TSRA NEWS Our Vision: To empower our people to determine their own affairs based on our unique Ailan Kastom bilong Torres Strait from which we draw our unity and strength
No.86 June 2007 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: News from TSRA Portfolio Member for Torres Strait Ready for Arts, Culture and Language Sponge Farm - Jesse Sagaukaz Page 2
ANewErainTorres Strait Rugby League
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CRC Torres Strait 2003-2006 - Monitoring the Prawn Fishery
Page 4 A diver inspects some sponges at Masig Island, Courtesy AIMS If regulatory approval is received, a pilot sponge farm Local residents participated in the dive and field work could be established in Torres Strait. The Australian components of the project which has received Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), in collaboration widespread support from the local community. TSRA Sponsored with CRC Torres Strait, the Torres Strait Regional Events Yorke Island Community Council (YICC) is currently Authority, and the Yorke Island Community Council, seeking funding to establish the farm. If successful, the has completed a two year study on the feasibility of project could lead to the development of other farms in Page 4 and best practice methods for farming sponges at the area. YICC chairman, Don Mosby, said that the Masig (Yorke) Island. community would benefit from a commercial sponge The study revealed that Masig Island has a large farm. population of Coscinoderma, an apt species for the “The community has been involved in this project every bath sponge market. Scientists showed that step of the way and there is a lot of support to develop Coscinoderma was suitable for farming and had a a commercial operation. If you would like more growth rate that would be sustainable for industry information on this publication harvest. “We still need to put the plan through some rigorous or on any of the TSRA's business testing to be certain it is economically viable The research included investigations into the optimal Programs and Services, please but at this point things are looking very promising.” contact the TSRA by: season, site, and farming methods for the industry. Dr Alan Duckworth, project leader, said his team sought Dr Duckworth believes that sponge aquaculture will be Telephone: (07) 4069 0700 to determine the most economical and ecologically the most environmentally sustainable way of meeting Fax: (07) 4069 1879 sustainable farming techniques for the region. market demands into the future. Toll Free Number: 1800 079 093 Email: [email protected] “We had a lot of things to consider from environmental “Aquaculture is a sustainable alternative to wild impacts to market demands. For example, the shape harvest which has devastated sponge populations in PO Box 261,Thursday Island of the mature sponges was very important in other regions. We believe that the environmental Qld 4875 determining which farming method was selected.” impacts of a commercial sponge farm at Masig Island would be extremely minimal” or visit: AIMS scientists are very pleased with the results which www.tsra.gov.au support the feasibility of growing sponges in the Torres Natural sponges are sought after by cosmetic and Strait. industrial cleaning companies due to their highly 1st Floor, Torres Strait Haus absorbent skeletons. At present, international demand 46 Victoria Parade “There are abundant wild sponge stocks in the region for bath sponges far outweighs the supply reserves. Thursday Island which recover well from seed harvest and The world sponge industry, which is primarily supplied environmental conditions seem to be optimal for by the Mediterranean and the Caribbean is worth over growth of the seed stock. From a biological $40M. perspective, our results support the prospect of a sponge farm at Masig,” said Dr Duckworth.
TORRES STRAIT REGIONAL AUTHORITY News from TSRA Portfolio Member for Arts, Culture and Language Jesse Sagaukaz
As the Torres Strait Regional Authority's •New Torres Strait Publication (TSRA) Portfolio Member for Arts, Language Mrs Margaret Mau is to write a book about and Culture, I would like to inform you on Torres Strait women and family experiences, some of the important work being to be published at the end of the year progressed in this area. •Ugar Island Art and Craft Workshops Arts and Culture A series of woodwork and art workshops will The TSRA strives to revitalise, promote and TSRA Portfolio Member for Arts, be held throughout the year on Ugar Island maintain our region's cultural heritage. Our Culture & Language, to provide new skills to local CDEP traditional practices are a valuable Mr Jesse Sagaukaz participants as well as community members component of our way of life and TSRA This new Scheme will take effect in the new believes it is imperative that they not be 2007-2008 financial year. Any incorporated •Masig Island Art workshop eroded by outside influences. organisation in our region can apply for School students from Masig Island will In order to protect our unique cultural assets, assistance under these Guidelines for the design and create a marine mural for their TSRA delivers a Heritage, Culture and implementation of one-off community community under the guidance of a Environment Program which aims to assist language programs and I encourage professional artist the Indigenous people of the Torres Strait to Community Councils and local •Torres Strait on Show in Hawaii