Cape York Weekly Edition 274

New faces at TCHHS LOVE FOR LODGE

by CHISA HASEGAWA

GETTING the golden gong at the Australian Tourism Awards never gets old, but for third-time winner Cape York Peninsula Lodge, it is so much more than just a win for the business.

The community-owned organisation brought home gold in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences category at the 2025 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards earlier this month.

Run by Bamaga Enterprises, the lodge

also won the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences category at the 2024 edition of the coveted awards, and the 4-4.5 Star Accommodation category in 2023.

Bamaga Enterprises executive of cer Sharon Sloane said the announcement was a surprise year after year, especially with some tough competition in this year’s award season.

“It’s de nitely not something we take for granted,” she said.

“We’ve done it in the past, but we thought we may not have been successful this year, so

it was a surprise and it was just the same surprise last year.

“It’s still that mind-blowing moment of ‘we put Cape York on the map’ yet again.”

Ms Sloane said the increase in competition was “bittersweet” – wanting to succeed as a business, but also to see Australian cultural tourism grow as a whole.

“You really want to see other First Nations businesses thrive and succeed in tourism and cultural experiences, but then we win, it’s also a huge moment,” she said.

– Continued page 3

Members of THE COOKTOWN AND

ASSOCIATION INC. are advised that the Annual General Meeting will be held

WEDNESDAY 1st APRIL 2026 @ 5:00PM AT THE BLOCK –

Tuxworth & Woods have all your

Iraci Ave, Evans Landing Mob: 0429 003 743 Ph: 4069 7183 Fax: 4069 7472

COOKTOWN

Cnr of Endeavour Road and McMillan Streets, Cooktown Ph: 0419 759 892

CAIRNS OFFICE: Ph: 4035 4022 25 Redden St, Portsmith

by LUKE MORTIMER

TORRES and Cape Hospital and Health Service has welcomed new nurses – and more jobs are up for grabs.

The health service which covers the Torres Strait, Northern Peninsula Area and Cape York has seven new team members.

Thursday Island Hospital, the Weipa Integrated Health Service and Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service general wards each get two new graduate nurses in initial allocations.

A seventh graduate is due to start at Thursday Island Hospital in September, according to the health service’s executive director of nursing and midwifery services Jacob Walsh.

“The registered nurse graduates will have a range of

clinical experiences, including acute medical, surgical, emergency care, community and primary health care,’’ he said.

The graduates studied at various universities and have taken different career paths.

Central Queensland University graduate Amie-J Fookes, a former Mackay Base Hospital administrator, worked as an assistant-in-nursing (AIN) at Weipa Integrated Health Service for six months before the new role.

She juggled part-time and external studies while working at Mackay and then Weipa.

Ms Fookes, originally from the Sunshine Coast, said: “There’s also great satisfaction in helping those who need it and there’s great camaraderie and support for you in the profession.”

Mayvis Thompson, also an AIN at Weipa, will join Ms Fookes as a new nurse in this year’s graduate intake.

She has been working with Weipa Support at Home and the residential aged care unit at the health service for about two years.

“I’m originally from Mount Isa in Kalkadoon Country and I lived there for 15 years. Before that, I grew up in a small town outside of Bundaberg called Burnett Heads, but I spent the majority of my life in Mount Isa before moving to Weipa,” she said.

“I started studying nursing with James Cook University internally in Mount Isa part-time, then when I moved to Weipa I went external, changed to full-time and my base was Townsville at the Bebegu Yumba Campus, mean-

ing ‘place of learning’ in the local Birri-Gubba language.

“l love to care for people and really be there for them and their family at their time of need.”

Ms Thompson completed “over 800 hours of placement”.

“But my favourite placement was my nal eight weeks here in Weipa. It was good to be home, the nurses are knowledgeable and helpful, and the community are so welcoming,” she said.

Mr Walsh said the new nurses would spend the next 12 months undertaking a graduate program.

He thanked the 400 “caring, committed and resilient” nurses and midwives who work for the health service

More nursing roles are advertised.

Fishing crews nabbed in Torres Strait Broadstaff bust

by LUKE MORTIMER

AUSTRALIAN Border Force (ABF) has intercepted more foreign boats suspected of illegal shing in the Torres Strait.

