In 2024, Australia will mark the 30th anniversary of the national recognition of Australian South Sea Islanders. This recognition was granted on August 25th, 1994, and will be celebrated on the same date in 2024. It is an important milestone for the community and a time to reflect on their history and contributions to Australian society.
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Australian South Sea Islanders United Council Independent Rockhampton & District Inc.
In 2024, Australia will mark the 30th anniversary of the national recognition of Australian South Sea Islanders. This recognition was granted on August 25th, 1994, and will be celebrated on the same date in 2024. It is an important milestone for the community and a time to reflect on their history and contributions to Australian society.
Australian South Sea Islanders United Council Independent Rockhampton & District Inc.
About Us
We promote Australian born descendants of Australian South Sea Islanders to foster the mutual understanding and respect between South Sea Islanders and other Australians. We also work to promote the educational, employment, housing, medical, legal and cultural needs of the Australian South Sea Islander people.
Photo courtesy of ASSIUC IR&D Inc.
Photo courtesy of ASSIUC IR&D Inc.
ASSIUC'S President
Kerry Warkill
Photo courtesy of ASSIUC IR&D Inc.
President's Welcome to 2024
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(Welkam mo Happy Niu Year 2024)
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​I would like to begin by wishing all a happy new year for 2024, and just say what a great year we at ASSIUC are looking forward to celebrating. Looking back at 2023, I would like to acknowledge the committee and members on all their effort in ensuring ASSIUC, continue on celebrating our history, ancestors and culture.​
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Last year we acknowledged those who were blackbirded on that first ship that arrived in Queensland in 1863.
​Since being recognised as a distinct cultural group ASSIUC has endeavoured to work that we celebrate this each year with our community.
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​This year is set to be another pearl of a year, pardon the pun as it was 30 years ago that the Federal Government recognised South Sea Islanders as a distinct cultural group.
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Our committee and members are already planning to celebrate this 30-year Pearl Anniversary by organising several events throughout the year.
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​Although this is a special occasion for us as a community, we must never forget the determination of our elders that have walked before us and who fought for recognition.
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​Although this is a special year and one which I am sure we will celebrate tremendously, the events that we are going to be holding are not successful if it wasn't for the hard-working committee and members who work tirelessly for their community and the respect they have for their elders.
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​If it wasn't for their continuing determination and hard work the events that they have been organising annually would not be possible.
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​So, in closing I encourage and invite you all to come and celebrate this special recognition year with us at one of our events this year.
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Aunty Monica Leo
Photo courtesy of Joanne Warkill
Monica Nora Leo (née Malamoo) is the youngest of 8 children of Charles And Nora Malamoo.
Monica is a first descendant of ‘blackbirded’ Charles Malamoo who was taken from Laone Beach North Pentecost as a young boy. Charles landed in the Pialba area during the slave trade and worked the cane fields. Eventually making his way to Rockhampton later in life he met and Married Nora Milbury-Cora. Settling in the South Sea Islander community of Joskeleigh they raised their family of 4 boys and 4 girls.
Charles also worked on the construction of the first Fitzroy Bridge (previous bridge to current one). Charles would also preach at gospel meetings in Joskeleigh with members of the Creek Street North Rockhampton south sea Islander community making the trip down to hear him preach.
He became great friends with Monica’s Husband’s Grandfather Louis Leo (Mahava Aru) blackbirded from the same beach on North Pentecost. Actually Joe and Monica would discover in 1993 that her father and his grandfather’s villages were in close proximity to each other. Monica’s fathers Village is Ogatoa North Pentecost and Joe’s Grandfather’s is Lagatava.
It all made sense to them only then why the two men were always together at Joskeleigh.
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Monica and Joe raised 7 children (Carmen, Tracy, Joanne, Andrew, Kerri, Amanda and Nicole), presently have 14 Grandchildren and 20 Great Granchildren.
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Donations
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Thank you for your Donation.
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We appreciate your contribution. Tanku tumas.
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Please deposit your donation to the following bank account and put your surname as the reference.
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Name of Bank: Bank of Queensland
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Account Name: ASSIUC Inc. Donations Account
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BSB: 124-051
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Account Number: 23112047
Quick Links
The Australian South Sea Islander United Council Independent Rockhampton & District Inc. acknowledge the Darambul people on which land our organisation operates. We acknowledge our Elders, past, present and emerging of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations.
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We also acknowledge our Australian South Sea Islander Elders both past, present and future.
Australian South Sea Islander United Council Independent Rockhampton & District Inc.
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Subscribe to our ASSIUC IR&D Inc. Newsletter by clicking on the link below.
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ASSIUC IR&D inc. would like to advise all Australian South Sea Islanders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders that all content on our website may contain images and sounds of deceased persons. ASSIUC IR&D Inc. tries to ensure cultural protocols are followed and respected.
Email: assiucrockhampton@gmail.com
Phone: 0473 594 154
ABN: 99 190 427 419
Registered Charity: 1A 12184