Council  message    Local   government   elec.ons  were   held   this   year,   and   as   a   result,   the  Mornington   Shire   Councillors   in   the  Wellesley  

Island  group  are  Mayor  Bradley  Wilson,  Deputy  Mayor  Sarah  Isaacs,  Cr  Claire  Farrell,  Cr  Bobby  Thompson  and  Cr  Jane  

Ah   -­‐   Kit.   The   team   have   a   combina.on   of   exper.se   suitable   for   moving   the   region   forward   including:   ensuring  tradi.onal   cultural   values   are   strengthened,   developing   economic   advancement   strategies,   consul.ng   with   the  

community  for  health  and  educa.on  beJerment,  crea.ng  greater  sustainability  while  securing  more  opportuni.es  for  you  -­‐  the  families  that  call  Gununa  home.  

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GET  INVOLVED  IN  THE  LOCAL  EVENTS    

Take  part  in  the  community  …

SHARE  YOUR  STORY      Share  your  story  -­‐  send  to  :  

gacc@mornington.qld.gov.au

SPORT  IS  DEADLY  

Boost  healthy  social  cohesion  and  have  fun!  

Cr Thompson; economic development, transport and region projects

Cr Farrell; infrastructure and housing

Cr Ah Kit; health and wellbeing

Cr Isaacs; community engagement, culture and events

Cr Wilson; overseeing entire runnings

GUNUNA:  A LAND OF PLENTY

Council  is  working  hard  to  keep  our  culture  strong,  to  ensure  our  environment  remains  pris>ne  and  to  create  greater  

opportuni>es  today  so  our  families  can  benefit  tomorrow.

FREE www.mornington.qld.gov.au

Indigenous  Leaders  Earlier   in   June,   Mornington   Shire   Councillors   aJended   the  biannual   Indigenous   Leaders   Forum   2016   in   Cairns,  Queensland,  Australia.  

Leaders  of  Queensland's  17   indigenous  councils  aGended  the  innova>ve   sessions   -­‐   with   MSC   Mayor   Brad   Wilson   saying  housing,   sustainability,  economic   independence/development  and  opportunity  were  top  of  his  agenda.  

"This   Local   Government   Associa>on   of   Queensland   (LGAQ)  ini>a>ve   is   important   for   the   advancement   of   (not   only)  Mornington,  but  for  all  indigenous.gov.au  communi>es."  

"We   constantly   have   to   be   ready   for   new   challenges,  par>cularly   in   remote   Queensland,   but   our   vision   remains  strong   for  Mornington  Shire   -­‐  moving   forward   together,"   said  Cr  Wilson.  

Cr   Claire   Farrell   said   the   ini>a>ve   was   extremely   worthwhile,  "we   were   able   to   ac>vely   engage   with   others   and   discuss   a  range  of  topics"  

Cr  Bobby  Thompson  added  "the  ILF  was  incredibly  informa>ve  and  I  certainly  will  take  some  great  points  back  to  Mornington  Shire".  

Ministers   invited  to  this   innova>ve  event   included  Annastacia  Palaszczuk   MP,   Cur>s   PiG   MP,   Cameron   Dick,   Jackie   Trad   and  more,  but  declined.  

Amongst   others   who   aGended   were   former   Sunshine   Coast  Council   Mayor   Bob   AbboG,   Cr   Alf   Lacey,   Cr   Derek   Walpo,   Cr  Fred  Gala  and  Cr  Ross  Andrews  to  name  a  few.  

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INDIGENOUS LEADERS

FORUM CAIRNS

A m e s s a g e f ro m To n y Goode - LGAQ Executive:

“What great advocates your Mayor and Councillors are for your Mornington Shire. Congratulations - and I hope to spend more time with them on local matters they raised.”

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C  H  A  L  L  E  N  G  E  

Do  new  things.  Believe  you  are  versa.le.  Be  up  for  a  challenge.  

