Elders - Rain, Roads and No Voice

Elders - Rain, Roads and No Voice ===

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Put it, put it down here. No, I don't. You hungry then? No. I had something just not long ago. Thank you.

You wanna start or what? Yeah, we can. Yeah, I'm just introducing them here. I yesterday and you coming down. Um, so you want go around and name? I'm ready. I'm sin.

I'm part of this group.

Ya.

I, Frank, Ben, and Frank. Hey, Frank, Ben, [00:01:00] you we? Yeah. We met Elsa. Elsa.

Um, thanks so much for having me. It's awesome that you made the effort to come and see me. Um, I've been yarding with Rachel Atkinson, um, for a little bit about what his, what a story, what his stories from Palm Oil. And I travel around Australia very luckily, and get to tell stories around lots of places.

So, um, especially, uh, Caron Country. I get to spend lots of time there. Aunt Mount Isa. Alice Springs there and um, bit further north, up 10 Creek sort of area, and then spent a lot of time on ring bars, drag island, um, hanging out with the elders justice group there. Um, so yeah, and I, I used to travel around, um, you know, orange sky.

Yeah. [00:02:00] So I used to work there a while ago and I used to come around Australia and tell stories with people who used the van. Um. So, yeah, Rachel asked if I could come over and the main focus is, um, just having a, an understanding about what it was like when that recent storm hit the island and what was the effect on the community.

And just like we really look at just like, what's the story that comes out of that? Um, because I think it's probably a small part of a much broader project. Of, of telling stories about what's happening on Palm Island and like, I've been here, I've been here four days now, just sort of hanging around, um, different places, you know, with people.

And I think the thing I, I start to realize is there's, um, like there's a lot happening here and there's a lot of activity and there's a lot of stories that [00:03:00] I'd, I'd love to help. Um. Show the rest of Australia, um mm-hmm. What happens here and, um, more of the nuance stuff. Like, it's not just about like a couple of nice photos and like a couple of people.

I think it's everything. Um, so today, yeah. Today I just wanted to have a yarn about how the storm affected, um, you, your, you, you yourself, but then also just anything else. I think that, um. Do you think is important to talk about? Um, because we're gonna make something, maybe it looks like a, a book or some type of magazine or some type of reflection.

Yep. So there'll be photos and reflections and news articles and stuff in there. And then I was gonna try and work with some of the young, young people and think about what's something that we could maybe. Build or do together as a memory type thing, uh, as [00:04:00] well. Maybe we could do a little like joint, like young people, elders type project.

Uh, as part of that want start, who wants to start, start, um, what, how, um, the storm, what storms John's profile. The recent one that had the blackout and some of the landslides and the big Oh, okay.

Into Ralph Yard. When was this? The big, ah, January. January, February. February. Yep. You know, the big, all the rain come and it was here for a couple of months, a month or so. That poured down rain, you know. What [00:05:00] happened to your, oh, what happened to your place and what happened to your yard? You get flooded out down there.

Blew rain over. Sold. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, you had, um, black hats. No electricity. Nice. Use your right hand. You was in? Same Mary. We had black out. When was this? Come on. Come January. February. January. February. Much too months. Beginning of the year. Beginning of the year came down. It all covered Queensland around, remember?

Was putting them in the bedroom. You remember I stopped up near the creek where Kitchen of lies. So what happened to my house was the rain pump. I had three pumps in on the house, so I had to get them removed. Mm-hmm. Water came through the roof into my first bedroom. It, the store clothes [00:06:00] and stuff. Uh, each my lighting, I'm still getting lighting and everything fixed as we speak.

I've just had the fans be done. Switches just flow. Quarters in the electricity car. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Um, quite went up there because I, I'm right near that little free tank. Mm-hmm. Mm. So I have a few things. My clothes line is not thing I'm still waiting for repairs. Mm-hmm. And bits and pieces to go through.

So yeah, we lost out on clothes, food, um. And those electricity things started happening. Life by life just went out and water through, so they had to repair the roof. They haven't done it properly yet. So,

and what, what was the, um, the. Did people know what was going on? Could you, like, was there ways in which that people, the community was communicating with you?[00:07:00]

But my place, um, I, we got tower out there for a couple days or so. This is, well, we got a generator. We use that for our fridge and everything like that. Even though some stuff did go off long as I, my heat. But yeah, my yard is, could flood. Flood because I live like little slope down. I at the airport is in my backyard and water just comes through off the roads and that and just comes in in front my front.

A lot of standing on my driveway and bon get washed away because it, it didn't stop all was, and that's why you got Black mar and certain everyth [00:08:00] there, but by my backyard is all flat and that, but um, yeah, we, we was all right, but, um, electricity in that foot, uh, a generator, you know, that's what a lot of people should invest in generator for their own fisherman power that go off for a couple of days or so.

