass these important cultural practices on to them how will they know these things.”

The end of the Zarr ngu Aiy on Waiben was well-celebrated with a beautiful table set where all the families that united cooked up and brought their food to share together.

It was a beautiful day of celebration with games of skiddles, sack bag race, egg and spoon race, and of course the in-laws chasing and dumping one another with flour.

The day ended with dancing and a dinner that was prepared and enjoyed by all.

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Kulkalgal families from Warraber, Yam, Poruma and Masig all coming together in celebration.

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024

UMI’s 2024 call out to artists

ART NEWS 15

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!

UMI Arts holds a variety of art in several mediums. Edna Mark artwork.

UMI Arts has issued a call out to members and First Nations artists to showcase works in its 2024 exhibition program.

UMI Arts’ artistic director Lisa Michl Ko-manggén said membership at the organisation was free and had several benefits, from exhibition opportunities and profile-building to workshops and representation at art fairs across Australia.

“Looking to 2024 as a period of continued growth, we are now calling for expressions of interest from existing and prospective artist members to participate in our annual exhibition series that gets underway from March 2024,” she said.

Ms Ko-manggén said 2023 had been a pivotal year for UMI Arts.

“From emerging, early career artists through to mid-career and established artists, the organisation delivered a dynamic program of events, workshops and opportunities contributing to the region’s vibrant First Nations’ art practice and industry,” she said.

“We are particularly proud of the momentum built throughout 2023 and our exhibition program that has engaged more artists and showcased more artworks than in previous years.

“We are continually seeking new ways of representing our members and developing partnerships outside of UMI Arts’ gallery, from private commissions to public initiatives.”

More at umiarts.com.au

Exhibitions are open to UMI Arts’ members only.

To join, visit https://umiarts.com. au/become-a-member/ Membership is free for Indigenous individuals 15+ years with a bloodline connection to Far North Queensland.

Forms can be returned in person or to admin@umiarts.com.au

2024 Exhibitions YOU & ME Showcasing artworks in all mediums, You & Me kicks off UMI Arts’ 2024 exhibition series in March.

Expressions of Interest (EOI) are open to all First Nations artist members between now and on 2 February.

CULTURE THROUGH OUR EYES Open to First Nations youth in Cairns and surrounds enrolled in Years 7-12, Culture Through Our Eyes is UMI Arts’ second exhibition for the year and, again, features work in any medium.

Students have until 12 April to submit their EOI, with the opening scheduled for May 2024.

FRESHWATER SALTWATER Freshwater Saltwater is UMI Arts’ signature exhibition for established and senior member artists, featuring significant new works in any medium.

EOIs close on 24 May, with the exhibition opening in July.

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 25word description to ads@torres.news This week’s pics were submitted by Kirsty Young and Wee Fong Sim. LEFT: Kirsty’s pic was taken on Thursday Island.

“Enjoying family time with a stunning sunset at beautiful Bach Beach. Always a lovely afternoon here in paradise,” Kirsty said.

BELOW: Sim’s pic was taken on Horn Island.

“Enjoying Horn Hill’s sunset with my bestie, making memories with nature’s beauty.

Cherishing these moments, they bring joy and friendship, a bond that lasts forever,” Sim said.

Kirsty and Sim are now in the draw to win the December/ January $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.

Artist Sandra Kaddy’s My Totems. Pics by Lovegreen Photography.

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This role is ongoing/non-ongoing and is open to Torres Strait Islander or Aboriginal people only.

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.

EDITORIAL

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024

The Finance Support Officer will assist in providing financial and administrative support to a wide range of stakeholders, both internal and external to TSRA. The role involves processing supplier invoices, verifying and certifying documents and the reconciliation of statements.

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For further information please contact on Tel: 0427 886 212 or email Catherine.Wales@tsra.gov.au Please note: TSRA accommodation is not available for this position.

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SPORT FEATURE 17

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024

Big hearted Sam calls for carnival health checks

BY CHRISTINE HOWES Former-NRL great Sam Backo thought he was “reasonably fit” when he went into hospital to have a bilateral knee reconstruction last year.

Now, at three centimetres taller and 20 kilograms lighter, he has been described by his doctor as a having had a ‘miraculous’ recovery from a major heart attack.