The   deadly   Mornington   Shire   Council   crew   in   the   Gulf   of   Carpentaria   were  recently  challenged  when  they  carried  out  a  series  of  working  from  heights  training  exercises.  The  remote  

team   learnt  about   fall  preven.on  control  measures   (required   in   the  construc.on   industry)  and  safe  work  

methods,   as  well   as  ways   in  which   to  manage   /   iden.fy   high   risk  working   condi.ons.   Council's   training  coordinator  said  there  were  plenty  of  challenges,  "but  staff  who  took  part  in  the  training  really  encouraged  

one  another  to  get  involved,  iden.fying  hazards  while  accurately  assessing  the  risks  involved”.  

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

Message  For  Gununa  From  State  Member  for  Mount  Isa  Robbie  KaJer  

THERE  was  a  pleasing  focus  on  rural  and  regional  Queensland  in  the  2016-­‐17  State  Budget,  with  a  number  

of  key  projects  for  Mornington  Island.  It’s  been  a  long,  hard  baJle,  but  this  is  only  the  beginning  of  the  KAP  influencing  government  to  focus  its  spending  on  rural  communi.es.  Mornington  Island  will  benefit  from  a  

$1.6  million  commitment  for  Stage  1  of  the  Gununa  JeJy  and  Barge  Landing  Redevelopment  Project.  And  at  

Mornington  Island  State  School,  I’m  delighted  to  see  almost  $4  million  for  upgrades,  including  the  nutri.onal  centre.  There  is  s.ll  a  baJle  to  ensure  the  community  has  the  best  possible  air  access  through  the  Mornington  Island  

Airport  -­‐  the  lifeblood  for  visitors  and  locals..  I’ve  asked  three  ques.ons  in  Parliament  in  recent  months,  along  with  numerous  discussions  with  relevant  Ministers  –  I’m  confident  of  a  posi.ve  resolu.on  in  the  near  future.  I  had  a  great  .me  on  the  island  at  

the  opening  of  the  Community  Garden  earlier  this  year  -­‐  a  great  ini.a.ve  for  the  people  of  Mornington  Island  -­‐  and  look  

forward  to  catching  up  with  you  all  again  soon.  -­‐  Robbie  KaJer  State  Member  for  Mount  Isa.  

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

ONE  TO  WATCH  Mornington  Island  ar.st  and  QUT  student  

Claudia  Moodoonuthi  pictured    holding  a  pain.ng  session  with  children  in  Brisbane  and  fishing  on  Ben.nck  Island.  She  is  a  

crea.ve  young  lady  making  the  Wellesley’s  proud.  DEADLY  !!

DEADLY little QUOTES to help you KEEP IT REAL

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Gulf  of  Carpentaria  vital  to  future  of  shorebirds  

Mornington  Island,  in  the  Gulf  of  Carpenteria,  has  been  iden.fied  as  crucial  to  birdlife  migra.on.  

Mornington  Island  has  been  iden.fied  as  cri.cal  to  the  future  of  migra.ng  and  wintering  shorebirds.  

Australia’s  na.onal  shorebird  monitoring  program,  Shorebirds  2020  –  co-­‐ordinated  by  Birdlife  Australia  –  has   expanded   its   monitoring   to   include   remote   and   sparsely   populated   areas   in   Northern   Australia,  par.cularly  in  the  Gulf  of  Carpentaria  region.  

The   Wildlife   Conserva.on   Plan   for   Migratory   Shorebirds,   released   on   Friday,   says   the   gulf   824km  northwest  of  Cairns  contains  “interna.onally  and  na.onally  important  habitat  for  migra.ng  and  wintering  shorebirds,  with  extensive  and  largely  pris.ne  wetlands  and  beach  habitats”.  

“Accurate   informa.on   on   shorebird   abundance   and   distribu.on   is   urgently   required   from   this   region,  par.cularly  in  light  of  recent  steep  declines  in  southern  Australia,”  it  said.  

If   the   declines   were   similar   in   Northern   Australia,   it   would   have   implica.ons   for   the   management   of  important  habitat.  

