Bamaga Enterprises Ltd (BEL) would like to congratulate all the successful candidates in the recent Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) local government elections, who were officially appointed at a ceremony on 21 April 2020.

Mayor Patricia Yusia

Patricia Yusia becomes the first female Mayor of NPA Regional Council (NPARC) and the five community Councils preceding the amalgamated Council dating back to 1947.

Mayor Yusia is a founding member and Treasurer of NPA Family and Community Services ATSI Corporation (NPAFACS) and has been integral in advocating for the needs of the NPA’s Women’s Shelter.

“I always remind our people that nobody is going to do it for us because we’re such a small population; we’ve got to do it ourselves,” Mayor Yusia says on her website.

With a strong foundation in her own education, holding diplomas and a degree, she has been instrumental in establishing eight licenced child care centres in the area, which has seen rates of family violence significantly decline, according to Mayor Yusia.

As a Director of Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), Mayor Yusia views National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Day as a priority for the community during NAIDOC week.

Mayor Yusia was also previously Executive Director for Queensland Health and was part of the campaign to successfully establish a new hospital in Bamaga in 1999.

Robert Poi Poi, BEL Chairperson, says Mayor Yusia is a business woman in her own right. “She knows from first-hand experience the difficulties that businesses and contractors have previously experienced in securing leases and contracts from Council. As a former BEL director, she also understands our organisation and how we can work with Council to contribute to the development of our community and region.”

Patricia Yusia becomes the first female Mayor of NPA Regional Council (NPARC).

Deputy Mayor Kitty Gebadi

Kitty Gebadi was elected as NPA Division 3 (Bamaga) Councillor and subsequently as Deputy Mayor. Ms Gebadi has a strong presence in the community, having worked with NPAFACS and Bamagau Kazil TSI Corp.

Mr Poi Poi says he looks forward to sitting down with the Mayor and Councillor Gebadi for a fresh approach to resolving long outstanding lease issues. BEL hopes projects that have been on hold can soon be brought to fruition, including an office/retail shopfront building; the expansion of BP Bamaga including a car wash; new staff accommodation units; and constructing 15 budget, motel-style accommodation units behind Bamaga Tavern.

“On behalf of Bamaga Enterprises Ltd, I’d like to congratulate Ms Gebadi and we look forward to working closely with her on issues that are essential to the community’s economic and business development.”

At time of printing, both Mayor Yusia and Councillor Gebadi were busy familiarising themselves with their new roles, protocols and liaising with Council executives. Councillor Gebadi aims to participate in an interview and profile for the next edition of The BEL Bulletin.

BEL has applied to the Growing Indigenous Tourism in Queensland Fund to undertake a feasibility study into a new centre showcasing Indigenous culture.

The proposed establishment of an Indigenous Cultural Experience Centre at Cape York Peninsula Lodge would aim to create a ‘taste and see’ experience for tour groups, independent travellers and Lodge guests.

Some of the ideas flagged include an enhanced stage featuring a backdrop of video footage and special lighting effects to create an immersive performance environment. This would enable local and visiting dance groups to add extra dimensions and professionalism to their traditional dance performances. The audience would be invited to join the dancers on stage to learn the steps, similar to the interaction at New Zealand Maori cultural performances where visitors are shown how to perform the Haka.

The Centre would provide for increased performances by local dance groups such as Naygayiw and Gubu Markai in Bamaga, Zugubaw Thithuyil in Seisia and the Injinoo Aboriginal dance troupe.

The proposed centre would also house a historical display of Bamaga and the settlement of Torres Strait Islanders with photos and artefacacts.