Seven aspiring Rugby League stars returned to the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) with their heads held high in September, after competing against some of the best Under 16s players Queensland has to offer.

The Zei Balas team featured seven NPA players

With a sporting sponsorship of $3,500 from Bamaga Enterprises Ltd (BEL), Jyren Whap, Maco Williams, Asuelu Babia, Owen Babia, Oki Namai, Solomon Woosup and Frank Ropeyarn played off in the Under 16 Arthur Beetson Foundation (ABF) Murri Carnival in Brisbane.

“The team played every game in good spirits, putting in 100% effort, regardless of winning or losing,” Kelly Jackson, Team Manager, said.

“This was evident throughout the carnival and many different people asked where we were from; our team’s bond, cheerful nature, and overall attitude were infectious and on show for all to witness.”

The ABF is dedicated to improving health, education, and employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through sport, particularly Rugby League, which led to the ABF Murri Carnival being formed.

“The boys’ side consisted of players from different regions across Queensland and they stayed together at Anglican Church Grammar School, giving them the opportunity to form friendships and bonds with kids from across the state they wouldn’t usually meet,” Mabelene Whap, Jyren’s mother said.

“For a lot of these boys it was the first time they had the chance to compete in a strong competition located outside the NPA.

“The carnival was also an opportunity to open the boys’ minds up to a number of different opportunities that exist beyond a remote community and show them what it takes to chase a career in elite sports.”

The event took place at the South Pine Sporting complex in a round-robin-style format with teams playing off against each other across three days from 21-24 September. Emil Jawai, a previous NPA resident who now attends school in East Brisbane, formed the team along with classmate Kye Boland, known as the “Zei Balas”.

The Zei Balas team in action

Ms Jackson said team Zei Balas played amazingly well throughout the carnival.

“While we would’ve liked some results to be better, we are better for the experience. Unfortunately, our side was depleted through COVID-related circumstances. However, the young men from the NPA stood up when this challenge was thrown at us,” Ms Jackson said.

Elders and seniors gathered for a tasty luncheon at Bamaga Tavern hosted by Home and Community Care (HACC) Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) to celebrate Queensland Seniors Week. BEL sponsored $900 to cover the costs of the meals and provided the venue for the gathering.

Celebrating Seniors Week at Bamaga Tavern

The NPA Regional Council administers the HACC program providing carers, meals on wheels and a respite centre for the aged and people with a disability throughout all five community areas in the municipality.

“It was great to see so many people come together to help celebrate an important occasion,” Damien Elu, Acting Coordinator of HACC, said.

Seniors Week aims to improve community attitudes towards growing old, facilitate community participation and activity by older people – including those from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds – and enhance community connections and intergenerational relationships.

“We are incredibly grateful for all the meals provided by BEL and would like to say a massive thank you for helping us put together a tremendous event.”

A group of 12 boys are benefiting from a Youth and Education Program organised by Queensland Police Service and Blue EDGE Programs, which runs twice a week between 14 October to 10 December.

The program allows the boys to participate in a range of sports while also taking part in educational activities.

“The aim of the program is to get a group of young boys to form friendships and inform them about the importance of attending school and receiving an education,” QLD Police Youth and Education Program organiser, Rae Andrew, said.

Boxing is one of the many activities the boys have tried

“We also sit down with them each week and have a chat about respecting each other and help them with life skills.”

The boys have also been exposed to a variety of different sports throughout the program with a consistently high attendance rate.

“We’ve done boxing, we have taken them to the swimming pool and we plan to go fishing as well,” Ms Andrew said.

“I wasn’t sure how the boys would go, but they have all been really committed and we’ve had nearly all the boys attend each session.”

Breakfast is supplied free of charge to the boys each morning by BP Bamaga, thanks to a $1,800 sponsorship from BEL.

“We would like to say a massive thank you; we don’t get much funding for programs like this, so to have BEL sponsor it means so much,” Ms Andrew said.