TSRA News Column

February 2009
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.

As this is my first column for the year, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to families and friends across the region for a safe and healthy 2009.

High Tides
From the beginning of 2009, our communities have experienced king tides. King tides are usually considered normal for this time of year, however, recent tides were well over predicted levels.

In January, low lying areas were inundated with sea water, and waves over-topped sea walls, threatening homes and infrastructure. This inundation resulted from the high tides, combined with the effects of Cyclone Charlotte in the Gulf, and posed a very frightening situation for affected residents.

TSRA recognizes that erosion, sea water inundation and climate change as a whole, is a very significant and real issue for the Torres Strait.

Since 2006, the Torres Strait Regional Authority’s (TSRA) Land and Sea Management Unit has been working with communities and established the region’s Coastal Management Committee, to work towards achieving long-term sustainable solutions to erosion and inundation problems.

Projects underway or recently completed include the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency’s Coastal Erosion Assessment and James Cook University’s Long-term Management of Erosion on Cay Islands in Torres Strait, which has involved work with the communities of Masig, Poruma, Warraber and Iama to identify and prioritise erosion threats, and to develop long-term, sustainable solutions that work with, rather than against the natural processes.

These projects provide real data about the processes involved in erosion, and credible and strategic options to address it, that are achievable and backed up by science so that communities have a good basis for obtaining funding for the implementation of works and procedures to address coastal erosion in a long-term and sustainable fashion.

TSRA has also made several attempts at gaining funding for works identified through these studies to date and will continue to lobby government to mitigate impacts on our communities.

With support from all levels of government and by utilizing scientific data and traditional knowledge, Torres Strait communities will be able to make informed decisions about their future.

PBC Workshop
From 27 to 30 January, the TSRA together with the Office of Registrar Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) facilitated a series of workshops on Thursday Island to enable Chairpersons of Prescribed Bodies Corporates (PBC) to participate in discussions on the ORIC Transition, and other major initiatives including the Dugong and Turtle Project and the Ranger Program.

As a part of the Corporations Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (CATSI) Act 2006 (Cth), all PBCs are required to transition from the Aboriginal Councils and Association Act 1976 (Cth) to the CATSI Act by the 30th June 2009. The ORIC workshop provided PBCs with information to assist with the transition to ensure their Corporations are within the CATSI Act legislation requirements.

At the conclusion of these workshops, potential steps were identified to see how the TSRA can best assist PBC’s in the future.

TSRA is in the process of preparing a regional investment proposal for funding under the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country initiative for a range of natural and cultural programs, including a proposal to support PBCs.

The next PBC Regional Workshop is scheduled to be held at Badu Island on the 30th of March. If you would like more information regarding the workshops, please contact TSRA’s Land and Sea Management Unit by telephone (07) 4069 2957 or email info@tsra.gov.au.

TSRA Scholarships Awarded
TSRA has recently awarded four scholarships to Indigenous students from the region under its Assistance with Tertiary Education Scheme (ATES).

The Scheme aims to provide financial assistance towards living and study expenses for students from the Torres Strait who wish to undertake study at a mainland university campus.

Applicants are assessed against a number of criteria including their commitment to undertake fulltime study and their intention to return to work in the Torres Strait after acquiring their qualification.

Mr Thomas Ahwang, Ms Sayuri Fujii, and Mr Shayne Ahboo are the recipients of ATES 2009, each will receive a scholarship worth $6000 each.

Thomas will be studying for a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts (print making), Sayuri a Bachelor of Justice and Shayne will undertake a Bachelor of Medicine.

In addition to these three recipients, TSRA together with Queensland Senator Sue Boyce will administer the inaugural Morey Scholarship, which has been established in honour of Senator Boyce’s great grandfather who had previously operated a fleet of pearl luggers in the region. This particular scholarship is being funded by Senator Boyce and is aimed at supporting an Indigenous female university student.

The recipient of the 2009 Morey Scholarship is Ms Stacee Ketchell. Stacee will be begin a Bachelor of Business Management this year.

I would acknowledge Senator Boyce for working in partnership with TSRA’s ATES to deliver the Morey Scholarship and I congratulate Thomas, Sayuri, Shayne and Stacee and wish them the best in their chosen fields of study.

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.