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Archive for the ‘Community Support’ Category

Vote for the RIHP Rubies Hockey Team!

Friday, September 21st, 2012

The Remote and Indigenous Hockey Program (RIHP) is an initiative in conjunction with Hockey Queensland and Hockey Australia, aimed at creating playing opportunities and development pathways for Indigenous youth in remote Queensland regions. By providing greater support and opportunities to Indigenous players, coaches and umpires, the RIHP is also working towards the goal of getting more Indigenous players in state and national squads.

Photo by Hockey Queensland Sep 6, 2012

The North Queensland Rubies team is a celebration of the work and achievement of the RIHP program. As the first Indigenous hockey team to complete internationally (coming in 3rd at the Singapore Sixes competition) and also receiving a nomination for an international Beyond Sport Award, the North Queensland Rubies have gone from strength to strength.

Australian Women’s Health Magazine have now nominated the RIHP North Queensland Rubies for TEAM OF THE YEAR in their WOMEN AND SPORT FEATURE. We’d like to invite you to get on board and support this great team and initiative.

Please VOTE FOR THE RUBIES HERE

Skytrans are proud to support the transport of RIHP Program staff throughout remote Far North Queensland

Posted in Aurukun, Burketown, Cairns, Cloncurry, Coen, Community Support, Doomadgee, Gulf Region, Karumba, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mornington Island, Mount Isa, Normanton, Northern Peninsula Area, Pormpuraaw (Edward River) | Comments Off

Skytrans increases support of Gulf Savannah Development

Friday, September 21st, 2012

The managing director of Skytrans, Simon Wild, has announced that the airline will increase its in-kind support of Gulf Savannah Development with a two year agreement valued at $14,000 in flights.

Since 2010 Skytrans has supported the organisation with flights equivalent in value to $5000 per year.

Rob Macalister, CEO of Gulf Savannah Development said it is great to see Skytrans coming on board with increased sponsorship that will underpin the future success of its small business service.

“Skytrans support will make it easier to get our business mentors into the field and provide valuable, personal advice. The Gulf Savannah is a region of economic growth and the small business service is helping our business community take advantage of the many opportunities that are emerging in our part of the world.

“Latest ABS statistics show that the Gulf Savannah economy enjoyed strong growth between 2009 and 2011 with the total number of businesses increasing by almost 10 per cent. In addition there was a whopping 89 per cent increase in businesses employing over 20 employees. Similarly, businesses turning over more than $500,000 per annum increased by 33 per cent in the same period,” said Mr Macalister.

According to Mr Macalister the growth phase, in spite of the Global Financial Crisis, was initiated on the back of extensive government investment in Gulf infrastructure that included the replacement of the Einasleigh River bridge, sealing of the Karumba airstrip and various road upgrades.

Mr Wild said he is confident Skytrans increased support will help Gulf Savannah Development in its quest to further develop population and economic growth in the Gulf of Carpentaria and while reinforcing its message that the Gulf Savannah is well and truly ‘open for business’.

“We know the value of doing business face to face, particularly in remote areas – and trust that our provision of flights will go a long way to heightening the success of Gulf Savannah Development’s ‘small business’ initiative,” he said.

Mornington Island Mayor Bradley Wilson, Burke Shire Mayor Ernie Camp, Skytrans’ Steve Jones and Carpentaria Shire Mayor Fred Pascoe at the Gulf Savannah Development Board Meeting in Cairns.

Posted in Announcement, Burketown, Community Support, Doomadgee, Gulf Region, Karumba, Mornington Island, Normanton | Comments Off

Cape United Represent in Mount Isa

Wednesday, September 5th, 2012

On Saturday the 14th of July, a specially selected representative team of players was chosen to represent Cape York in a one-off special rugby league event against a Queensland Outback side at Mount lsa.

With the support of Cape PCYC, the team known as Cape United flew into Cairns from remote communities throughout Far North Queensland for training and team building exercises on the 12th & 13th, before boarding a chartered flight operated by proud sponsor Skytrans to Mount lsa.

