Cape York has a strong sense of community, and some colourful characters who call it home. Take a look back at some of the stories that had us talking in 2025.
15. Cooktown farewells beloved community powerhouse
by Cape York Weekly
Susan Forsyth, who was laid to rest in Cooktown on 18 June, is remembered as an impassioned member of the community who lived life with laughter, curiosity, kindness and a bit of cheekiness. Photo: Supplied.
For someone who was such a natural inspiration and powerhouse, it was only fitting Susan Forsyth was farewelled by her family, friends and the Cooktown community at the venue of the same name on 18 June.
Ms Forsyth, who was born on 31 March 1936 in the Sydney suburb of Willoughby, passed away in Cooktown on 9 June. She was 89.
14. Traditional dance revival gives voice to Wujal Wujal children
by Chisa Hasegawa
Wujal Wujal children reconnect with their culture through a traditional dance that has been forgotten for almost 40 years. Photo: Thomas Salpietro.
When it comes to healing and reviving culture, speaking isn’t the only way you can have a voice – it can be heard through dancing, too.
Wujal Wujal’s children reconnected with their culture during a four-day dance revival camp, where they learned a traditional dance – which hasn’t been danced since 1986 – with Sacred Creations Dance Troupe choreographer Tamara Pearson.
13. Proud Wujal Wujal construction graduates celebrate new skills
by Chisa Hasegawa
Wujal Wujal Pride of Place graduates celebrate locally grown skills that are helping them find employment pathways in construction. Photo: Supplied.
Ten locally grown construction workers are set up for employment success after reinvigorating their community through Community Owned Enterprises’ (COE) latest Skilling Queenslanders for Work project in Wujal Wujal.
The COE Pride of Place project officially concluded with a graduation ceremony in front of friends and family, with participants receiving a Certificate I in Construction after six months of work assisting with the clean-up and rebuilding of assets and facilities lost in the Tropical Cyclone Jasper flood event of 2023.
12. Torres Strait fishers celebrate record sea cucumber season
by Chisa Hasegawa
Torres Strait fishermen Nodoro Mabo and John Tabo celebrate a lucrative sea cucumber harvesting season. Photo: Supplied.
In just three days, Torres Strait fishers generated an estimated $700,000 for the local economy after harvesting a record number of sea cucumbers.
The sea cucumber, also known as the beche-de-mer, is considered a luxury seafood product in the lucrative Asian markets, earning fishers up to $40 per kilogram at beach prices, before buyers exported the dried delicacy worldwide.
11. Heart-of-gold cop saves Pormpuraaw pups from life of suffering
by Chisa Hasegawa
Since moving to Pormpuraaw, Constable Montana Watson has dedicated her time to giving stray dogs a new lease on life. Photo: Supplied.
She has called Pormpuraaw home for just over a year, but one police officer with a big heart has managed to save more than 15 stray dogs in need of a better future, with one of them even finding a forever home in her family.
When Constable Montana Watson joined the western Cape York community in July 2024, she was heartbroken by the state of the dogs roaming around, taken aback by how malnourished they looked.
“It just broke my heart seeing all the dogs, seeing how skinny they were and how much they needed, like food and affection,” she said.
10. Past and present converge on Cooktown State School for 150th commemoration
by Chisa Hasegawa
Past deputy principal Leanne Fox and current principal Leanne Rayner reminisce at Cooktown State School’s 150th-anniversary celebration over Ms Fox’s old staff photo. Photo: Chisa Hasegawa.
After weeks of preparation and anticipation, Cooktown State School welcomed generations of alumni through its gates on 22 February for its 150th anniversary celebration.
Laughter and conversations of old times filled the school grounds as current and past students came together for a day of celebrating the present and reminiscing on eras gone by.
9. New era for Remote Animal Assistance after social media plea
by Chisa Hasegawa
Remote Animal Assistance founder Jess Leeming is excited for a new chapter of animal welfare after a cry for help on social media touched the hearts of generous donors. Photo: Supplied.
“Like mopping the floor while the roof is still leaking.”
