BILLY Kadwell and Yasmin Cavanagh welcome their second daughter, Brydie, who is the 50th baby to be born at the Weipa Integrated Health Service maternity unit.
Photo: Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service. Full story, page 3.
by CHISA HASEGAWA
THE Australian Border Force is launching a multiagency operation to combat illegal foreign shing in Torres Strait waters.
Operation BROADSTAFF builds on similar operations in north-west Western Australia and the Northern Territory to take enforcement action against illegal shing activities.
Since 1 January, there have been 10 interceptions of suspected illegal shing vessels in northern Queensland and the Torres Strait, enabled
via increased surveillance and additional on-water assets in the region.
“This has now been scaled up to a full operation,” Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs Julian Hill said.
“A message to these criminals is, Australian waters [and] Australian maritime resources are for Australians. You didn’t succeed in Western Australia, we chased you out of the Northern Territory in Darwin, and you’re not going to succeed in the Torres Strait.
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“Importantly, it’s a partnership with communities right across the Torres Strait. Community leaders, community members, can be the eyes and ears, the intelligence on the ground, so that we can respond more quickly.”
Operation BROADSTAFF follows Operation LEEDSTRUM, which saw two Indonesian fishing vessels intercepted within the Kimberley Marine Park in December 2023, and Operation LUNAR, which resulted in the seizure of 1200 kilograms of sea cucumber and fishing equipment in early 2025.
Member for Leichhardt Matt Smith said action had been taken since he and Mr Hill travelled to the Torres Strait in October 2025 regarding illegal foreign fishing, and Operation BROADSTAFF complemented existing efforts.
“We knew that given the success of Operation LUNAR and Operation LEED-
STRUM, that there may be an influx of illegal vessels into the Torres Strait region,” he said.
“We put extra resources in January and December, but now I have formally requested further assistance from the Federal Government.”
“This operation is a response to illegal foreign fishing activity in the Torres Strait, and is in partnership with the local communities we’ve spoken with who see and feel the impact,” he said.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke assured Torres Strait and Cape York communities that serious action was being taken to patrol the waters.
“Australian Border Force surveillance and patrol capabilities are active across vast and remote maritime regions
“Foreign fishers who operate in Australian waters illegally risk losing their haul, their equipment, their vessel, and their freedom.”
MEMBER for Leichhardt Matt Smith has assured that Operation BROADSTAFF is only the first step in addressing illegal foreign fishing.
He and Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs Julian Hill will travel to the Torres Strait later this month to begin community consultations for long-term solutions.
The assurance comes after pushback from Torres Strait leaders, who welcomed Operation BROADSTAFF as a recognition of the severity of the situation, but were unhappy about the lack of consultation prior to its launch.
“Anything done for the Torres Strait must be done in consultation with the Torres Strait Regional Leadership
Group,” Torres Strait Island Regional Council Mayor Phillemon Mosby said.
“It is an affront that this response has been designed without us as regional leaders.”
Mr Smith said the operation, which involved deploying additional resources to intercept foreign vessels, was only just beginning, and community consultation was a major part of the solution.
“It’s the first part of a two-pronged process,” he said.
“The second part of this involves Julian and I, and some of the commanders from Border Force, going back up to the Torres Strait, meeting with the community, and getting an understanding from them about how they want this to look going forward.
“Operation BROADSTAFF is not a one-week thing, it’s not a two-week thing, it’s going to be an ongoing program.”
He said consultation was not done in the design process as they needed to “stem the bleeding” first.
“If you go through a full consultation process, it could have taken weeks, it could have taken months, and we start drowning in boats,” he said.
“We had to act quickly and decisively, we had to cut this thing off before it became too much of a problem, and that’s what we did.
“It will be driven by the community of the Torres Strait to ensure that this program has sustainability, and ensure buy-in from the local community.”
THE Weipa maternity unit is celebrating its 50th birth as it continues to help families stay with their local support network since starting in May 2024.
Second-time parents Yasmin Cavanagh and Billy Kadwell welcomed their baby girl, Brydie, at the facility on 8 February.
The couple’s rst daughter, Baileigh, was born just prior to the reopening of the Weipa service, meaning they were away from friends and community for six weeks while they prepared for her arrival in Cairns.