Birdlife   Australia   North   Queensland   convener   Kath   Shurcliff   said   the   gulf   was   vital   to   the   future   of  shorebirds.  

The  area  had  large  areas  of  mudflats  used  as  feeding  grounds  by  shorebirds,  par.cularly  grey  plover,  red  knot  and  common  sandpiper.  

Ms  Shurcliff  said  the  gulf  was  “more  or  less”  s.ll  pris.ne.  

But  she  warned  that  if  large  agricultural  projects  led  to  moves  to  dam  waterways  such  as  the  Gilbert  River,  which  fed  into  the  gulf,  birdlife  and  the  habitat  could  be  threatened.  

Threatened  Species  Commissioner  Gregory  Andrews  said  that  talks  between  Australia  and  its  neighbours  could  save  birds  such  as  the  grey  plover,  red  knot  and  common  sandpiper  from  ex.nc.on.  

Mr   Andrews   said   they   flew   to   the   gulf   to   rest   and   feed   during   the   non-­‐breeding   season   on   Australia’s  coastal  and  freshwater  wetlands.  

Works   were   under   way   to   reduce   threats   to   the   birds’   habitat   on   the   Australian   coast   by   mi.ga.ng  environmental  changes  and  culling  feral  cats  and  foxes.  

He  said  the  plan  allowed  environmental  groups  to  develop  a  network  of  safe  places  in  the  region.  

Mudflats  and  salt  marshes  across  Australia  will  be  preserved  under  the  plan  and  two  million  feral  cats  will  be  culled  in  a  bid  to  protect  the  birds.

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Anonymous  dona.on  gives  Mornington  Island  footballers  their  first  pair  of  boots  

A  disadvantaged  community   in  Queensland's  Gulf  country   is  all   smiles  aqer  an  anonymous  donor  gave  70  young  rugby  league  footballers  their  first  pair  of  boots.  

Mornington  Shire  Council  CEO  Frank  Mills  said  the  community  was  thrilled  to  find  out  an  unnamed  man  from  New  South  Wales  singlehandedly  collected  and  sent  the  shoes,  which  were  delivered  at  a  training  session  this  week.  

Mr  Mills  said  for  many  of  the  kids,  the  donated  boots  would  be  their  only  pair  of  shoes.  

"This  is  a  first  for  a  lot  of  the  kids  on  Mornington  Island,"  Mr  Mills  said.

"Mornington   is   a   fairly   impoverished   community   and   we're   probably   one   of   the   lowest   wage  earners  in  rural  Australia  —  kids  here  live  on  the  breadline."  

Mr  Mills  said  while  life  could  be  tough  on  the  island,  the  dona.on  represented  a  small  step  towards  equality  of  living  standards.  

"It's  fantas.c  for  kids  to  be  able  to  get  a  pair  of  footy  boots  and  run  around,  and  do  those  things  that  people  throughout  the  rest  of  Australia  do,"  he  said.  

Boost  in  astude  of  'super  talented'  kids  

David   Jones,   coach   of   Thandabi   Program's   Wellesley   Island   Vikings,   said   aqer   the   shoes   were  delivered,  he  no.ced  an  instant  change  in  the  astude  of  the  footballers.  

"They  were  more  enthusias.c  and  gesng  right  into  it,"  he  said.  

"They  thought  they  were  real  footballers  because  they  were  pusng  a  pair  of  football  boots  on  their  feet.  

"The  kids  up  here  are  super  talented,  so  anything  we  can  get  out  hands  on  to  increase  these  guys'  skills,  it  will  be  tenfold  for  their  development."  

Mr  Jones  said  many  of  the  children  had  been  so  excited  by  the  dona.on,  the  boots  had  barely  leq  their  feet.  

"I  saw  them  at  basketball  yesterday,  I  saw  some  going  through  on  the  way  to  school  this  morning.  They  haven't  taken  them  off  their  feet.  They  absolutely  love  them,"  he  said.  

