Around the state

Murries movin’ the earth

Boulia’s Desmond Bedourie, Lymon Dunne, Robert Wilde, Agnes Rosser and Jamon Spain are ready to move earth — if not heaven — as the first participants in ‘Murries on the Move’ training and employment program.

They’re among 12 central Queenslanders being paid to learn to operate earth moving machinery— front-end loaders, backhoes, dozers, rollers and graders — in an initiative that’s brought employers, all levels of government and training and community organisations together.

Local councils identified a skills shortage in their regions. Training up local Indigenous people fills that gap while also firming prospects for long-term jobs.

Healing ends violent ways

Traditions, culture and spirituality take the heat out of anger and violence, according to Uncle Wally Saunders, a Domestic and Family Violence Prevention award winner.

Uncle Wally, from Woorabinda in central Queensland, developed Djina (Footprints), a spiritual healing program for youth.

Djina runs weekly at Woorabinda State School and Wadja Wadja High School as well as through community health programs.

Uncle Wally received his award from Communities Minister Karen Struthers at the launch of Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month in May.

The Far West Indigenous Family Violence Service, located at Charleville, was also recognised for its Girls Friendship Group, providing a safe social environment in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teenage girls can develop into strong young women.

http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/communityservices/violence-prevention

A fishy tale for littlies

Looking for an engaging yarn to read to young children? Try Sam’s Fishing Adventure by Monique Russell.

She’s based the story on her family’s Torres Strait heritage, particularly tales told by her grandfather Samat Barba, of his childhood fishing. Sam’s Fishing Adventure is the first book by 19-year-old Monique.

Published by Black Ink Press, it’s available from good book stores.

Radio drama

A 12-part radio drama series, being heard throughout the Northern Peninsula Area and Torres Strait, is a real community effort.

Kasa Por Yarn (which means ‘Just for a story’) picks up on issues young people spoke of in workshops at Bamaga and Thursday Island late last year.

Peer pressure, single parenting, sexually transmitted diseases and misuse of technology and mobile phones are some of the subjects that parents and Elders get to know about by tuning in.

Community members have given characters their voices: among them narrator Aaron Tamwoy, local hip hop star Patrick Mau, and the Kasa Por Yarn family of Charles Passi, Mary Mills, Rhian Phineasa, and Aaron Fa’aoso, who doubles as the project’s creative and cultural consultant.

Queensland Health funded Kasa Por Yarn.

Hear episodes, download free songs and see photos and videos of the cast at www.kasaporyarn.com.

Happy kids, healthy homes

Mornington Island State School has won the Healthy Homes poster competition.

John Conroy, from the Department of Communities, recently visited the school to present certificates to the 77 students who took part, including Prep to Year 3 category winner Dana Evans, and handover $2000 worth of sporting equipment, books, games and art supplies.

"Art is a tremendous way to get young people thinking about serious issues — like what makes a healthy home," says John.

The Healthy Homes initiative is about improving social housing experiences in Queensland’s 34 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Advisory Council meets

The Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Council (QATSIAC) held its first formal meeting for 2010 at Inala, in Brisbane’s south-west, on 31 March.

For local Elder Albert Holt, the barbeque lunch afterwards was a chance to give local insight and share a yarn with Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Islander Partnerships Desley Boyle and QATSIAC co-chair Georgina Archer.