Latest news with #Yarrabah
News.com.au
6 days ago
- News.com.au
Beloved 5m croc ‘Big John' found decapitated in net in Queensland
A beloved five-metre saltwater crocodile known as 'Big John' has been found decapitated and entangled in a net in Far North Queensland, prompting an investigation by wildlife authorities as the community mourns the 'devastating' loss. Big John, who measured between four to five metres long and was distinguishable by his missing tail tip, was found dead in a fishing net in Yarrabah Bay, a remote community a 55km drive from Cairns, on July 30. The local legend – that had been monitored by Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji (GMY) Rangers for over four years – was affectionately referred to as the 'Crocodile Casanova of Buddbadoo' as he was often seen basking in the sun with three female crocodiles in the Buddabadoo (Yarrabah) creek system. The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) told it was investigating the matter. 'Anyone with information can provide it anonymously by calling 1300 130 372 or by completing a wildlife complaint form via the DETSI website,' it said. In Queensland, possessing crocodile body parts without a permit is illegal and the maximum penalty for illegally killing an estuarine crocodile is $37,552. A Gunggandji Aboriginal Corporation spokeswoman told the Cairns Post it was assisting DETSI with the investigation, noting the crocodile had not become entangled in an abandoned net. 'We can confirm the net wasn't a ghost net,' she said. Gunggandji Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) announced Big John's death in heartfelt post on social media last week, paying tribute to the 'Icon of Buddabadoo'. 'With heavy hearts, we share the loss of an ancient and iconic presence — Big John, the saltwater crocodile who has watched over Buddabadoo for many years,' the post read. 'Big John was more than a crocodile. He was a guardian of our waterways, a link to our ancestral knowledge, and a living reminder of why we protect and care for our land and sea country.' 'Words can't express the sadness we feel at his passing,' GAC added, sharing a poem about the crocodile. Other locals expressed sadness over the shock death, suggesting the croc should be honoured in a statue or children's book. 'Very sad, should put a statue or monument in honour of the big fella down there … Sorry for your loss rangers,' one person wrote. 'Sorry guys for your loss, what a legend Big John was,' said another. 'A devastating loss. GMY should make a book about Big John … a kids book with that beautiful poem at the heart and a story of legacy, icons and Country,' another suggested. Car runs over crocodile at infamous crossing The investigation comes after horrifying footage went viral last week of a ute driving over a crocodile at an infamous crocodile-infested river crossing in the Northern Territory. In the footage, a black ute could be seen making its way through Cahill's Crossing when a large crocodile surfaced from underneath its back wheel. The reptile appeared to be stuck as it is dragged by the car, with its mouth hanging agape. Sensing something was wrong, the ute then attempted to reverse, freeing the animal from underneath its wheels before placing the car in drive and running over the lower half of its body again. Matteo Mastratisi, who captured the wild moment on video, told that it was 'definitely unintentional.' 'It wasn't the driver's fault. You couldn't see the croc until he went over it and he couldn't stop the car in the middle of the crossing either,' he said. Mr Mastratisi believed the got away largely unscathed. Situated within the Kakadu National Park, the river is home to over 10,000 known crocodiles. According to the park's website, there are around five to nine crocs per kilometre. Weighing in on the viral incident, Calare MP Andrew Gee asked Maverick MP Bob Katter if Australia should feel sympathy for the crocodile, in a sit down video shared on social media over the weekend. 'I have to say Bob, I felt sympathy for the croc and I was glad to see the croc swim away from ute,' Mr Gee said, before asking Mr Katter if the nation should feel the same. 'I think that you people are sympathetic to crocodiles,' Mr Katter replied. 'I strongly advocate and I think everyone respects your affection and I think you should get close to crocodiles, you know a lot closer to crocodiles,' he said cheekily with a pause and a grin. Mr Gee asked: 'So I think from all of that, we've worked out Bob that it is OK to have sympathy for the croc?' 'If you're with them,' he said. 'You know, I love my dog and I put my arm around him and that sort of thing and you know, if you love crocodiles, I think you should do that sort of thing,' he replied with a smile, before breaking out into song. 'Never smile at a crocodile,' he sang.
