LtoR: JamesHemi Tioro (Safety Bay, Zaviers Dad), Zavier Hemi Tioro (5months)
Camera IconLtoR: JamesHemi Tioro (Safety Bay, Zaviers Dad), Zavier Hemi Tioro (5months) Credit: Supplied/Elle Borgward

Ride for boys

Stuart Horton, Weekend CourierWeekend Kwinana Courier

A ruling delivered by a Federal Circuit Court judge two weeks ago has prevented James Hemi Tioro’s partner from moving to WA with her two sons because it would undermine the boys’ Aboriginal culture.

The boys’ father, an Aboriginal man, opposed the family’s planned move to be with Mr Tioro in Safety Bay and won the ruling of Judge Terry McGuire, who said the boys and their mother must stay in the Warrnambool area in Victoria to retain close ties to their heritage.

To complicate matters, Mr Tioro and his partner have a five-month-old son, Zavier, who has returned to WA with him.

Mr Tioro met his partner two-and-a-half years ago while working on a windfarm project in Warrnambool, but moved to WA for better work prospects.

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‘(In Warrnambool) you get paid $20-22 an hour compared with $50-55 for the same work here,’ he said.

‘(My partner) had a job lined up here and I’ve got a job that allows me to work hours to be home a lot and spend quality time with the kids and you can’t get those jobs everywhere.’

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