Blue, red, yellow and green lights illuminated the Mackay State High School Hall last Tuesday as the school welcomed global technology company Google to announce funding for a new school program.

Throughout the program, made possible by national education charity Schools Plus and funded by a $33,000 donation from Google, students will receive hands-on training in the classroom with a range of different digital technologies.

Students will also undertake workshops run by STEM Punks, a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education provider, while teachers will benefit from professional development training in technology, including the use of tools like robotics and software.

The program will benefit 150 students to begin with, before being expanded to more students at Mackay State High.

Google’s donation was made through Schools Plus, a not-for-profit that exists to help close the education gap caused by disadvantage.

“Our journey commenced with a funding proposal to Schools Plus, an organisation that exists to help students succeed at school; specifically, students who may face barriers due to rural locations, socio-economic backgrounds and English as a second language,” said Mackay State High School Principal Felicity Roberts.

“We are excited at the new opportunities this will enable for our students and staff.

“STEM education and the skills it develops – like creativity, problem solving and teamwork – are so critical to our students’ futures.”

Schools Plus has assisted over 330,000 students in 1,040 schools since its inception in 2015 and Director of Donor Relations Sherrill Nixon said students in regional and rural locations are around 1.5 years behind metro students in STEM-related subjects.

“That’s why we’re so passionate about working with supporters like Google to give students learning opportunities that will make a real difference to their future,” Ms Nixon said.

“This project will not only equip students and their teachers with much-needed skills, but it may well spark newfound passions and produce Australia’s future coders and engineers right here at Mackay State High.”

Google Engineering Programs Manager Marie Efstathiou said Google is committed to helping Australia build a stronger digital future by ensuring students have access to technology and the skills to use it.

“With this new program, students will learn future-focused skills that will help them discover new interests and unlock career opportunities,” Ms Efstathiou said.

“Through our Digital Future Initiative, Google plans to invest $1 billion over five years in Australian partnerships, research and infrastructure as we work to support Australia’s goal of becoming a leading digital economy.”

Staff from Google, Schools Plus and STEM Punks were welcomed to Mackay by Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox, Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson and Mackay State High School Principal Felicity Roberts. Photos supplied

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The annual Bakers Creek Memorial ceremony was conducted at Bakers Creek last Sunday to commemorate the 79th Anniversary of the wartime crash of an American aircraft that claimed the lives of 40 American soldiers and crippled the sole survivor.

The ceremony also marked the 30th anniversary of the Memorial’s unveiling and dedication in 1992.

Special guests Corporal (AAFC) Deb Rutherford of the Air Force Cadets, Mackay Deputy Mayor Karen May and Mackay RSL President Ken Higgins arrived at the ceremony by Jeep.

A Tri-School Band marched to the venue, made up of students from Northview, Central and Dundula State Schools, followed by a parade of Australian and American flags and Australian Air Force Cadets.

70 people turned out for the ceremony led by Master of Ceremonies Corporal Rutherford.

Guest Speaker Pan Jaenke, who served on the committee that conceived and built the Memorial thirty years ago, spoke about the history of the memorial and Councillor May and Mr Higgins also addressed the ceremony.

Dignitaries, students and Dundula State School Principal Trudy Large laid flowers of remembrance.

The United States Army Air Forces B-17C Flying Fortress crashed at 6:02AM at Bakers Creek June 14, 1943, en route to Port Moresby with passengers who had spent 10 days R&R leave in Mackay.

The Memorial was unveiled and dedicated on May 11, 1992 to honour the 41 Americans aboard.

“Although it signifies the loss of 40 crew and sole survivor on that aircraft, it also represents about 40,000 who spent their R&R in Mackay,” said Mackay RSL Senior Vice President Col Benson.

Mr Benson said The Bakers Creek Memorial is one of a relatively few memorials in the world that honour soldiers from another country.

“It is one of the few memorials to foreigners.”

The US Army conducted a parallel ceremony at the Bakers Creek Air Crash Memorial in Washington, DC on Tuesday.

More than 70 people paid their respects at the Bakers Creek Memorial last Sunday. L-R: Cr Fran Mann, Cr Karen May, Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox, Cr Belinda Hassan, Cr Pauline Townsend, Youth Parliament member Sebastian Padget, Cr Justin Englert. Photo credit: Office of Andrew Willcox

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The future of mineral mining has a changing face, with a switch in focus from commodities like coal to those used in emerging and renewable energy technologies.

Speaking in Mackay last week, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said a $5.7 million boost over three years will fund a new future industries development hub with a further expansion of Mackay’s Resources Centre of Excellence.

