Friday, February 26, 2021
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
Trends Wide
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Trending
  • Australia
  • Deals
  • Cryptocurrency
No Result
View All Result
Trends Wide
Home Australia

Tiwi Islands football grand final and art sale to go ahead in 2021 after COVID shutdowns

souhaib by souhaib
February 23, 2021
in Australia
0


The annual day when the outside world spills into Australia’s remote Tiwi Islands for a local football grand final and art sale will return in 2021 — a year on from when the coronavirus outbreak triggered a snap shutdown of the Tiwis.

Key points:

  • Tourists were barred from entering the islands for the event in 2020
  • A cyclone in 2018 also caused the day to be postponed
  • The Tiwi Land Council says tourists are welcome and art centres are preparing for face-to-face sales

A ring fence was put up around the islands last year when, due to coronavirus precautions, Tiwi leadership restricted outside access to the famous cultural event that typically attracts thousands of tourists from around Australia.

But with the current suppression of coronavirus across Australia, Tiwi Land Council chief executive Andrew Tipungwuti said tourists would be welcome on the islands for the Sunday, March 21 showcase.

“There is no decision to axe the Tiwi grand final and art sale, that will go ahead as planned,” Mr Tipungwuti said.

“The communities are quite adamant that we need visitors back to the Tiwis to get our economy going. We are very proud we are going to continue with our grand final later this year, so let’s hope that nothing gets in the way of progress.”

The essence and beauty of football on the Tiwis

The game of footy is almost a different sport on the Tiwi Islands — a place where stars are born and locals says Aussie Rules is a way of life.

Read more

However, Mr Tipungwuti said a coronavirus outbreak prior to the day could force the island’s leadership to consider restricting access to the Tiwis.

The island’s predominantly Aboriginal population of about 2,500 people is considered by health experts to be at high risk if coronavirus were to reach local communities.

“Certainly, we remain aware of the possibility of a second wave of COVID because our community safety is paramount,” Mr Tipungwuti said.

“Unfortunately, last year we missed out on having tourists, and at last-minute notice. The concern was if this virus got into our community we would be digging mass graves.

“Whatever decision we make, we are working with government closely and we do take the advice of the Chief Health Officer of the Northern Territory.”

Mr Tipungwuti said the Tiwi Land Council had been given no indication visitors posed a risk to the islands, but urged visitors who were planning on travelling for the day to remain vigilant to symptoms, sanitation practices and physical distancing.

“Common sense prevails: if you’re feeling crook, don’t go,” he said.

Mr Tipungwuti added that he was confident in the COVID-19 protocols of air and sea travel operators who would be ferrying tourists to the Tiwi community of Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island for the day.

Art centres prepped for mainland influx

The Tiwi grand final and art sale is — in a normal year — one of the most significant days of trade for the major art centres on the Tiwis.

These centres, including Tiwi Designs, Jilamara and Munupi, produce art from some of Australia’s most culturally significant artists.

Tiwi art work sits in an art centre.
Tiwi artists increase their production in the lead up to the art sale to satisfy large demand from travellers.(ABC News: Robert Baird)

Art centres are already preparing for big sales on the day, with 2020 restrictions having hit their coffers hard — a hit made more painful by the postponement of the event in 2018 due to Cyclone Marcus.

Missing our news on Facebook?Download the ABC News app for all the latest.

“We’re all getting ready here and everyone is producing work for March 21 to have a face-to-face art sale and footy final,” said Steve Anderson, manager at Tiwi Designs.

“It’s all guns blazing.”

Hannah Raisin, the manager of the Milikapiti-based Jilamara Arts, said the day would offer both excitement and relief for the art community after missing out in 2020.

“Everyone here and all the artists that would be travelling for the event are really hoping to catch up with friends and visitors who have been coming for many years,” she said.

“It’s also a chance to meet new people who have recently discovered Tiwi art and for artists to share their work and culture with visitors.”

Footy final a rare glimpse of Tiwi brilliance

Most travellers who shuffle off boats and ferries at Wurrumiyanga and spill into art centres will typically, by the end of the day, end up among the thousands lining the fences of Tiwi oval watching an exhilarating brand of Australian Rules football.

Passionate Tapalinga Superstars supporters still hopeful that the team would win the Grand Final.
The exciting brand of football on Tiwi always has spectators on the edge of their seats.(Supplied: Tiffany Parker)

When the local Tiwi Island Football League grand final kicks off, spectators are treated to a snapshot of the skills and talent of Australia’s most gifted footballers — a group that includes stars such as Maurice Rioli, Cyril Rioli, Daniel Rioli, Austin Wonaeamirri and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti.

The 2021 grand final could see a cross-island clash between the undefeated Imalu Tigers from Melville Island and the currently second-placed Walama Bulldogs out of Bathurst Island.

Meet the Riolis — a history-making football dynasty

It’s not every day that three of your family members play in an AFL premiership — unless, of course, you’re the Riolis. But despite the pull of professional footy, the remote community of Pirlangimpi will always be home.

Read more

But the coach of the fourth-placed Taracumbi Magpies, Connell Tipiloura, is hoping his team can defy its ladder position and make a late run to the grand final.

“Come over and watch the grand final,” said Tipiloura, a three-time Tiwi grand final winner.

“I would love to have a big crowd come and spectate.”

Last year’s Tiwi grand final, which marked half a century of the Tiwi Islands Football League, was won by the Ranku Eagles over the Tapalinga Superstars in front of local crowds.



Source link

Related posts

Sharing is caring! Adorable toddler offers his scrambled eggs to his Mickey Mouse doll

February 26, 2021

AFL blackface scandal: Shocking photos show two footy stars at an end-of-season celebration

February 26, 2021
Tags: abc Australia
Next Post

A number of Palestinian ministers were infected with the Corona virus

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECOMMENDED NEWS

Byron Bay house prices surged by 36 per cent in 2020, realestate.com.au data showed

4 days ago

George Russell’s near-win in Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes sparks Formula One debate

3 months ago

Watch: Australian Open fans sent home mid-match for Covid lockdown

2 weeks ago

DAILY MAIL COMMENT: How DID they turn a crisis into an epidemic of madness?

4 months ago

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • Australia
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Culture
  • Deals
  • Discounts
  • Economie
  • Euro
  • Gaming
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Switzerland
  • Trending
  • Uncategorized

BROWSE BY TOPICS

2018 League abc Australia Bali United bbc bbc health Budget Travel Champions League Chopper Bike cnn ar business dailymail dailymail australia dailymail heath dailymail money dailymail sport day 7 euronews Health https://lenews.ch/feed/ IGN Istana Negara Market Stories National Exam rt arabic usa today usa today money usa today sport Visit Bali Women Fashion

POPULAR NEWS

  • Watch .. Lebanese astronomer Michel Hayek reveals his predictions for the year 2021

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Help save a local business

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Love Insurance

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 5 places to visit in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reece Parkinson: A shock diagnosis won’t stop me running

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • Hasbro announces Mr. Potato Head toy will be gender neutral
  • Revisit the changed 'Pretty in Pink' prom moment, 35 years later
  • Covid-19: Jabs for over-40s in next phase of rollout, and holiday health pass call

Category

  • Australia
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Culture
  • Deals
  • Discounts
  • Economie
  • Euro
  • Gaming
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Switzerland
  • Trending
  • Uncategorized

Recent News

Hasbro announces Mr. Potato Head toy will be gender neutral

February 26, 2021

Revisit the changed 'Pretty in Pink' prom moment, 35 years later

February 26, 2021
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

© 2021 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Culture
  • National
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Opinion

© 2021 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.