February 23, 2024 Thursday Island, Australia Day 64 of 138

 

This is part of the Islands that make up Torres Strait, which Thursday Island is one of the 274 islands.  We learned that Thursday Island is home to 3,000-4,000 inhabitants, and the other islands are either deserted to maybe up to 500 individuals. The children of the islands, as well as outlying areas of Australia are sent to Boarding school, one of which is located in Thursday Island. These students are learning about their heritage, respect, and regular school studies for high school students. A group has started a tourist company that is trying to help the local economy, and local artists. They had the students dance and sing their native songs and dances for us in a little program. The town was very small, and walkable. We were more than happy to check everything out, and any day on land is a good day. While we were in the Grocery Store, it started pouring. We asked a local how long it would last, and she said about 20 min. We waited and the rain slowed to a drizzle, and we started walking back to the ship.  It was a short walk of maybe 4 blocks, but we had three downpours in that amount of time. We had an umbrella, and it was very useful. This town appears economically depressed, but they are moving in the right direction. Their local government is call a Shire. It made me smile. It sounds like a book.

Our guide for the day. Can you see the musicians? Look at the drum they are using, it is an old bent can.

Below is another group of Sea Turtles statues that I took my picture with all of them.

The man who started this tourist company spoke to us, while everyone arrived. I loved his speech, I will give you a brief overview, but he quoted something that was profound, but I didn't get it written down. It is along the same line. He was talking about respect specifically for the elders, but he said respect is not lost but dropped when we become too busy with other things. Something to give you pause. He said at Thursday Island they are teaching respect of others.

He went on to say electronics are not a friend to our children. They are breaking our family and tribe connections. Their goal is to provide good education, education on their native background and history, respect of each other and their elders and hope that many of our next generation will have the skills to be good people, and help to improve their area, country and world.

He also started the program with a prayer as he says they are a Christian society. What a breath of fresh air to have prayer be part of the experience. Our friend Susan had a great idea. She brought Canadian pins with her, and was able to hand them out to the students that performed for us. If you are planning on taking this journey for yourself it is a novel idea.

Below is their Catholic Church.

This is Mike and I on our way back to the ship on the Tender. As you can see we are still smiling and having a good time. Life is so good.

Wow! what an ending to our day. First Trivia, after a dismal showing last night, we fared way better tonight showing way above average of all the teams. We then headed down to our Viking Sky Vocalists singing some of our favorite songs from The Beach Boys, The Four Seasons, Neil Diamond, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, and many more. When you leave singing you know it was an inspiring show.

Ok, now for my computer literate Sisters, Niece, and our Son, here was our giant step forward. To help keep our credit card safe I have been turning it on and off before we head ashore, and when we return to the ship. Oops! today I forgot. We are in the grocery store with Mike's hands full, and I suddenly get this feeling. I have forgotten to turn the card on. We only have the ability when we are on Wi-Fi on the ship. Now wait for it. I have been playing with the Digital Wallet, it has our card in it, I go to the check out to see if they have the ability to tap to pay, yes, ok we may be home free. We tell our checker we are novices with our devise, but she looks unfazed. She checks us out, and we are now officially not Digital Wallet virgins. LOL This is one giant step for us.