Link-Up (Qld) held a lunch in Cairns on Wednesday 23 March to celebrate our relocation to a new office space.
Our clients in North and Far North Queensland can now find us at 1/214 Mulgrave Road in Westcourt. Link-Up (Qld) Chairperson Ken Murphy welcomed speakers and guests while board members Wilfred Prince unveiled our new office plaque and Aunty Faye Carr cut the ribbon on our boardroom.
During the official program, guests heard Yarrabah local, Uncle Roy Gray, tell of his journey with Link-Up (Qld) to research and reunite with his father’s family. His story included a gravesite reunion as well as the discovery of a cousin and whole other family he didn’t know about. Our Research Manager Ruth Loli and Service Delivery Manager Yvette Salam also spoke about the work they do to research, reunite and support our clients’ healing journeys at Link-Up.
Link-Up (Qld) CEO Patricia Thompson AM read a letter from Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon. Ken Wyatt AM MP who is a child of a member of the Stolen Generations. His mother and siblings were taken from their parents and split between three different missions, hundreds of miles apart in Western Australia. They were fortunate to be able to reunite.
“Your important work is helping to give people a sense of self and belonging; helping to put families back together,” he wrote.
“The work your organisation does… is instrumental in ensuring high levels of social and emotional wellbeing and critical to healing. Your important work is helping to give people a sense of self and belonging; helping to put families back together. Not only this, you are giving people an opportunity to find their history and tell their story.”
Following the official program, guests enjoyed a lunch and met the new Cairns staff members: Sharona-Lee Joinbee, SEWB Counsellor, Darryl Tranby, Redress Counsellor and Heidi O’Donoghue, Caseworker.
Play our event slideshow below.
To get in touch with our Cairns office, head to our contact page.
