Culture Day at Tagai

Thursday 14th September was Culture Day at Tagai Secondary Campus with activities that included a yarning circle (story telling), singing, weaving, dancing, art displays and a traditional feast - big kai kai.

This is Torres Strait culture at its best and Auntie Lizzie and the team at the Language and Culture Centre worked hard to prepare for the day. They organised food and volunteers to prepare and cook the feast, they organised local craftspeople and elders to run the various craft and cultural activities. And they worked very very hard to train both students and staff in ilan dancing which was the main entertainment on the day.

Island elder Uncle Signess Weriat opens Culture Day with a traditional welcome

Weaving with Auntie Lizzie

Auntie Tamie and primary school children. She has an amazing voice and was one of the island soloists in the Ailan Kores earlier this year.

Elders and the Yarning circle. The Language and Culture Centre is the white building on the left with the large deck.

More story telling with Auntie Lizzie. Lizzie was also one of the members of Ailan Kores and accompanied Tamie to sing an island hymn - they are sisters-in-law.



Well ... it is culture somewhere :-)

Many hands make light work in the Home Ec kitchen

Setting the table for big kai kai

And enjoying big kai kai

Students were assessed on their dancing. Language and Culture is a subject at Tagai.

Male teachers under the guidance of Richard - front left with the red garland - they bought the house down! Richard is from one of the outer islands and is the Language and Culture teacher at Tagai.



Female staff with Auntie Lizzie - front, yellow flowers. I'm in the back row, second left with the pink/purple flowers. We made our own dresses- I finished mine at 11pm Wednesday night, the night before .... sort of a last minute thing :-)

Culture Day was the last day of the school calendar. And what a way to finish off a very busy and full term for both teachers, students and staff.

This was my first term at Tagai as Public Relations Officer - I loved it :-) My days are full, varied and interesting. I can't wait to get back and hit the ground running for Term 4. How many more sleeps?

Life is good :-)

A walk around the island

I know I've shown you this view before but I think the tide was out. I wanted to show you how beautiful it is - this is what I see when I come out of the walkway from our back gate. I love taking Kacee for a walk on the beach - she loves it. I've started collecting seaweed to use as mulch on my garden beds. It works a treat.

 

This is Anzac Park from the foreshore. Anzac Park is an oasis of greenery and calm in the middle of Douglas Street.



The Jardine Motel, just around the corner from where we live. The Governor and Anna Bligh have stayed here on recent visits ..... along with a lot of other people.

Do you like our turtle family? - they live on the foreshore :-)

This is the wharf where you will arrive when you come to visit me. The yellow shop is the Jetty Shop. They sell great gifts - jewellery, books, t-shirts, some homewares.

And the welcome sign that will greet you :-)

This beach is between the two wharves - it's not used much

I wonder why? Unfortunately this sign is common on our lovely beaches.



Back on Douglas Street, near the other end. The one and only bank. Which bank isn't there? The shop next door houses R&Fs - the island dollar shop & fast food outlet - a laundromat and travel agency. The island looks lush at the moment - sprinklers worked overtime greening the place up for Anna's visit last weekend.



The Pearl Shop - run by the beautiful Vanessa - home of pearls, accessories and fashion

The other side of the street from the Pearl shop - the new Commonwealth Government building. It was officially blessed and opened last Monday by Anna Bligh. See how close the water is? - it's never too far away from anywhere.

This is our local radio station 4MW. This is where I take the school leaders every Thurdsay to do a pre-recording for a show called the Education Hour which is aired on Friday. It is broadcast on TI and the outer islands and is a great way to keep parents and the community informed about what is happening at the high school.

Catching up

I haven't blogged for a while, so I thought I'd bring you up to date with the help of a few photos and a brief summary of events as they happened.

IBIS cook-off
In an effort to promote healthy eating IBIS hosted a cook-off between the mayor, Pedro Stephen, and a member of Anna Bligh's community cabinet that was visiting the island last Sunday.

IBIS employs a full time nutritionist, Jasmina, who assists in the presentation and display of healthy food choices throughout the store. Sadly it's a bit of a battle up here. And while the cook-off "kitchen" was well set up with lots of healthy looking vegetables, brochures and posters it was not all that well attended.

But - Jasmina is not giving up :-) and IBIS will continue to offer healthy alternatives to the community.