With Ms Cavanagh and Mr Kadwell living less than ve minutes from the hospital, it was a much easier journey compared to the 800-kilometre journey to Cairns.
“It felt really good to be able to have the baby in Weipa and not have to stress about the logistics of being in Cairns,” Ms Cavanagh said.
“The maternity team were amazing, just reassuring you and making sure you’re OK.”
Brydie is the fourth baby of 2026, while 32 births were recorded in 2025, and 14 in 2024.
Among the last births of the year in Weipa in 2025 was
baby Ace, born on 9 December to parents Emily and Alistair Thorogood and a brother to Kai and Vin.
Middle child Vin was the rst baby born at Weipa’s new birthing service on 28 May 2024.
Ms Thorogood said she, husband Alistair and rst son Kai had been preparing to y
to Cairns to give birth to Vin early in 2024 when the opening date for the new Weipa birthing service was announced.
“My rst son Kai was born in Mareeba, so we had to y out of Weipa at 36 weeks, and that would have been even more dif cult to do to give birth to Vin, while having Kai at home to consider,” she said.
“With Vin, I was able to labour at home for a while, then just drive two minutes to the hospital and he was born half an hour later.
“It was great to be able to do the same with Ace.”
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Rex O’Rourke said the 50th birth was a major milestone for the Weipa Integrated Health Service birthing unit.
“Our Weipa birthing unit has been going from strength to strength since restarting services in early 2024, and we look forward to seeing many more babies born there,’’ he said.
“Thursday Island Hospital continues to deliver a highquality birthing service, welcoming around 80–100 babies each year.
“At Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service, strong progress is being made toward safely resuming local birthing services, following workforce shortages.
“For the rst time since 2019, we have fully recruited our midwifery and anaesthetic workforce and are nalising remaining obstetric positions to support a safe, sustainable 24/7 service later this year.”
AROUND 480 people will head to the polls on 14 March for a by-election for Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council.
Electoral Commissioner Pat Vidgen said nominations for the councillor position were now open and he encouraged anyone interested in representing their community to nominate before noon on Thursday 19 February.
“When nominating, several important steps must be taken, so I urge anyone interested to do this as soon as possible,” Mr Vidgen said. Potential candidates must make sure they are eligi-
ble to nominate, enrolled in Pormpuraaw, pay a deposit of $250, open a dedicated campaign bank account and complete the free ‘So you want to be a councillor’ online training through the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers website.
More information for candidates is available on the Election Participants page of the Electoral Commission Queensland’s website.
Mr Vidgen also reminded Pormpuraaw residents about the importance of making sure they are correctly enrolled to vote.
“If you have changed your address or are enrolling to vote for the rst time you must update your details by Monday 16 February 2026,” Mr Vidgen said.
“This is an important step to ensure your voice will be heard on election day.”
To enrol to vote, check your enrolment or update your details, visit the Australian Electoral Commission’s website.
The by-election is a result of the resignation of councillor Lucy Foote on 31 January.
Keep up to date with the Pormpuraaw Aboriginal
Shire Council by-election at the ECQ’s website or on social media @electoralcommissionqld. You can also call 1300 881 665 for more information.
Important dates:
• Close of nominations and ballot draw – Thursday 19 February
• Close of postal vote requests – 7pm, Monday 2 March
• Early voting opens –Wednesday 11 March
• Election Day – Saturday 14 March
• Return of postal ballot cut-off – 5pm, Tuesday 24 March.
by CHISA HASEGAWA
WHEN the simple comfort of a hot meal became an unattainable luxury for those displaced from their homes after Tropical Cyclone Jasper, Bloomfield River communities banded together with a united ambition – to create a public kitchen in the local community hub.
After two grants, fundraising, and plenty of elbow grease, the Bloomfield River District Residents Association (BRDRA) will hold a grand opening of the upgraded Tin Shed on 21 February.
BRDRA secretary Robyn Guedes said she was excited to unveil the months of work that went into the community-centric makeover.
“We’ve put a total kitchen in –fridge, stove, counter, sink, running water – and a new bathroom as well,” she said.
