Cherbourg Mayor Bruce Simpson officially welcomed the representatives from the 16 other Councils to Cherbourg
May 1, 2025
History was made at Cherbourg this week when the community hosted the 2025 Indigenous Leaders Forum, a get-together of mayors and Council officials organised by the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ).
Cherbourg councillors welcomed representatives from 16 other Indigenous councils: Aurukun, Doomadgee, Hopevale, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mapoon, Mornington Island, Napranum, Northern Peninsula, Palm Island, Pormpuraaw, Torres, Torres Strait Island, Woorabinda, Wujul Wujul and Yarrabah.
LGAQ president Matt Burnett was also in attendance and addressed the crowd who gathered in the open air meeting space at The Ration Shed complex..
Guest speakers also included LGAQ policy executive members Palm Island Mayor Alf Lacey and Lockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher.
It is only the second time the Indigenous Leaders Forum (ILF) has met in community; the 2024 event was hosted by Yarrabah.
It was an opportunity for the visitors from all over Queensland to learn more about Cherbourg, network with their peers, inspect Cherbourg Council facilities and enterprises, and discuss common problems.
Tuesday was the “community” day for the group, which included lunch, entertainment, songs and dancing, inspections and tours of Cherbourg.
They enjoyed a performance by the Wakka Wakka Dancers as well as a guided tour of The Ration Shed.
On Wednesday, the Mayors and CEOs were scheduled to get down to the hard work of the forum, with a series of workshops organised by the LGAQ on the Sunshine Coast.
From left, Mayor Bruce Simpson, Deputy Mayor Gordon Wragge, Cr Daniel Weazel, Cr Tom Langton, Pastor Max Conlon, Aunty Ada Simpson and Cherbourg CEO Chatur Zala (Photo: CASC)The Mayors, CEOs and other Council officials gathered for a group photo after afternoon tea at Bert Button Lookout (Photo: Dean Saffron)Cherbourg councillor Daniel Weazel was kept busy … not only did he organise the smoking ceremony to welcome all the guests but he also did the Welcome To Country and guided the performance by the Wakka Wakka dancers
Former Cherbourg councillor Leighton Costello compered the event
Local Government Association of Queensland president, Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett
Cherbourg Mayor Bruce Simpson, Elder Uncle Eric Law AM and Deputy Mayor Gordon Wragge
Cherbourg Elders Aunty Ada Simpson and Aunty Sandra Morgan were recognised during the morning ceremony for their work establishing The Ration Shed
Former SBRC general manager Peter O’May was back on familiar ground but this time as CEO of Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council (Photo: CASC)
Children from Cherbourg State School were among the spectators at the morning event
Pop John Stanley led the prayers at the start of the ceremony
Cr Daniel Weazel leading the performance of the Wakka Wakka Dancers
Choir members from the Cherbourg AIM Church sang during the morning ceremony (Photo: CASC)The performance by the Wakka Wakka Dancers was applauded by the council guestsMayors and Council officials from the 16 visiting Indigenous Queensland councils gathered under gazebos in the outdoor meeting area at The Ration Shed complexThe visitors toured The Ration Shed as well as visiting Cherbourg Council facilities such as the works depot, call centre and recycling plant (Photo: CASC)