And that. So, yeah, so you know, we couldn't move anywhere because too much rain. T heavy, heavy. Heavy. Yeah. Much rain. I saw it was stressing because I was on my own up there too, and the farm trees would've been higher than the house. And I think it was early as the Sunday morning. I just heard a, I'm thinking what's going?

It was Sunday morning, I realized the three of them were sitting on my roof. So lucky they didn't crash. I, it would've come right through my front room. Mm. That caused me a bit of stress because I was on my own. I lost a washing machine. I lost the fridge as well, instead sitting on my grinder. Um, there's lot things that outwards, so it did cause stress.

You [00:09:00] know, I think that big factor too was for Palm was 'cause, um. Transportation, you know, there's floods, transport, and Yeah, food. We didn't have the bar, the flood bar, all the things coming the whole week. I think that was the biggest factor for us. More than a week, was, had waste of the fabric here, hang on, we to get, um, groceries and things, but you know, it is on a low line coast along the two lane and so.

GaN being photo from both sides. Yeah. GaN from side to side, you know, nothing could get through. And so, um, all bridge was washed out, you know, and um, that's the thing there. So we had to rely on the planes had been toughened that over, but then the phones stopped. Yeah. Because it raining just too much and heavy, eh?

[00:10:00] Um, yeah. Got the one store too. See, so that a lot of people. By the time we get in there, there's hardly nothing on the shelves too. It's here and here gon came. And the ry from the, yeah. Yes. It was an emergency because, um, there's a landslide down at the point. You may have seen that on the Yeah. And that's how that took that pole and.

Caroline too,

and maybe we back. Yeah.

Frying up and one

over. Yes. Right. I think people [00:11:00] were just getting frustrated, you know? I mean, we have limited resources in community. It's just not fun. Especially those with little children too, you know? Yeah. I mean, us as big ones, you probably can't survive need anything. The little ones too, they need their daily necessities and Mm, and it's just.

And it did start to stress out community members that, eh, it started to get to everybody. Mm. The council picked ing fresh water, water bottle. Mm. Water bottle water and foods, you know. Yeah. They took that, um, that was the workers and that milk, um, water.

And there was the big bottles, you know, the, the liter bottles. Um, yeah, [00:12:00] partner. Know that in those, given that two box each, depending on what side of the families. So, you know, we've got, uh, I was lucky going around basketball court, um, when they had there one doctor, so, and Denise missed that, but now what's his name?

Jar when took one up. Yeah, to, um, thinking that was at, they supp supply a lot of water bottle, some things quite household everywhere on palm and which was really good. Um, it was the water then at this stage probably, um, started to taste rust or something. Yeah, yeah. And some pipes and that and things, so, yeah.

You know, so that's. Happens around the, uh, Buffalo Bay isn, that as long as the planes came in, um, when it's sort of, excuse me, sorry. Got a drink.[00:13:00]

Goodness.

Was that, oh no. Someone gotta get in with the key. And was there things that you think could need to get better for that type? If there's another one? Do you think there's things that you learned or found out that there needs to change to get better prepared for Storm that prepared? Eh, we we're all right here doesn't necessarily front, we should more go to the ocean.

Yeah. Like just on the main area. We're surprised. Not coming. That's why Then they had, they moved from Ham, Lucinda, they had the town to some stuff over the barge itself. But that was another, um, thing for Palms was [00:14:00] that the man's barges went to, um, Townsville, drove there and then came, um, to Palm, um, supplies and things.

Mm-hmm. So, which is good. You know, they work closely with council and the people know 'em too, you know, so, um, for, um, um, yeah. Yeah. So most of the people, some I know that we missed out on water. Mm-hmm. You know what I mean? Yeah. They didn't come down to our area. Yeah. I didn't get any, I didn't get any. Right.

Because getting everybody up. Because that water was flooded there too. It was flooded where they rocking everywhere. And that creek there where Allen and Uri is, you know that was flooded over. Yeah, it was. Yeah. Really even the rodeos around, eh? Mm-hmm. You flooded. [00:15:00] Um, that's why you. You up on the ward, but you on the ward?

No. I reckon that during them flood times and them times too, you know, you go the store, they know what situation Palm Island community is in and the pricess are just overboard, you know? Yeah. It, it's terrible. Ridiculous. 'cause we, that's the only store, but pricing you pay, eh? Mm. There's nowhere to lie.

Killed you. I mean, you can go in there with a hundred dollars and what you get, so with one bag come out, not even that. Probably five items. So that takes that much break. Yeah, they do. Do, do you know who, who runs the barge? Who owns to, I don't know who, who's council? Council or [00:16:00] Lucinda? No, Luc had a woman named Monica.