Crew of two vessels stopped near Trochus Island were taken to Darwin as Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AMFA) investigations continued.

The ABF and other agencies launched Operation Broadstaff in February to deter, detect and disrupt illegal foreign shing across northern Queensland and the Torres Strait.

Earlier this month, Queensland Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett and Cook MP David Kempton raised concerns about biosecurity risks and called on the Federal Government to ramp up resources to halt the boats.

Leichhardt MP Matt Smith said the Commonwealth was working on a longer term “Torres Strait solution”.

The ABF states a xed-wing aircraft on patrol spotted the vessels on 7 March.

A fast response boat and a patrol boat intercepted both vessels prior to them shing Australia’s waters. ABF boarded and found 1650kg of salt “used to preserve catch and shing equipment”.

Of cers consulted with AMFA, seized gear, disposed of salt and apprehended crew members for suspected Fisheries Management Act offences.

The boats were set to be disposed of at sea in accordance with Australian law.

Maritime Border Command acting deputy commander Brooke Dewar said: “The coordination between our surveillance aircraft, patrol vessels and local communities means illegal shers have nowhere to hide.”

“Our message is simple: if you enter Australian waters to steal our marine resources, we will nd you and we will act.”

As of 13 March, 18 boats have been intercepted since the start of the year.

Third top gong for Cape York tourism icon at national awards

Continued from page 1

Ms Sloane said: “It’s very special to our board to have other people doing the same things and being successful in Australia by educating the wider community through beautiful cultural experiences.”

With Bamaga Enterprises set up to give back to the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) through sponsorships and donations for things such as education, traineeships, funerals and sporting opportunities, Ms Sloane said the success of the lodge went beyond the business.

“Having Cape York Peninsula Lodge be very successful, overall, is about what we can do for the entire NPA community,” she said.

“Our day-to-day life in Cape York is sometimes difcult; we are very remote, the road’s shut off six months of the year and we work entirely hard in that six months that the road is open.

“With those logistical nightmares, for the board and for the NPA community to see that we are successful in this is a huge thing.”

Having been inducted into the Queensland Tourism Awards Hall of Fame last year, Cape York Peninsula Lodge is no longer eligible to enter the Australian Tourism Awards

but Ms Sloane said the team would never stop trying to improve the experiences it offers.

“Year on, year out, we’re always seeking other ways to offer more cultural experiences,” she said.

“We may not enter into the next cultural tourism experiences award, but that doesn’t

stop us striving to see what else we can do to make those experiences more valid for people coming in.

“I think it’s a great time now for other tourism operators in that cultural space to focus on what they can do and we will absolutely support First Nations people being able to progress their business.”

Lakeland intersection ‘disaster waiting to happen’

by CHISA HASEGAWA

TRUCK drivers and locals have called for action on a dangerous Lakeland intersection “before someone is killed”.

The Mulligan Highway and Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) intersection in front of Lakeland Roadhouse has been called a “nightmare” for truckies turning south onto the highway from Laura.

Truckie Raymond Fitzgerald said the turn made him nervous, despite his decades of experience behind the wheel.

A regular contractor for Cook Shire Council, Mr Fitzgerald said he went through the intersection about twice a week, but during peak work season it could be up to 30 times a day.

“You pull up at that intersection then you can’t see through the left-hand side of your truck. You’ve got to take your seatbelt off to climb over the steering

wheel to see if there’s anyone coming from the north,” he said.

“By the time you sit back down in your seat and get going again, there’s a few seconds there, and someone could be there. It is a disaster waiting to happen.”

Mr Fitzgerald said he witnessed close calls at the intersection and other truckies also described it as a “terrible turn”.

He believed a solution could be to change the side of traf c that gave way.

“It’ll be so much better if the give way was on the Cooktown road and the Mareeba side of that intersection because they’re both on a straight lane of road,” he said.

“If they gave way and let the Laura traf c out, it would be so much easier. Just being on that turn, it’s a very dangerous situation.”

Mr Fitzgerald said the risk increased during tourist season.

“When you get the tourists and the car-

avanners they seem to be doing less [than the speed limit] because they haven’t been here and they’re looking where they want to go, so the risk goes up a lot higher,” he said.

“You can hear them on the radio, saying ‘are we going to pull up at the roadhouse, are we going to go to the coffee shop’, umming and ahing at that turn.”

