News in brief

Queensland Ombudsman meets Indigenous leaders

Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council has become one of the first to meet Queensland’s new Ombudsman, Phil Clarke.

Mr Clarke met Yarrabah Mayor Percy Neal and Chief Executive Officer Leon Yeatman during a two-day, get-to-know-you visit to north Queensland councils in April, following his appointment in January.

He followed it up by attending a round table meeting of Indigenous mayors in Cherbourg in May to discuss plans for an Indigenous outreach program.

Mr Clarke said he was eager to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities enjoyed the same access to the Ombudsman’s services as other Queenslanders.

The Queensland Ombudsman’s office receives more than 8,000 complaints each year, but evidence suggests regional, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders remain under represented.

The Ombudsman can investigate complaints about state government agencies, local councils, universities and TAFE.

Yarrabah’s Queensland Government Agent Program office has information about Ombudsman services.

For more information on how to make a complaint, visit www.ombudsman.qld.gov.au

Murri Teilah Medical

A new Indigenous medical centre has opened in Caboolture.

The Murri Teilah Medical is in King St.

“The medical centre is bulk billing and our aim is to provide exceptional service and health outcomes to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients,” said managing director Jennie Anderson.

“We plan to do this by completing regular health checks, immunisation clinics and close monitoring of our patients who have chronic disease.

“Murri Teilah Medical is interested in forming partnerships with organisations in the Moreton Bay region to help provide better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”

For further information, phone 1800 077 616.

Tilted art

Indigenous artists from Lockhart River and Cardwell have had their works used to decorate a second tilt train in Queensland Rail’s fleet.

Josiah Omeenyo from Lockhart River and a group of 25 artists from Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre in Cardwell now have their art travelling the state.

The first tilt train to bear Indigenous art was unveiled in May. Each of its seven carriages carries works by Brisbane-based Aboriginal artist Judy Watson down one side and by Torres Strait Islander Alick Tipoti of Cairns down the other.

Watson’s art is described as “boldly-coloured prints that explore the fragile nature of Queensland’s scenic coastline with recurring themes of shells, middens, fossils and termite mounds.

Tipoti’s work is “striking black and white patterns representing the historic stories of Torres Strait heroes and warriors”.

“Our tilt trains are already a recognisable feature of the tourism industry … but this artwork will make them even more unique and representative of Queensland,” a state government spokeswoman said.

Moving to Cairns

Thirty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from remote communities are being assisted into jobs in Cairns.

The 30 are all long-term unemployed people. Centacare Cairns will give them intensive case management to move into the city’s workforce.

Another 50 people waiting for social housing will also be helped to make the transition to city living and employability.

The Centacare project provides a person with literacy and numeracy, budgeting and career planning and access to support services. It is backed by $315,000 from the state government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.

For further information visit www.employment.qld.gov.au

Torres Strait art on Brisbane River

Torres Strait Islands: A Celebration is hitting Brisbane.

It’s a showcase of Torres Strait Islander arts and culture — art collections, performances, lectures and activities. Aside from its sheer scale, it is unique in that it combines all the art organisations in Brisbane’s South Bank precinct for the first time.

The events include the Gallery of Modern Art’s Land Sea and Sky, the largest exhibition of contemporary art from the Torres Strait — 40 artists and 200 works that includes prints, textiles, film and ceramics.

Amongst the other events will be an exhibition of archival materials from the State Library of Queensland; a collection of ceremonial masks and archaeological findings at the Queensland Museum; and the Mabo Oration, presented by the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland.

The celebration began on 1 July 2011, the 140th anniversary of the culturally significant Coming of the Light when the London Missionary Society arrived in the Torres Strait. It runs until October 3.

For further information, visit: www.tsi.org.au

CAIF’s shiny lineup

Some of the biggest names in the Queensland Indigenous art community have been announced for the 2011 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.

The Mornington Island Dancers, Sally Gabori, Samantha Hobson, Dennis Nona, Rosella Namok, Alick Tipoti, Tracey Moffatt and Vernon Ah Kee have all booked a spot.

The fair kicks off with the ticketed opening party, on 18 August. Partygoers can view and buy artworks before they go on public display the next morning.

The fair opens for free to the public from 19 August and runs until 21 August. It has works from over 150 Queensland born or based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

Education Queensland’s REACH program will provide activities for youngsters.

The Big Talk One Fire Indigenous Cultural Festival is on 20 August, with music, dance, performances, an arts and craft market and a concert by Zennith and Black Image.

There will also be a symposium to discuss important issues affecting the contemporary Indigenous art scene.

For more information and a full program, visit www.ciaf.com.au

Dreaming late

The Dreaming festival has been postponed until the end of the year.

The festival — an international showcase of Indigenous artists and performers usually held in June — will now be combined with The Woodford Folk Festival.

Organisers said January’s widespread floods caused more than $1 million damage to the festival’s site near Woodford, in south-east Queensland.

“The site cannot be repaired in time … and to move ahead in this climate could spell the end for the future of The Dreaming,” said Queensland Folk Federation President Des Ritchie.

“We consider The Dreaming as a most important cultural contribution and one that the QFF, after six years of hard work and investment, (is) not going to see diminish by this decision. It is critical that The Dreaming continues. We will do what we have to do to that end.”

Naree Budjong Djara

Traditional owners have named and will help manage a new national park on Stradbroke Island.

The park — Naree Budjong Djara, meaning "my mother earth" — was declared over 5240 ha, or 20 per cent, of the island in March.

