Of bush challenge

reavement has pipped the Kowanyama team at the starting gate – before the Governor-general, Finnish ambassador, the ADF, Federal Government and prospective employers.

The Cup has taken months of planning, lobbying and negotiations to get to the start line and in that time the competitors have grown, which was probably the whole point.

The young warriors have bonded across community lines – united by a desire to better themselves and represent their clan groups.

“They have taught us their ways and we teach them our ways like languages and hunting,” Jockton said.

Tim and Jockton have known each other for years – at 14 the young teen helped salvage a boat loaded with hunting dogs and pigs from crocodile infested waters.

“I have worked with some of the best water operators in the world; Jockton is the Navy SEAL of Yarrabah,” he said.

Jockton’s teammate, Alfred Mossman, 21, speaks with a confidence that only comes with recent self belief.

“Tim found us at home, asked what we were doing,” he said.

“We were just sitting around, slack. He asked us if we wanted to join the program, we said ‘yeah let’s give it a shot’ and we have been with them ever since,” he said.

They were the first two Kapani trainees from Yarrabah and over the last year have taken on leadership roles.

“We would have been stuck in the same cycle everyday; we knew there was a lot of things we could have been doing,” Alfred said.

“All of us are hard workers but it is not what you know, it is who you know; there aren’t a lot of jobs going in Yarrabah.

“Kapani came and gave me a hand to lift me up.”