Cape York Weekly journalist Chisa Hasegawa talks Nance Haxton through her first rodeo experience for the Streets of Your Town podcast in June. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
From attending my very first rodeo to becoming the first-time owner of a fishing shirt, the past 50 editions since our 200th have given me the chance to immerse myself in more of Cape York and its dry season favourites.
Whether in thongs, boots or heels (which were promptly abandoned after walking the Laura Races grounds), it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and feel the sense of community many of my story subjects talk about.
That community-mindedness I admire so much about this part of the world makes up my top five stories of the past 12 months.
Trackside dust proves no match for Laura race fashion (Edition 240 – 30 June 2025)
I’ve never been much of a sports person, but it was at the Laura Races, Rodeo and Campdraft that I discovered I genuinely enjoy watching people getting bucked off bulls.
When it comes to writing, however, I find I’m much better at expressing the impressiveness of stilettos on dirt than I am at riders staying on the back of an animal going wild for the longest eight seconds on earth.
Bloomfield honours flood victim (Edition 217 – 20 January 2025)
Bloomfield showed what it means to come together after tragedy when they honoured one of their own who was lost to the Tropical Cyclone Jasper flooding event in December 2023.
Amongst all the pain, the beauty of community shone through with the memorial rock they organised for the late Ray Dark.
Ray Dark will be forever remembered thanks to the dedication and love of the community who still mourns his loss in the chaos of the region’s December 2023 flood event. Photo: Supplied.
Olympian cooks up lasting impact on Cooktown girls (Edition 240 – 30 June 2025)
As a sucker for girl power, I loved hearing about the opportunity Cooktown’s young ladies got to meet and learn from basketball star Cayla George.
The WNBA and WNBL champion, three-time Olympian and bronze medallist led a basketball clinic and female mentorship session in June, and I even had the privilege of stepping into the kitchen during her healthy eating and cooking lesson.
Barber gifts Napranum youth sharp new looks (Edition 235 – 26 May 2025)
One of the best things about getting your hair done is the rapport with your hairdresser or barber, but in a remote community, it’s not always possible when you need to travel for the service.
It was great to hear that Napranum kids were able to get a fresh style for their school photos with someone they looked up to, and hear the why behind Axe the Barber’s kind gesture.
Readers loved seeing PCYC Napranum youth looking their best for their school photos thanks to some hairdressing handiwork from Axel Tongia, aka Axe the Barber. Photo: Supplied.
Cooktown has spoken: People’s Choice artists announced (Edition 242 – 14 July 2025)
When many opportunities on the Cape can be sports focused, it’s great to see when artists get their moment to shine.
Symone Welsh impressed the community with her intricate landscape oil painting, and shared with me the story behind her childhood passion for art, wanting to step out of the shadows of her artist grandfather, and why she decided to pursue it as a career when it was never the plan.
