Origin time, island style

Star forward Elsie from the carnival-winning Sundown Sirens

It’s balu versus balu, but there’s more to Island of Origin than rugby league.

Argun Warriors and Sundown Sirens are, respectively, the men’s and women’s 2011 Island of Origin champions.

The carnival was held on Badu Island, drawing five men’s teams and three women’s teams to the 26th running of Torres Strait’s most colourful sporting event.

In the men’s final, Argun Warriors gained revenge for an earlier loss by defeating fellow Badu Island team Saguci 20–14. The women’s final featured an identical score, but this time it was Sundown Sirens from Thursday Island defeating Bau Au Stingers from Mabuiag.

Elsie Seriat (pictured) contributed two tries.

The annual tournament draws rugby league teams and families from across the strait.

“It’s about community pride and representing your family,” said Badu Island councillor and Badu United Sporting Association president Wayne Guivarra. “Coming together and sharing our cultural values and historical pride is what it’s all about.”

Wayne was a member of Western United, which won the inaugural carnival in 1985.

“The Island of Origin was based on the State of Origin which started in 1980,” he said. “Legendary local rugby league stalwarts like Joe Mairu, Barney Mosby, Dave Camm, John Walls and Charlie Kazamias were instrumental in (starting it).”

The first carnivals were held on Thursday Island. “(It) was a fairly permanent there until the more remote island communities got some infrastructure such as fields and lighting,” Wayne said.

The carnival has been held at Badu Island since 2001. Wayne said the annual influx of visitors stretched his 900-strong community.

“Origin time generally sees our community numbers increase to (about) 1300,” he said. “We have a billeting arrangement to cater for accommodation with many of our local families camping in their own back yards while visiting participants occupy their house. Most of the participants are directly or indirectly (married) linked to local Badu Island families.

“It can cost some teams up to $20,000 to be present at the carnival which carries prize-monies of approximately $10,000 for the winners.
You can see it is not about the money, it’s more about participation and using the opportunity to again meet families from all the other island communities.”

This year’s carnival was held on 10–12 June.