MEDIA RELEASE - Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud
On Wednesday night, 10th July 2024, Torres Shire Council hosted the 2024 NAIDOC Awards Evening at the Thursday Island Sports Stadium with this year’s theme: Keep the Fire Burning, Blak, Loud and Proud. The stadium was full. There was a sense of joy, pride and celebration in the air. The night commenced with MC Cr Gabriel Bani, Torres Shire Council welcoming guests, award recipients, performers and sponsors to the event. Father Tom Stephen said the Opening Prayer and blessed the NAIDOC dinner. After the Sounds of Country, Mayor Elsie Seriat OAM delivered the Welcome to Country followed by the Opening Address, wonderfully setting the celebratory tone for the evening, encouraging all guests to ‘relax, let your hair down and enjoy the 2024 Torres Strait NAIDOC Awards dinner’.
The first to lead off the celebrations was the Bamaga Dancers and were they good! They inspired us. This was traditional dancing at its very best. For something different this year, we had one of the sponsors, the RACQ Foundation, who we call “the blue army”, serving on the tables and working side by side with our staff. Mayor Seriat said today, ‘I was blown away. It truly was one for the ages and I am sure I speak on behalf of all who attended, this NAIDOC awards night made us feel Blak, Loud and Proud’. Tickets went, not so much like hot cakes, but more like warm golden syrup dampers. They were sold out within three days of them going up onto the event site.
Whilst attendees enjoyed the formal NAIDOC dinner, they were entertained by the Night Shift Band.
Then began the formal proceedings with the announcement of the award winners. Huge cheers followed the announcement that Samuel (Benji) Sagigi and Gavin Bin Juda were to receive the Special Recognition Award for bravery in responding to the helicopter crash on the Prince of Wales Island channel. Their quick thinking and selfless action undoubtedly saved lives. Marsat Ketchell was recognised for excellence in community and health services. Marsat is a retired serviceman, active in the veteran community, who has worked for many years with TCHHS helping vulnerable communities by addressing both their social and emotional well-being. Solema Luffman was next to be recognised for extending her community advocacy by learning signing to further extend and preserve traditional languages. ‘The theme: Keep the Fire Burning has only been possible because of the ongoing commitment and work of our Elders preserving culture, languages and art’, Mayor Seriat said.
Betty Tekahika was recognised with a community tribute award for excellence in community and cultural services in the preservation of the Meriam Mer language and for her weaving, singing and storytelling and, this year’s Elder of the Year was Robert (Bongo) Sagigi who has spent many years stressing the importance of a healthy lifestyle so as not to become captive to dialysis.
‘It is so fitting this year that so many diverse talents were recognised, not just in our region but for their contributions in Australia and the world’, Mayor Seriat remarked. ‘Artists, sportspeople and tireless community contributors were all recognised. Artists like Emily Beckley (Excellence in Promoting Women and the Torres Strait Culture through Art) and Artist of the Year, Alick Tipoti. Sportspeople like Harold Matthew and the Sportsperson of the Year Samson Zitha and remarkable community contributors like Josie Nawia and business owners David and Melaney Nona (this year’ NAIDOC Torres Strait King and Queen)’
Mayor Seriat continued. ‘And let us not forget the young, those who will keep the fire burning into the future, the leaders of tomorrow, such as the Trainee of the Year, Joanna Mari and Youth of the Year, Dyral Lui’.
Mayor Seriat continued, ‘It was very fitting to award the Community Event of the Year Award to Igiliyawa: Custodians of Life 2024 program back on country (Waibene), involving 24 Torres Strait medical practitioners and medical students that also brought together health leaders, academics and officials including Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Senator for the Northern Territory’.
The loudest cheer went up for the winner of the 2024 NAIDOC Torres Strait Person of the Year Award, Phillemon Mosby, Mayor of the Torres Strait Island Regional Council, who noted that only 6 months ago he had been diagnosed with cancer and as a young person he had received so much love and support from family and the community.
Mayor Seriat concluded, ‘Everyone was honoured when Phillemon spoke of his commitment to not only the Masig Statement that guides us to self-determination but to the repatriation of cultural artefacts back to their rightful place in Zenadth Kes. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. He stirringly encouraged us to Keep the Fire Burning – Blak, Loud and Proud, a fitting conclusion to the 2024 NAIDOC Torres Strait Awards evening’.
Councils CEO Dalassa Yorkston offered a final congratulatory message of thanks to all the 2024 Torres Strait NAIDOC Award Winners in the closing address.
Dalassa Yorkston said ‘On behalf of Torres Shire Council’ we would like to express our sincere acknowledgement and thanks the following sponsors: Torres Strait Regional Authority, Ports North, Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Community and the Arts, RACQ Foundation, Coral Sea Concrete, Austek, Matt Birney Builders, TI Concrete, OSE Group, Reel Planning, Preston Law, Marine Civil Maintenance, Kirratech Lifestyle Pool and Torres Strait Island Homes for their ongoing support and wonderful contribution to the Torres Strait NAIDOC Awards.
End Release
TSC Media Centre
Contact: CEO Dalassa Yorkston
Mobile: 0429 691 333 Email: ceo@torres.qld.gov.au