Wujal Wujal mayor, Bradley Creek, shares baby joy following historic flood event

A beautiful baby girl is filling the Wujal Wujal mayor’s heart with joy as his community fights to rebuild after being hit by record floods following ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

Wujal Wujal Mayor Bradley Creek and his wife, Meredith, welcomed their baby girl, Jadearna, into the world just as floods were hitting their small southern Cape York community. Picture: Brendan Radke

A beautiful baby girl is filling Wujal Wujal mayor Bradley Creek’s heart with joy as his community fights to rebuild after being hit by record floods following ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

Born in Cairns on December 21, Jadearna Creek entered the world as hundreds of the remote Indigenous community’s residents were being evacuated by the Australian Defence Force.

Pictured at the Holloways Hub, a volunteer-run meeting place for flood victims, baby girl Jadearna Creek is proudly nursed by friends and family. Picture: Brendan Radke

With his wife’s blessing, the anxious dad flew to Cooktown to support devastated evacuees knowing he may miss his daughter’s birth.

But now six-weeks-old, the the beloved newborn is finally getting some quality time with her doting father.

“She’s good. She’s sleeping well now too,” the proud dad said.

“Obviously, at the start of everything I wasn’t around much but things are starting to slow down a little bit now.

“She’s got a big personality. We’re not quite sure who she takes after yet. Maybe dad. We’ll see.”

A first time mayor, Mr Creek has endured a challenging first term, guiding his community through the global pandemic, multiple natural disasters and now a major recovery effort.

But the former Indigenous ranger said he had learned to embrace the responsibility that comes with being a leader.

“I just love my community,” Mr Creek said. “And if you want to see things happen, then this is the job to be in.”

Following the floods, Wujal Wujal community members have dispersed far and wide across the region with small pockets living in Cairns, Mossman, Cooktown, Hope Vale and Mareeba.

In years to come the stories of Wujal Wujal’s resilience and resurgence will be shared with his youngest daughter, Mr Creek said.

“When she’s old enough we’ll sit down with her and tell her about what it was like when she was born,” he said.

Meanwhile, 14 students from Wujal Wujal Primary School have started their school year at a temporary site located at the PCYC in Cooktown.

Multiple services across the Far North are supporting children transitioning into new classrooms following the floods.

Members of Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council’s staff are also getting used to new surrounds — with several staff currently based at Apunipima Cape York Health Council in Cairns.

Originally published as Wujal Wujal mayor, Bradley Creek, shares baby joy following historic flood event