CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Lingiari) (09:33): On Sunday 19 July, Imalu Tigers took on the Ranku Eagles in Wurrimiyanga on my beautiful home community of the Tiwi Islands. In the women's match, Tapalinga Superstars and Jikilarruwu went head to head in a fantastic match, with my team, Tapalinga Superstars, coming home victorious. The Tiwi grand final is the highlight of the year for my mob.
It's a time when we come together to celebrate our culture and our great love of football. For our communities, football is more than just a game. It showcases our people, our athleticism, our community connection and our deep pride in who we are.
This year we also got to celebrate with a very special guest, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Also in attendance were the member for Solomon and Minister Malarndirri McCarthy. There are few people Tiwis would be willing to draw their eyes from the football for on grand final day, but the PM was one of them.
The Prime Minister's visit was a huge moment for my people, but, more than that, it demonstrates his deep and personal commitment to our remote communities. On the Saturday before the grand final, Tiwis also celebrated the Tiwi Islands Cultural Festival. For anyone who wants to witness the incredible culture of the Tiwi Islands, this is the place to come.
Tiwi culture has always kept our people grounded, and each year the festival grows from strength to strength. This year was a particularly beautiful display of our art, music, culture and the industries on the Tiwi Islands. This could not have happened without the Tiwi Cultural Committee, who do so much work in preserving and making sure our language and our culture stay binded.
I also want to acknowledge the hard work on Wurrimiyanga from the Tiwi Islands Regional Council, particularly the new CEO, Heidi Dorn, who's done a fantastic job, and amazing staff on the ground who made it possible. I just want to finish my constituency statement today in thinking about the funeral that will take place for Kumanjayi Little Baby on the weekend, and I want to acknowledge the strength of the Alice Springs community in coming together, and the family of Kumanjayi Little Baby—her grandfather, her grandmother and her mother, Jacinta; I'm sending my deep love and prayers—for your leadership and your messages of unity, particularly the grandparents in calling for everyone not to be divided.
This isn't a black and white issue. This is about community coming together and staying strong. Our community must again come together to ensure that Kumanjayi Little Baby is given the respect and the rest that she so deserves.