Healthy food cloices at IBIS

The contestants are briefed by IBIS nutritionist Jasmina

Mayor Pedro cooks up a healthy stir fry

Rob's Birthday

August 30 was Rob's birthday and what better way to celebrate than with family and friends. And while our real family is back in Brisbane, we are fortunate to have another family with us here on T.I. - our backpacker family.

I gave Rob two choices for his birthday dinner - a meal at the Fed or let's stay at home and have dinner with the "kids". He opted for dinner with the kids.

Toasting Rob with Hannah and Zoe

Leanna, Yves and Hannah

The birthday boy

Rob's girls - Nikki, Hannah and Leanna

Our birthday feast :-)

Farewell Leanna and Dan 
While I love having the backpackers living here there is a definite downside - they eventually leave. Today we farewelled Leanna and Dan as they move onto to the next leg of their backpacking holiday.

These gorgeous young people did steal my heart - the gentle, softly spoken, protective Dan; and Leanna - petite, beautiful, cool, calm and collected. Both of them showed a maturity beyond their young years. Saying goodbye was hard.



Dan and Leanna

Leanna, Nikki and Dan - they are all from the same place, Newcastle upon Tyne. Nikki will meet up with them in November.

First class seats on McDonald's ferry - amazing views and fresh air

Rob

This morning, before the kids left, I had another farewell. Rob has flown to Brisbane for a back operation. After months of pain, doctors, physio, numerous drugs and sleepless nights we have decided that enough is enough and last week Rob was finally given a referral to go to Brisbane.

Dr Redmond will perform keyhole surgery tomorrow and Rob will be out on Wednesday. Natalie, his daughter, will take him back to her place in Oakey to convalesce. I will join him in two weeks.

We are both looking forward to starting a new life - a life without pain, a normal life.

Waiting for the good news and keeping positive - life is making us stronger.

Wongai Ball 2011

Last night Rob and I dressed up, put on our dancing shoes, met up with friends at the PKA hall and got ready for a night of good food, good company, fine wine and great music. It was the Wongai Ball!

The Wongai Ball is the major fund raiser for Our Lady of the Sacred Heart primary school. Helen Kett, principal extraordinaire, puts in a lot of hours before the event - organising, selling tickets on Saturday mornings outside Col Jones, preparing the hall on the day and then sort of enjoying herself on the night while keeping an eye on things and making sure it all runs smoothly. It does :-)

All dressed up and somewhere to go :-)

The amazing Margaret See Kee and her wonderful family - husband Anthony, son DJ and daughter Cecelia Mary - put on a spread fit for a king. DJ obliges by providing his Mum with fresh seafood caught that week, crays being his speciality. Margaret does the rest, ably assisted by members of the family and friends.

I would be remiss if I did not mention Chi Chi who worked all night in the kitchen while looking very glamorous and chic in her outfit. It was good to see them eventually get out and have a dance or two before going back to clean up and finish up.

The amazing buffet catered by the See Kee family

And while I missed my very flamboyant dancing partner, Peter, I still managed to get my dancing fix with two lovely men. My wonderful Rob managed a few slow dances in spite of his painful back - and the lovely Mikey twirled me around for a bit of latinesque (is that a word? - it is now) style dancing which made me feel great.

Doing the macarena - yes! even on T.I. - with Cathy (blond hair), Jan (in red) and Julie (in front of me wearing black pants, black and white top).

Shakin' my booty. Where are the men?

We got home just before midnight - tired, happy, sore feet, glad we went and looking forward to going again next year ...... if we're still here.

Having a ball on T.I. - life is good :-)

T.I. happenings

Twilight markets were held last Saturday. We missed the first ones - we were in Brisbane - and I'd heard from everyone what a great night it was. After we got back I was very excited to hear that, due to their success, a second twilight markets was planned for August. And I wasn't going to miss these :-)

The eukulele group - we'd been to a workshop that morning and were already up to performing standard. Hey .... "Row, row, row your boat" is a classic :-)

This band is amazing - a wonderful addition to the markets and kept the crowd entertained for hours

Part of the crowd on the foreshore listening to the band and just enjoying the balmy night

Local kids watching their music idols

Lots of goodies for sale. Try a watermelon and coconut drink - it's delicious :-)

My favourite little girl

The world is my oyster

The following day we were on the wharf bright and early to farewell our good friend, Peter Chapman. Peter lives in Atherton and after five years on the island decided it was time to go back to the mainland and begin the next leg of his journey.

