The past, present and future of Palm Island

The Centenary Celebration of Palm Island (Bwgcolman) has been a time of reflection, celebration and anticipation.

Of the many events held in the first half of 2018, 3 were set aside for special attention.

The Centenary Launch focussed on the past and was a great success.

The Deadly Didge ‘n’ Dance Festival celebrated the present.

Held in April, it lasted 3 days and 2 nights and featured a star studded line up of performers and artists, as well as local dancers.

It included workshops, storytelling, poetry, markets and more. The Festival was an opportunity for the community to showcase its culture to more than 1,000 visitors, who ferried or flew in from the mainland. It was the first event of its scale to be held on Palm Island and was the culmination of years of planning.

It reflected an outstanding effort by the Palm Island Council and organising committee to bring the community together to successfully run an exciting, fun and memorable event.

Alf Lacey is the Mayor of Palm Island.

‘This festival represents the present, a time when we accept who we are, leave the past in the past and look forward to a bright future,’ Mayor Lacey said.

‘It represents a defining moment for Palm Island, not only as the first event of this scale, but as an exceptional arts and cultural experience that showcases local and invited music, dance and the arts in many forms.’

Of particular significance was the burning of a large paper and wooden sculpture of a bell tower on the opening night of the Festival. Until as recently as the mid-1970s, a large bell tower sounded every day to alert residents to a morning roll call, when to eat, the end of the working day, night curfew and finally “lights out”.

The Queensland Deputy Premier, the Hon Jackie Trad, joined community leaders in setting the bell alight in a powerful ceremony that moved some in the crowd to tears.

The final event, Deadly Futures, was held on 7-8 June and focussed on the next 100 years. It included an open forum for youth where they were inspired by Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders. There was a careers expo, and a health focussed sports carnival.

The carnival included the Kathy Tarpaulin netball challenge and the Obi Geia rugby league competition and featured more than 450 school children from Townsville, Magnetic Island and Palm Island.

The carnival finale also included traditional dancing and contemporary musicians, and was supported by the Cathy Freeman Foundation, North Queensland Toyota Cowboys and the Townsville Hospital and Health Service.

If the events of the Centenary are a good indication of the community’s capacity and energy, then the future is looking bright for Palm Island.