The Cape United team, coached by Dave Kennedy bonded well from the start and morale was high prior to the big game, despite the chilly weather! The players and coaching staff also enjoyed watching the Northern Pride defeat the Souths Logan Magpies in a great game and were particularly thrilled that such a high profile game would be played as a “curtain raiser” to their own event.

Unfortunately for the Cape United team, they were not strong enough to come away with a win, going down to the Queensland Outback side in a whitewash finish.

They were able to find satisfaction in the experience however, through realising where the bar was set for them to compete at that level again. Each player left Mount Isa with a commitment and a strong resolve to train harder and improve their game so they can turn the tables next year.

Article & photo courtesy of Glenn Dennis, CAPE PCYC – Kowanyama

Posted in Aurukun, Coen, Community Support, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mount Isa, Pormpuraaw (Edward River) | Comments Off

Skytrans Provides Lift for Frontier Services

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

The Managing Director of Skytrans, Simon Wild announced today details of a community partnership with Frontier Services that will strengthen the provider’s network of services and care delivered to remote families across Queensland.

Under the partnership, Skytrans will provide Frontier Services’ staff with flights to remote locations across Queensland to enable the provision of vital services; particularly children’s services for young families and health care in remote communities.

“Skytrans operates to some of Queensland’s most isolated and remote communities and understands

the challenges that people in these communities face on a daily basis, in terms of quality of life. Through our partnership with Frontier Services we feel that we are making a contribution that offers people access to a service that provides social and emotional support to those in need,” he said.

According to Frontier Services Regional Manager, Karen Harvey, the partnership will assist child care workers with the Frontier Services Remote Family Care Service to reach isolated families and provide relief child care for up to three weeks a year.

The Remote Family Care Service works alongside the Frontier Services Remote Area Families Service (RAFS). FiveRAFS teams of trained early childhood specialists travel out to remote properties and communities in four-wheel-drive vehicles, jam-packed with educational toys and activities for the children. They also provide resources, advice and support to the parents.

Frontier Services also has two health care services in Queensland; the Savannah Regional Health Service and the Bollon Bush Nursing Centre. The Savannah Regional Health Service, based out of Georgetown, played an active role in helping the community recover from Cyclone Yasi.

Ms Harvey said that in effect, “The families, who are a long way from mainstream child care services, can access the service when they need it most, for example during shearing, mustering or hardship.

“Being able to access the flights to get our child care workers around the state will make a huge difference. It will give us more flexibility to respond to a family’s request, particularly if there is an urgent need. It will also greatly reduce travel time for the child care workers, many of whom are on the road for weeks at a time.

“We are delighted to begin this partnership with Skytrans that will strengthen the whole region as we work together to support remote Queensland,” she said.

Pictured:

John Dickinson, Frontier Services National Development Manager with Skytrans Managing Director Simon Wild.

Karen Harvey, Frontier Service QLD Regional Manager; Anna Burley, Frontier Services Primary Health Care Nurse & Team Leader of the Savannah Regional Health Service; Steve Jones, Skytrans Commercial Manager of RPT Services; Billy Gordon, Skytrans Community Development Manager.

Posted in Announcement, Aurukun, Bedourie, Birdsville, Boulia, Brisbane, Burketown, Cairns, Charleville, Cloncurry, Coen, Community Support, Cunnamulla, Doomadgee, Gulf Region, Karumba, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mornington Island, Mount Isa, Normanton, Northern Peninsula Area, Pormpuraaw (Edward River), Quilpie, St George, Sydney, Thargomindah, Toowoomba, Western 1, Western 2, Windorah | Comments Off

Windorah Sports Camp in it’s 22nd year!

Friday, August 24th, 2012

The annual Windorah Sports Camp was held from 18 to 22 June. This camp proves an opportunity for outback primary school children to receive specialised instruction from professional sports coaches. Skytrans has been involved for the last three years in providing travel, free of charge, for these coaches to Windorah.

This is the 22^nd year for the camp which had its inception in 1992. The camp enables hundreds of students in Western Queensland the chance to develop their physical, social and personal skills. Rural and remote schools often experience difficulty in gaining regular access to specialist physical education teachers as well as the hardships experienced when teaching team sports to a school with low enrolment numbers and children spanning every primary school year level!