“I came in to get my knees done and, as I said, three days later, I had the heart attack and I had no idea,” Sam said.

“Next thing I knew I was in the ICU coming 12 days out of a coma.

“The doctors put in three stents to keep me going until I was well enough to get out to Brisbane for a quadruple bypass.”

Sam said the support he had from the hospital was amazing.

“I can’t say enough about the doctors and the nurses, in my opinion, they’re all angels because they do a mighty job, and if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here.

“They said I only had five per cent capacity of my the heart at the time, so I wouldn’t have made it to the end of the year.”

He said he was shocked.

“I was a bit shocked at the time, and I was a bit angry because I thought I’m having these health checks every year,” he said.

“They check your weight, your height, your diabetes, your cholesterol, and if you’re lucky, you get a blood check.

“If you haven’t got a sore chest or say, ‘I’ve got chest pain’, nothing gets done.

“They send you a bowel check when you’re 50 – no point if the ticker ain’t working.

“Had I known that I could have had the heart checked, I would have got it done much earlier.

“I’ve had family and friends, more than 10, that have passed on since I’ve had my episode earlier in the year.”

Sam called on Allblacks organisers in particular to make sure all their teams enforce the health check rules for carnivals.

He said “back in the day” he

ABOVE: Sam Backo and Cairns Base Hospital Clinical Director of Cardiology Dr Ram in November last year. BELOW: Sam in 2021. Pics by Christine Howes. played mainly for carnivals in New South Wales from his Canberrabase.

“I’m in my 60s, so that was 40-odd years ago now,” he said.

“I don’t think health checks were considered back then, I don’t think there was as much heart problems back then, because we were all eating good tucker.”

He said the health checks were imperative.

“Footy is highly physical and it can put a lot of strain on our bodies, especially our hearts,” he said.

“Obviously at the end of the day if your body isn’t working, you’re not doing the job.

“It’s imperative these health checks are done so people know they’re going to get through, especially in the north here, where we get that extreme heat.

“It doesn’t take long, only half an hour, and the opportunity is there.”

Some of Queensland’s highest profile carnival supporters and organisers have backed the call, including the Queensland Rugby League and Deadly Choices.

QRL Area Manager for

Townsville Kerri Ritchie said an annual 715 Health Check included blood pressure, sugar levels, height and weight, and a urine and blood test.

“That’s all the QRL require,” she said.

“It’s obviously important because you want to make sure everyone is fit and healthy to play.”

She said there was also a special clearance required for players over the age of 40.

Bindal Sharks Indigenous Allblacks Carnival coordinator Jenny Pryor said the health checks

Sam Backo (waving) and Artie Beetson share a ride on the back of a ute with Ty Williams and Rod Jensen at the 2011 Island of Origin series on Badu Island.

were mandatory for the annual Townsville event.

“I always make sure our ball boys and girls have their health checks done, because they are in the hot sun and they get a lot of games over the weekend,” she said.

“No one wants to see something bad happen to anyone at a carnival.

“Sports and music are two things that bring our people together, and they love styling up to play good football.

“That means they’ll go and get it done because they have to if they want to play football.”

Yarrabah’s Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services Chief Executive Suzanne Andrews said health checks offered early detection and prevention.

“I would like to see all All Blacks carnival enforce that rule, because we know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people already have chronic conditions going on in their lives,” she said.

“I would ask the players, to get a health check done three months before they even run on the field for football, and I would encourage that

every single Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person to have an annual health check every year.”

Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, who run Deadly Choices, Commercial Operations director Dallas Leon said health checks were important for identifying risk.

“We’ve had a few examples over the years of people having health incidents on the field or off the field, and we don’t want to see too much more of that,” he said.

“I think there has been some resistance, but I think it’s mostly about the organisation and I think it comes down to a logistical thing, but it’s so important – we can’t have those risks because if we continue to have incidents, then carnivals will be no longer.”

He said he had followed Backo’s story and it had prompted him to get a full health check himself, including a heart check.

“I think if you get the full health check, there should be a heart check included as well,” he said.

Backo said you can think you’re pretty fit – as he did – but at the end of the day you don’t know.

