The Torres Strait Islands | Cairns & Great Barrier Reef (tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au)
There are few relatively undiscovered places left in the world, yet one of them starts just off the coast of Tropical North Queensland. The Torres Strait Islands are impossibly beautiful and virtually untouched, a series of stepping- stones reaching from Cape York towards Papua New Guinea.
Various hockey-type games were played in many areas of the Torres Strait and Papua and New Guinea. A hockey game called kokan, which was played on Mabuiag Island, was the name of the ball itself. This ball was 6–8 centimetres in diameter.
The game was played over a long stretch of the sandy beach. The kokan was hit with a rough bat or club, baiwain or dabi, which was usually cut from a piece of bamboo 60–85 centimetres in length on which a grip was cut. On Mabuiag Island the game was played by both genders.
(Australian Sports Commission, 2008)
“Migi” is an island language word for small.
Migi Kokan is able to be delivered as a result of community partnership between Aspire to be Deadly, Tagai State College and the communities of the Torres Strait Island. It marks ongoing commitment to hockey development into the college’s and community sport program. Torres Strait Island Regional Council and TSYSRA assist and support local program delivery as part of the sports pathways program in remote communities.
MIGI KOKAN began in 2008 and in 2024, there is opportunity to identify and support students to travel to Peninsula School Hockey Team Trials to compete in the State U12 Hockey Championships in Cairns.
Migi Kokan will be held on Ngurupai/Narupai (Horn Island) on 13th and 14th March 2024 students from Waibene Ngurupai/Narupai Badu Mabuiag and Moa. Schools include-
- Ngurupai/Narupai Campus
- Waibene Campus
- Badu Campus
- Kubin Campus Moa
- St Pauls Campus Moa
- Mabuiag Campus
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart – Waiben
For more information, contact Wes Ferns – wes.ferns@aspireccl.com.au