“There was a toilet that looked pretty disgusting, with just bricks and bare cement, and then there was a shower that, again, had a bare cement floor and bricks, and horrible rust stains down the wall where the shower handles were.
“That’s tiled to the top now, beautifully tiled floor, new toilet, new shower fittings – it’s just lovely.”
BRDRA began fundraising for the Tin Shed upgrade at the 2024 Bloomfield Bazaar and, in 2025, the group received a $20,000 grant as part of FRRR’s Rebuilding Futures program, and a $25,000 Vero Young Broker of the Year grant.
Cook Shire Council also replaced windows and wooden shutters in the shed.
“It was used as a disaster hub during the flooding, but there were no kitchen facilities, nothing. It was just a tin shed with a terrible toilet and shower,” Ms Guedes said.
“Now, if we have another disaster, people can go there and cook themselves meals, and it’s all set up as a much nicer community facility.
“It’s also a space that we can hire out for activities and events during the holidays.”
Ms Guedes thanked the volunteers who helped bring the shed together, especially retired builder Mark Zippel, who did the framework for the walls, and builder Patrick Nandy, who was engaged for tiling on the project, but went above and beyond to volunteer his time to install the assembled kitchen joinery.
“He’d come along for a couple of hours of an afternoon after he’d
knocked off work, and he’d do a bit of work in the shed, and he put in hours and hours,” she said.
“He’s a really good craftsman, so it’s done to a really nice quality.
“Now, other people are coming
on board and volunteers are coming in to do little finishing touches as well.”
Cook Shire Council will use the grand opening to consult Bloomfield residents and ratepayers about the 2026-27 budget, with disaster recovery officers also on hand to engage community and answer questions from 3 pm. Official celebrations with live music will take place from 5 pm.
ONE of Queensland’s most influential educators will bring his expertise and passion to Cooktown students as part of the Endeavour Christian College (ECC) senior leadership team.
Dr David Chinofunga has been announced as the new Head of Teaching and Learning at ECC, where he will oversee the strategic development and implementation of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment across the school.
Dr Chinofunga has been recognised by Educational Studies in Mathematics, a premier internationally ranked academic journal, as a leading expert in high school mathematics.
As a prolific researcher, he has authored more than 10 peer-reviewed papers in premier journals, and has been widely cited in academic publications across the world.
“We are incredibly fortunate to welcome an educator of David’s calibre and vision to Endeavour,” ECC principal Jenny Nelson said.
“His unique blend of deep classroom experience,
academic rigour, and datainformed leadership will be invaluable as we continue to elevate our teaching and learning culture for the benefit of every student.”
Dr Chinofunga holds a PhD in Mathematics Education from James Cook University, where he actively bridges the gap between research and the classroom as a sessional lecturer.
He is also a lead assessor for the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority, has peer-reviewed several leading international journals, and most recently, served as the Director of Performance, Research, and Data Analytics at Blackheath and Thornburg College in Charters Towers.
“I am thrilled to join the Endeavour Christian College community,” Dr Chinofunga said.
“This role presents a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with a dedicated staff to foster a dynamic, evidencebased learning environment where every student can thrive and achieve their Godgiven potential.”
TIME is running out to seek funding opportunities for home-grown arts.
Applicants for the Cultural Tourism Fund can apply for up to $160,000 over two years for the New Programming Stream, while $40,000 is available over two years through the New Market Development stream.
Additional funding of up to $10,000 is available to support increasing the accessibility of events for artists and audiences with disability.
Applications close at 2 pm on 23 February 2026.
Visit: www.arts.qld.gov.au/fundingopportunities.
LOWER bills and cooler homes are on the way for Queensland community housing tenants.
Community housing providers can now apply for rebates up to $4500 to install energy efficiency and thermal comfort upgrades.
The Q-CHEU program is the latest part of a broader $116 million investment by the Australian and Queensland Governments to improve energy performance for up to 32,000 social housing properties across the state.
Queensland Minister for Housing and Public Works Sam O’Connor said the scheme would help to reduce the cost of living for some of the state’s most vulnerable people.
“This is a practical program that will change the lives of our community housing tenants by helping to cut their power bills and making their homes more liveable,” he said.
