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THE ISLAND SPIRIT... Castaway boy should be commended
18:14 AEST Tue Jul 20 2004 A 12-year-old boy who inspired his sisters to swim from rocks to the safety of an island after their family's dinghy capsized should be commended for a bravery award, police said. Stephen Nona and his sisters Ellis, 15, and Norita, 10, were rescued from tiny Matu Island in the Torres Strait on Monday last week, six days after the dinghy capsized in choppy seas. Their parents and three-year-old brother Clarence remain missing, feared drowned. Naseli Nona, 60, also known as Haley Tamwoy, his wife Lisa, 44, and Clarence were last seen clinging to the upturned dinghy by the three older children who were told to swim for land. Badu Island's popular Assembly of God pastor and his family had set out on July 6 to attend a 21st birthday party on Thursday Island, but were only reported missing five days later. The official air and sea search was called off a week ago but Badu Islanders clung to hopes the missing trio were still alive and continued their own boat searches. Sergeant Mark Silvertand, of Thursday Island police, said it was clear Stephen Nona had inspired his sisters to make the swim to the island from the rocky outcrops they first reached after the capsize. After three days on the rocks with little to sustain them, they swam about 3km to Matu Island where they lived on coconuts and native fruit until they were rescued. "He's the one who decided they needed to make some serious sort of land rather than those rocks they were stranded on," said Sgt Silvertand, who helped coordinate the search and rescue effort last week. "He's the one who convinced his sisters that if they stayed where they were they wouldn't survive. "Then they've swum and he was the stronger of the swimmers so he's basically encouraged them and cajoled them to get to Matu Island. "At this stage I certainly think we'd be nominating him for some form of award through the Royal Humane Society." Anyone could make such nominations and members of the Badu Island community might even nominate all three children for bravery awards, Sgt Silvertand said. The children have recovered well after their six-day ordeal and are in the care of relatives on Badu Island My best friend know's these kids - she's a Torres Strait Islander also (related distantly to them) and comes from Darnley Island (one of the eastern most Islands) the Australian 60 minutes showed an interview with the 3 survivng children and during it the interviewer mentioned that it's a part of the "Island spirit" and it's sooooo true...they're beautiful, beautiful people  | |
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Six years I've been in the city and every night I dream fo the sea
They say home is where you find it Will this place ever satisy me For I come from the salt-water people We always live by the sea Now I'm down living in the city, With my man, and a family. My island home, my island home My island home is waiting for me. My island home, my island home, My island home is waiting for me. In the evening the dry wind blows From the hills and across the plain I close my eyes and I'm standing, In a boat on the sea again. And I'm holding that long turtle spear And I feel that I'm close to where I must be. My island home is waiting for me. For I come from the salt-water people, We always live by the sea, Now I'm down here living in the city With my man, and a family My island home, my island home My island home is waiting for me. My island home, my island home, My island home is waiting for me. My island home, my island home My island home is waiting for me. My island home, my island home, My island home is waiting for me | |
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Wow   No hablo espanol,no! 
Pero hablo ingles..ssii muy muy bien... 
 "Come into my world..."
Missy Quote of da Month: "yeah, sure, that's cool...wait WHAT?! "  | |
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lilmissmissy said: Wow
yep...wow is right | |
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