“Health checks have to be part of the program,” he said.

“I think everybody has a role to play, the individual, the organisers, the team and team managers, and if you haven’t had a health check, you’re not playing.”

He said not just sports men and women should be concerned.

“I just encourage all of our mob out there – get out and get your heart checked,” he said.

“I know, as an Indigenous person, our lifespan is 10 years less than non-indigenous, and I’d been consistently going from my health checks every year, but there was never ever mention of having my heart checked.

“I can’t reiterate enough how important it is.

“We all want to be here a bit longer.

“I went to the other side, and then I think my mother said to me ‘what am I doing there?’ and then next thing I’m back here.

“I just encourage all of our mob out there – get out and get your heart checked.”

Sam at the Island of Origin in 2011 with several other ‘legends’ of league.

Pics by Alf Wilson.

18 SPORT

THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024 TORRES NEWS

Alf’s Memories of Origin

Good sports from Ugar last year.

STORY AND PICS

BY ALF WILSON

2023 – that’s a wrap!

Bring on 2024!

For the first time in 2023 AFL Cape York’s (AFLCY’s) game development team visited all 19 Tagai State College and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart campuses in the Torres Strait.

Staff made those visits via plane, boat, car and even helicopter to run in-school AFL sessions and afterschool Auskick sessions.

“To work with young people across the Torres Strait has been one of the highlights of my time working with the AFL,” AFLCY development coordinator Kieran Sciberras said.

“Being able to ensure that every single school in the region had an opportunity to play our great game ensures that nobody misses out and it helps us to encourage school attendance and positive behaviours across the entire Torres Strait.”

He said Auskick reached new heights in 2023 with 253 young people from the Torres Strait and 97 from the NPA registering for AFLCY’s program, which offered students the opportunity to practice

their AFL skills outside of school in structured football sessions.

The AFLCY team were back earlier this week, teaming up with Torres Health, to run holiday programs and movie nights on Hammond Island, Waiben and Horn Island.

He said lot of what AFL Cape York was able to provide to communities wouldn’t be possible without the ongoing support of our community-driven partners.

The Outer Islands AFL clinics were supported by the Torres Strait Youth and Recreational Sporting Association, Nautilus Aviation, Hinterland Aviation and Tagai State College.

Other sponsors included Torres Shire Council, Bamaga Enterprises Ltd, Community Enterprises Queensland-IBIS, NPA State College, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, NPA Regional Council, Rio Tinto, NPA Youth Hub, Our Lady of the Scared Heart School, NPA State College and Peddells Ferry.

Over the years, of the many action-packed Island of Origin rugby league carnivals on Badu Island, the one which remains entrenched in my memory is the 2011 series.

The 10-12 June carnival was the 26th year of the event and it produced some of the best football in both men’s and women’s divisions – five men’s teams and three women’s teams.

For the record, and in an amazing coincidence, both the men’s and women’s division finals saw the scoreline read the same – 20-14: Argun Warriors defeating Saguci, and Waiben team Sundown Sirens defeating Mabuiag’s Bau Au Stingers.

Blockbusting prop Harry Mooka from Argun Warriors was named as player of the carnival.

Badu Island sides Argun Warriors and Saguci were joined

by Badu United, Goemu Bau Raiders from Mabuiag, and Waur Brothers United from Moa Island.

The one other women’s team Dhikun Gammaz was from Badu.

Five Northern Pride players played at the carnival, including former Cowboys stars Ty Williams, Rod Jensen and David Maiden, who now runs the Queensland Cup competition from his base in Brisbane.

The games were broadcast live on TSIMA Radio 4MW across the Torres Strait while NITV recorded games for a later broadcast.

On top of the quality football, the 2011 Origin series saw several special guests in attendance.

Among them was rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson, who sadly died later that year, and

former Test and Queensland State of Origin prop Sam Backo.

The late and legendary carnival organiser Wayne Guivarra was caught by a wonderful surprise when Artie showed up at the ground.

“I had no idea he was coming until I saw Artie at the Badu airport,” Wayne said at the time.