The future industries hub will enable the Mackay Region to become a key player in Queensland’s new economy minerals sector, as a switch is made to future technology including electric vehicles and long-life batteries, and for products in key sectors like medical, defence and scientific research.

The Treasurer said the funding is a major win for our resources sector, for our regions, and for regional jobs of tomorrow.

“Our government is a strong supporter of the RCOE, having put in more than half the $7 million investment that made this centre a reality,” he said.

“New economy minerals will be in demand for decades to come, and Queensland has world-class deposits, particularly in our north.

“The new funding will allow Mackay’s Resources Centre of Excellence to increase their work within the new economy minerals sector.

"It will ensure we have the skilled workforce and sharpest minds working in our mines.

“A strong new economy minerals sector, supported by Mackay’s Resources Centre of Excellence, will generate more prosperity for our state.”

Resources Minister Scott Stewart said new economy minerals presented significant opportunities for Queensland.

“That’s why we’re making investments like this now, to ensure a strong future for our resources sector,” Mr Stewart said.

“Our government’s vision is to mine, process and manufacture these minerals here in Queensland, taking them all the way from pit to product.

“From copper and bauxite/alumina to silica, vanadium and cobalt, we want to maximise our minerals for the benefit of every Queenslander.”

Resources Centre of Excellence CEO Steven Boxall said they are extremely excited at now being able to implement the RCOE Stage 2: Future Industries Hub.

“This allows us to capture, incubate and grow the industries of the future, putting both our region and Queensland in the box seat to drive low carbon innovation,” Mr Boxall said.

“The METS sector in Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday has the skills and experience to transition and support the emerging new economy minerals sector, which will help secure jobs for the future and our regional economy.”

Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick announced $5.7M in funding to expand the Resources Centre of Excellence

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River Robertson is obsessed with police, or as he likes to call them, “coppers”.

Two weeks ago, at the Moranbah State High School Under 8’s Day, four-year-old River’s dreams came true when he met Senior Constable Dale McIntyre.

“It was extremely exciting,” said River’s mother, Deiya Robertson.

Mrs Robertson says River has a developmental delay, autism and ADHD and typically struggles when interacting with new people but took to SC McIntyre immediately.

“He was so patient with River because River usually doesn’t like new people,” she said.

“I’ve never seen River sit on anyone’s lap at all that he doesn’t know.”

River got to wear a police vest and hat and got tours of a police car and fire truck from the friendly police and fire service staff, even getting to sit in the back of the paddy wagon.

“It was just a really, really nice moment for him, he’s still talking about it.”

Mrs Robertson says River can have a hard time navigating safe and trustworthy people.

“Having such a positive experience with someone that he looks up to gives my husband and I a lot of comfort as parents, that if anything was to ever happen that River can identify a police officer as a safe person he can trust,” she said.

“There were literally hundreds of kids there but they made sure that each child got their own time and they treated them all with respect.”

“They really made all the kids feel really special.”

“We are extremely thankful for the Police in our community and for their dedication to the children.”

Although only four, Deiya is already predicting a career in law enforcement for River.

“I definitely think that River would probably aspire to be a police officer or a fireman,” she said.

“This is an obsession he’s had since he could recognise what they were.”

Police-obsessed River got to meet one of his heroes

River was given tours of police cars and fire trucks and even got to sit in the back of the paddy wagon. Photos supplied: Deiya Robertson

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Nearly 1,000 Australians received recognition in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours list, with governor general, David Hurley, saying they represent the very best of Australia.

“Recipients share some common traits – including selflessness, excellence and a commitment to service,” he said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk congratulated the 119 Queensland recipients, whose wide-ranging contributions stretch from the grass courts of Wimbledon to the halls of Parliament, and beyond.

“The latest honourees include dedicated health leaders and public servants, gifted athletes and authors, passionate advocates for veterans and people with a disability, and tireless community volunteers,” the Premier said.

“Importantly, all were nominated by members of the public and I’m delighted their service, talent, loyalty and perseverance has been recognised with a place in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours.”

23 Queenslanders were appointed Members of the Order of Australia (AM), including former Minister in the Beattie and Bligh Governments, and long-serving Member for Mackay, the late Tim Mulherin.

“This honour is a richly deserved acknowledgement of Tim’s unparalleled service to his community and to our state,” the Premier said.

“It recognises the enormous regard in which he was held by everyone he met across the political divide.

