At long last: Mapoon church opened after years of lobbying
The spirit of Mapoon’s old people could be felt as the community opened its long-awaited church last Thursday. In an emotional ceremony, community leaders spoke of the long battle to have a church built in Mapoon after the state government ripped down the last one in 1963 when it forced all residents to leave the Mission.
Opening of Mapoon church adds final chapter to a storied history
Geoff Wharton. The opening of the church at Mapoon last Thursday is an event that links today’s Christian movement in the community with the earliest days of Mapoon Presbyterian Mission and the Moravian Church missionaries who came to evangelise among the Tjungundji People in 1891.
Cattle property helping girls’ growth
A pilot program for teenager girls that focused on developing confidence, self esteem and self development has been hailed as a success. Over the course of the year, 47 girls from Napranum visited Wolverton Station, usually in groups of eight, for three days of activities on the working cattle property.
Unvaccinated teachers being sent to Cape York
Taxpayers will fund the costly relocation of unvaccinated teachers to Cape York over the school holidays, despite the fact they will be unable to work when students return in 2022 ... According to the Queensland Teachers’ Union, teachers and school staff, have until January 7 to provide the department with evidence that they have received at least the first dose.
Lieutenant a role model for his Cape community
Lieutenant Sebastian Jingle has become the first known Indigenous Australian from the western Cape to commission as an officer in the Australian Army Reserve. The proud Traditional Owner from the Yupangathi and Teppethiggi lands graduated in November through the Army Part-Time Officer Commissioning Program.
AdBlue shortage not an issue for freight in Cape
A worldwide shortage of a diesel exhaust fluid will soon impact Cape York trucking companies, although freight is unlikely to be impacted ... Simon Tuxworth runs one of the biggest trucking companies in Far North Queensland and said the shortage of AdBlue was a concern for Tuxworth and Woods, but didn’t believe that services would be impacted.
NAIDOC Award honour for proud Aurukun champion
Aurukun mayor Keri Tamwoy was last week honoured with the National NAIDOC Award for person of the year, paying tribute to her commitment to community. In an emotional acceptance speech, recorded remotely due to the pandemic, Cr Tamwoy said the award was recognition for a lot of people in Aurukun.
Cape York supermarket plans held back by red tape
Coen desperately wants and needs a new supermarket but a red-tape nightmare could delay proposed plans for several years. Coen Regional Aboriginal Corporation, in partnership with Cook Shire Council, has eyes on a parcel of land that would be suitable for a supermarket and a roadhouse/truck stop. But the land is marked as Coen Town Reserve, which means it cannot be used for commercial purposes unless it is re-zoned.