The football Saguci had emerged as an early favourite to win the men’s division. They had easily beaten Argun Warriors 26-12 on day two of the carnival and later defeated Badu United 36-20 in the semifinal.

The Warriors qualified for the final after defeating a gallant Goemu Bau Raiders side 26-12.

Both Saguci and the Warriors fielded several players with Foley Shield experience, and opinion was divided about which team would win the big game.

In the final, Saguci fullback Aaron Binawel scored first, in the 12th minute, after a great pass from centre Horace Baira.

Argun hit back in the 25th minute when Jordan Solomon scored.

Classy Warriors five-eighth Stanley Daniel kicked a 40/20 which gave his team a scrum feed near the line.

From this, Richardo Laza scored a try that gave Argun an 8-6 half-time lead. Argun gained much ground up the middle of the ruck from the hard work of forwards David Grainer and Harry Mooka, and they were on a roll.

They extended their lead to 14-6, then to 20-10 before a late Saguci try to see the scoreline settle at 20-14. Best for Argun Warriors were Grainer, Mooka, Daniel, winger Patock Tamwoy,

centre Keiji Bowie, who was working at Weipa then, and halfback Steven Singleton. For Saguci, prop Ben Scheel, hooker Iona Nona, and Horace Baira, Aaron Binawel, Dale Pablo and Peter Eseli were their best.

Sundown Sirens went into the women’s decider as rank underdogs after losing 26-8 to Bau Au Stingers on day two of the carnival.

In the final, featuring these two teams, several Sirens players were carrying injuries but they started well and actually led 16-0 at halftime.

At the break, star Siren and inspirational halfback Kristy Wilson reminded her players that the Stingers would come back.

“Let’s not take our feet off the accelerator,” she had said.

When Lillius Namok scored a try in the final minute in the corner Sirens had the final in the bag, and the celebrations began.

Elsie Seriat scored two tries in the final for the Sirens and proudly held the flag aloft. “This was the best ladies final I have ever played in,” she said.

When the players returned to Waiben, they did a lap or two of honour along streets in two utes proudly flying the team flag. *Footnote: I have had numerous requests for pictures I have taken from past Island of Origin series, and from previous Torres Cup/Zenadth Kes carnivals and local grand finals. I have hundreds of photos from the 2007, ’08, the ’09 event on Waiben, ’10 (the 25th anniversary event) and ’11. I am going to file these on a memory stick and send them on to whoever has requested them.

More good sports from Dauan last year. Pics supplied.

ABOVE: Sundown Siren Elsie Seriat on her way to scoring a try in the final.

TOP LEFT: A very happy Sundown Sirens team celebrating their win of the women’s division.

BOTTOM LEFT: Argun Warriors celebrated hard after winning the men’s division final.

TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024

Illawarra climbs into NBL top six

BY VELMA GARA The Christmas break did wonders for Illawarra Hawks – coach Justin Tatum must have wished for the team to win more games and climb up the National Basketball League ladder because that’s exactly what happened.

The Hawks were 5 wins - 9 losses and sitting second last on the ladder but somehow

they started to change their style of playing basketball, under Coach Tatum’s guidance, and began to win games – they have 9 wins - 10 losses and were sitting sixth on the ladder.

On Christmas Day, the Hawks defeated Sydney Kings 94-90, which was the start of a four-game winning streak before falling to Brisbane Bullets last Sunday, 110-93.

They will play against Cairns Taipans tonight.

The Taipans was in the top six but have had mixed results, and are now outside the top six despite beating league leaders, Melbourne United, over the Christmas break.

Last weekend’s game at the Cairns Convention Centre against Adelaide 36ers went into overtime, but the Taipans prevailed and won, 111-101.

The Queensland Stoush continues on

Women footballers in the Torres Strait and NPA are in the box seat when the Queensland Cup Women’s Premiership competition expands. Pic supplied.

NRL Qld women’s comp expanded

BY ALF WILSON Women footballers from the Torres Strait and the NPA will have the chance to play at the top level with the impending expansion of the Queensland Cup Women’s Premiership competition.

The QRL recently announced the competition will expand over a three-year period.

