SOMETIMES WHEN THEY COME HEREH THEY HAVE BEEN IN A BIT OF TROUBLE. WE TRY TO HELP THEM SORT THEMSELVES OUT
FORMER Queensland deputy premier Terry Mackenroth will head the Government’s investigation into the use of combustible cladding across the state.
Housing and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni yesterday announced Mr Mackenroth’s appointment as chairman of a taskforce charged with identifying buildings containing non- conforming materials.
Mr Mackenroth retired from Parliament in 2005 after 28 years in politics, during which he served as treasurer and minister for portfolios including police and emergency services.
The Government was forced to develop plans to safeguard Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital in July when it was confirmed its cladding was flammable. Rigorous testing at a Melbourne- based company confirmed it was combustible but more tests were required to determine whether it posed a fire risk to patients and staff.
Health Minister Cameron Dick said at the time the Government was awaiting final test results and would talk to experts about how to deal with the problem.
Seventy- nine people were killed when the Grenfell Tower in London became engulfed in flames in June. SIXTEEN- year- old Kieffer Wason picks up the metal stockyard panel and then drops it with a shout of pain and laughs self- consciously.
His two workmates, Richie Bee, 25, and Xavier George, 15, laugh as well. They have all been “bitten” by the hot rails.
They are helping build a stockyard on Aboriginalowned Delta Downs Station north of Normanton where, even in August, the mercury is sitting at 34C.
“You better put them gloves on,” Mr Bee says to Kieffer, pointing to a row of leather gloves on a yard rail. Mr Bee and the two teenagers are working with an experienced stockyard builder on a major extension at the homestead cattle yards.
It is just one of the many jobs they will be given to do as part of the general duties they undertake while working at Delta Downs.
Kieffer is from Mareeba and Mr Bee and Xavier are from Normanton.
Delta Downs spokeswoman Leanne Edwards said the two younger boys needed some “direction” in their lives.
She said the station’s training program for young indigenous males and females was focused on hard work and self- discipline. “Sometimes when they come here they have been in a bit of trouble. We try to help them sort themselves out,” she said.
Ms Edwards said hard work in the form of yard building, fencing, and stock work was all part of the plan, and in some cases, the pain.
“A bit of hard work doesn’t hurt anyone. You have to be tough, but you can’t be too tough. If you are too dominant they will walk away and go home,” she said.
Ms Edwards and husband Paul, who manages the station, and senior staff, walk a fine line between getting the job done to a high standard and keeping the young staff members happy and interested in what they are doing.
“We make sure they know rules. They are all told what we expect of them. There is no bullying out here. Nothing like that. We won’t have it. Everyone is equal here,” Ms Edwards said.
Mr Bee, Kieffer and Xavier complain lightheartedly about the heat and hot steel and joke among themselves as they work. They get along with each other, which is important in this tight- knit station community a two hour drive from Normanton.
It is Xavier’s first year at the station. Mr Bee has been there since he was 21. Kieffer started going out to the station when he was 13.
“We come out to do the season. We can save money out here when we are not in town. There is always something to do. We have more fun here than in town,” Mr Bee said.
They have no complaints about the daybreak starts to the working day. But, in the heat of the afternoon even the cattle get cranky.
“The cattle get mungery in the afternoon. You gotta watch ’ em. That’s when they’ll charge and you gotta run for the rails,” Kieffer said.
They laugh, each knowing what it is like to run desperately for the yard rails when a wild bull is only centimetres behind them, trying to headbutt them into outer space.
The trio continues to stack the steel rails. It is hot and they can’t help casting glances over towards the kitchen, waiting for the cook to ring the bell for afternoon smoko.