Home fight protestors ‘stepping up’
A CROWD of 70 people gathered outside the Burdekin Shire Council on Tuesday to protest the expected imminent eviction of a highly respected Indigenous family from their ancestral home on sacred land.
North Queensland Indigenous leader and advocate Randal Ross said protest numbers were beyond expectation and reflected community outrage against council moves to bulldoze the Nahow family hut on Edwards Street at the rear of the Ayr Golf Club.
“People are stepping up to support our Traditional Owners, which is good to show that the community is coming together on this,” he said
“They’re standing together, it’s a united front.”
Protesters held signs demanding that the council “tell the truth!”
“Why do you want that small piece of land!!”
Another protester noted that World War II veteran Wilfred “Bill” Nahow had “paid for this land” asking, “why isn’t this house heritage listed?”
Another read: “Burdekin Shire Council -- rotten to the core.”
Burdekin Mayor Lyn Mclaughin finally broke her silence late on Tuesday afternoon, stating that the council had attempted to “formalise tenure” with Bill Nahow before his passing.
“A formal lease was never entered into with Wilfred and the option to purchase this part of the land from council was never pursued by Wilfred,” she said in a statement.
“After the passing of Wilfred Nahow in December 2020, the implied tenancy arrangement between council and Wilfred Nahow concluded.”
She said the Nahow family of three currently occupying the home had no right to be there.
“The Nahow family has no right to occupy the building and any occupation of the premises by any person claiming under or through Wilfred Nahow is unlawful.”
Cr Mclaughin said the council had “attempted to engage with the current unlawful occupants of the residence” during the court process but the attempts were ignored.
“Council intends to proceed with securing possession of the site and the removal of the unlawful occupants this week,” she said.
Mr Ross said the Nahow family were Juru People, who had “native-title determination”, whereas the Bindal determination was still in process.
Burdekin MP Dale Last did not respond in time for the print deadline.
A spokesman for Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Craig Crawford said it was a council issue as the land was free-hold council land.
He referred queries to Local Government Minister Steven Miles.