Lakeland’s Shallyn Bloom eld said the community has been pushing for intersection improvements for a decade.

“It’s a bucket list thing to go to the Cape so everybody does that at some point, and that intersection is just atout dangerous,” she said.

Ms Bloom eld said a concave mirror which had been stored nearby could help drivers see better, but it was not approved for use by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR).

A spokesperson said TMR would “determine whether further investigation or safety improvements are needed”.

US biotech biz works to create cane toad-resistant quolls

by LUKE MORTIMER

AN American biotechnology and genetic engineering company working to “de-extinct” the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger (thylacine) and other animals wants to create cane toad-resistant northern quolls in the next three years and release them in Cape York.

Colossal Biosciences states it’s using “cutting-edge genetic and reproductive technologies” with the goal to “introduce toad-resistant traits into vulnerable populations”.

The company believes the project will give the quolls “a fighting chance to survive and recover”.

Australia has the worst marsupial and mammal extinction rate globally and the northern quoll is listed as endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Asked about the unusual endeavour, Colossal Biosciences chief biology officer Professor Andrew Pask explained: “Quolls are dying from cane toad poisoning – unfortunately, our native animals don’t have natural resistance to the introduced cane toad, but where cane toads naturally exist in South America, a lot of the

animals are resistant – having evolved alongside cane toads for hundreds of thousands of years.

“We examined what it was that makes those animals resistant and it turns out it is just a single difference (1 base out of 3 billion) in their genetic code,” he said.

“We have made this edit in northern quoll cells and shown that it makes them completely resistant to the toxin.

“We are now working on turning those cells into a living whole animal using new reproductive technologies for marsupials ...”

The company, which has attracted both praise and pointed criticism for its de-extinction work, plans to introduce the quolls in the Northern Terri-

tory, Western Australia and Queensland, including the Cape.

“We are partnering with Northern Territories Wildlife Park to perform the work on quolls. The idea would then be to introduce these quolls into the wild,” Prof Pask said.

“It’s important to note that if the quoll could survive another 10,000 to 100,000 years alongside the cane toad, it would likely naturally evolve this resistance change on its own, but unfortunately, we don’t have that long – they are going extinct too rapidly.

“We are speeding up the evolution process to give our native animals a fighting chance against this invasive pest.”

The company has also been working on initiatives involving birds and amphibians.

Colossal states it combines “the science of genetics with the business of discovery”.

“To see the woolly mammoth thunder upon the tundra once again. To advance the economies of biology and healing through genetics. To make humanity more human. And to reawaken the lost wilds of Earth. So we, and our planet, can breathe easier,” the company’s website reads.

Cape York on lumpy skin disease front line

by LUKE MORTIMER

CAPE York Peninsula has been flagged as one of the nation’s most likely entry points for lumpy skin disease virus, which poses a massive risk to beef and dairy farming.

The virus spreads through the bites of insects – including mosquitoes, flies and ticks – and leads to skin nodules, lesions, fever and weight loss.

While it has never breached Australian biosecurity measures, the devastating virus spread through Asia and reached Indonesia in 2022.

A team led by University of Queensland (UQ) has been working on the first geospatial model to map where insects carrying the virus could arrive, either blown by strong wind or carried by ships.

UQ School of Veterinary Science

Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhães said it shows where surveillance and preparation could be prioritised.

“The northern tip of Cape York Peninsula was flagged as the location most exposed to windborne insect arrival, particularly during the summer months,” he said.

“The Port Hedland and Dampier region in Western Australia showed the highest risk of insects hitchhiking into Australia on ships from locations known to have infections.

“The model we have built can be updated and refined as more detailed

data or new information is available, or if the situation changes and a new outbreak location is identified outside of Australia.”

Cook MP David Kempton warned earlier this month foreign boats illegally fishing Australian waters presented a worsening lumpy skin risk.

Prof Magalhães explained the impacts of the disease on cattle: “Infected animals are in pain, they don’t want to move and become emaciated, so there is a significant animal welfare issues as well as the loss of production.”

“A case in Australia would likely lead to trade restrictions, particularly on exports of live cattle but also on beef and dairy products, leading to huge economic losses,” he said.

“While previous assessments indicated the risk of lumpy skin disease coming to Australia was low, it is a huge country, so we wanted to explore whether that was true everywhere.”