Operators of trucks must ensure that their vehicle does not exceed the gross mass on the sign, or for permit vehicles, the mass on the permit.
Permit vehicles are required to travel at 8km/hr, which will require 6 minutes to cross Mission River Bridge. Other drivers must not close up behind slow travelling vehicles. Contact RTAWeipaBridge@riotinto.com for approval applications.
by CHISA HASEGAWA
AN award-winning Erub artist and filmmaker who sends a strong message about the marine environment will lead a two-week workshop in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA).
Jimmy J Thaiday will share the secrets behind his famous ghost net sculptures at the NPA Art Centre from 16-27 February, inspiring local creatives with recycled marine debris art.
Mr Thaiday is part of a resident artist collective at Erub Arts, where ghost net materials are used to create works from bags to largescale art installations.
These works convey the message: “We are all connected by the oceans of the world, so we must all work together towards their protection”.
“My artwork gives me the opportunity to express the things that are important to me, my identity and culture,” he said.
“Currently, I am working with ghost nets and creating three-dimensional work.”
Mr Thaiday has been commissioned for his work
across the world, with exhibitions from Thursday Island to Paris, London, and Miami.
The artist’s works are in collections from the National Museum of Australia to the Museum of Ethnography in Geneva.
Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council CEO Dalassa Yorkston said this workshop was the first major local event of the year to bring NPA’s creative communities together.
“Council is proudly showcasing the upgraded art centre as a major hub for educational and artistic pathways for community development in 2026,” she said.
Mostly lost or abandoned by commercial fishing vessels operating globally, ghost nets can be kilometres long, weighing up to several tonnes each.
They can drift hundreds of kilometres, causing injury or death by entangling marine species, or wash ashore to litter remote and formerly pristine coastlines.
The Australian Government has announced a new program known as the
Ghost Nets and Marine Debris Initiative to extend and expand on the achievements of previous initiatives using technology, Indigenous knowledge and strategic partnerships to continue to tackle the issue of ghost nets and plastic litter in the wa-
Our Indigenous Employment programs and initiatives are coming to your community in 2026! Supporting students, sharing culture, and opening new pathways for the future.
Together, we’re helping young people grow strong in knowledge, culture, and confidence.
Scan the QR code to find out more. Or email RTAWeipaFeedback@riotinto.com or visit us in the Community Relations Building
and beaches of northern Australia.
In the NPA, the Apudthuma Land and Sea Rangers program employs nine local rangers to protect the region’s natural resources across 250,000 hectares of traditional land and sea
country, including 300 km of coastline and coastal islands. These rangers remove and record hundreds of tonnes of ghost nets annually.
Supported by Arts Queensland, the NPA Ghost Net Workshop will run from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday, from 16 to 27 February at NPA Art Centre, New Mapoon. Bookings are essential. Interested locals can call 0474 985 569 or 07 4048 6608, or email fairylynn. Wasiu@nparc.qld.gov.au.
You can a ly for a grant to create new jobs in your co unity, through the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program.
Grants will support eligible employers to employ local people in new jobs by funding wages and equipment. To find out more – scan the QR code, call
or
Call us 1800 820 711
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For planned and unplanned power outages, visit weipaelectricity.riotinto.com or Rio Tinto Weipa’s Facebook page
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IN AN EMERGENCY CALL 000
A by-election is being held to elect a new Councillor for Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council on Saturday 21 February 2026.
Scan or visit check.aec.gov.au to check you’re enrolled ELECTION INFORMATION
DO YOU WANT TO BE A COUNCILLOR?
To nominate as a councillor, you must:
• complete a free online training course
• have a dedicated bank account for campaign expenses
• provide a $250 candidate deposit by cash, bank cheque or BPoint
Nominations close: 12pm Thursday 29 January 2026.
For more information, contact the Returning Officer:
Name: Faye Gates
Office: Jean Jimmy Centre, Red Beach Road, Mapoon
Email: faye.gates@elections.qld.gov.au
Phone: 0458 010 168
JAMES Cook University research has revealed the tale of two pioneering botanical artists who used their exquisite paintings of Australian tropical plants to inspire, break through gender and cultural barriers, and protect the environment.
