Thursday, December 5, 2024

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Farming Resilience Takes Centre Stage At Canegrowers AGM

By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay


The Mackay Canegrowers Ltd AGM was held Wednesday 27 November with a good roll-up in a challenging year where many are still cutting their crop. It was great to see the 80 members and guests attend the event, to hear from myself, Deputy Chairman Joseph Borg and District Manager Michelle Martin on progress made in 2023-24 financial year and to the present.
We also heard from guest speaker Dr John Pickering on farming and resilience in tough times. John is a behavioural psychologist specialising in practice change, from Evidn. He is very familiar with the sugar industry, having worked with CANEGROWERS on Project CaneChanger almost a decade ago, when we were improving industry environmental sustainability and implementing Smartcane BMP. He was instrumental in achieving strong early growth of the program in the cane growing sector.
Thanks to all who attended to support the region’s strong grower representative organisation.

Ooralea Growers Jim and Sharon Pengelly with CANEGROWERS District Manager Michelle Martin
IMG_2752_Plane Creek grower Glen Brady with guest speaker Dr John Pickering
IMG_2755_Yalboroo grower Bruce Wallace and Mackay Sugar Agricultural Manager Damian Baxter
IMG_2758_Growers Peter Doyle and Paul Schembri
IMG_2768_ Growers De-Ann Grech, Jan Muscat, Therese Russell and Mary Wallace
IMG_2769_Canegrowers Mackay Director Phil Deguara, Marian Grower Anthony Deguara, with QSLs Brad Dunn
IMG_2778 Marwood Grower Tony Ross with Canegrowers Mackay Agricultural Economist John Eden
IMG_2781_CANEGROWERS Chairman Kevin Borg, Accounts Manager Elli Preston and Director Brett Leach

In other news