Prof Magalhães said strong winds could blow insects with the virus “hundreds of kilometres”.

He said research would inform surveillance in shipping areas, on livestock properties and in feral bovine populations

The project builds on Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation work and was backed by the Department of Primary Industries.

Lumpy skin disease virus cannot be transmitted to humans.

World-first win for endangered palm cockatoo

by CHISA HASEGAWA

FOR a bird species relying on centuriesold trees and well-timed cyclones, nesting habitats are hard to come by, but an innovative effort involving artificial homes has marked a hopeful milestone in reversing the decline of the endangered palm cockatoo.

The population of the iconic bird has continued to dwindle in the vast rainforests and savannas of the Cape York Peninsula due to a critical shortage of old tree hollows needed for breeding.

In a world-first conservation triumph, a palm cockatoo chick hatched and fledged from an artificial hollow installed by People for Wildlife (PFW), Apudthama traditional owners and palm cockatoo expert Dr Christina Zdenek, confirming that man-made habitats could successfully supplement the shortage.

Just one month after the team erected the artificial log hollow in the Northern Peninsula area, an adult pair of palm cockatoos laid an egg inside, demonstrating a rapid and unprecedented uptake of the new nesting resource.

“Such immediate use shows the desperate shortage of large natural hollows in the region,” Dr Zdenek said.

The success came after national acclaim for PFW, when it was named a bronze-tier winner of the Australian Geographic Society’s Awards for Nature in October 2025.

The award secured PFW $20,000 for its Breeding Habitat Restoration Project, and since then, the team has installed 29 artificial hollows across northern Cape York.

Torres Strait team tackles CEQ retail leadership pilot

At the time, PFW executive director Dr Daniel Natusch told Cape York Weekly that palm cockatoo nests required a complex process of 200- to 300-year-old trees being hollowed out by termites and fungi, before needing a cyclone to twist off the top to expose the trunk’s centre.

The process was estimated to take more than 100 years, but with the centre of the tree gone, it became more vulnerable to intense fires and strong winds, making palm cockatoo real estate difficult to maintain and heavily fought over.

Between September and December 2025, PFW’s land management experts monitored the hollow from the ground, complemented by wildlife-friendly remote cameras in the canopy.

by Luke Mortimer

AN important not-for-profit which provides goods and essential services to the Torres Strait, Cape York Peninsula, Doomadgee and Palm Island communities through more than 30 shops has been training the next generation of retail leaders.

Remote store operator Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ) has launched a new pilot program to train and mentor First Nations team members from Waibene – the Torres Strait’s biggest retail hub –to take on the management of IBIS (Islanders Board of Industry and Service) and ABIS (Aboriginal

Business, Industry and Service) supermarkets.

The CEQ Professional Development Program, developed by regional manager Arthur Wright –in collaboration with CEQ’s People and Workforce Culture team – leaves participants with skills to manage complex store operations.

The program creates career paths and focuses on training up supervisors, assistant managers and managers who have shown potential and are deemed ready to skill up to run large-format retail stores.

Hands-on training involves learning about finances, systems, workforce management and more.

CEQ CEO Michael Dykes said

The cameras captured nearly 8000 images documenting the birds exploring, entering, and leaving the hollow, providing crucial confirmation of nesting activity.

The monitoring efforts allowed PFW staff to strategically position themselves to capture the final piece of the puzzle — a high-resolution image of the fledgling perched on top of the hollow on its last day before leaving the nest.

“This is truly hard work paying off,” Dr Natusch said.

“It’s a testament to the power of collaboration between traditional owners, scientists, and conservationists to ensure the survival of one of Australia’s most fascinating birds.”

the program was an investment in building local leadership.

“This pilot program recognises the talent we already have within our store teams and gives them the training, mentoring and experience they need to step into senior leadership roles,” he said.

Mr Wright said the idea to launch the program came about due to the potential and good work of current team members.

Next, CEQ wants to refine and expand the program across its network.

CEQ manages the IBIS and ABIS stores, as well as other shops including Col Jones and Community Home and Hardware, Mona’s Bazaar and Mitre 10 on Waibene.

Every story is unique, and so are your healthcare choices. This Advance Care Planning Week, take the time to reflect and talk to your loved ones so they understand your story and can honour your choices when it matters most.