ABC News
08-07-2025
- General
- ABC News
Literacy for Life program tackles low literacy rates among Aboriginal adults
Having left school about 30 years ago without the reading and writing skills many Australians take for granted, Alton Sands's future did not appear to lie in a classroom. But at 45, he takes a seat each week alongside dozens of other adults in his home community of Yarrabah, all determined to pick up the literacy skills they missed out on when they were younger. "It was pretty complicated and hard," Mr Sands said. Yarrabah, about an hour from Cairns, is one of the nation's largest Indigenous communities. It has also become fertile ground for Literacy for Life, an Aboriginal-led program that has helped more than 500 adults nationwide achieve functional literacy. As one of its graduates, Mr Sands intends to return for another term and is encouraging relatives and friends to join him. But he said many might be reluctant to acknowledge their literacy limitations. "I tried to tell them, break that shameness, that barrier in front of you," Mr Sands said. The Literacy for Life Foundation estimates between 40 and 70 per cent of Aboriginal adults have low English language literacy, a figure that is up to 90 per cent in some remote communities. The foundation's executive director, Jack Beetson, said it was a real problem. "We've got whole households that can't even read the dosage on a Panadol packet," Professor Beetson said. "Yet our households are also the households that are home to more chronic disease than any other section of our community. "Imagine being in a household where you've got sick children, sick adults and sick grandparents all at the same time and all of those medicine doses are committed to memory. The program — based on a Cuban model called Yo, Sí Puedo (Yes, I Can) — began at Wilcannia in Far West New South Wales in 2013. The concept involves having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander locals delivering course content in a way that is tailored to the community. Dwayne Street's life turnaround began when he took the program as a student. The 49-year-old has since gone on to deliver the course to people like Mr Sands. "I'm pretty blessful that I got the opportunity to teach my mob, and hopefully, this will spread right around Australia," Mr Street said. The Yarrabah local admitted he found the classroom environment "pretty challenging" at first. "But as we went on, I got used to it," he said. Some adult literacy learners take the plunge back into the classroom to improve their job prospects. Many are doing it for their children, including Mr Sands, who wants to set an example for his 12-year-old daughter Livvy. Ashleigh Richards, 26, and her partner Lex Costello graduated in Yarrabah just two weeks after the birth of their third child. "When I was at school, I was down in Rockhampton, with hardly no-one I knew." The couple wanted to improve their literacy to read to their children and help them with their studies. Literacy for Life Foundation director Wendy Ludwig said people who reached adulthood without basic literacy skills often developed coping mechanisms, such as taking forms home to be filled out. "It's very difficult for people, after having developed those skills and strategies … to then say, 'I actually need help and I want to learn how to do it myself,'" Dr Ludwig said. In 2013, the foundation estimated it would cost $1.3 billion over 10 to 15 years to eradicate functional illiteracy in Indigenous communities. But over the past decade, it has run on a "piecemeal" basis in different communities where funding becomes available. Literacy for Life has recently secured federal funding to continue for another four years in Yarrabah, and to expand to Cairns, Mossman and Mapoon in Far North Queensland. Despite boasting a course completion rate of 59 per cent — much higher than mainstream government-funded initiatives for First Nations adults — it has never secured long-term funding to expand more broadly. Dr Ludwig said changes were needed at school level too, such as a shift toward teaching Indigenous students English as a second language, instead of framing them as "bad speakers" of English. "I think that is a really fundamental part of some of the challenges for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids in schools," she said.
SBS Australia
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Gunggandji: Growing language with the next generation
The young people in Yarrabah do embrace language. I think they get very excited because it's taught in the schools. When they finish school and they're walking out the gate, they're singing, head, shoulders, knees and toes in language. They're coming home, they're sharing these language stories and name with their parents, with their families. Lenise Harry Hosts: Donnie Johannesen and Alden Lyall Supervising Producer: Donnie Johannesen Producer: Alden Lyall Additional Production: Mandy Coolen SBS Team: Kerri-Lee Barry, Joel Supple, Max Gosford, Bernadette Phương Nam Nguyễn
