Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Cape York Weekly

Publisher details

Print and digital editions published every Tuesday

Available free across Cape York Peninsula and online

Owned and operated out of Weipa

Website with online news and digital edition

Meet the new Cape York Weekly

Cape York Weekly is the only locally-owned paper on Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland. While I was travelling around country Queensland, I spoke with the Weekly's Editor, Matt Nicholls, about the origins of the paper, how he got to be the editor and the future of independents.

Cape York Weekly articles

Cape York Weekly contributed to Australian Rural & Regional News over 2021 and 2022.

Articles

All systems are go: new birthing suite to come online in new year

For the first time this century, expecting mums in Weipa and the surrounding community will be able to give birth in a local hospital when a new service begins early in 2023. The Weipa Hospital has a fully equipped birthing suite and a top team of staff lined up to welcome Cape York’s newest arrivals.

Reconciliation story gives museum an edge on rivals

Sarah Martin. A project telling the story of the first recorded act of reconciliation in Australia has resulted in the Cooktown Museum taking out a major gong at the Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards in Brisbane. The Cooktown Museum, owned and managed by the National Trust of Australia Queensland, was a joint winner for its Reimagining James Cook project, which tells the fascinating story of the Guugu Yimithirr people’s interactions with Cook from both a European and First Nations perspective.

Cape York police rocked by deaths of colleagues

The officers in charge of Cape York’s regional police stations say they have been overwhelmed by support since the tragic deaths of two colleagues at Wieambilla last week. Weipa-based Senior Sergeant Warren Flegg and long-serving Cooktown Senior Sergeant John McArthur also said the murders had made them reflect on their own careers and situations that could have resulted in a similar outcome.

Keen hunters brave the humidity

Steamy conditions made life tough for participants in the Hope Vale Pig Hunt on the weekend, as more than 100 people took part in the 19th annual event. Hunters weighed in 38 pigs, with an average weight of 49kg.

Early Christmas: Rural Fire Service to get new station

Long-time Weipa firefighter Tony Lankester says he’s excited about the prospect of a new station for the local fire brigade after years of lobbying for better facilities in the region. In an early Christmas present, it was announced last week that more than half a million dollars would be spent on building the new headquarters for the Western Cape Rural Fire Brigade.

Pig hunters urged to get vaccinated against virus

Health authorities are encouraging all Cape York residents involved in pig-hunting to take advantage of the free vaccination program for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) ... there was heightened awareness of JEV on Cape York following the detection of the virus in some feral pigs in an area north of the Skardon River in June, and a further detection in pigs in the Mapoon area in September.

TMR hits panic button as rain arrives in the region

Truck companies are up in arms following a shock decision by the Department of Transport and Main Roads to put restrictions on the PDR after just a few days of December rain. On Friday morning, no trucks were allowed to travel on the Peninsula Developmental Road without a permit.

Boats torn to shreds by sudden off-shore storm

Sarah Martin. Seasoned sailors have warned of the importance of remote telecommunications and being prepared following a freak storm that left dozens of yachts damaged at Lizard Island. Watson’s Bay, a popular anchorage on the northern side of Lizard Island and home to some of the world’s most pristine reefs, had about 25 vessels anchored when a freak storm with winds over 100km/h burst in from the north.

Major win for Traditional Owners

Thousands of generations of shared history across Cape York and the Torres Strait has been formally recognised by the Federal Court of Australia. Celebrations were held on Thursday Island as Justice Debbie Mortimer announced the historic Native Title consent determination, which covers about 65,000 square kilometres of land and sea.

Covering news across Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait, Cape York Weekly is the region’s only locally-owned newspaper. 

The paper is owned and operated out of Weipa and has contributors in numerous communities.

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