Upgrading six community halls in Far North Queensland

• Upgrading Jeff Pezzutti Park Youth Activities Space

• Upgrading Cairns Western Arterial Road

• Delivering new classrooms at Cairns State Special School

• Upgrading the lighting at Cooktown Oval

• Upgrading Barlow Park and the Manunda Sports Precinct for 2032 and beyond

As well as upgrading six community halls in Far North Queensland, here are some of the ways the new Queensland Government is delivering for Far North Queensland:

• Delivering public transport for Babinda, Dimbulah and Ravenshoe

• Upgrading Cairns’ Queensland Ambulance Service Operational Centre

• Upgrading the Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service Facility

• Delivering emergency communication between Cooktown and Cairns.

Cooktown Discovery Festival

by CHISA HASEGAWA

WHILE others across the country fork out the cash to see ARIA-nominated, multiplatinum Australian band Kingswood, Cooktown will get to party the night away in a free concert later this year.

As part of their 2026 national Midnight Mavericks tour, Kingswood have been locked in to headline this year’s Cooktown Discovery Festival.

The award-winning fourpiece from Melbourne will bring their gritty country and rock’n’roll sound to the festival stage on 20 June, marking a major moment for the growing regional event.

“Kingswood are performing in capital cities and major ticketed events across the country, so we’re incredibly proud to welcome them to Cooktown as part of a free community festival,” Cook Shire Council Mayor Robyn Holmes said.

“We know people will travel for a weekend like this.

“Whether you’re coming from interstate, Cairns, the Tablelands, Townsville, or heading north for a Cape York adventure, this is the perfect reason to detour to Cooktown

The 2026 Cooktown Discovery Festival will be one stop on award-winning band Kingwood’s national tour.

and experience it for yourself.”

With a nationally touring act secured to headline the already popular event, Mayor Holmes encouraged visitors to plan ahead and secure accommodation early.

“Last year’s Discovery Festival welcomed more than 2500 people across the weekend, with accommodation occupancy exceeding 90 per cent,” she said.

“We expect this year’s event to build even further on that momentum.”

The Cooktown Discovery Festival will run from 19–21 June and will feature three full days of markets, live music, cultural experiences, re-enactments, family activities and reworks, with most events free to attend.

Next steps confirmed for Cooktown Rail Trail Boardwalk

by CHISA HASEGAWA

ALMOST a year after the opening of Cooktown rail trail boardwalk was halted due to regulatory issues identi ed by Cook Shire Council, project representatives and the council have come to an agreement.

Details about the project’s progress, issues that arose and steps required to complete the approved boardwalk section were discussed at a meeting between the council and Stay Another Day Railway Trail’s Jola George and Veronica O’Brien on Thursday, 12 March.

The council’s chief executive of cer Brian Joiner said the meeting was held to make sure everyone had a clear understanding of the facts.

“There has been a lot of discussion about this project over the years, so it was important to sit down and go through the timeline together and ensure there is a shared understanding of what has occurred,” he said.

Ms George said the meeting helped the council and community get on the same page.

She said. Mr Joiner agreed to meet with representatives every two to three months.

“The meeting was positive. I left quite happy and almost fully satis ed,” Ms George said.

“I really care about this project, so I would say we would like to know what’s going on and we will be happy to participate in the progress.”

Mr Joiner and manager of planning Lisa Miller presented a timeline showing key council decisions, development approvals, regulatory advice and project milestones dating back to early concept discussions in 2016.

The timeline outlined how a development application for a 110 metre boardwalk section was approved in June 2024, subject to standard planning and building conditions and Queensland Government referral agency requirements.

When works started later that year, council of cers identi ed construction activities outside the scope of the approved works, without all required permits in place.

While the boardwalk was set to open in May 2025, the project was halted. According to Ms George, between $400,000$500,000 secured for the project was redirected to other projects around town.

Under Queensland legislation, the council needed to notify relevant state regulators and undertake further environmental and engineering assessments

to determine approvals needed for compliance.

Mr Joiner said the council stepped in to manage the process and progress the project safely, including allocating $162,310 from the budget to address environmental remediation, engineering recti cation and approvals.

“Rather than leaving the project unresolved, Council made the decision to step in and progress the regulatory approvals and recti cation work required to complete the approved boardwalk section and works outside the original scope,” he said.

