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Torres Strait museum takes out top reconciliation award

By Chris Graham

26 June 2008 - The 2008 Queensland Reconciliation Awards for Business were announced in Brisbane recently, with a unique business that promotes the contribution of Torres Strait Islanders to the war effort during WWII taking out the top prize.

The awards are organised by the office of Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh and are open to any Queensland business - black or white, large or small - that is actively promoting reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

This year, Torres Strait Heritage won the Premier's Reconciliation Award for its role in educating visitors to the Torres Strait about the union of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in their role of the defence of Australia during World War II.

The company also won the Emerging Business Award.

Vanessa Seekee is the creator of Torres Strait Heritage - she and husband Liberty started the business a decade ago. Today it's the largest wartime and cultural collection in the Torres Strait, and it attracts over 5,000 visitors a year.

Born in Brisbane, Ms Seekee moved to Thursday Island as a 20-year old teacher in 1994. She found that Thursday and Horn islands were full of trenches, aircraft, bunkers and smaller war time memorabilia and she began to wonder about the men and women who served on the islands.

Her search for answers led her to Liberty who later became her husband.

"In 1995 I had a chat with Liberty's father, Arthur, a pearl diver, about the concept of a museum," she says.

"He liked my idea, saw the potential, and agreed to patronise the venture.

"The family then built the museum - The Torres Strait Heritage Museum and Art Gallery - and now I curate and manage it while Liberty, a keen photographer, looks after all the images, which form such an important part of the display.

Ms Seekee has authored a book - and Liberty took the photos - called Horn Island, In Their Steps, 1939-1945.

More than 7000 people served in the Torres Strait during World War II.

On March 14, 1942, the Japanese bombed Horn Island and by the end of the war, the 56-square-kilometre Horn Island had approximately 500 bombs dropped on it - only the Darwin was bombed more heavily.

In other categories, Westpac Banking Corporation picked up the Established Business Award, the Pelican Hope Vale Project won the Partnership Award, and Brisbane Indigenous Media Association - home of 98.9 Murri FM - won the Community Organisation Award.

The Reconciliation Awards for Business are a Queensland Government initiative and are supported by Zinifex Limited and the National Indigenous Times. The five award winners shared in $25,000 in prize money.

Premier Anna Bligh presented the awards and congratulated winners on their promotion of reconciliation.

"We have many great organisations in Queensland that make a real difference in the lives of everyday Queenslanders," Ms Bligh told guests at Queensland's Parliament House.

"These awards recognise businesses striving for to create new employment and business opportunities for young Indigenous Queenslanders.

"Tonight's winners represent a cross-section of businesses, from those working to reduce youth suicide and crime to those delivering training and education services.

"I want to congratulate all the 2008 winners and thank them for making a unique and lasting contribution to reconciliation in Queensland."

Source: National Indigenous Times

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