Push for ‘tough love’ in Aurukun indigenous community as elders prepare to give up on violent youths

ELDERS of Aurukun’s biggest clan advocate a “tough love” plan to banish out-of-control youth to isolated outstations on Cape York.

ELDERS of Aurukun’s biggest clan advocate a “tough love” plan to banish out-of-control youths to isolated outstations on Cape York.

Troubled teens would be made to work on cattle stations, hunt for bush tucker, go solo walkabout, and be taught discipline and respect under tribal lore.

Elders Silus, 90, and Rebecca, 83, Wolmby with some of their family. They will leave Aurukun after the school closes. Pic: Brian Cassey

In a return to the old ways of the former Presbyterian mission, those who repeatedly fight, steal, rape, destroy property or get violently drunk have to reform to be allowed back into town.

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart has ordered a crackdown and the deployment of extra officers to the 1300-strong Aboriginal community after ongoing unrest among five warring clans.

But Mr Stewart has also urged the community to take the lead in breaking the self-perpetuating violence, dysfunction and despair.

“We can’t simply arrest our way out of this and keep throwing people in prison,’’ Mr Stewart told a town gathering in Aurukun. “We don’t want to police you; we want to police with you.’’

The Sunday Mail, on a relatively quiet Friday night in Aurukun, joined police as they investigated reports of a stabbing, a stolen car, a domestic bashing, excessive noise complaints and sly grog in the dry community.

Policing is around the clock in a bid to curb the violence. Here an officer talks to a local who is on the streets after dark. Pic: Brian Cassey

Despite a mosquito plague, scores of semi-clad young children ran through the streets late into the night as parents congregated at parties just hours after the Premier and cabinet ministers flew out after crisis talks.

Wik Nation leader and Apalech tribe lawman Silus Wolmby, 90, and his wife Rebecca, 83, plan to relocate to Wathanhiin outstation, 40km south of Aurukun, after the closure of the school.

They will take their tribal clansmen and some of their 29 grandchildren and enforce a strict no alcohol rule at the vast cattle station, home to sacred sites hidden in sand dunes, near Cape Keerweer.

“This town is full of rivers of grog and drunks,” Mrs Wolmby said.

“We don’t want to see all these people fighting, swearing, drinking and damaging each other anymore – it makes us sad.”

Aurukun on a Friday. Pic: Brian Cassey