Professional, accredited coaches were sourced to provide the best possible coaching and included baseball, athletics, touch football, cricket, gymnastics and tennis for the 2012 camp. The coaches came on the Skytrans flight from Brisbane to Windorah for the week long camp.

Ninety-two students were in attendance ranging in age from 5 to 13 years, with participants travelling up to 500 km to attend the camp. Students came from Windorah, Jundah, Stonehenge, Bedourie, Birdsville, Isisford, Muttaburra, Jericho, Mount Isa, Longreach and Charleville Schools of Distant Education.

The camp continues to provide students with valuable educational and social experiences, irrespective of the tyrannyof distance and geographic isolation.

Posted in Community Support, Western 2, Windorah | Comments Off

“Hey Brother”

Thursday, August 23rd, 2012

Alwyn Owens and Rod Lucas have combined their talents to bring us the children’s book, “Hey Brother””. This quirky rhythmic story celebrates the universal themes of mateship & fishing, with a lively local feel.

Author Alwyn Owens grew up in his home town of Croydon, with both his parents of the Takalak tribe from around the Croydon area. He has a bachelor degree in Adult Education from the University of Technology in Sydney & and an Advanced Diploma in Community Management from the Macquarie University in Sydney. Alwyn now resides in Normanton, and has taken an interest in writing children’s stories and poetry.

Illustrator Rod Lucas grew up in Gulf country where his father worked on cattle stations. He now resides in Karumba where he is a respected artist, painting on canvases, murals and writing & illustrating books.

If you’d like to get a copy of “Hey Brother” and support local Indigenous talent, you can purchase a copy online from Black Ink Press.

http://www.blackinkpress.com.au/?page_id=735&category=13&product_id=73

Posted in Community Support, Gulf Region, Karumba, Normanton | Comments Off

Rodeo Fever Hits Mount Isa

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

Skytrans has been a major supporter of the Xstrata Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo for some time now and the event continues to go from strength to strength.

The rodeo is the largest event of its type in the southern hemisphere with approximately 20,000 people attending the three day event.

The Isa Rodeo Festival is one of the highlights of the outback Queensland events calendar – packed full of world class rodeo action, live music, Mardi Gras, Queens Quest, Brophy’s Boxing Troupe, markets, sideshow alley, Rodeo Ball, Mailman Express, Bush Poets Breakfast, Best Dressed Premises Awards and more!

The Xstrata Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo draws tourists and participants from all over the world, attracting much welcome tourism opportunities and dollars into the local economy. Skytrans continues to support the event and contribute to its growth and benefit to the North West community.

The Mount Isa Rodeo is held over the second weekend of August each year. Make a note in your calendar for August 2013, it will be bigger than ever and Skytrans will be there again.

Pictured Above:

Christopher Palmer Skytrans Sales Manager, Martha De Best Xtrata Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo Charity Queen, Colin Jackson Editor at Large of Blues Country Magazine, Steve Jones Skytrans Commercial Manager & Andrew Dineen Project Manager Parker Travel Colleciton.
Steve Jones & Andrew Dineen with Rodeo Mascott ‘Chainsaw’

Posted in Community Support, Mount Isa | Comments Off

Mud soaked stars of the NPA

Monday, August 20th, 2012

If there is one thing that is sure to bring the communities of the NPA together, it’s the promise of drivers throwing their four wheel drives into the squelching depths of the mud rally track. One of the main highlights of the NPA Show in August, their latest mud rally didn’t disappoint.

At a first glance, the course might seem simple enough, with a few crests, turns and straights– but after being soaked overnight and topped up with bubbling muddy water, the hidden track is a test of four wheel drive capabilities, driver concentration and most importantly; a total disregard for the final state of your vehicle.

Open to locals and tourists alike, each competitor did their best at emptying the track, with wings of muddy water flying from the spinning wheels. There was no telling anyone apart once they reached the finish line, each returning with skin stained the colour of deep red mud. Local driver Alfred Nona offered his mud veteran vehicle Yellow Marn, to any drivers willing to take on the track, saying “it’s just a pig hunting vehicle now,” as he watched his vehicle trump the course over and over again with a muddy grin.