Eight teams contested the 2023 Women’s Premiership, and that included the Mackay Cutters, Brisbane Tigers, Burleigh Bears, Central Queensland Capras, Norths Devils, Souths Logan Magpies, Tweed Seagulls and Wynnum Manly-Seagulls.

In 2024, the Sunshine Coast Falcons and the Toowoombabased Western Clydesdales will join.

In 2025, the Ipswich Jets will enter the competition.

In 2026, the Redcliffe Dolphins will follow suit.

The big news for the many skilful players from around the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula Area is that the Cairns-based Northern Pride will gain entry in 2025, while the Townsville Blackhawks will do so in 2026.

QRL competitions manager David Maiden said the expansion would provide greater opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players from the remote north.

He said it was also all part of a bigger plan for

the Women’s Premiership competition to match the statewide footprint of the men’s Queensland Cup competition.

Since taking on the role at the QRL, Maiden was instrumental in taking the Queensland Cup to smaller towns as part of the Country Week Round, where matches have been played at WaibenThursday Island, the NPA and Cape York, and other regional towns such as Roma.

“As is the case for our men, [QRLW expansion] will provide an opportunity for Indigenous women to play in the statewide competition regardless of postcode and without having to move from the support of family and friends,” Maiden said.

“As the Northern Pride and Townsville Blackhawks gradually enter the competition, each area will hopefully see an increase in opportunities to play the game as the local female competitions also expand to cater for increased numbers.

“There are also opportunities for under-age females to play 17-and-under state wide competitions so this gives them a solid foundation of development.

“I know for a fact there is an untapped wealth of talent in the far north and through the Cape and Torres regions through my years working in the area and attending carnivals.

“We are so looking forward to seeing these players get an opportunity closer to home.”

Sunday when they play against Brisbane Bullets to improve their standing on the NBL ladder which is currently 10 wins – 12 losses.

MEANWHILE Perth Wildcats may have cemented second place on the ladder with a convincing win against South East Phoenix last weekend, 100 – 79.

Centre, Keanu Pinder, had 13 points, six rebounds and three steals.

SPORT 19

This team has also moved up the NBL ladder from 4th spot (9 wins – 7 losses) at Christmas break and continued to record wins.

Perth will play Brisbane Bullets at home on Friday night before travelling to play Sydney Kings on Sunday afternoon.

RIGHT: Keanu Pinder jams in two points against SE Phoenix.

Pic Perth Wildcats.

TN0230 8x2 local sports

Charters Towers set for Looking for more local sport? crickety weekend STORY AND PICS

BY ALF WILSON Hundreds of Ailan men and women will be amongst an invasion of cricketers across 248 teams to compete at the iconic Goldfield Ashes carnival this weekend.

It is the biggest cricket carnival for team numbers in the world.

Games will be played in five grades on more than 70 fields at Charters Towers and surrounding areas, including at parks, the aerodrome reserve, private properties and sporting clubs venues.

What started in 1948 with just six men’s sides has become a major sporting event which attracts players from as far away as Western Australia.

One of the highlights will be a clash between ladies’ teams Garbutt Magpies and West Indigies at the airport tomorrow.

In another ladies match Black Bream will take on the powerful FBI XI from Mount Isa.

In the men’s tomorrow, Garbutt Magpies will meet Duffelbags, also at the airport, while West Indigies takes on Grandstanders at Goldfield Complex, and Black Bream is up against Piston Broke XI. In the social division on Friday, Johnny Mac’s XI also meets Luck Beats Skills.

Another interesting ladies game on Friday pits Mount Garnet Hawks against local Charters Towers side Hormoans at Central State School Oval.

Hawks will include mostly players from the side who won the ladies division of the 2023 cricket carnival held at remote Musgrave Roadhouse on Cape York.

The Torres News will be there to track down Ailan and NPA players.

After recent rain, player comfort levels are expected to be good with some fields, which are normally dust bowls, having a lot of green grass.

This carnival provides a huge boost for the local economy.

We’re happy to run it if we have it!

Darts, ballgames, water sports, athletics ... whatever your game is, we’re keen!