JCU PhD candidate Janine Evans has published new historical research highlighting the incredible lives and achievements of Australia’s pioneering female botanical artists from the 19th and 20th centuries: Marian Ellis Rowan (1848-1922) and Vera Scarth-Johnson (1912-1999).
Both artists painted flora from the remote and beautiful Endeavour River region, on the ancestral lands of the Guugu Yimithirr people, near Cooktown.
“In the late 18th century, prior to photography, botanical art was essential to the scientific documentation of the natural world,” Ms Evans said.
“Naturalists relied on artists to provide a visual record of new plants, particularly those with potential economic or medicinal value.”
Botanical art and science in the 18th and 19th centuries were male dominated. Influential American physician J.F.A. Adams described botany in 1887 as “one of the most useful and most manly of studies”.
Ms Rowan and Ms Scarth-Johnson had to work hard and fight against societal norms. But they also used their privileged social status to achieve their success.
Painting by Ellis Rowan, Mitrasacme connata R.Br., family Loganiaceae, Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) L., family Convolvulacea, Lindernia crustacea (L.) F. Muell., family Linderniaceae and the butterflies Delias mysis, Red-banded Jezebel, Cooktown, Queensland, ca. 1887. Credit: Ellis Rowan, National Library of Australia, nla.obj138773568-1.
Ms Evans said botanical art was a way for women to engage and make meaningful contributions to society.
“Ellis Rowan was famous for her botanical art, with patrons such as Queen Victoria. She competed in international exhibitions –even beating the premier male artists of the country … that was a big controversy in the newspapers of the day,” Ms Evans said.
“She painted North Queensland plants that earlier botanists had not even identified, very much adding to the scientific record.
“But despite discovering new species, Ellis still didn’t get to name the plants, so there remained a gendered barrier for these artists.”
Vera was a passionate advocate for the natural environment of the Endeavour River region, using her art and the recognition of her artwork to support her environmental campaigns.
In 1996, she was awarded a prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her contributions to art and conservation.
“Vera loved Cooktown and the surrounding district,” Ms Evans said.
“She’d write to Cooktown’s local newspaper encouraging people to protect local orchids. With support from the fishing industry and environmental organisations, she led campaigns advocating for the protection of the natural environment.
“Vera helped secure donations to build
Painting by Ellis Rowan, Broad leaf tea-tree/Melaleuca viridiflora Sol. Ex Gaertn., family Myrtaceae syn Melaleuca leucadendra var. viridiflora (Sol. ex Gaertn.) Cheel, Cooktown, Queensland, ca. 1891. Credit: Ellis Rowan, National Library of Australia, nla.obj-138790718-1.
the local art gallery and donated her artwork collection to the people of Cooktown. Now you can view Vera’s artwork at Nature’s Powerhouse Gallery and then visit the actual plants right next door, in the Cooktown Botanical Gardens. It’s a beautiful juxtaposition.”
The two artists’ contributions built on the work of some of the world’s most influential botanists and botanical artists who were also captivated by the plants of the Endeavour River region.
In 1770, Captain James Cook’s ship, The Endeavour, was grounded on Cooktown’s offshore reefs, bringing Australia’s most famous botanist, Joseph Banks, and his lesserknown botanical artist, Sydney Parkinson, to shore.
“The Endeavour was the first maritime expedition to carry a dedicated botanical artist,” Ms Evans said.
Ms Scarth-Johnson was inspired by these early botanists, making it her mission to repaint 200 botanical art paintings from Banks’ visit. With deteriorating health, she managed to complete 147 of the original pieces.
“The Endeavour River region is one of the most unique places in the world,” Ms Evans said.
“The work of these artists provides a baseline of how ecosystems are changing, which is really important for protecting biodiversity.”
Painting by Ellis Rowan, Blotched hyacinth-orchid/Dipodium punctatum (Sm.) R.Br. and Vappaculum x superbiens (Rchb.f.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, family Orchidaceae, Cape York, Queensland, ca. 1887. Credit: Ellis Rowan, National Library of Australia, nla.obj-138771465-1.