As each vehicle assaulted the track, storms of mud flew from their take off at the starting line, covering NPARC officials and emergency servicemen with red freckles, as they stood watching with baited breath. In an arena where drivers push their vehicles to the limit, drowning engines and losing doors and wheels over the hidden bumps and pot holes, it seems amazing there was only one roll over. Though not even a quick dunk in the muddy water dampened spirits, as emergency vehicles rushed to the horizontal car, the driver and passengers were already standing on the roof having a giggle at their newly acquired face paint.

After a day of heats and another round for the finals, the winners were surely in need of a swim and some true rest and relaxation, looking forward to enjoying the first prize, a return trip for two to Cairns, donated by Mud Rally sponsor, Skytrans.

In the wake of another fantastic show thanks must go to this year’s generous sponsors; Northern Peninsula Regional Council (NPARC), QLD Government Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), Sea Swift and Skytrans, as well as our supporters QLD Ambulance, QLD Police, NPA Rural Fire Brigade and Emergency Services, Torres News and the vibrant entrants and supporters of the NPA Communities.

Article & Photos Courtesy of Jessica Saxton, NPARC Media Officer

Posted in Community Support, Northern Peninsula Area | Comments Off

“Deadly Story” Justin Lee-Walker

Friday, August 17th, 2012

Justin Lee-Walker is a softly spoken man who has for many years understood the importance of maintaining culture and looking after Country.

Born in Mareeba in 1978 Justin grew up in Coen as a young lad with his mother’s family.

As a Wik-Mungkan man, Justin has lived and worked at Merapah Station, which is an outstation north west of Coen.

It was here, through the mentoring of his grandfather, that he learnt the teachings of culture, language, dance and the importance of being a warrior.

Justin is an Information and Inspection Officer with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries at Biosecurity Queensland, where he helps the government’s effort to prevent, respond to, and recover from pests and disease that threaten the economy and environment.

Where were you born?

I was born in Mareeba in 1978 and my traditional country is Wik-Mungkan in the Merapah area.

What have been some of your biggest achievements?

My biggest achievement is learning my culture, language and song from my grandfather and learning the knowledge of looking after country.

I am a medicine man and a warrior, something that I take seriously and something that is close to my heart.

Who have been your biggest influences in your life?

My grandfather taught me my culture, language, song and dance and he has been the biggest influence in my life.

He has been my mentor and role model and when some of my family passed away I realised that I needed to go back out bush and listen to the spirits and the old people (Ancestors) for direction in my life.

What are your plans for the future?

I have been working with Biosecurity Queensland (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) for seven years and I would like to stay there for a few more years, but ultimately I want to take my cousins and grandsons out to country and teach them their culture and show them their future.

What advice do you have to help our young people succeed in life?

My hopes for the younger kids is to make sure that they speak their language and learn their culture, whether it be through shake-a-leg (dance), songs, fishing or cultural stories.

For me, it’s about raising them to be warriors.

The deadly stories campaign celebrates the many achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their communities.

What’s your Deadly Story?

Check out other Deadly Story’s at www.reconciliation.qld.gov.au/reconciliation/deadly-stories

Posted in Coen, Community Support | Comments Off

Skytrans Take Pride Holiday Clinic

Monday, August 6th, 2012

Junior Rugby League players from throughout the Gulf and Cape regions joined their city slicker cousins when the Skytrans Take Pride Holiday Clinic got underway in Cairns in early July.

Now in its fourth year, the Holiday Clinic is hosted by the Take Pride Program and features Northern Pride players and coaching staff passing on the lessons which have helped the Pride become heavyweights of the Intrust Super Cup competition.

Held at Barlow Park in Cairns, Skytrans provided the flights which allowed 12 players from the remote communities of Mt Isa, Mornington Island, Northern Peninsula Area, Aurukun & Pormpuraaw to join the Cairns based players tolearn a range of skills from their illustrious coaching staff.

Held over three days, the Clinic hosts players from 5 years of age to 14, with all participants receiving a football, kicking tee, t-shirt, hat, water bottle and boot bag, while learning all the secrets of becoming a great footballer.