That is how Remote Animal Assistance founder Jess Leeming described the exhausting reality of animal rescue and rehoming as she took to Facebook with a heartfelt letter asking the community for help.
8. Weipa’s Sonny shines in Australia’s Healthier Lunchboxes challenge
by Chisa Hasegawa
Despite remoteness often providing access challenges to fresh food, Weipa’s Sonny Brooks has taken the top prize in the Australia’s Healthier Lunchboxes challenge. Photo: Supplied.
Fresh produce is not always easy to come by in remote parts of Cape York, but a Weipa mother-and-son duo has proved that with a little organisation and creativity, you can create a winning healthy lunch.
Western Cape College student Sonny Brooks has been named the Queensland winner in Australia’s Healthier Lunchboxes challenge after impressing judges with his colourful and nutritious lunch.
7. Community’s hard work keeps Pormpuraaw youth summit glowing
by Chisa Hasegawa
Pormpuraaw bursts with colour and joy at the 2025 Youth Summit. Photo: Christine Howes.
The young faces of Pormpuraaw were plastered with nothing but smiles after a week packed with sports, education and cultural activities at the award-winning Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation Youth Summit.
The 22-26 September event brought together the most young people to the summit since its inception in 2012.
6. Platinum celebration cranks up volume to become instant Classic
by Lyndon Keane
High Voltage – the AC/DC Experience and more than 4000 revellers salute the milestone 20th Weipa Fishing Classic after the band delivered a thumping performance. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
It is going to take something special to trump the excitement, energy, prize pool and volume experienced at the milestone 20th Weipa Fishing Classic.
From bumper barramundi to more than $200,000 prizes on offer for the lucky ticketholders whose numbers were called for the must-see Top 30 draw, the platinum edition of one of Weipa’s favourite events had something for everyone.
5. Huge loss for NPASC as veteran teacher finishes 40-year career
by Chisa Hasegawa
After touching the lives of Bamaga families for more than three decades, Vera Christian is retiring. Photo: Supplied.
Vera Christian has set the foundation for generations of children in Bamaga, and after 35 years with Northern Peninsula Area State College, has decided to pass the torch to younger teachers.
4. Cape’s longest-serving principal bids farewell to career educating remote kids
by Chisa Hasegawa
Outgoing Cooktown State School principal Leanne Rayner steps into long service leave and then retirement after more than 10 years at the helm. Photo: Supplied.
After more than a decade at the helm, Cape York’s longest-reigning principal is officially saying goodbye to her role at Cooktown State School.
Leanne Rayner bid an emotional farewell to staff and students on 4 April as she prepared to embark on her well-deserved long service leave, marking the beginning of her transition into retirement.
3. Beloved teacher leaves legacy as she bids Weipa farewell
by Chisa Hasegawa
After 21 years helping educate generations of Weipa residents, Western Cape College teacher Robyn Maskill said goodbye to her students and colleagues. Photo: Supplied.
When Robyn Maskill put in her transfer application for a school more than two decades ago, Western Cape College had not even crossed her mind as an option, but she is now leaving a lasting legacy in Weipa as she moves into retirement.
2. TS, Cape families shop for healthy future
by Cape York Weekly
Parents David and Katrina Pearson from Waibene (Thursday Island) with children Ronald, Jack, Adira and Elijah visit the campaign launch at the IBIS Waibene store. Photo: Supplied.
A not-for-profit remote store operator has introduced a new health and wellbeing campaign across its network to celebrate the strength, wisdom and traditions that have supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities for generations.
The Healthy Ways – Old Ways are Our Future Ways campaign launched in collaboration with Health and Wellbeing Queensland to coincide with National Nutrition Week.
1. Cape passion fuels entrepreneurial couple to Ride
by Lyndon Keane
Brendon Cousins and Marli Delavere say their new business, Ride Industries, lets them share their passion for Cape York’s landscape, lifestyle and people with clients from all over the country. Photo: Supplied.
He may be an old hand at exploring Cape York on two wheels, but Brendon “Couso” Cousins says a new business venture is providing an adventurous way to share his love of the region’s landscape and people with motorcyclists from across the country.