take part in projects which help to preserve, organisations to take advantage of this new protect and develop the regions cultural and initiative. Local artists Mr Billy Missi and Mr Solomon environmental heritage. Indigenous Regional Arts Development Booth will promote the Torres Strait at Hawaii's Arts and Culture Festival from 15 to Under this Program, TSRA provides grants to Fund (IRADF) 22 June support a range of arts and cultural The Indigenous Regional Arts Development activities. These range from traditional Fund (IRADF) is jointly delivered by the TSRA •Song and Dance Workshop and/or contemporary arts projects and and Arts Queensland. IRADF supports A three day skill development workshop will dance tours, to significant cultural events Indigenous individuals and groups in be held by the Tribal Ministry from 25 to 30 such as Mabo Day and National Aborigines promoting their talent as well as refining September on Thursday Island for and Islanders Day Observance Committee their own skills. Grants issued to successful community members to learn and practice (NAIDOC) Week festivities. applicants cover a broad range of activities, traditional and contemporary Island Over the last three years, there has been a which include traditional and contemporary singing, dancing and song writing considerable rise in arts and cultural arts, visual arts, art and craft development, •Dreaming Festival activities in the region and the TSRA has exhibitions and workshops. reviewed this Program's budget to meet the To provide you with a greater understanding Torres Strait artist Ms Florence Ware travelled demand, as well as entered into of the type of projects supported, the to Brisbane to participate at a showcase of partnerships with other government following are recent IRADF recipients and Indigenous artists, the Woodford Dreaming agencies, such as Arts Queensland, to their projects: Festival provide more opportunities in this important •Solo Exhibition area. •Screen Printing Workshop Local artist Kathryn Norris will prepare her Language Preservation Torres Strait Artist Mrs Rosie Barkus is to enhance her screen printing skills by artwork for a solo-exhibition at the Gab Titui Traditional language is a vital part of our participating in individual skill development Cultural Centre in October culture and identity as Torres Strait Islanders. workshops this year If you would like to find more about the Our dialects are unique to our people and TSRA's Arts and Culture Program including like our dance and art, they should be •Creative Writing and Music Workshop development opportunities such as IRADF, maintained so that future generations can Mr Damian Fujii is planning to host a please contact the TSRA's Arts Development also enjoy and draw inspiration from. creative writing and music workshop for Officer, Ms George Dann on telephone (07) In order to preserve the region's languages, community members on Thursday Island at 4090 2130, fax (07) 4090 2145 or email the TSRA has established a new set of the Port Kennedy Association Hall [email protected]. Alternatively you can visit Guidelines to enable the provision of •Rap and Hip-Hop Music Workshop her at the Gab Titui Cultural Centre, corner funding for community initiated language Blackall Street & Victoria Parade, Thursday programs. The objective of the Guidelines is Musician Josh Mills will run a rap and Hip- Island or write to PO Box 261 Thursday to support the retrieval, revival and hop music workshop on Thursday Island to Island, Queensland 4875. maintenance of the Indigenous languages be hosted at the Port Kennedy Association of the TorresStrait region. Hall
PAGE 2 A New Era in Torres Strait Rugby League
Twenty-three women have created an “Their dedication and talent has not gone determination to create such history. important piece of Torres Strait sporting unnoticed with the team reaching third place "As an experienced rugby league player, I history by becoming the region's first female and three members acknowledged for their was in awe of the Women's ability and have representative rugby league team to exceptional performance - Ms Elsie Seriat every confidence that there will be State and participate at a State Championship. and Ms Ruth Bon, were selected as part National representatives from this region of the Queensland Merit Team and Ms The Torres Strait Regional Authority's (TSRA) soon. Kinam Salee, received the Selectors Chairperson, Mr Toshie Kris, said the TSRA Encouragement and Rising Star Awards. “Our Juniors also displayed great talent, was pleased to support the Neguams Francesca Sagigi (13), Adrienne Cummings Women's Rugby League Team (NWRLT), to “I would like to congratulate all members of (16) and Ethel Mosby (16) were recognised travel to Cairns and attend the Veronica the NWRLT for their outstanding by Members of the Brisbane Team who were White Cup on 5 and 6 May. achievement and for their time and effort in amazed by their abilities - all three are being preparing for and participating at the “The TSRA is an avid supporter of healthy closely monitored by Queensland selectors. carnival,” Mr Kris said. lifestyles and good sportsmanship - we “As the name Neguam means 'cousin,' we demonstrate this through our programs NWRLT Player and team Secretary, Mrs consider each other as family and this stood which not only establish necessary Marlene Thompson, said the trip to Cairns out from the experience, with the team infrastructure but also