20 November

TSRA News Column
20 – 27 November 2007

I wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of Kaiwalagal on whose land I am writing from and all other traditional owners and elders throughout our region.

Condolence Message
On behalf of the Board Members of the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), I would like to extend our sympathies to families who are currently mourning the loss of a loved one. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.

Torres Strait’s Gab Titui Takes Top Honours Three Years in a Row!
I was very proud to hear that on Saturday 10 November, our cultural safe-keeping place the Gab Titui Cultural Centre, was named for the third year in a row, the best Indigenous Tourism entity in Queensland.

The announcement was made at the Queensland Tourism Awards (QTA) in Townsville. Following the announcement that Gab Titui received top honours in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism category, it was also revealed that the Centre would also be inducted into the QTA’s Hall of Fame, for consecutively winning this prestigious award.

Since its opening in April 2004, Gab Titui has been recognised for its work toward reviving and conserving the region’s culture, traditions and history, as well as providing an authentic cultural experience to visitors.

The Centre has also been acknowledged for supporting the region’s artists and crafts-people by not only exhibiting their work, but also retailing local products and exposing them to the wider arts market.

Together, with its reputation as an entity which provides a genuine and high standard Torres Strait cultural experience, Gab Titui is drawing visitors to the region from across Australia and all corners of the globe, arriving through organised tours by road, airplane and cruise ship. This increase in visitor activity has had a positive impact on the incomes of our artists and crafts-people and enhanced the local economy.

In its short history, the Centre has won the Indigenous category of the QTA on three occasions, been a runner up at the Tropical Tourism North Queensland Awards in 2006 and has also received this year, a High Commendation Award at the Australian Tourism Awards.

This success would not have been possible without the hard work and commitment of the staff of the Gab Titui Culture Centre and the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) and I would like to commend them for this outstanding achievement.

I also would like to acknowledge and esso the region’s artists and craftspeople, as well as community members, who with their ongoing support have shared their work as well as their culture with Torres Strait residents and visitors.

The Gab Titui Cultural Centre was established to address the region’s needs of maintaining, revitalising and promoting our unique Ailan Kastom. Having been
named the best in the State for the last three years is testament that the Torres
Strait people, together with Gab Titui, is accomplishing that objective.

Graduation of Senior High School Students
With the end of the year fast approaching, another group of local Year 12 Tagai State College High School Students will soon be graduating.

Successfully completing their secondary education is a great achievement and during this particular time, students will be faced with a number of decisions which may affect the rest of their lives.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and encourage graduating students to consider furthering their education. Be it through university, TAFE or through a traineeship, tertiary education can lead to improved career paths as well as boost self-confidence. I wish them all the best and urge our communities to support and assist our students in these important years after high school.

Any feedback on this column can be sent to:

Mr John. T. Kris
TSRA Chairperson
PO Box 261
Thursday Island, Qld 4875

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