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conversation Tully & District SARI RUSSO Chamber of Commerce IT is essential to have conversations with everyone will hold a second AGM impacted before making a significant change. The yearly ‘Australia Day’ Vs ‘Invasion Day’ on February 2 needs to be discussed by the right groups, choosing THE committee positions were not filled at the previous the right strategy as the best step forward. AGM held in November 2021.

As a date, there is a blend of positive and The Chamber currently has an Acting President & negative things that happened on this day: Acting Secretary and an elected Treasurer. We also 1. There is currently in contention as to have two people willing to accept the Event Coordinator whether it is the day Lt Captain Cook, RN, raised position. the flag in Botany Bay that claimed the land in the It may seem that the Chamber is not needed. Let me name of King George III in 1788, 1,2. Or was it assure you Tully needs a Chamber of Commerce. Apart April 29, 1770 3? (On August 22, 1770, the First from liaising with the CCRC and other Government Union Flag was raised on Possession Island by Lt bodies, inviting guest speakers to speak on relevant James Cook, RN.) topics, working together with other organisations in 2. It is the day when the first sanctioned the district such as the Tully Support Centre, 4854 marriage between an Indigenous and a convict Looking Forward Community Group & Tully Rotary & also happened in 1824, 4. Lions Clubs, the Chamber also organises and provides 3. It was the day that the Nationality and Insurance Cover for the Christmas Street Celebrations, Citizenship Act was enacted in 1948, 5, where Tully’s own version of Halloween “Tullyween”. both Indigenous and British citizens could Before Covid-19, we hosted the much loved ‘Read call themselves Australians. (It was harder for to me Day” Event. When Tully hosted the World Rafting Immigrants from other cultures to be naturalised, Championships, the Tully Chamber played a massive so amendments were made in 1950). role in the preparations, plus organised a fantastic 4. It was the day that the tent embassy was Opening Street Parade. Tully Chamber also organises established in 1972, 6. the Tully Street Markets twice a month, from February 5. It was the day that the first Invasion Day to December. protests started in 1938, 7. With Tully’s 100-year Centenary Celebrations

A wonderful Indigenous lady I spoke to recently, approaching in 2024, the Chamber is working with who works on Palm Island, informed me that she other organisations to prepare for this great milestone cannot see any positive impact to reduce the gap in our district. on the Island using the current strategies.

She would like to see more practical strategies where young people are encouraged to work alongside each other. She reminded me ‘sorry was said ages ago’ and shared with me how nothing she has witnessed encourages her community to take more responsibility for themselves, improve their health, and look more seriously at their work prospects.

An elder I have spoken to sees the grandchildren of men/women who were persecuted culturally playing with the grandchildren of the people by whom they were persecuted. As an elder in their community, they do not want these kids to stop playing with each other and believes that if they share these stories today, it will only serve to cause a divide. They see the need to share them in the future, but not today.

Approximately 20% of Australians have convict ancestry, 8. From Australians whose ancestors were on the convict side, sentiments rise that this protest is being inflicted on the wrong people, and their ancestors would protest and say, ‘They didn’t choose to come here. They stole a loaf of bread because they couldn’t feed themselves,’ 9.

There is also 29.8% of Australians whose ancestors were foreign-born, 10.

In 2017 the guardian informed that just 51% are descendants from the people born in Australia for three generations or more across the entire Australian population, 11.

The current Indigenous population is around 3.3%, 12.

So, who are we, and where do we go next?

The Tully Chamber of Commerce is not only functioning for the CBD area. It is there for the benefit of every business in the district; if you are a Farmer, Builder, Plumber, Accountant, Doctor, Mechanic, Supermarket, Hotel or any other company, you need the Chamber of Commerce, and it requires you. In the past, when there was a threat of importation of Bananas, the Chamber held a concert and raised $20,000 to help the farmers. When the disease Panama TR4 was detected in the Tully Valley, the Chamber held a thriving information meeting for the farmers & general public. This is just a small example of what the Chamber can & does do.

Mareeba Chamber is an excellent example of this diversity of members in a Chamber of Commerce. They have many different businesses represented and are a very active and successful Chamber.

A district is like any other organisation. Every cog in the chain is essential, and not one cog is more important than the other, as, without one, there is no other. Without an active, viable community, the Farmers, Doctors, Hospitals, Schools etc., will not attract employees to work their relevant business. Without these businesses, there is no work for the Community. We all need to work on building our Community.

The most common reason for not joining the Chamber is “I am Busy” realistically, we are all busy. It does come down to how much we appreciate our Community and what we are prepared to put into the Community; if that is nothing, we have no one else to blame when we have no community.

I am being very blunt in this letter, but honest, this is the truth of the matter. If you want a Chamber of Commerce, you need to put your hand up to help somehow, be an active member, take on a committee position, help a committee member with their work.

The Tully Chamber of Commerce is Financially viable. If the Chamber were to close, that money would need to be gifted to another like-minded organisation. Is this what we want????

Christine Boric

President

Tully & District Chamber of Commerce

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are the personal views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions held by the Wet Tropic Times, its Editor, or staff.

THE Tully Support Centre’s (TSC) Parent’s group Explore, Develop, Grow (EDG) meets Wednesday’s from 9:30 am – 11:00 am in the TSC Community Development Room. EDG is a weekly group providing a social connection for all people in caring roles within our community. It links them with information and services through regular topics and a participant-driven approach to information provision.

In addition to the return of face-to-face groups, we have a closed group on the TSC Facebook page (By invitation only to allow parents to discuss issues affecting them). TSC email packs and information to participants and allow families to engage in the program who are unable to or concerned about attending in person to stay connected.

The TSC provides free morning tea, snacks, tea, and coffee for our face-to-face groups. There are also toys, art crafts available, and regular activities based on group feedback.

Tully Support Over the past 12 months, EDG activities have included: Indoor activities, including playdough,

Centre News reading, memory match, blocks, colour-ins, shapes and numbers, toys, Healthy cooking and parenting with workshops; and outdoor activities including playground,

Shane Greenwood chalk, bubbles, water play, games and painting. The goal of EDG is to provide planned and purposeful 54 Bryant Street, Tully - 4068 1004 activities that encourage child-centred engagement, role modelling appropriate parent/child interaction, supporting parents to set boundaries, and supporting child cognitive development. If you would like more information about EDG, please contact Maxine on 4068 1004 or come on Wednesday from 9:30 am – 11:00 am. The TSC is funded by the Queensland Government and has been servicing communities throughout the Cassowary Coast since 1991. The Tully Support Centre is located at 54 Bryant Street in Tully, opening hours Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to 1 pm & 2 pm to 4 pm, and Wednesday 9 am to 1 pm & 2 pm to 6 pm. To register your interest or more info about groups and other services, please call 40 681 004, check the Tully Support Centre online at www.tullysupportcentre. com.au or follow us on Facebook “Tully Support Centre Inc.” When our lets talk section of the Website is complete we will add the reference numbered in articles that we observe our coummunity have a variety of opinions on.

We apologise that the website discussion/Poll section of the website is still under construction.