Ms George said she was disappointed community advocates for the boardwalk had been blamed for issues. She said she believed necessary paperwork could have been completed before contractors were engaged to start the job.

But she was keen to move on and eager to nd out how the community could be involved.

“I hope we will be able to keep it tidy because at present the boardwalk, which is quite new and never of cially opened yet, it’s already really messy,” she said.

“I think the community will be happy. I will be happy myself to go and clean it up, but we’re not allowed to go there to do any job.”

Applications are open for the 2027 Graduate Program and the 2026/2027 Intern Program

Scan the QR to for more information

Applications open NOW! Rio Tinto Weipa is dedicated to the sustainable development and growth of local signatory communities

Our Sponsorships and Donations Program provides funding for local programs, initiatives, activities, and events that enrich community life and contribute to making the region a vibrant place to live and work

The program's catchment area includes Weipa, Napranum, Aurukun, Mapoon and the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA)

Do you volunteer with a local community group, club, or organisation? Or do you have a community initiative, event, or project you'd like to see supported?

Contact our communities team to request a new application form and learn more about eligibility and available funding

Peppan Country

Please be advised that access to Peppan Country is closed until further notice, due to sorry business. It is important that we acknowledge and respect the advice from Traditional Owners so that cultural customs can be observed and practiced. Rio Tinto personnel, contractors and public are not to enter the area until further notice.

This includes the following areas: Amban Road South (inclusive of the road), Beagle Road (inclusive of the road), Possum Creek, Sandy Creek, Ward River, Obon (Ward River Side), Yagalmungkan Coastal areas from Big Horse Creek to Alechin Point including Ikleth, Six Ti Tree, and Awelombok (Waterfall) Finding better ways™ to move our people for ward.

Email: RTAWeipaFeedback@riotinto.com

Scan the QR code to apply online

Closure of Country

Paiden Country

Please be advised that access to Paiden Country is closed until further notice, due to sorry business It is important that we acknowledge and respect the advice from Traditional Owners so that cultural customs can be observed and practiced Rio Tinto personnel, contractors and the public are not to enter the area until further notice

For further information please call our feedback hotline 1800 820 711 or email RTAWeipaFeedback@riotinto com

Message from the Chair

Hi Weipa,

I hope you’ve all had a good start to the year, and have been enjoying the wet weather It’s been a busy start for the WTA team, who have been planning and preparing for the year ahead, whilst managing all of the disruptions that the wet season brings The consistent rain has been keeping the works team busy filling potholes, removing fallen trees, chasing roof leaks and water main leaks, and doing fire hydrant upgrades just to name a few things

Our Local Laws legends Reg and Shayna have been run off their feet dealing with increased numbers of animal management issues Since the start of the year, we've seen 43 dogs come through our impoundment system, which is a significant increase from the same time period last year

Our local laws team have been very

active in the community which will account for some of the increase, but we have also seen a steady increase in community members reporting issues via the “report an issue” tab on the WTA website, which only takes a couple of minutes, and is the best way to notify our team of something that needs our attention Since the start of the year, we have had 198 issues reported, with 147 of those being addressed and closed out, and the remaining being actively managed We have a small team who can’t be everywhere, so we really value your help in identifying and reporting issues

We are currently planning what our year looks like, and are keen to get a new initiative underway We will be hosting Weipa Community Clean-Up, where we will select an area of town (or areas depending on volunteer numbers), to spend a few hours tidying up and removing rubbish At the moment, we have the afternoon

Stay informed this wet with the Weipa Disaster Dashboard

The wet season is still here, bringing heavy rainfall, extreme humidity, and the potential for monsoonal lows and tropical cyclones Staying informed is key to keeping your family and property safe The Weipa Disaster Dashboard provides real-time weather updates, road closures, emergency contacts, and essential preparedness tips all in one place

Don’t wait for a disaster to strike be proactive! Check the Weipa Disaster Dashboard regularly to stay updated and ensure you’re ready for whatever the season brings

Follow along on our Facebook page and discover the meaning behind the names we see every day because every street has a story M o n t h l y C o m m u n i t y U p d a t e

f o c u s f o r t h e n e x t 5 y e a r e c e i v e d r e a l l y g

Toponymy Tuesdays

The Weipa Town Authority is proud to launch Toponymy Tuesday Once a fortnight, local historian Geoff Wharton will share fascinating insights into the origins of how Weipa’s street names came to be