Lacking  resources  

Mr  Mills  said  while  the  dona.on  was  a  big  boost  to  the  community,  it  outlined  how  vital  new  spor.ng  equipment  was  for  the  region.  

"It  would  be  fair  to  say  that  we're  infrastructure  and  equipment  poor,  and  we  are  certainly  always  on  the  lookout  for  any  assistance  that  we  can  get  in  terms  of  sport  and  recrea.on,"  he  said.  

"Because   there's   absolutely   no   doubt   that   a   fit   and   healthy  community  is  a  much  bigger  and  stronger  community."

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Brad   Dick   is   on   fire   a   local  Mornington   legend   quickly  making  his  name  as  one  of  the  best   in   the   business   (AFL).  Here’s   a   quick   snapshot   of  why:  

• He's  incredibly  strong,  evasive  and  rarely  loses  his  feet.  

•  He  has  clean  hands,  is  hardly  ever  rushed  and  almost  always  uses  the  ball  to  his  team's  advantage.  

•  He  is  always  in  control  of  a  situa>on,  having  an  influence  on  –  if  not  controlling  –  the  outcome  of  every  contest  he's  involved  in.  

• He  can  go  forward  and  kick  goals  –  who  can't  see  him  making  his  professional  career  ??  

• He  prepares  himself  me>culously,  with  his  pre  -­‐  and  post  -­‐  game  rou>nes  and  aGen>on  to  detail  with  diet,  focus  and  rehabilita>on  -­‐  what  a  deadly  role  model  to  others.  

KEEP  FIT  AND  FOCUSSED  AND  YOU  CAN  ACHIEVE  ANYTHING  !!  

“A big thank you goes out to the families who supported NAIDOC and the

sponsors who worked with Mornington Shire Council to make Songlines 2016 the

best NAIDOC yet. Gununamanda Store were deadly, clothing brand Bundarra (worked with MSC to bring residents deadly new gear), Woodford Folk Festival (Australia’s best music culture festival), REX and the Australian Government - your support to remote Mornington Island is met with much gratitude. And well done to all of the service providers, volunteers and organisers, who made this all happen.”

MSC Mayor Bradley Wilson.

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The  Mornington  Island  Boxing  Squad  -­‐  MUNDALBI  -­‐  travelled  to  Cairns  (in  late  June)  to  box  at  their  first  tournament  at  Edge  Hill  State  School.  

The  guys  have  been  training  since  Christmas  and  run  approximately  20km  a  day  while  gym  training  for  2.5  hours  in  the  evenings  -­‐  a  huge  achievement  for  the  young  men  aged  14  -­‐  25.    

According  to  the  coach  Derek  Smith  (who  is  a  carpenter  within  Council's  housing  program),  the  guys  are  already  comple.ng  training  

workshops  in  the  council  gym  that  put  them  on  par  with  those  who  have  boxed  for  5  years.  

"Council  are  really  proud  of  the  team's  achievements  already,  and  we  are  also  hoping  to  work  with  Mundine's  company  Boxer  -­‐  even  

to  offer  special  "island  boxing  camps"  for  Olympic  Squads  to  come  out  here  and  train  in  the  pris.ne  Mornington  Shire."  

 This  Mornington  Shire  Council  ini.a.ve  will  give  these  local  kids  another  opportunity,  "the  inten.on  is  to  give  added  focus  and  

fitness  to  the  champion  kids  out  here-­‐  something  every  other  Aussie  kid  has  access  to"  said  Mr  Smith.  

The  boxing  crew  has  a  no.1  rule  for  the  younger  kids  -­‐  "if  you  don't  go  to  school,  you  don't  get  to  box".  

And  the  local  Lardil  name  Mundalbi    (symbolic  to  the  remote  team)  means  “solid  as  a  rock”.  

This  first  compe..on  trip  wouldn’t  have  been  possible  without  the  assistance  of  major  sponsors  which  include  Mornington  Shire  Council  who  kindly  sponsored  flights  and  accommoda.on.  

