Stronger Together In Sugar

QCAR Central District Manager Sonia Ball

Rain And Flood In Northern Queensland
Torrential rain across north and far north Queensland has caused immeasurable angst and damage for communities, businesses and governments with the final measure of implications and costs still to come.
Natural disasters such as these can have life-changing and long-lasting impacts. QCAR therefore is supporting members with information and resources and staying available and abreast of updates but also urgently seeking all avenues of support and assistance.
We are aware that many cane farmers impacted were still reeling from the financial and emotional burden of standover when the heavens opened with a vengeance and stayed open.
Our thoughts are with everyone in these regions, as even when the rain stops and the water subsides the ramifications will continue, and we will be there with you.
In the Central Region, at the time of writing, in some areas we too have felt the usual impacts of our oft predictable wet season however on this occasion, ‘touch wood’, we have, so far, fared far better than our northern counterparts.
We already have seen the ‘Return of the Potholes’ (always stated with an ominous drum roll) and the stain of overflowing debris and erosion. We can be sure also that with inundation we will see our soil health sapped and all the while the gale force gusts and storms lodge the larger cane that we all know should not still be there.
QCAR urges all cane farmers to touch base with their local office to ensure they have all the information they need to access assistance where it is needed.

Kelsey Creek Grower Meeting 
Kelsey Creek Hall committee president Craig Valmadre, left, was thanked by QCAR Chairman Christian Lago for his hospitality at the hall. Photos supplied
 
QCAR Central District Manager Sonia Ball, centre, was happy to oblige Proserpine growers Ross and Jenny Rule’s requests for a grower meeting at Kelsey Creek Hall. The Rules were generous with their time and their efforts pulling the meeting together with short notice. Ms Ball said she was looking forward to returning to the hall for another grower meeting in the near future
 

QCAR-ACFA: driving change with action
To all our ACFA members, we’ve been reaching out and explaining the stages of the integration between QCAR and ACFA in recent weeks and that process is just about complete! Please ensure your details are up to date so we can keep you informed of the great progress we are making driving change with action across all growing regions in Queensland and into northern NSW. If you have not yet heard from Central District Manager Sonia Ball, please give her a call on 0467 573 321.
Our new magazine and e-news – Members & Businesses
All QCAR members should now have received a hard copy of our inaugural Australian Cane Agriculture and Renewables magazine. If you did not receive yours, please get in touch and we’ll get your copy out to you. If you’re interested in receiving a copy or two for your business waiting areas in Proserpine, Mackay or Sarina (Plane Creek), please let us know we’d be happy to accommodate you.  
It is common that email account holders change their email address. If you are not receiving our communications in your inbox, we may have your old email address. Stay informed by making sure we have your correct details and we can make sure you are getting important updates and information.

Whitsunday Regional Council Meeting
QCAR Central District Manager Sonia Ball, second from right, met with Whitsunday Regional Council at Proserpine in late January to introduce QCAR to Mayor Ry Collins, centre, and councillors including, from left, Division 5 Councillor Gary Simpson, Deputy Mayor and Division 4 Councillor Michelle Wright and Division 1 Councillor Jan Clifford (OAM).
Ms Ball said the meeting was successful with interest shown from all at the meeting, and with Mayor Ry Collins and councillors receptive to the information provided about the new cane farmers’ representative organisation in the Central region, which encompasses Proserpine, Plane Creek (Sarina) and Mackay. Ms Ball shared information about the intentions of QCAR in the cane growing region of Proserpine and the community assuring Mayor Collins and councillors that she, and the Central District Committee were in Proserpine regularly supporting QCAR members but also supporting the community in which those members lived and worked.
“I was very appreciative of the time provided by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors, and look forward to working with them in the future on the matters important to our members,” Ms Ball said.

‍