“Traditional Owners and (government) officers will work together to develop visitor management policies, and operational procedures for the day-to-day management of the park including pest animal and plant control, fire management, permits, presentation and facilities,” said a government spokeswoman.

“Two out of six Indigenous rangers have already started working on the island and a total of 12 rangers to manage the (park) will commence in the next 12 months.”

She said the Quandamooka people’s name for the park invoked the island’s importance to them.

More Indigenous students

Indigenous school student numbers are increasing at four times the rate of non-Indigenous students, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Its figures show this is the average increase each year since 2000.

In 2010, the number of students identifying as Indigenous increased by
45 per cent on 2000 figures.

However, the bureau warned that part of the increase could be from more accurate reporting. Indigenous students may previously not have been identified as such.

Coming home

A British museum is returning the remains of 138 people taken from the Torres Strait.

The Natural History Museum in London said it would be the largest single return of remains to Australia and a landmark decision for the museum.

“…The return of ancestral remains is a complex and sensitive issue that seeks to balance the museum’s commitment to the scientific study of human diversity and origins with different cultural perspectives,” said Richard Lane, the museum’s director of science.

“In their deliberations, (the museum’s) trustees acknowledged the strong feelings of connection of the community to the remains and noted the continuing responsibility by the community for the care of the remains.”

Mr Lane said the decision followed 18 months of talks with the local community and the Australian government.

Most of the remains came from a cave on Pulu Islet. They were removed at the instigation of a missionary teacher after the community converted to Christianity. The museum purchased them from a dealer in 1884.

Cherbourg eyes skilled future

More than 300 Cherbourg workers had their skills audited as the first step toward linking them with upcoming jobs.

The audit has identified the shire’s skills pool, as well as skills gaps amongst individuals. It will allow future training programs to be targeted to the shire’s actual needs.

“Our ultimate aim is to get people qualified so they can get jobs not only in Cherbourg but anywhere,” said council CEO Warren Collins.

Each participant was provided with electronic versions of their resumes and qualifications, and their details were added to a central database held by Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council.

About 235 different qualifications were found across the community.

The audit was requested by the council and funded by the state government.

NGOs sought for care centres

Non-government organisations can apply for funding to run children and family centres in Mackay, Marsden, Rockhampton and Palm Island.

The centres will provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with integrated early childhood education and care, parenting and family support, and child and maternal health services.

The Queensland and Australian governments have agreed to develop 10 centres around the state by 2014.

They will be based in areas with high Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations and high levels of disadvantage.

Non-government organisations wanting to operate centres in Mackay, Marsden, Rockhampton and Palm Island can apply for funding until mid July.

Further information is available from Queensland’s Office for Early Childhood Education and Care: http://www.education.qld.gov.au or call (07) 3898 0373.

NAIDOC Week — what’s on

There’s a lot happening around Queensland during NAIDOC Week.

In Hervey Bay, there’s a NAIDOC corporate breakfast on 4 July. It has an education and employment focus, and the keynote speakers include Adam Giles MP, Dr Jackie Huggins and Sean Choolburra.

Cherbourg’s celebrations are built around its award-winning Ration Shed Museum, with an exhibition on 4 July and community open day on 5 July.

Bundaberg Little Athletics has a NAIDOC come-and-try day on 10 July for all ages. It will be held in a laid back atmosphere in the spirit of reconciliation.

The Queensland Police Service will hold a NAIDOC flag-raising ceremony at its Brisbane headquarters on 12 July, while the NAIDOC reconciliation concert will be held at South Brisbane’s Musgrave Park on 9 July.

For more information on all events, visit: www.atsip.qld.gov.au/naidoc

Poruma’s amateur lensman

Lewis Cook is a man of few words but many pictures.

He is building a photographic portfolio that captures the essence of beautiful, blissful Poruma Island in the Torres Strait.

Lewis, 25, is a part-time teacher’s aide at Poruma’s primary school. He has a mild intellectual disability but an over-riding passion for the camera.

With one public exhibition already under his belt, Lewis is looking forward to further training in 2011 that will take his art to a new level.

Lewis’s love of photography was nurtured by his carer Aunty Ivy and, more recently, Department of Communities disability local area coordinator Rita Kaitap.

Rita encouraged him to undertake a special photographic teaching project through the Indigenous Community Volunteers group. It took his skills to a new level and led to his first public exhibition, at the island library, last summer.

Cherbourg project tops reconciliation winners

Cherbourg’s Ration Shed Museum has picked up the Premier’s Reconciliation Award at this year’s Queensland Reconciliation Awards.

The win identifies the museum project with “great potential, initiative and significant achievements toward advancing reconciliation”.

The Ration Shed Museum opened in 2004 through the efforts of senior Aboriginal women. It led to the Cherbourg Historical Precinct Group, set up in 2006 as a community-controlled, not-for-profit venture to tell the community’s stories of living under the Aboriginal Protection Act.

Its recognition by the Queensland Premier was announced at the Queensland Reconciliation Awards during Reconciliation Week.

The awards recognise businesses, community organisations, educational institutions, partnerships and projects that are taking positive steps in advancing reconciliation in Queensland.

Other winners this year were:

• Virgin Australia (Business Award)
• Napranum Parents and Learning Group (Community Organisation Award)
• Kirwan State High School (Education Award)
• MurriWatch and Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation Queensland (ANTaR Qld) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Legal and Advocacy Service (ATSIWLAS) for Project 10% (joint winners of the Partnerships Award).

For full details, visit: http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/reconciliation/forums-and-awards/queensland-reconciliation-awards/