Home

Investment skills up local talent

publisher@regionalandremote.com.au (Corey admin) — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:40:32 +0000

By MARK ROY

TRADITIONAL owners, trainers, students, and education officers joined with special guest Queensland Senator Jan McLucas last week for the official opening of the Tagai Skills Trade Training Centre on Thursday Island.

Torres Strait farewells elder statesman George Mye

publisher@regionalandremote.com.au (Corey admin) — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:39:13 +0000

THE close-knit community of Erub (Darnley Island) is in mourning following the death of George Mye MBE, OAM, respected elder statesman of the Torres Strait.

Sea Connections on display in birthday celebrations

publisher@regionalandremote.com.au (Corey admin) — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:35:57 +0000

THE Gab Titui Cultural Centre celebrated eight years of operation on Tuesday, April 24, with the opening of a new exhibition, titled Sea Connections, in its Wabunaw Geth Gallery.

For the love of the game

publisher@regionalandremote.com.au (Corey admin) — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:27:18 +0000

By ALF WILSON

THE organiser of the ladies Kaiwalagal Rugby League competition on Thursday Island has paid tribute to competitors, some of whom are returning this season after having babies.

Anglicans cross swords over building

publisher@regionalandremote.com.au (Corey admin) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:14:12 +0000

By MARK ROY

THE wisdom of King Solomon was invoked at a public meeting called to settle the ownership of a church building on reserve land in the Thursday Island suburb of Quarantine.
Attendees at the meeting heard the Old Testament story of Solomon calling to “split the baby” to settle the question of its rightful owner.
But it seems the dispute may be settled by more prosaic means, with members of the Church of the Torres Strait (CTS) calling for legal action.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, April 18, was called by the CTS to claim ownership of a church building currently occupied by the Independent Diocese of Torres Strait and Kaiwalagal United Anglican Church (Independent Church).

Awakening the search for cultural identity

publisher@regionalandremote.com.au (Corey admin) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:11:29 +0000

By MELINDA TUPLING

ON March 31, 2012, Marsat and Patrick Newman and Raymond Poipoi participated in a coming-of-age initiation ceremony in Bamaga in the presence of uncles and older men from the community.
The initiation ceremony is an important stage of the life of a young male clan member.
On the day of the ceremony, the young initiate is called “Kerngay Kazi” and his Uncles are called “Maway” and are the mothers’ brothers.
Knowing genealogy is very important as the participants must be blood-related.

Film to premiere on Mabo Day

publisher@regionalandremote.com.au (Corey admin) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:06:54 +0000

By ALF WILSON

THE movie about the fight by Eddie Mabo for Native Title will premiere during a two-day Reconciliation Festival to be held in Townsville on June 2-3.
The Festival will commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Mabo High Court Decision on Native Title.
The film which explores Mr Mabo’s fight and his life will be shown first during the festival, a family member told the Torres News this week.
It will be shown on ABC television after the festival.

NZ raises concerns over West Papua

publisher@regionalandremote.com.au (Corey admin) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:04:21 +0000

THE Greens party in New Zealand is calling for that country’s government to take up the sensitive issue of West Papua with Indonesian leaders in the capital Jakarta.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, Trade Minister Tim Groser and a 26-strong business delegation arrived in Jakarta last week on a three-day trade mission.
Greens MP Catherine Delahunty is calling on Mr Key to raise concerns about human rights, particularly the jailing of five freedom activists on treason charges.
The Torres News has been reporting on the plight of the Jayapura Five for several months amid what appears to be a blanket media blackout on the story in the Australian media.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also expressed concern about the treatment of the activists.
Ms Delahunty told New Zealand media that West Papua was Indonesia’s “dirty little secret” and Mr Key should have the “ethical courage’” to discuss the issue.
Mr Key said he has raised the issue of West Papua with Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan.
“One of the things he relayed to me is it’s a very complex issue,” he said.
He said Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was well-known for supporting human rights.
“In fairness, he is doing the best he can,” he said.
Mr Key said he would tell the Indonesian vice president Boediono that New Zealand was a country with a strong human rights record.
“We expect every person in the world to be treated fairly and in a way we would treat fellow New Zealanders and that is how we expect people to be treated in Papua,” he said.

Crocs face LNP firing squad

publisher@regionalandremote.com.au (Corey admin) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 23:43:33 +0000

By ALF WILSON AND MARK ROY

CROCODILES are in the cross-hairs of the newly elected State Government, with LNP senators and ministers saying the time for pandering to conservationists is over.
Federal shadow spokesman on Northern and Remote Australia Ian Macdonald is urging the new State Government to put the welfare of humans ahead of the man-eating beasts.
“The time for dithering and pandering to the radical green element is over, we need urgent action before someone is killed,” Mr Macdonald said.
“Right across the top of Australia, crocs are making it increasingly difficult for people to enjoy the fabulous natural resources that make living in the north so great.”
Mr Macdonald said recent sightings showed crocodiles were continuing to encroach on communities with impunity.
The idea that culling crocodiles could become lawful again is a controversial one in north Queensland.
Culling of crocs was banned by the Queensland Government in the early 70s, and since then numbers have increased dramatically.

Badu artists are making their mark

publisher@regionalandremote.com.au (Corey admin) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 23:40:57 +0000

By MELINDA TUPLING

THERE is currently a bit of a buzz about the arts community in Badu.
One of Australia’s most accomplished master printers, Theo Tremblay, arrived in Badu from Cairns to recently run a series of art workshops at the Badu Art Centre (Badhulgaw Kuthinaw Mudh).