Did you know that the name Weipa comes from the Anathangayth language, meaning “fighting ground” a ceremonial meeting place of cultural significance? From the original Presbyterian Mission on the Embley River to the formation of the township as a separate area from Cook Shire in 1967, our town’s story is layered with history

Market & Showcase

Preparations are underway for the Combined Easter Market & Community Showcase, bringing together local stallholders, community groups and residents for a fun and family-friendly morning

Join us on Saturday, 28 March from 9am to 12 noon at the Weipa Storm Surge Shelter to enjoy a vibrant mix of handmade goods, and community displays that celebrate the creativity and spirit of Weipa and keep an eye out, as the Easter Bunny may even hop by for photos with some lucky visitors!

International Women’s Day

Request for Tender (RFT) KASC-2026-048

The tender is for the provision of mechanical services on an hourly basis within Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council for a term of two (2) years. The requirements of the contract include workshop plant and equipment, suitably qualified mechanic, and mobilisation to site.

RFT documentation is available to download via https://www.kowanyama.qld.gov.au/council/tenders-and-opportunities/ Tenders Close 4:00PM Thursday 26 March 2026

All tender responses can be submitted electronically to tenders@kowanyama.qld.gov.au Or hard copies can be submitted to KASC Cairns Office or KASC Kowanyama Office.

For more information, please contact tenders@kowanyama.qld.gov.au

Alan Neilan, Chief Executive Officer

Cape

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Cape York Weekly Puzzles Page

Quick Workout

Fit the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 into the hexagons so that where the hexagons touch, the numbers will be the same. No number is repeated in any hexagon.

Whillier

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.

Tight race to the top in latest Weipa parkrun

Sands claims victory on drier Dawnbusters field

ALL fairways were open when 18 Weipa golfers tackled a 9-hole event on Sunday’s Dawnbusters course.

Oliver Tata mastered the Carpentaria Golf Club greens with a brilliant 39 off the stick, followed by Peter Moore and Les Sariman with 44.

Dave Sands took the win for the morning after hitting a 45 and nishing at a four-stroke advantage over his nearest rival, Peter Moore.

Beth Dall reigned supreme over the Hoffman’s crown yet again, posting her fth win of the award in a row.

Just last week, Leeroy Ahmat was ready to part ways with his clubs, but is now unwilling to sell following his nearest the pin win.

It may just be his lucky set of clubs, as Ahmat went on to take the men’s longest drive on Sunday.

Vivian Chan picked up the women’s longest drive and the winner of the day picked up the daily double by taking out the nearest the pin.

Dawnbusters will take on the front 9 on 22 March, with an expected tee-off time of about 6:45am.

IT was a tight race to the top when a eld of 84 participants pounded the pavement on Saturday morning.

Though last weekend’s winner, Barry Cronin, mirrored his efforts to set yet another personal best at 20 minutes, 13 seconds, he missed the rst-place spot by mere seconds to Chrisden Russ (20:07).

Joshua Kelly stopped the clock at 21:48 to round out the rst three across the nish line.

Silvie Hynes set a PB of 25:42 to be the rst female to wave good morning to the timekeepers.

Damien Fogarty, Charlize McAuley, Hadley Fielding, Baie Johnson, Winifred Johnson, Johana Calderón Castilla, Adriana Rodriguez and Cody Wain completed the weekend’s group of 10 to set PB times.

The Weipa parkrun crew welcomed rst-timers Amie Fookes, Koyel Prince, Archie Waia, Kevin McDougall and Austen Newsome to the morning running community.

Volunteers Denica Bowden, Sam Bartsch, Michael Reinke, Chrisden Russ, Jason Smith, Penny McArthur, Judey Haeusler and Glen Slade ensured the morning was a smooth success as usual.

Weipa parkrun is held every Saturday morning at 7 am at the shelter next to the hospital roundabout in Nanum.

