TSRA News Column

16 June – 27 June 2008
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.

A New Era for the TSRA

The TSRA elections were held on 17 May 2008 and I would like to extend a sincere thank you to all the people who voted. It is important that people take advantage of having opportunity to elect their representatives to the Board of the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA).

I would like to acknowledge and thank the previous Board who served the Torres Strait Island people with dedication and integrity for the past four years. Importantly, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the new and returning Board Members and look forward to the next four years of working together with the community along with relevant organisations and Government departments, to continue to improve the standard of living of the Torres Straight people living in the region.

Already, 2008 has been a year of political change for the Torres Strait, with the election of the new TSRA Board and the restructure of the local government framework, resulting in the formation of the new Regional Councils - the Torres Shire Council, Torres Strait Island Regional Council and the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council. 2008 heralds a new era for Indigenous affairs in Australia, beginning with the Prime Minister’s apology on National Sorry Day in March this year.


Gab Titui Indigenous Art Award: Congratulations to Artists

The inaugural Gab Titui Indigenous Art Award was held last month on Friday 16 May, attracting entries from 53 artists across 15 Torres Strait communities and revealing a depth and quality of artistic talent that surpassed all expectations.

The Indigenous Art Award was a Gab Titui Cultural Centre initiative, created to recognise excellence in art and craft from Indigenous people living in the Torres Strait and NPA region. Artwork submitted was of exceptionally high quality.

I would like to congratulate the winners of each of the three categories as well as everyone who submitted work, for the effort they put into their pieces, the standards they set and their assistance in raising the profile of Torres Strait art and craft.

Congratulations are extended to Alick Tipoti, who won the Overall Award with his lino cut piece “Zugubal” taking home the first place prize money of $6,000, winners of the Emerging Artist category and a $3,000 prize, were Ezra, Keramu and Gilbert Waigana for their carving “Traditional Dugong Hunting (Aypulumay Rugal/Hunting Gear) and John Bosun took top honours and $500 in the Secondary School category with his screenprint “Zugabaw Thithuy”.

Thank you to judges Mr. Keith Munro, Curator of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait program at the Museum of Contemporary Art who made the trip from Sydney and to the TSRA Alternate Deputy Chairperson, Mr. Jesse Sagaukaz.

The art submitted in the Indigenous Art Award will be displayed in a special four month exhibition at Gab Titui Cultural Centre. In addition, the community will have the opportunity to vote for a “People’s Choice Award”. A prize of $1,000 will be awarded to the winner of this category during NAIDOC (“National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee”) week in July. Voting closes on 30 June 2008.


Community Business Forum on Erub

From 24-26 June 2008, the second of three TSRA Community Business Forums will be held on Erub Island and is open to all community members from the Eastern Group who operate a small business or who are considering launching a small business of their own.

The first Forum was held in the Community of St Pauls on Moa Island in March this year and provided community members from near the Western Islands with a valuable opportunity to discuss ideas and attend workshops to hear industry specialists and successful Indigenous entrepreneurs speak on their experiences.

The Community Business Forum offers a series of free workshops covering:

• What is Business?
• Business Ideas for your Community
• Identifying Business Opportunities
• Starting a Small Business
• Preparing a Business Plan
• TSRA Small Business Development Framework

The Forums are part of the TSRA’s Small Business Development Framework and are designed to build the capacity for communities to become economically independent and to examine strategies for turning business ideas into a sustainable reality. Participants are encouraged to discuss the challenges involved in Indigenous business development and are provided with information
on where they may seek further advice and assistance in the future.

Welcome to New TSRA Employees – Bronwyn, Steven and Quentin

On behalf of the TSRA, I would like to welcome some new faces to the TSRA.

Ms. Bronwyn Jewell is the new Manager of the Gab Titui Cultural Centre and joins us from Brisbane where, from 2003 to 2008, Bronwyn was the Director of the Queensland Community Arts Network, a state-wide service organization supporting the practice and practitioners of community cultural development with a special emphasis on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural frameworks.

We are pleased to have someone with Bronwyn’s experience on board to further develop the Cultural Centre and promote our art and culture to Australia and the world.

Mr. Steven Hall commenced work at the TSRA in April this year as the Fisheries Policy Officer. Steven has moved to the Torres Strait from Canberra and look forward to working with all stakeholders to progress fisheries initiatives in our regions.

TSRA also welcomes Mr. Quentin Maclaine who moved here from Brisbane to take up the position as Health Policy Co-ordinator. Quentin has a varied background that includes experience with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, project management and teaching. Quentin has already visited Erub, Iama and Poruma Islands as well as the communities of Seisia and Bamaga and will progress the Torres Strait Health Partnership arrangements.

I look forward to working with Bronwyn, Steve and Quentin at the TSRA.

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.