RACQ Foundation volunteers and Torres Shire Council staff check out the work done at Thursday Island’s Frog Gully Community Gardens. Photo: Supplied.
Enhancing food security and bolstering climate resilience across islands in the Torres Strait were at the forefront of volunteers’ minds when the RACQ Foundation delivered its 24th community project this month.
Over the past week, 38 volunteers completed three local resilience building projects, including revitalising the Frog Gully Community Gardens on Thursday Island.
RACQ Foundation manager Bridgette Muller said the restoration included the installation of a new irrigation system, improving soil quality, and repairing shade sails and the storage shed.
“Bringing this community garden back to life was an important initiative for us to improve food security and restore this valuable community hub, especially for these islands exposed to increasingly severe weather,” Ms Muller said.
Ms Muller said other key works included donating and installing an aquaponics system on Horn Island and the preservation of historical artefacts.
“The aquaponics system at the Torres Strait Island Sports Complex will not only feed local students and their families, but also teach future generations new ways to sustainably farm fresh fruit and vegetables,” she explained.
“Our team also digitised and catalogued documents and exhibits at the Torres Strait Heritage Museum to safeguard them against future weather events.”
Torres Shire Council Mayor Elsie Seriat said the partnership with RACQ Foundation had led to positive and long-lasting outcomes for the community.
“This project sets a good example for other major non-Indigenous corporate organisations to see and adopt what the RACQ Foundation has fostered in our community,” Mayor Seriat said.
“Our current food supply relies on shipments from the mainland, impacting our health and contributing to the high cost of living in our area.
“These resilience building projects lead to positive outcomes for our wellbeing and employment opportunities, as well as building economic development within our region.”
As part of the visit, Ms Muller said RACQ educators had also toured schools in the Northern Peninsula Area and Torres Strait to teach students about road safety.
“Our educators visited the Northern Peninsula Area College, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Tagai Secondary State College, taking students through RACQ’s specially designed road and marine safety programs,” Ms Muller said.
“In addition to working on the islands, our volunteers and staff were honoured to take part in cultural awareness sessions and the NAIDOC Week award ceremony.”