SPORTS BRIEFS

Awesome foursome to take on Peninsula pool

COOKTOWN’S top young swimmers will head off to Brisbane this week to compete in the Peninsula School Sport swimming state championships. Maiika Hegamaea, Haila Hegamaea, Cruze Ryder and Natalie Treloar were selected as representatives on the team after strong performances at regionals last month. The 13-19 years state showdown will take place on 22-24 March, while the 10-12-year-olds will put their best strokes to the test on 25-27 March.

Husband and wife battle it out on Wackers field

WET conditions on Wednesday kept a few Weipa Wackers at the bar, but a small group braved the greens and managed to stay dry. Steve and Carolyn Head finished neck and neck with a net of 34, resulting in a countback. Steve managed to snag the win from his, but he better not let his guard down as she is determined not to let it happen again. Leeroy Ahmat performed well in soggy conditions, hitting a great 43 and taking the 18th pin shot. Paiwan Lui was closest to the flag on the 15th, while Jim Lucas celebrated his fourth Bradman crown in the past six weeks.

Burton claims March Monthly Medal

THE unpredictability of golf reared its head at the Cooktown Golf Club’s March Medal showdown on Saturday. The medal looked to be safely in the keeping of Cam Venables, who posted a tidy 2 under nett, but an A game performance by Al Burton threw the game for a loop. Burton, who was well and truly switched on, also finished the course at 2 under nett, ultimately claiming the medal on countback. Next Saturday will see Cooktown golfers play a stroke event from the Red Tees.

SPORT Cape York Weekly

Cooktown footy kicks off with rugby league legends

by CHISA HASEGAWA

COOKTOWN footy kids are starting the 2026 season off confident and driven after taking part in an inspiring program with rugby league greats as part of the Arthur Beetson Future Immortals Tour.

This year’s Cooktown Crocs District Junior Rugby League Club sign-on and season launch on 14 March featured Future Immortals ambassadors Fetuli Talanoa, Bo de la Cruz and Andrew Walker.

The visitors prepared young players with a range of drills and engagement activities.

Saturday’s event wrapped up a threeday program organised by Cook Shire Council. Ambassadors led coaching clinics on 12-13 March before joining the local club for its season launch.

Club president Jacynta Hunt said the support from the ambassadors helped make the sign-on day engaging and meaningful for players.

“I think people always underestimate what it’s like for our community to have people come to us because everything we do we have to travel for,” she said.

“When people are willing to come here that means a lot to the kids, just to be visited and be seen. It means a lot to us as well because we’re stretched thin trying to provide what we do for the club.”

With the John Street Oval sodden from rain, Thursday and Friday’s activities were moved to the Events Centre, while Saturday’s launch had to be held on a grass patch near the footy field carpark.

Coaching coordinator Liam Martich was grateful to the ambassadors for their adaptability and willingness to create a special day for the Crocs, despite wet season challenges.

“I got up [Saturday] morning, and I was just sort of like ‘okay, we’ll go down, do the sign-on, everyone can shake hands and take some photos’, but no,” he said.

“They just looked for that dry patch and

it was ‘ you asked, we’re doing it’. I’m rapt that they improvised and put it together, and made it more than just a sign-on — it was a really good day for the kids.”

Martich said he was left particularly impressed by ambassador Talanoa, who considered the needs of the club after a conversation on Thursday.

The coach told the former Tonga international rugby league player kids progressing from the fairly protected junior mod leagues to international rules as teens could not access the skills and drills needed.

“I just mentioned this to Tuls (Talanoa) on the Thursday and he just clicked and

said ‘that’s what we’re here for’,” Martich said.

“They basically got to do NRL grade coaching for a good two hours of specialised stuff that you just don’t normally get in small country towns.

“As a coach, I can sit there and watch what they’re doing and learn drills and skills that I can teach the kids.”

The sign-on resulted in 73 Crocs registered for the upcoming season, with more to come.

Ms Hunt said it was particularly encouraging to see 19 girls on the list and a huge uptake of under-6 players.

The club is still looking for eight-yearold players, as well as children aged 12-17 interested in League Tag.

“That’s a bit of a unique thing we do in Cooktown. Most clubs don’t have League Tag options over 13 — you play tackle or you don’t play footy,” she said.

“A couple of years ago, we started offering a 12-17 League Tag so that our teenagers still had the option of continuing league, even if it’s in a different form.

“We’re pretty passionate about being able to provide that in a small town, when the older kids don’t always have a lot of sporting options.”