assist our people to enabled the squad to play against teams ensuring that on and off the field everyone develop their skills and abilities,” said Mr from Cairns, Innisfail and Brisbane, played their part and to some extent more Kris. providing an insight into the standard of than what was expected. Queensland women's rugby league. “We also realise that our remote location “Participating at the carnival was a often limits the experience that our sporting “As these were our first matches outside of memorable experience, one that I am teams can gain, and on this occasion it was the Torres Strait, the squad showed great honoured to have been part of, and on also a great opportunity to showcase the strength and courage as they played against behalf of the NWRLT,I would like to thank the region's sporting talent at a State level. more experienced sides,” said Mrs TSRA for their support in making this trip Thompson. “The NWRLT have shown that women of the possible, Mina Big Esso!” Mrs Thompson Torres Strait have the confidence and talent “The skills and technique displayed during said. to change the norm, and in this case, they the carnival clearly demonstrates that the have successfully participated in rugby Torres Strait has a wealth of talented and league, a sport which is usually male skilful sportswomen, who all should be dominated. commended on their commitment and Below: The Neguams Women's Rugby League Team, Courtesy Mrs Marlene Thompson
PAGE 3 Project Highlights from CRC Torres Strait 2003-2006 Monitoring the Prawn Fishery CRC TORRES While the prawn STRAIT fishery in Torres Strait is predominantly conducted by non- islanders, sustainable management of the fishery is very important to Islanders for a number of reasons. In the past there have been concerns that bycatch of lobster by prawn trawlers has had negative effects on the rock lobster fishery upon which many Islander fishers depend. It is also important to ensure that the fishery is not causing depletion of Torres Strait prawn stocks. CRC Torres Strait researchers from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries assessed the state of the stocks of commercial prawn species using both commercial fisher records and fishery independent research trawl surveys. The trawl research surveys were conducted Courtesy DPIF & CRC TS each February, just prior to the opening of Tiger Prawns from the Torres Strait, the commercial prawn season and included areas east of Warrior Reef (open to trawling) major differences in bycatch between Torres Strait. Researchers were in Torres as well as a nursery area west of Warrior trawled and non-trawled areas. Strait for 24 days. Reef (closed to trawling). Due to a combination of the reduction in For more information on this story or on any Over 300 animal species other than prawns fishing effort and good recruitment in recent other project, you can contact CRC Torres were collected as trawl bycatch (animals years, tiger prawn catch rates have Strait by telephone (07) 4729 8400, fax other than prawns caught while trawling). increased. An assessment of the tiger prawn (07) 4729 8499, alternatively you can While most of these animals occurred in the stocks indicates that current harvest levels email [email protected] or visit bycatch only rarely, fish were the dominant are sustainable. www.crctorres.com. group, at around 80% by weight of total bycatch. Preliminary results indicate no Areas where research was conducted: various sites throughout eastern and central
TSRA Sponsored Events
Easter Sports Carnival Hammond Island community members travelled to and participated in an Easter Sport Carnival on Warraber Island. National Youth Week The Torres Shire Council - hosted the region's Youth Week activities from 2 to 5 May. Neguams Women's From 5 to 6 May, the Neguams Women's Rugby League team represented the Torres Strait at the “Veronica White Rugby League Tour Cup” in Cairns. Stylin Up Music Festival Local music group 'One Blood, Hidden Image' participated at the Stylin Up Music Festival in Brisbane on 26 May. TRAWQ Anniversary Celebrations were held for 1 week beginning 27 May, by Tamwoy, Rosehill, Aplin, Waiben and Quarantine (TRAWQ) Community Council to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Tamwoy town, the 1967 Referendum and the Torres Strait Flag. Representatives from Mer and Saibai also travelled to Thursday Island participate. Mer & TRAWQ Mabo Mabo Day (3 June) was celebrated by the Councils and communities of Mer and TRAWQ. Day Celebrations Mutee Heads Landing The 60th anniversary of the Mutee Heads landing will be remembered by Bamaga Island Council and community on 30 June and 1 July. 2007 Croc Festival The Croc Festival is returning to the Torres Strait in the month of July, celebrating 10 years of promoting positive initiatives for our youth. 70th Anniversary Yorke Island Council will host the 70th Anniversary Celebrations of the 1937 inaugural Council Meeting on 23 Celebrations August. Song and Dance A three day skill development workshop will be held by the Tribal Ministry from 25 to 30 September on Thursday Workshop Island for community members to learn and practice traditional and contemporary Island singing, dancing and song writing.
BUSINESS ADDRESS CONTACT DETAILS 1st Floor,Torres Strait Haus PO Box 261,Thursday Island Queensland 4875 Telephone: (07) 4069 0700 46Victoria Parade www.tsra.gov.au Fax: (07) 4069 1879 Thursday Island [email protected] Toll Free Number: 1800 079 093