The  boxing  crew  will  be  training  early  every  morning  along  the  Cairns  Esplanade  and  will  incorporate  swim  training  into  their  drills  (at  

the  Cairns  lagoon),  as  there  is  no  aqua.c  centre  in  the  shire.    

Other  main  sponsors  for  this  state  wide  boxing  compe..on  (June  24)  include  Mission  Australia  (uniforms),  Dragons  Den  Butcher  (pro.  

boxing  equipment),  Jobfind  (grocery  support  while  travelling),  Gununamanda  Store  (travel  support)  and  Junkuri  Laka  (travel  support).  

This  journey  is  one  of  the  longest  (largest)  in  Australia  for  the  team  Daniel  Linden,  Braedon  Linden,  Macualay  Moon  and  Phillip  

Narannatjal.    

Best  of  luck  to  the  boxing  crew  for  all  future  matches!

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Rangers  urgently  need  control  of  rogue  crocs,  say  Qld  councils    

Indigenous  councils  want  the  authority  to  beJer  control  crocodiles  in  their  

communi.es.    

Pormpuraaw  Mayor  Ralph  Kendall  told  NITV  News  he  wants  Queensland  Government  to  give  local  rangers  the  power  to  "deal  with"  crocodiles  to  

protect  his  community  from  their  immediate  threat.  

He  says  two  rangers  in  his  community  on  the  west  coast  of  the  Cape  York  Peninsula  have  35  years  of  croc-­‐handling  experience  

between  them.  

“It  would  be  beJer  if  our  guys  on  the  ground  help  deal  with  the  problem  instead  of  wai.ng  on  something  bad  to  happen  and  whoever’s  job  to  deal  with  it  down  south  comes  up  –  when  it  could  have  been  prevented,”  he  says.  

Mr  Kendall  suggests  rangers  could  take  problem  crocodiles  to  farms  or  areas  for  wild  harves.ng,  which  would  spur  more  income  for  farmers.  

'When  will  the  government  respond?'  

Mornington  Shire  Council  CEO  Frank  Mills  told  NITV  News  he  has  been  asking  the  state  government  since  December  to  relocate  a  crocodile  in  the  council's  jurisdic.on,  which  spans  22  islands  to  form  the  Wellesley  Islands  group  in  the  Gulf  of  Carpentaria.  

"We  can't  get  any  ac.on  taken  whatsoever,  there's  need  for  local  input  into  the  process,”  Mr  Mills  says.  

He  says  the  crocodile  is  es.mated  to  be  4.5  to  5  metres  long  -­‐  nearly  double  the  size  of  

a  crocodile  capable  of  dragging  a  human  underwater.  

"A  community  like  this  that  has  grown  up  with  crocodiles  is  having  problems  with  

crocodiles  in  the  area,  so  there's  genuine  concern,"  he  says.  

This  photo  was  taken  about  400  metres  away  from  a  crocodile,  believed  to  be  around  

4.5-­‐5  metres  long  and  that  is  causing  concern  for  residents  at  Mornington  and  Denham  

islands.  

While  Mr  Mills  says  he  expects  a  rangers  program  will  commence  in  the  shire  in  the  new  financial  year,  he  says  he  is  concerned  

it  will  be  land-­‐based.  

Pormpuraaw  and  Mornington  shires  are  two  of  Queensland's  17  Aboriginal  and  Torres  Strait  Islander  councils  that  want  the  

state  to  let  them  increase  rangers'  capacity  to  deal  with  crocodiles.  

Their  calls  follow  discussion  about  the  topic  at  the  Indigenous  Leaders  Forum  held  in  Cairns  last  Thursday.  

The  Local  Government  Associa.on  of  Queensland,  the  state's  peak  body  for  local  governments  that  hosted  the  forum,  told  

media  it  will  con.nue  lobbying  for  councils  to  be  granted  power  to  "capture  and  relocate"  crocodiles.  

