Mabuiag

Mabuiag (formerly known as Jervis Island or traditionally known as Gumu), is an island in the Bellevue Islands, 100km north of Thursday Island. It lies in the Napoleon Passage and Arnolds Passage of Torres Strait.

The people of Mabuiag Island are one of the Melanesian Torres Strait Islander populations. Mabuiag is partly covered with mounds of basaltic rocks, lightly vegetated and mostly well-watered.

Like the larger Moa and Badu Islands to the south, Mabuiag is part of the old, submerged land bridge that ran from Cape York to Papua New Guinea.

Mabuiag Island consists of two moieties:

the Gumuligal of Wagedagam on the northwest side
the Mabuygilgal people of the Paipaidagam on the south-east side.

Language group

The language of the island is the Gœmulgau (Mabuylgau) Ya sub-dialect of Kala Lagaw Ya.

Population

250 residents

Facilities

Infrastructure on Mabuiag Island consists of:

Airport
Regional council office
State School (Years Pre-prep to year 6)
Health Centre with permanent nurse
Two grocery stores
Cultural resource centre
Sporting Facilities - outdoor rugby league oval, undercover basketball court
Community police services
Council workshop / compound
Water plant reservoirs / filtration collection wells
Power station
Sewerage treatment plant
Barge ramp
Pier (small craft and passengers only)

TSIRC operational hours

Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm

Contact/s

Saintie Whap - Divisional Manager

Email: saintie.whap@tsirc.qld.gov.au

Phone: 07 4083 2500

Solema Luffman - Multi-skilled Administration Officer

Email: solema.luffman@tsirc.qld.gov.au

Transportation

Refer to Westwing Airline travel schedule

Visitor approval

Visitors Application Form

Accommodation

Council accommodation

8 Rooms: 7 x double, 1 x single.

Rates

Double / shared: $167 per night.

Single: $142 per night.

Contact

Larissa Bani / Solema Luffman

Phone: 07 4083 2500

Shops

IBIS Shop

Operating hours:

Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 5:30pm

Saturday, 9am – 12noon

Contact: Margaret Larry

Phone: 07 4214 7102

Community social groups

KOD, Elders group

Contact: Cygnet Repu

Email: xbtmvg@hotmail.com

Goemu Bau Raiders

Contact: Ted Daniel Whap

Phone: 07 4090 0949

PBC

Contact: Johnny Kris

Email: j.m.kris@hotmail.com

Religions

Anglican Church

Contacts:

Holly Banasa

Frank Whap

Thowa Whap

Email: Thowa.whap@tsirc.qld.gov.au

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon)

Contact: Keith Fell

Phone: 0458 696 682

Apostolic Church

Contact: Willie Babia

Phone: 07 4090 0949

*Full Gospel

Contact: John Allan Repu

Phone: 07 4069 4768

Gazetted holidays

Gazetted holidays for Mabuiag Island community include:

2 February - Church Day
30 June - Tribal Chief Initiation Day
6 July - NT determination
1 August - Anglican Church Dedication Day
2 September - Coming of the Light.

Public Access Facilities

Community Hall and IKC

Contacts: Solema Luffman / Larissa Bani

Phone: 07 4083 2500