Pioneering botanical artist Vera ScarthJohnson. Credit: Australian National Botanical Gardens, scarth-johnson-ex-newsmail-web24-02-2018, https://www.anbg.gov. au/index.html
by Vera Scarth-Johnson, Dendrobium phalaenopsis (Cooktown Orchid). Credit: Vera Scarth Johnson, Australian National Botanical Gardens, dendrobium-phalaenopsisscarth-johnson-650, https://www.anbg.gov.au/ index.html.
Painting by Vera ScarthJohnson, Deplanchea tetraphylla in gouache on toned background paper showing inflorescence, leaves and reproductive structures. Credit: Vera ScarthJohnson, National Treasures: Flowering Plants of Cooktown and Northern Australia, 2nd edn. (Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery Association, 2024), Image No. 115 Deplanchea tetraphylla. Used with permission - Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery Association.
by CHISA HASEGAWA
A NEW youth empowerment group on Waiben is giving young people the guidance and voice they need to shape their community’s future.
Open to Year 7 and 8 students, the Waiben Youth Empowerment Club held its inaugural meeting on 6 January at Tagai State College, bringing together community leaders and youth to carve a strong future together.
As a local father and volunteer with the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program, organiser Josh Toloui-Wallace said he had a deep passion for helping young people find their way.
“It came from this desire to help young people, because we can see the world around us – the opportunities available to them, especially up here on Thursday Island, are quite limited,” he said.
“Oftentimes, youth are treated like children, but expected to behave like adults.
“I think something that I’ve learned is that they’re unique, and they actually need to be treated in a unique way as youth, which is something I really wanted to explore with other people in the community.”
Through months of community meetings, Mr Toloui-Wallace said they formed a solid group of facilitators to lead the new Youth Empowerment Club.
The main takeaway, he said, was the need for community ownership alongside strong institutions.
“The rhetoric is, when there’s youth crime, people go to the police and say, ‘Hey, you’ve got to fix this’, or they go to the council or the government and say, ‘What are you doing about this,’” he said.
“We actually have to come together as a community, and not only rely on our institutions to just sort it out.
“We explored how we can build the youths’ capacity, give them skills and knowledge step by step, and accompany them along the way to be the kind of adults that we hope for in a community.”
Over the school term, he said facilitators
would help participants “observe their social reality and identify things that could be improved”.
“We’ve made a program that’s loosely based on the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program, but more targeted at building the capacity for social action,” he said.
“The goal this term is to have one project that we can actually deliver with them before the end of the term.”
Mr Toloui-Wallace said the ultimate goal was to have youth grow up in the program, and eventually become the facilitators when they became senior students.
“If we can be consistent with this effort, then it becomes self-perpetuating, because those youth that have gone through it, they’re the best role models for the next generation,” he said.
“They’re so impressionable at that young age that whoever they look up to, that’s what they follow.
“We’re really trying to make sure that they have good role models, and not just role models like sport stars, but people like their cousins, their family, their friends – people in the community that they see doing good things.”
by CHRIS JOHNSON
FANCY a dash of Kakadu plum in your smoothie, or infused through a favourite wine?
What about some rock fuchsia flowers added to your salad? Warrigal greens for your soup anyone?
Australian native foods are increasingly being included in local dishes and are attracting growing interest from retailers and manufacturers, as well as emerging as a sought-after exported product.
The First Nations native food industry was worth $81.5 million in the 2019–20 financial year and was on its way to doubling by this year.
A new report points out that, far from niche culinary novelties, these foods are part of an industry rooted in 60,000 years of Indigenous history.
The study stresses the importance of traditional knowledge protection in the Australian native foods industry and calls on the governments to implement specific safeguards.
First and foremost, the report published by Nuffield Australia calls for increased First Nations leadership in the rapidly growing industry.
“Underpinning many of the Aboriginal-owned organisations working within agriculture and
food is a rich history and interconnected relationship with land, plants, animals and people encompassed through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lore and customs,” the report states.
“This is also known as ‘cultural significance’. Native produce holds vital information and plays a pivotal role within Aboriginal culture.
“This includes detailing what specific foods are utilised for, when and what can be harvested, which community members hold knowledge and importantly, what can be eaten.
