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Governor-General visits Indigenous communities

Indigenous community leaders say they hope a visit by the Governor-General to Far North Queensland results in an increased focus on early childhood education in the region.

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2 min read

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Updated

By Brooke Boney

Source: NITV News


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The first stop for the Governor-General is Lockhart River, on the Eastern side of the Cape, a community of nearly 700 people.

It is the Governor General's first trip to the community in five years.

The last time Quentin Bryce was in the area she was the governor of Queensland.

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But her excellency has had a close relationship with the people of Lockhart River as the patron of the Puuya Foundation.

"It's an enormous privilege, so enriching in my life. And it's very much about friendship and about community," Ms Bryce says.

The Puuya Foundation works with the community to build partnerships with non-Inidgenous organisations.

"We are building on the strengths and positives in the community," says Puuya Foundation founder and CEO, Denise Hagan.

"And the interaction and support from the governor general, our wonderful patron, is on that basis. She looks for the positives. We are facing the reality of many challenges in the community."

The small Cape York community has some of the most shocking statistics of anywhere in the country.

The suicide rate is six times the national average and life expectancy is 20 years lower than the rest of Australia.

The Mayor of the shire, Wayne Butcher, says the Governor General's visit will have a huge impact.

"To get someone of this sort of status - a governor general - to come to our community just shows that no matter how far, how remote we are, we are just as important like anyone else."

Quentin Bryce has visited an unprecedented number of regional and remote communities during her term and this community is the first of many on the Cape she will be visiting this week.

In Lockhart River they want more focus on early childhood education, more support for their older children and they want to build their economy, by promoting local business ownership.

Though there are still barriers, a return trip from this airport to Cairns is around $900 and the local supermarket is 65 percent more expensive than Brisbane.

But with the help of the governor general and the Puuya Foundation this community is heading in the right direction.


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