Mm-hmm. But it's, it's Lucinda, isn't it? Oh yeah, it's Lucinda. We're not quite sure what the arrangements are between the council and the barge, but Lucinda, it's called Lucinda Barge, but they not Palm Island when you ring it up. So we're not sure. Is that service? Yeah, yeah. We don't know Actually, Karen run money.

Is it Karen? Yeah, the back here. Oh yeah. Chris is jumping the boss. Yeah.

Yeah. David. Yeah.

For that staff party for.

She comes over, give me, um,[00:17:00]

and see when, when you have them storms too. You've got hospital staff here, like on the pharmacy medication that does affect people to go and get medication too. Yeah. You know, because they can't get back on the island. So that's another risk factor. That one. Yeah. They should have a backup person. Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. Or train someone up. And what's the difference between the health center and the hospital? Is that two different types of service or, uh, it helps us to be community

hospital doctors and nurse come in and when. So[00:18:00]

what have you got? A couple band or I clinic. Oh yeah. Right. Okay. It's like cars and s Yeah. When they used to have medical centers. Yeah. And can I ask what, like what's the. As elders, what's the sort of role when it comes to that type of thing? Is it a, you have a voice as a part of this or what's the, what do you think your role is in when there's emergencies or, that's a good question because I, I think we should have a role there too in some areas.

Um. But I feel that we don't get invited. Eh? No, we don't. They don't include any of our, the elders committee to any, those type of things. Mm-hmm. You know, that's why when they have [00:19:00] engagement date or, or certain days, you can go into it, you cannot say anything. That's the problem. Council. Yeah. You, you got something to say.

You can't say it. They'll stop you right there then and get advice from the elders. Is that right? But they're not doing Oh, well. And engage grace for people to get the ideas of what they are about. Yeah. They say, you go and they sit down. You can't open your mouth off from what they say. You might reject what they're saying and they don't want that.

See. Them in the faces. It, that's, so usually I sit there, they be white and just walk out that thing. So you cannot go on there and say, oh, this, this done. A lot of people does wave on about certain things that's happening with them themselves. And, and [00:20:00] I'm saying, well, why have, um, engagement day when you can't speak your mind on the, on the day, you everything, is that, is that here on farm or.

Ah, wait. Engagement day. Oh yeah, yeah. Account. Yeah. You know that woman down the road? I think so.

And closed.

You put your name down out in community, be out. You gotta put your name down to Yeah, it's wrong. You gotta put your name down. Like, I mean, you know, when they had the governor here, we didn't know nothing really. I was invited and then, um, Rosie was then all of a sudden she had to give the gift and she jumped 'cause she didn't even know.

And she wasn't told unexpectedly. She'd [00:21:00] give the gift to the governor and then now they turned around and looked straight across, oh, before we think. No, you can bless the food. I said, yeah, on the spot. We didn't know nothing. So I had no choice. See, yeah, it was the last notice. Um, but they come to me. Yeah.

Before the elders to attend that day. I was same day. I was sick that day. I couldn't do it. Yeah, she gave us some medallion. Yeah, but there's a thing though. They know they've got, um, certain high profile people coming over. You invite us. Shouldn't invite us. Yeah. But don't just leave for the day before.

Exactly. See, that's what they did to me. Yeah. Late in the afternoon and you run around like I'm running around with that took with his head cup off. But that's the thing. Tuesday I was sick when that governor come over. I was very sick. I couldn't move. Yeah. I didn't go. Yeah. So that's the thing I said well.

Next time that I, um, I, I emailed, [00:22:00] um, Tanya and Morgan them, I said, you need to give me couple weeks, a couple weeks dollars for what's happening. Then I can explain to the elders and everything what's gonna be happening. Yeah. And they don't communicate that way. And then, oh yeah, send her an email. She'll attend tomorrow with the Mels.

Mm. It doesn't work that way with me. You know, one day or another, or afternoon, my away. And it's not fair, you know, on these early people isn't fair. It isn't fair. Yeah. What's, um, I've been thinking a bit about, um, voices and knowledge and stuff, how it gets passed on. What's, do you think there's much of your voice like available anywhere, like across plans or archives or.

Type of thing. Like, does anyone ever come and do like interviews with you and record your [00:23:00] head, your knowledge and stuff? I reckon that should be done because of his elders. You know, they got a lot to tell. They've got a lot to tell. They they, here, they're elders community, you, they're in the eighties sort of thing.

And she's up and coming in here. She 16, 16, 16.

That's the thing that no one, um, asked. And I reckon it should be recorded. That should be heard, you know, give their story, you know, because it, it helps. It helps. And on, you know, when I put that question to the council before. This a few years back. Mm-hmm. And I asked, I walked in there and I, when it was all sitting around the table, I just said, um, excuse me.