“This information is part of what in today’s world is better known as Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP).
ICIP refers to the rights that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples hold in relation to protecting and controlling their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and cultural expressions.
The report notes that this includes languages, stories, art, music, dances, ceremonies, symbols, ancestral remains, sacred sites and knowledge of native foods and plants.
The most recent Indigenous Business Snapshot from Melbourne Business School indicates First Nations native food businesses contribute more than $16 billion
to the Australian economy, employ 116,795 people and pay $4.2 billion in wages.
Nuffield Australia awards scholarships each year to primary producers in Australia for travel and research around the world.
Former Port Adelaide AFL footballer Marlon Motlop is the latest scholar to release a report of his studies, after delving into how Australian native foods connect people, culture and country.
A proud Larrakia/Gulumoer-
rgin, Kungarrakany Erub/Darnley man, Mr Motlop has used his report to offer practical steps to ensure the knowledge systems and cultural practices involved with these foods are respected and protected.
“The role Australian native foods play from a cultural perspective is a pillar in the lore of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” he said.
“Major challenges remain for Indigenous-led native food businesses, including risks of cultural exploitation, barriers to market access and the need for stronger protection of Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property.
“We’re talking about the protection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights to their cultural heritage, including knowledge, stories and creations.”
Mr Motlop found the industry is growing quickly, with more people interested in its unique flavours and health benefits.
And he argues that First Nations knowledge and cultural protocols are essential for growing and sharing these foods in a way that respects culture and country.
His scholarship saw him visit Aboriginal Land Councils and Corporations across northern Australia, as well as travel to North and South America, Europe, Singapore
and New Zealand to meet with other Indigenous farmers and food business owners and learn more about supply chains and markets.
Mr Motlop is himself an owner of an Australian native foods business, Native Kitchen Australia, and insists that native foods are more than ingredients, but are also stories, traditions and a bridge between cultures.
The report makes strong recommendations to address the challenges facing the industry and how to advance it sustainably and ethically.
These recommendations include:
• Strengthen Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge protection
• Build consumer trust through authentic branding
• Greater investment in research and development
• Secure sustainable supply chains through capability and capacity building for First Nations agribusiness
• Increased capital investment in First Nations agriculture businesses
• Majority share of First Nationsowned bush food businesses
• Culturally safe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander governance structures for First Nations businesses in the native foods sector.
Fill in the blank cells using numbers from 1 to
Fit the numbers 1-6 once into every hexagon so that where the hexagons touch, the numbers are the same. No number is repeated in any single hexagon.
THERE was a little extra love in the air when 84 parkrunners laced up their sneakers bright and early on Valentine’s Day morning.
Ross Dawson was the first runner to greet the timekeeper at his 350th parkrun, stopping the clock at 22 minutes and 23 seconds.
He was, of course, presented with an obligatory milestone cake at the finish line, helping him replenish his energy after a winning effort.
Chrisden Russ (23:00) and Cole Watson (23:33) were hot on Dawson’s heels over the trip, with Watson setting a new personal
best alongside 11 others who celebrated improvements in their times.
Eight first-timers began their love affairs with the weekly five-kilometre circuit.
Donna Jewell, Camille Freiberg, Fiona Dyer, Melanie Brewer, Michael Rowland, Danita Ebenezer, Meg Rintoul, Barry Cronin and Damien Levao volunteered over the track to ensure the event was a smooth success.
Weipa parkrun is held every Saturday morning at 7 am at the shelter next to the hospital roundabout in Nanum.
IT may have played havoc with scorecards, but rain did not dampen the spirits of 13 golfers when they contested Wackers honours in Weipa on 11 February.
When sodden players returned to the clubhouse, only Mick Foy (44), Mick “Magic Apples” Cerneka (47) and Grant Crossley (48) managed to break 50 off the stick.
After handicaps were applied, it was Foy who triumphed with a nett 33.5, eking out victory from Wackers scorekeeper Steve Head, who carded a nett 34.
Crossley showed a deft touch with the irons to bag the pin prize on the 15th hole, while Jim “Did Anyone See Where My Ball Landed?” Lucas finally delivered a straight shot to take nearest to the pin honours on the final hole.