A  spokesperson  for  Queensland's  Department  of  Environment  and  Heritage  Protec.on  told  NITV  News  it  has  not  received  "any  

formal  request  from  Indigenous  Councils  on  Cape  York  Peninsula"  over  giving  rangers  authority  to  control  crocodiles.  

It  adds  it  "would  be  willing  to  hear  community  leaders’  views  on  crocodile  management  in  their  council  areas  as  it  reviews  its  "approach  to  crocodile  management".  

This  review  will  be  informed  by  feedback  received  through  an  online  survey.  There  have  been  a  number  of  crocodile  aJacks  in  recent  months.  Authori.es  believe  they  have  recovered  the  remains  of  Cindy  Waldron,  46,  who  disappeared  aqer  a  crocodile  

launched  at  her  at  Thornton  Beach  in  the  Daintree,  about  130  kilometres  from  Cairns  in  late  May.  

Earlier  that  month,  Noel  Ramage  drowned  aqer  a  crocodile  struck  the  boat  he  and  his  friend  Ray  McCumber  were  fishing  from  at  Saltwater  Arm  near  Darwin.

FAMILIES, another croc has been spotted at least 5 times in Dadrungun River. Please be

very careful and keep children and pets away from the area.

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F  O  O  D  …  T  U  C  K  E  R  …  H  E  A  L  T  H    

Residents   on   Mornington   Island   are  keepin'   it   real,   kickin'   it   Lardil   -­‐   style  with  deadly  fish,  dugong    and  crab  on  flames.   We   hope   these   images  inspires   you   to   Just   Eat   Real   Food  tonight,   wherever   you   may   be!   Avoid  processed   foods   and   eat   real  food  for  a  long  HAPPY  LIFE.  

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THE  FUTURE  IS  BRIGHT  :  infrastructure  be3erment

MARINE  PRECINCT  UPGRADE

Stage 1 of this project is proudly

funded by

Future  impressions  of  quality  spaces  that  council  

are  planning  for  the  Mornington  Shire  

community.    

Council  are  working  hard  for  the  people  of  Gununa  to  secure  a  beJer  quality  of  

life.  

A  marine  precinct  will  assist  with  local  business  ownership  in  

the  Mornington  Shire  community.    

Imagine:  a  ferry  direct  to  Karumba  or  sunset  fish  and  chips  by  the  beach.  It  is  all  

possible.

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F  I  R  S  T  -­‐  A  I  D  -­‐  T  R  A  I  N  I  N  G  

Back   in   April,   Mornington   Shire   Council   held   educa.onal   workshops   in  senior  First  aid  training,  to  build  skills  in  local  team  members.  

Council's   training   coordinator   Aleesha  Menere   said   the   program  was   run  through  Remote  Training  Service  Cairns,  Queensland,  Australia.  

"First  aid  training  comes  in  handy  for  a  variety  of  different  situa.ons  in  life,  and  can  be  invaluable  when  living  in  remote  Mornington  Island."  

Ms   Menere   says   "many   people   receive   this   training   strictly   due   to   a   job  requirement,  but  it  is  a  skill  set  that  can  benefit  everyone’s  life".  

"Council   strongly   support   the   capacity   building   of   local   staff,   and  specifically  in  first  aid  -­‐  the  right  class  will  teach  you  everything  you  need  to  know,  resul.ng  in  official  cer.fica.on."  

"Our   local   staff   now   have   skills   in   emergency   techniques,   which   can  poten.ally  help  them  to  be  of  assistance  to  others."  

Mornington   Shire   Mayor   Brad   Wilson   stated   council   strongly   supports  training  and  educa.onal  programs  for  remote,  local  indigenous  Australians.  

Deadly  group  image:  Robin  Ahkit,  Marcell  Ned,  Troy  Roughsey,  Dane  Toby,  Charlie   Anderson,   Royston   Wilson,   Daniel   Linden,   John   Anderson,   Noel  Retchford,  Thomas  Wilson.

