With Torres Strait Regional Authority Chairperson, John Toshie Kris.

I wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of Kaiwalagal, on whose land I am writing from on Thursday Island.  To date I have received pleasing feedback on the role this column has had in keeping our communities abreast of the many progressive projects and exciting developments that are occurring within our region. 

St. Pauls Centenary Celebrations

From Village to Mission to Community (1904 – 2004), that is the theme for the week long St. Pauls Establishment Centenary Celebrations being held on Moa Island from Sunday the 19th September to Sunday the 26th September. This occasion marks a significant milestone in the history of the St.Pauls community and as Chair of the St.Paul’s council it gives me great pleasure to invite you all to come and join us in this special occasion.  Many of our families at St.Pauls have cultural and family ties throughout our region, so we are expecting a good turn up of relatives and friends between the 19th – 26th of this month at St.Pauls.  A full program of events is available at the St.Pauls Council Office.  The contact number there is 4069 4124.

Community Development Employment Project Online

The TSRA has investigated ways in which to increase the efficiency of the administration of the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP).  In May 2004 the TSRA started using an internet based ‘CDEP participant management system’ to help better manage the administration of the CDEP scheme.  All eighteen of the CDEP’s across the Torres Strait, including Bamaga and Seisia, have access to a new CDEP database which is hosted on Thursday Island.  The new CDEP Manager system offers some obvious advantages.  These include the ability of CDEP organisations to quickly access "real time" participant data and the CDEP Participant Database, and I have noticed that this has significantly improved response times in placing participants on the scheme.
 
The introduction of CDEP online is quite an achievement as we believe this is the first time such an arrangement and system for CDEP has been developed and implemented in any part of Australia.

Gab Titui Study Tour

The TSRA’s Arts development Officer, Leilani Bin-Juda has recently embarked on an international museum study tour researching indigenous collections and investigating the potential for joint exhibitions.  No doubt such a unique visit will promote the Gab Titui Cultural Centre internationally.  Ms. Bin-Juda will visit museums and cultural centres in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom (Cambridge) and Japan and will be accompanied by Ms. Franchesca Cubillo, Aboriginal Director of Tandanya Cultural Centre (Australia’s national Aboriginal cultural centre) based in Adelaide. 

I congratulate Leilani on successfully applying for this tour and I know that she will be a good ambassador for the Gab Titui Cultural Centre on her travel.  We look forward to her feedback upon her return in October.

Please remember any feedback for future columns can be sent to:

Mr. John T. Kris
TSRA Chairperson
PO Box 261
THURSDAY ISLAND QLD 4875

Alternatively, feedback can be sent through the TSRA website via the media contact in the ‘contact us’ section of the site.  Until my next column, may God bless you all and keep you safe.

John T. Kris
TSRA Chairperson