Joylene Kepple of Arukun demonstrates her sewing skills to Jason O’Brien (Member for Cook) and Desley Boyle (Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Parnerships).
‘Gurriny Mallaway Njupi Njappi’
Part of my job as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister is getting out and about around Queensland and visiting Indigenous communities to meet with Mayors, Councillors, Elders and other community members.
Visiting communities is one of the best ways to get a real feel for the good work being done and the daily challenges people face.
It helps build partnerships and ensures programs and services are delivered in a way that suits individual communities.
On a recent Cape York trip I visited Napranum, Mapoon, Aurukun and Kowanyama — all communities filled with wonderful people working hard to make a difference.
One of the really great things
I saw in Aurukun was an independent holiday initiative run by Rare Earth Foundation. Under the watchful eye of the Foundation’s Rahm Adamedes and Pascal Mole kids of all ages were learning how to repair broken bikes in a workshop under the community’s giant mango tree. There were spanners, pumps and tyre tubes everywhere as well as at least seven bikes all looking almost as good as new.
The kids had a real sense of pride in the work they were doing. Deputy Mayor Cr Phyllis Yunkaporta told me the young ones were so engaged in the program they spent all day learning, having fun and staying out of trouble. Who knows where it could lead? The next Australian BMX star or Tour de France rider might have been tinkering away under that mango tree in Aurukun.
I also visited Aurukun’s sewing centre and bought a beautiful bag. In Kowanyama Mayor Thomas Hudson took me on a tour of the community, proudly pointing out the new housing. I sampled local bananas from the farm in Napranum and in Mapoon Mayor Peter Guivara was able to talk me through Council’s Community Plan and its vision for the future of the town.
It was a great trip and I thank everyone for their hospitality. It is great to see all the good work going on and learn firsthand how we can build better partnerships with communities.
On another note, I congratulate Queensland barrister Tony McAvoy who has been named by Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland as our first national Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year. As one of Australia’s leading Indigenous barristers, he is a role model for young people considering a career in law. Tony has been a barrister since 2000 and works primarily in native title and land rights.
Lastly, I wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas and New Year. I would also like to offer season’s greetings in the language of the First Australians. But which language? While there are around 150 Indigenous languages still spoken across Australia, as a Cairns woman I have opted for the Yidinji language, so let me say Gurriny mallaway Njupi njappi which means ‘Good spirits to all’.
Hon. Desley Boyle
Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
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