Aurukun golfer Lyndon Keane, who found himself stuck on the wrong side of Myall Creek on a Wednesday afternoon, disappointed from the tee block to the green to card a gross round of 59, and stamp his name on the Bradman’s prize for the week.
Keane collected his gong after surviving a wayward Hari Ginate tee shot on the 18th, which ricocheted off the window of the cart being driven by him and playing partner Eddy Tiemens.
Foy credited his victory to not being part of the playing group including Crossley, Lucas, Keane, Tiemens and Ginate.
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FOLLOWING a spectacular rain-free Saturday, Sunday Dawnbusters was set to be a sure thing, but the appearance of a lonely little cloud band brought the morning shower for the unfortunate golfers.
After giving the BOM app a major workout, it was game on for 17 Dawnbusters when there was a small break in the clouds an hour and a half after arrival at the clubhouse.
The break was short-lived, with the crew finishing the weekend’s 9 holes in wet and damp conditions.
Jamie Hutton with a 41 off the stick, Mick Cerneka with a 43, and Peter Kenny and Oliver Tata with a 44, climatised better than most, while everybody else merely played their own versions of water polo.
It was Leroy Ahmat who
moved into the winner’s circle, having posted a Bridesmaid the last time he played four weeks ago. On Sunday his 55 off the stick was enough to secure the win, netting out at 21 and clipping his next game’s handicap to 19.
Bridesmaid was given to Harrie Ginate with his net 24.
Hoffmans was taken by Jon Dall while Jamie Hutton managed to “aqua-plane” his tee shot down the 10th fairway to secure the Men’s Longest Drive.
A change of guard befell the Women’s Longest Drive, and it was awarded to Helen Sabatino.
Nearest the Pin for the 18th proved unreachable and went begging for the second week in a row.
Dawnbusters will take on the front 9 on 22 February, with an expected tee-off time of about 6:45 am.
A FAMILY-FRIENDLY atmosphere, sharing the load, and not taking themselves too seriously seem to be the secrets behind Weipa Social Netball Club’s thriving committee.
As a new season for hundreds of local netballers approaches, the leading faces on the committee remain largely unchanged – a feat not to go unnoticed as locals juggle full-time jobs and kids with their volunteer work.
Following continuous growth since the club was established in 2010, the 2026 season will be supported by a team of 21 committee members.
Treasurer Chelsea Bratt, who is the newest member of the executive committee in her third year, said the core group had never wavered since she joined.
“We’re like a little family. It’s a kind group, everybody’s very approachable, and everybody who joins is very comfortable,” she said.
“We do have some new faces as well, but most of them have joined because their kids played
last year, and they were involved anyway.
“This year, they’ve just called themselves members, rather than helping out for the sake of helping out.”
In 2025, the club recorded 288 registrations, of which 120 were junior players.
Last season, 30 juniors, accompanied by four committee members and a number of parents, travelled to Townsville for a netball carnival – the result of year-round fundraising efforts by committee members.
Despite the heavy workload, Ms Bratt said there was never too much on one person’s shoulders, which helped keep the same volunteers returning each year.
“Having a bigger committee, you don’t have to commit to being there every single week; we’re able to give people a rotating roster to come and help,” she said.
“Every single Friday night for the entire year, unless it’s a fishing competition or something like that, somebody’s at the Alby selling raffle tickets.
“Because we’re all such good friends, it’s normally a few of us at a time, and we’ll have dinner and have a bit of a laugh, so it never feels like a chore for us.”
2026 Weipa Social Netball Club Committee:
President: Kelly Watters
Vice President: Craig Whiting
Treasurer: Chelsea Bratt
Secretary: Kini Rokosoi
Junior Co-ordinator: Chantelle Mazzocato
Umpire Co-Ordinator: Amy Williscroft
Junior committee: Gemma Candow, Mikaela Goodwin, Judey Haeulser, Silvie Hynes, Elissa Nash, Rhianne Pilcher, Talei Rokosoi, Paris Saunders, Annabelle Slingo and Emily Watters
General committee: Adam Bratt, Isaac Campbell, Jeff Neil, Lacey Remedio and Katelin Watters
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