Vanessa with Simon Finn MP

Minister Simon Finn was part of Premier Bligh and the Queensland Cabinet’s visit to Torres Strait during late August 2011.  Minister Finn enjoyed a visit to various veteran’s memorials, the Green Hill Fort and Customs House during his visit to Torres Strait.  The minister’s office is responsible for the funding to extend the current Veteran’s Memorials in Anzac Park, Thursday Island.

Lieutenant Alan Whalley's Boomerang Fighter Plane

Jim Whalley made the trip back to Horn Island, where his father Flight Lieutenant Alan Whalley was a pilot with the 84 Squadron, which flew Boomerang fighters and then P40 Kittyhawks out of Horn Island during World War Two.  Jim, an ex RAAF fighter pilot, discovered his father’s crashed Boomerang, which flew from Horn Island, and repaired it to a flying status.

Jim Whalley flying his father's Boomerang Fighter

It is believed to be one of two flying Boomerang fighters in the world today.  It would be magnificent to see this Boomerang once again in the skies above Horn Island and Torres Strait, flown by the son of the former WW2 fighter pilot.

Ben Andryc and Dianne Costa

Dianne Costa (Presenter) and  Ben Andryc (Videographer) from Fun Travel TV visited us this week to cover our two Tours: ‘In Their Steps WW2 Tour’ Horn Island and ‘Garrison Town Tour’ Thursday Island.

Ben and Dianne admiring the view from Green Hill Fort, Thursday Island

Fun Travel TV is a very professional Web-based Travel Show, their Videos are Top-notch and can be viewed on their Youtube Channel.  They’re a great guide to Australian Tourism.  You can also follow them on Facebook as well as Twitter.

Alastair McLeod with Vanessa at Horn Island Primary School's Garden

‘Ready Steady Cook’ Celebrity Chef Alastair McLeod has recently visited Torres Strait filming with Queensland Weekender.  He visited Horn Island, the northern most point of the Australian mainland, Thursday Island, Friday Island and Badu Island, sharing in different methods of cooking and learning of Torres Strait Island ingredients. 

Vanessa with Channel 7's Great South East Crew

He discovered the area’s World War Two history and his own family’s World War Two and Vietnam military heritage, learnt of the culture pearl industry, crayfishing at Badu Island, and learnt of the dynamic culture of Torres Strait.  He travelled via larga and small boats, helicopter, 4wd, light aircraft and vehicle to explore as much as he could.   A lovely fellow and fantastic crew, the show is set to air in October 2011.

Replica of Endeavour moored in the lee of Horn Island

In the 1770’s Captain Cook’s ‘HMS Endeavour’ circumnavigates Australia, skip forward two hundred and forty years and a full-scale replica called ‘HMB Endeavour’sits quietly in the lee of Horn Island for a six day break.  The ‘HMB Endeavour’ will circumnavigate Australia for thirteen months ending in May 2012. 

I doubt the original 18^th Century ship was ever circled by as many local vessels, at least not while in the Torres Strait.  McDonald’s Ferry and Rebel Marine give their passengers a good ‘stickie beak’ on their trips between Horn Island and T.I., it’s a great photo opportunity for everyone on board. 

I was pleased to see that both the Torres Strait Island and Aboriginal Flags being flown alongside the Australian Maritime ensign.  Those interested in being a ‘passenger’ on the ‘HMB Endeavour’ need look no further then checking out the Endeavour Voyages Website, be forewarned you’d be a paying crewmember and it’s no pleasure cruise when you’re expected to work in near 18^th Century conditions.   They have a crew of sixteen professionals and with their ’40 passengers’ round out over fifty people on board, she’s not big so I hope they all get along. 

On Wednesday 20^th July 2011 the ‘HMB Endeavour’ will set sail from Horn Island.  Good Sailing!

Vanessa and Morgan enjoying the festivities.

Ailan Kores is a a free concert that will be broadcast live on Internet, it is produced by the Queensland Music Festival it features a mass community choir, performing with the Queensland Youth Orchestra.  Ailan Kores Concert at will be held at Anzac Park on Thursday Island with livestreaming from 5.30pm 17 July 2011Eastern Standard Time (Australia).   It can be viewed here: Ailan Kores Livestream

Torres Strait Youth Choir

Queensland Music Festival is a state wide celebration of music and culture, held over 17 days in July 2011, hosting the best of local, national, and international guests, all performing an enormous amount of musical styles.  The Festival is traveling to remote and rural areas, with a weekend of music held at Thursday Island, Torres Strait.

Mikaila and Morgan before the Torres Strait Youth Choir performance

Our Daughter Morgan performed with the Torres Strait Youth Choir, backed by the Queensland Youth Orchestra.  They performed traditional songs to open the concert which was a magnificent celebration of Torres Strait Music.

Funny Photogs Mike and Andy from Lightenupandshoot.com are hosting a Creativelive Photography Workshop on 29, 30 & 31 July 2011.

It’s live and free on the Internet.  But I must warn that if you’re as into Portrait Photography as I am then you’re probably buying this Workshop Download.

Remember it’s Streamed Live once, they then stream a Rewatch.  You can view the Creative Live Live Stream Here.

Corporal Chris Torenbeek, Honorable Member for Leichardt Warren Entsch MP and Major Cameron Lane

Private Alex Blanco and Roy Williams

Private Alex Blanco dressed as the ‘Young Warrior’ after being handed ‘Bow and Arrow’ by Roy Williams ‘WW2 Veteran’.

'Tapau Family' Peter Jnr, Lavia and Carmen

Standing: Charlie Company with Bishop Saibo Mabo. Seated Vanessa, Roy Williams and Major Cameron Lane.

Mayor Pedro Stephen, Major Cameron Lane and Master of Ceremonies Leo Akee.

We’re looking forward to seeing what looks to be a good TV Documentary from Channel Nine.  The title ‘In Their Footsteps’ was one time a possibility for Vanessa’s Book.  It could have been ’Horn Island: In Their Footsteps 1939-45′ which she thought was too long.  It became ‘Horn Island: In Their Steps 1939-45′ and then later the name for our Horn Island WW2 Tour ‘In Their Steps’.  Funny that such similar names would be used to describe similar subjects.

Carolus Isua (ex-Corporal Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion and Honorary Police Inspector

John Singe (ex-TI Teacher and Author) his Wife Barbara Singe (daughter of Carolus Isua) has started a Book Distribution Business: Fairview Books, to ensure that books about the Torres Strait are distributed in the Torres Strait Islands.  The big book distributors are mainly concerned with the big markets down south.

Fairfield Books see them-self as a Torres Strait business providing a service to our Torres Strait customers and can provide these titles at very competitive prices.  John says he would be pleased to sign any of the books he written and sells through Fairfield Books.

Their book list currently includes:

My Island Home by John Singe UQP (2011 edition)

Among Islands by John Singe (2011 edition)

Coral Sea Story by John Singe

Culuture in Change: Torres Strait History in Photographs TISHS

Torres Strait at War: A Recollection of Wartime Experiences TISHS

Aukam by Belinda Kabai Black Ink Press

My Pet Pelican by Carole Mooka Black Ink Press

Sissy’s Secret by Althea McKeown Black Ink Press

Fairview Books, PO BOX 719, Cooktown  QLD  4895

Mobile Phone:0467339860

Email: johnsinge101@gmail.com