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Over  90  Mornington  Islanders  gathered  at  the  Mornington  Shire  Council  flag  pole  to  pay  respects  to  those  fallen  during  ANZAC  2016.  

"I   would   like   to   thank   the   tradi.onal   owners   past   and   present   for   the  

opportunity   to   be   here   today   to   take   part   in   a   gathering   to   remember   and  

honour   the   Lardil,  Kaiadilt,   Yangkal  and  Gangalidda  people  as  well   as  non  –  indigenous  Australian  men  and  women  all  across  Australia  who  have  served  

in  defence  of  this  country,"  said  CEO  Mr  Frank  Mills.  

The   very  well   supported   event   (in   one   of   Australia’s  most   remote   regions),  

provided  a  .me  to  honour  all  those  countrymen  and  women  who  served  with  

pride  and  humility   in   the  armed   forces,  and  especially   those  who  made   the  supreme  sacrifice.  Council  said  the  symbolism  of  this  day  serves  to  highlight  

the  role  played  by  both  indigenous  and  non-­‐indigenous  Australians  in  defence  of   this   great   country.   Thank   you   to   all     who   aJended   the   2016   ANZAC   on  

Mornington  Island.

W I N N I N G

Pictured  here  Australian    

screen  legend,    actor  John  JarraJ    

presen.ng    Mornington    

Shire  Council’s    award.  

For   a   small   remote   council,   Mornington   Shire  Council  are  very  proud  to  be  ac.ve  supporters  of  Asbestos  Awareness  Australia.  For   the   past   two   years,   Council   has   ac.vely  engaged   with   staff   and   residents   about   the  dangers   of   asbestos   -­‐   and   we   have   won  NATIONAL  AWARDS  in  both  years  for  this.  Last   year,   MSC   held   informa.on   workshops  (over   50   aJendees)   about   how   to   manage  asbestos  in  homes  and  offices.  Council   hold   an   annual   tradies   breakfast   to  demonstrate   the   safe   way   to   undertake  renova.ons   and   to   educate   others   about  Asbestos.                    Be  part  of  our  next  A  A  A  !!

LOCAL  FOCUS  (AIME)  -­‐  I  grew  up  surrounded  by  lots  of  mums  and  dads.  My  Mum  is  one  of  the  tradi.onal  owners  of  Ben.nck  Island  

and  Dad  is  from  Birri  Country  of  Mornington  Island.  I  spent  a  lot  of  my  young  life  at  the  outsta.on  of  Birri,  watching  the  stars  at  night  as  Pa  Johnny  Williams  explained  what  the  stars  mean,  and  the  tradi.onal  stories  of  our  mob.  He  was  one  of  the  famous  Woomera  Dancers  in  his  

young  days  travelling  all  over  the  world.  He  is  s.ll  a  very  respected  elder  and  ar.st  in  our  community.  I  s.ll  like  to  watch  him  paint,  sit  down  with  him  and  listen  to  him  yarning,  learning  about  our  culture  and  

country,  him  explaining  what  he’s  pain.ng  that  day.  My  Mum  BeJy  is  also  an  ar.st,  she  paints  at  the  art  

centre   (Mirndiyan  Gununa  Aboriginal  Corpora.on)  and   she  makes   these   lovely   silk   felts.  One  day   she  came  home  excited  telling  us  her  collec.on  was  going  to  be  debuted  at  the  Melbourne  Fashion  Fes.val  

in  March  this  year.  Who  would  have  thought  I  am  to  become  one  of  6  girls  selected  to  take  our  art  all  the  way  to  Melbourne?!  We  girls  are  so  excited  to  be  part  of  this  show.  It’s  funny  to  think  that  in  the  not  so  

distant  past  we  were  running  along  the  beach  as  kids,  fishing  and  camping,  even  hun.ng  for  wild  honey,  

goannas  and  wallabies.  Goanna   is  my   favourite   tucker  –  especially   cooked  over   coals…and   it’s   true,   it  tastes   like  chicken   lol,  but  keep  this  a  secret  when  you  watch  us  strut  our  stuff   in  the  VAMFF  Cultural  

Program,  promise?”  -­‐  Rhondell  Williams  (  An  image  of  Rhondell  wearing  MI  designs  features  on  city  buses  all  around  Queensland  -­‐  DEADLY  ).