Send us your pic of the week, fixtures or finals results by noon on Monday!  EMAIL: editor@torres.news

THURSDAY ISLAND / SEISIA

FERRY SCHEDULE JAN & FEB 2024

MONDAY / WEDNESDAY / FRIDAY DEPART: • THURSDAY IS: 6.30AM & 2.30PM • SEISIA: 8AM & 4PM THURSDAY 25 JANUARY PM FERRY DEPARTURES ONLY FRIDAY 26 JANUARY (Australia Day Public Holiday) NO FERRY SERVICES “Linking the Cape with the Torres Strait”

Game action at the aerodrome reserve at the Goldfield Ashes.

Boarding strictly 15 mins prior to departure

PHONE 07 4069 1551

BOOKINGS 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 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.

Please note freight may be delivered 1.30pm to 2pm to travel on the 2.30pm TI-Seisia Service or at other times delivered directly to the vessel and pre paid.

The Jetty Shop & Office, Engineers Jetty, Thursday Is.

SPORTS CONTRIBUTIONS Please email your sports stories and photos before 5PM on Mondays.

THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2024

PNG NRL bid on table

BY ALF WILSON

Townsville Fire power forward Zitina Aokuso. Pic thanks to Townsville Fire.

Fire books early spot in WNBL semis

BY VELMA GARA Reigning Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) champions, Townsville Fire, have already booked a spot in this year’s semi-finals, with four rounds still to be played in the hard-fought comp.

In Round 11, the Fire had a double-header against Melbourne Boomers which resulted in a win and a loss.

Fire are sitting at top spot on the ladder with a 12 wins – 4 losses record.

Other teams in the top four are Boomers (10-6), Southside Flyers (8-6) and Perth Lynx (9-7) This Saturday, Fire hosts Adelaide Lightning and will look for a win which may secure the team’s home court advantage when semi-finals are played in the end of February.

Rugby league followers will welcome a bid by Papua New Guinea officials hoping to gain entry into an expanded NRL competition.

PNG wanted to be the 18th team in the world’s most popular rugby league competition, aiming to join by season 2030 or before.

The code was fanatically supported in PNG, represented in the Queensland Cup by the Hunters team, and attracting massive crowds when hosting home games during the season.

The PNG Hunters enjoyed enormous support in the region during their Queensland Cup campaigns, especially from outer islands Boigu, Dauan and Saibai.

Some of the younger Hunters players were up to NRL standard, especially as they would be able to train at home and not move south.

There were many promising young rugby league players in the Torres Strait who would also be targets for a PNG team in the NRL. There has been numerous PNG players over the years who have proved successful in the NRL including Melbourne Storm star Xavier Coates, South

Alex Johnston.

Pic supplied.

Sydney Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston, who was also a Saibai Islander, and West Tigers bound Justin Olam.

Alex played 214 matches for the Rabbitohs, represented PNG eight times, Australia once and been in the Indigenous Allstars on four occasions.

Port Moresby born Xavier, 22, played 70 NRL games for the Brisbane Broncos and Storm and made eight appearances for Queensland in State of Origin and been a PNG Test representative once.

Justin was educated

k Chec r ou out ing z ama

’s L A C LO LY K E E W DEAL

at Rosary (Kondiu) Secondary School in Chimbu and attended the Papua New Guinea University of Technology in Lae Morobe Province where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Physics.

He has played 114 NRL games for the Melbourne Storm and made 14 appearances for PNG. Respected Townsville-based journalist Max Tomlinson was the Managing Director of PNG’s Post-Courier newspaper between 1996 and 1998, said Papua New Guineans were

passionate about Rugby League.

“They will welcome the opportunity to participate in the world’s best league,” he said.

“During my time at the Post-Courier newspaper I watched in amazement at how warmly the locals embraced the annual State of Origin series.

“One can only imagine the passion that would accompany the entry of a PNG side into the NRL comp.

“There are hundreds of potential Rugby League champions in PNG; the inclusion of a national side in the NRL

would provide a pathway to the top levels of the ‘greatest game of all’.”

Former-Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning, who has touted the prospect of a joint Cairns-PNG side for several years, said a combined effort would offer “tremendous benefits for both countries”.

Mr Manning said he had undertaken “on-and-off” discussions with PNG officials about an NRL side for the past five years, most recently speaking with an executive at a function in Brisbane about five months ago.

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