I first met Peter when I joined Rotary and was immediately drawn to him. How could I miss him? - he's larger than life, loves life, is very warm, generous and has a positive outlook on everything ..... and he's a great dancer.

In fact the Peter-Silvana team became a bit of an item at a few functions :-) And tonight at the Wongai Ball I will certainly be missing my very flamboyant dancing partner with the red vest. Peter - you could have waited another week :-)

With Peter and Nola on the wharf - Nola and Peter worked together at the Torres Shire Council. Mrs Pat Jones made the lei with fresh frangipanis from her yard. He wore it all the way to Cairns where he reluctantly had to hand it over to the AQIS dog. We were surprised it got that far :-)

My work mate Susie - we share the same staffroom - was also leaving for Cairns with year 12 students on work placement. Zippy and I have missed her :-)

Julie - School to Work offficer - was travelling with Susie.

Our little ferry to Horn Island. We wanted Peter to toss the lei into the water - as is the custom - but being Peter he insisted on wearing it to the plane and hopefully on the plane. And being Peter - that's exactly what he did :-)

Life is good :-)

Another loss

My father-in-law died on Wednesday. I suppose technically I should say my ex-father-in-law but in this case I don't want to be technical. I was his daughter-in-law for 25 years, but I've known him a lot longer of course.

He was a nice man, a good man, a good looking man, a funny man - I loved his sense of humour - a loyal man, considerate, a hard worker, honest, a very loving husband and a wonderful father.

I can remember lots and lots of family get togethers when he was in fine form - he was loud, always joking and  very hospitable - to us, his family and especially to any guests.

When his wife - my mother-in-law - became ill, he nursed her for years. I still say, to this day, that she lived as long as she did, after her illness, because of the care and the love that he gave her.

My father-in-law got old - he 'suffered' from old age. It was a time of confusion, pain - both physical and emotional - for everybody. Everything that was done for him was done out of love and concern for his better health.

Our family has lost again. We've lost a very vibrant, engaging personality - a big personality. Yes - it gives us some comfort to rattle off a list of names of people that he has now joined in the afterlife.  But I still feel sad. And you know what? - I think there's enough of a crowd up there now to keep things going for a while.


Rest in peace Dad - I can still call you that, can't I? Say hi to Mum - Silvana xo

My new job

Just before I went home in April to see Phil, I was offered a new position at the high school to start in Term 2, after the Easter holidays. But once I had decided to stay on in Brisbane with Phil, I rang the school to let them know and to tell them that I didn't know when I'd be back. At that time nothing else mattered.

Fast forward to my return to the island and Craig, the principal - my boss - informs me that, if I want it, the job is still there. Yes, OK, I'll give it a go.

So the new term saw me arrive at school, excited, apprehensive, eager, confident, not-so-confident and ready to tackle a new job with a very fancy title - Public Relations Officer for Tagai State College - Thursday Island Secondary Campus.

I love it!!! :-)

I share office space with two gorgeous, mad women - Susie, home economics teacher for TAFE and Zipporah or Zippy, student support officer. While we are busy most of the time - in fact Susie is often not in the office because she's teaching - we do have our fun times and laughs are a-plenty.

My first official duty, after being in the job for only one week, was to be part of the group to meet Governor Penelope Wensley when she came to Tagai College. As you know Governor Penny was on T.I. for the Queensland Music Festival and before she left the Torres Strait she paid a visit to several schools both here and on an outer island. So along with the principal, deputy, schooleaders and cultural representatives, I was privileged to share in a tour of the school and together with her Aide, act as resident papparazzi.

In fact the camera and I are becoming quite close and personal as part of my job is to record both in pictures and words any siginificant event for the school.

On Thursday I gave birth to the school newsletter. While the gestation period was only three weeks it was still a time of being anxious - would it turn out OK? would it have all the right parts? would it look good? and most of all - would others love it as much as it's maker? It's early days yet and like any mother I await the oohs and aahs that will - hopefully - compliment my new baby.

I love my new job for lots of reasons - I love the variety, I love the organising, I'm starting to like the camera and I've learnt a new software program - and that's a big deal for me. But the best thing about my new job is that I am now untilising my writing skills ..... a lot - in newsletters, in radio scripts - and I'm loving it.

Living and working on T.I. is great. I have been given opportunities here that I would never have been given back home. Rob likes to remind me that if not for him I would never have come here - true :-)  But if not for me and my willingness to embrace the island life and give it a go, then coming here would have been a waste of time.

Living and working on T.I. is great and ..... life is good :-)