Page 59 - Tropic Magazine Issue 13

TAIPANS 20 TH SEASON ANNIVERSARY

T.I.P of Australia The upcoming 20th anniversary of bringing Nate into the mix, it is
the Taipans will be the fifth year of absolutely wonderful,” explained
Thanks to a partnership with TIP, and they embark on their half- Sea Swift CEO Fred White, who
decade milestone with Nate Jawai as
has witnessed the see impact of the
Sea Swift, the Taipans are ambassador for a third season. program, albeit accidentally.
delivering important health Jawai’s journey is legendary amongst “I’ve been fortunate enough to witness
messages to children across Far these communities, as the boy from it on Horn Island. I was on a bus which
North Queensland. Bamaga made international sporting stopped at the basketball court to pick
history as the first Indigenous player
up a group of kids. As they walked out,
While there are many basketball branches to ever be drafted in the NBA. When Kerry was in the middle of a swarm of
of the CQUniversity Cairns Taipans, Williams and Jawai go to these children who were all smiling.
one that regularly flies under the radar communities - it’s a sight that needs to “It was phenomenal to see the
is the “Taipans Indigenous Program,” be seen to be believed, and wouldn’t be engagement, energy and how
commonly known as “T.I.P.” Not just an possible without the support of Sea Swift. much they respected Kerry. It was a
acronym, “TIP” also refers to “the tip of “Kerry has provided a really good completely random trip with my wife,
the ball” in sports terms, and also the “tip platform for the Taipans, and now and I’d just seen first-hand, not staged,
of Australia,” which is where the program the work he does, and I told him I’d
currently services – as it aims to promote keep underpinning this program. It is
healthy lifestyles in Cairns, Cape York, the absolutely wonderful.
Torres Straits and beyond. “This is a long-term commitment from
Former Taipan Kerry Williams has been Sea Swift, and a long-term partnership
at the helm of TIP since its launch in with the Taipans. I’m a big believer in
paying it forward.”
2014, and he undertakes a dedicated
delivery schedule, which positively result
in spikes of attendance in schools and MORE: seaswift.com.au
basketball activities following his visit.

59 • tropicnow.com.au