COLOUR  CORNER  

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Mornington  Shire  Council  are  on  FB  -­‐  come  say  HELLO  online    

!15

"We belong to the land in the true sense that it is a part of us that we need to survive.” Mr Larry Lanley

Mornington Island, Queensland.

TWENTY-­‐four  aspiring  models  could  get  their  lucky  break  at  next  week’s  Cairns  Indigenous  Art  Fair,  CIAF.  

Hailing   from   across   Far   North   Queensland,   the   aspiring   catwalk   stars   will   take   part   in   a   two-­‐week   mentoring   course   before  strusng  their  stuff  at  the  Jana  Jaral  fashion  performance  on  July  15.  

Audience  members  will   include  organisers  of  Melbourne  Fashion  Week.  Ezekiel  Dick,  Aiden  Kohler  and  David   Loogatha’s  CIAF  

debut  will  also  mark  their  professional  modelling  debut.  The  trio’s  only  experience  in  fashion  world  has  been  pusng  on  fashion  shows  at  their  PCYC  on  Mornington  Island.  

“I  think  this  is  a  good  opportunity  and  it’s  great  to  be  mee.ng  new  people  and  other  models,”  Mr  Loogatha  said.  “At  home,  our  performances   are   a   chance   for   the   community   to   come   together.   “We  made  necklaces   from   shells   and   clothes   from  grass.   It  

didn’t  take  too  long,  maybe  two  to  three  days  to  prepare.”  

Mr  Kohler  said  he  looked  up  to  indigenous  model  Samantha  Harris  and  wanted  to  do  his  family  proud.  Janal  Jaral  curator  Grace  Lillian   Lee   said   she  was   excited   to  work  with   a   range   of   young   people  with   diverse   backgrounds.   “The  models   are   gesng   a  

chance  to  showcase  designs  with  meaning  as  well  as  who  they  are  and  where  they  come  from,”  she  said.  

CIAF  is  held  in  Cairns  from  July  14-­‐17  every  year.  For  more,  go  to  ciaf.com.au

MAKE  THIS    

     FOR  $10    

_____________________________________________________________

…  life  is  10%  of  what  happens  to  you  and  90%  of  of  how  you  react  to  it  …    

Pictured   leq   -­‐   deadly   Gununa   children   as   part   of   Clean   Up   Australia   Day   on  

Mornington   Island   -­‐   keeping   the   Wellesley’s   pris>ne.   Don’t   forget,   put   that  

rubbish  in  the  bin  -­‐  keep  our  island  CLEAN  and  BEAUTIFUL.  

Check   out   the   liGle   spor>ng   LEGENDS   boJom   right.   Local   kids   making   some  

posi>ve  choices  during  Mornington  Shire  Council  sports  programs.  A  big  thanks  to  Gununamanda  Store  for  the  Healthy  Food  Vouchers.  

Amazing  local  ladies  boJom  leq  -­‐  making  sure  Gununa  kids  eat  healthy!  Deadly…

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On June 9, Mornington Shire Council ordered in over four hundred loaves of bread, which were flown from a Karumba, Queensland bakery to Mornington Island.

The bread ovens at the local bakery broke down two weeks ago but, due to the island's remote location, council has been unable to order in the necessary parts of its repair.

The only bread sold on the island is made at the council - operated bakery which generally bakes fresh, preservative free bread daily that is then available for sale through the Gununamanda LTD Store.

In the mean time, some of the 1500 residents and visitors have resorted to cooking tasty Damper with lashings of honey or butter.

Council extends much gratitude to REX, who flew the160 kgs of bread to Gununa free of charge.