I said, um, why can't we have a public meeting? They [00:24:00] looked at me and on the pea,

so it took a while before they can somebody talking and saying something to me. He said, no, we can't have any public meeting. And I said. Well, I like to know why, you know, you know, instead, play little games. Come, it's a liability. I said, come straightforward, tell me, you know? Yeah. And I was on my own. So anyway, um, listen, they'll, I can't have have any public meeting for the people because they'll start write and I said, what you mean a write?

Yeah. Gonna start this, be open and police gonna get involved with all this, but I can see it was all GA and gam, you know? Mm-hmm. They said, no, we'd rather we have our meeting behind clothes. I said, that's not right. Yeah, that's because the people need to know what's going on. [00:25:00] That's, it's right. I had somebody there to back me up, but I thought I was probably me and one round just went straight and one to four off.

You know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah. No one, right? I mean, you understand they're saying because of the right in 2004, but come on, you know, don't block our community means 'cause no one out here knows what's going on. Well that's the true. And yet there's talk about the traditional owners don't give their information over to community, but they won't share that same information with them as well.

You know, I mean, it is true. They don't, you know. Yeah, I don't think they had public meeting. No. And I think that's what they're afraid of, trying to don't start Right. But community has a lot of rights to know what's going on and what their decisions are. They owning trustees for this? It has to be. Um, you know, I think that way, like [00:26:00] pizza wise, you can have a public meeting up there.

Mm. Because that's covered. Mm. And so why don't they do it? I don't know. I don't know. But you can't have in the public area now in the mall and things in that Oh, mean we there. Yeah, I know. We all there. Yeah. But the thing is, you cannot have it in the mall, in the open area, but still you can because that's covered by the piece.

But they're probably thinking, you know, how people gonna go off. Yeah. You know? Voice their opinion on that. But that's just, but that's, but that's gotta be done, eh? That's it. Be air have to be aired. You, you always will get a reaction. Someone doesn't agree. Yeah. That's, anyway. Um, that's not by the people listen to, like everybody's trying ask now what's happening to this rehab?

Yeah. No, it's getting no answers, but Yeah. Oh, you talking about thirties? Yeah. Thirties. Yeah. You know that what built for [00:27:00] you heard about that? Yeah. I, I actually used to come to fur's 13 years ago with corrected services, run programs, and, um, I used to love being there in, I used to work at Fur's. I was there for a number of years and I lived for mental health, and so I've been up there now.

I'm very interested in, and I think it should all come back again. But they're not having a residential aid in, they're not putting up residential stock. There's some really good Right, um, models around the world where we, if you have a place in community where people can recover, it's a really like positive, um, opportunity as long as people are looked after there.

Yeah. I love, I love thirties for some reason. I've got a very strong opinion. It's beautiful. I love it. I love the place you feel the, you know, peace there. You do feel it's a good place. Good. We all used to work here. Yeah. And they just work with the prison too, see? Yeah. Bring the [00:28:00] more back town. More. Yep.

You know, we 'em back into, you know, and to palm me and it, it was good. I was, I was there one of them young weeks there. You wasn't there with the, I think. No, I wasn't doing, we would was all in it. Oh, were you? Yeah. Yeah, right. We, we met until, oh, not just there. Yeah. They're all, oh yeah, the five six. Where are they now?

We lost them. I've got a beer over that. Oh, I've still, you've got one. I know what happened to mine. And them were sitting on the pile paper. Yeah, I got you. Got it. Yeah. I think that's the only one I never stole. It was mine. Everyone got one, stole them off. Stole

somebody, stole mine. That shit steal in here. They wouldn't. [00:29:00] You too. Oh no. Yeah, that I'd like to know what happened to mine. Yeah, it was film. We all got a present because if you don't have a rehab here and some where they can come for help, especially if they not the comfort from community. Yeah.

Interrupt, come back for help. Yeah, thank you. You know you don't have some place to go and they end up mental health illness. I'll tell now. Mental health has shipped them out. Yeah. No. Yama Norton, they wanna send them away or lock 'em up over here. It's wrong. They need somewhere for the alcoholic or the drug addict.

There's a lot of crimes today are drug related. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And they're serious crimes and a lot of 'em are looking to come back, commute, but they can't do it 'cause they don't know where to go. You know? Especially if you can match the cultural knowledge with professional knowledge. Exactly. You know what I mean?

Knowledge to make sure they're healthy, [00:30:00] but their knowledge to make sure they're psychologically yes. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. One, one question I did have was, um, there's a lot of, um, government funds, right? Mm-hmm. And a lot of the funding, there's always a question in there, and it's like, have you engaged elders?

You know what I mean? Or it's in every funding thing. Mm-hmm. Is that something that you get asked? To do very often? No, because I'm just fascinated because it's a question that's always in there, but I've never heard of it actually happening. True. So I'm not, yeah. I'm trying to work out what's actually the case and the, who answers that and who answers it.

Yeah. Because it's.