“As a friend who knew his great heart for people, and a colleague who saw his extraordinary commitment and achievements, I can say that no-one is more worthy of such an award.”

Among the Queensland recipients, three from the Mackay and Isaac regions, from vastly different backgrounds yet bonded by the desire to enrich the lives of others.

Two local recipients received the Member of the Order of Australia in the General Division (AM): as previously mentioned, the late Tim Mulherin for significant service to the people and Parliament of Queensland, and Dr Sunday Adebiyi, for service to general practice medicine.

Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said it was “lovely for Tim to once again be honoured in these significant awards”.

“Thank you to Erin and the boys for all the support they provided to Tim as he served our community,” Mrs Gilbert said.

Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker said Dr Sunday’s AM is “absolutely wonderful acknowledgement for his years of service to rural health”.

“Your efforts and support for our community is truly appreciated,” Mayor Baker added.

Dr Sunday Adebiyi has been a general practitioner in Dysart for more than 16 years. He migrated from Nigeria to Australia in 2000 and entered rural and remote medicine to help people.

Detective Senior Sergeant Emma Novosel was awarded the Australian Police Medal (APM), one of six officers in Queensland to be bestowed with the honour.

Senior Sergeant Novosel joined the QPS in 1995 and is currently the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Mackay District Child Protection Investigation Unit (CPIU).

Mrs Gilbert said, “We are very lucky here in Mackay to have an officer of this calibre working to keep our children safe.”

“The work she does is invaluable for our community.”

QPS Commissioner Katarina Carroll said every little thing the Police award recipients had experienced throughout their lives made them perfect police officers.  

“Police officers aren’t born, they’re made,” she said.

The late Tim Mulherin was posthumously appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours. Photos supplied

Dr Sunday Adebiyi was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia, for service to general practice medicine

Detective Senior Sergeant Emma Novosel was awarded the Australian Police Medal

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Whitsunday gymnasts were given the opportunity to experience a new and dynamic form of their sport in early June by learning ‘FreeG’ at Mackay Gymnastics.

Local Whitsunday PCYC youth gymnasts jumped at the chance to attend the Gymnastics Australia program which focuses on freestyle.

The program was officially launched by Gymnastics Australia as the “most exciting initiative to hit our shores” in the sport for some time and has travelled around the country in past years.

First developed by British Gymnastics to help clubs retain their crop of gymnasts, FreeG caters for young people looking to participate in “adrenaline fuelled freestyle sports” – think of something akin to the early 2000s craze of parkour.

FreeG and parkour have two common threads: the rigidity of gymnastics is replaced by free-flowing, movement-based athleticism.

Six Whitsunday gymnasts from the local PCYC branch’s Ninja program – a similar amalgamation of gymnastics and parkour – joined the session of FreeG at Mackay Gymnastics.

The session was coached by high level freestylers from Gymnastics Australia, who have travelled to gyms across the state teaching the style.

PCYC Branch Manager Police Sergeant Billy Li said the initiative was not only excellent for students, but also for the PCYC’s coaches.

“It was an opportunity to upskill our coaches and was a really unique experience for our gymnasts,” Sergeant Li said.

“You don’t always get visiting coaches regularly coming to teach workshops, so this opened our coaches’ eyes in how to do things in different ways.”

Sergeant Li said the Whitsunday PCYC is currently working on having the Queensland Gymnastics FreeG coaches travel to his Jubilee Pocket branch.

Whitsunday PCYC gymnastics coach Jessica Ferguson said it was extremely rewarding for coaches and athletes.

“It was a good experience for our gymnasts to be coached by one of the elite trainers from Gymnastics Australia,” Ms Ferguson said.

The six Whitsunday students with gymnastics coaches Tara Brady and Dominic Di Benedetto at their FreeG introduction in Mackay

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The Gumlu community added to its tally of $7409 dollars’ worth of donations to cancer research by hosting its 8th annual Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea at Molongle Caravan Park early this month.

The Sunday, June 5 morning saw last year’s goal of $1000 blitzed by the small community, who turned out their pockets for a total of $1815 in donations for the Cancer Council Australia.

60 people – almost half of Gumlu’s 180-person population - arrived in a generous mood for the charity event which brings millions of Australians across the nation together for a cuppa in support of those affected by cancer.

Much of the crowd were southerners who annually arrive at the Molongle Caravan Park to escape the cold and have attended every year since Gumlu’s Morning Tea event’s inception in 2014.

Others came locally from Bowen, Home Hill, Ayr and even Townsville, and a special guest, representing Queensland Cancer Council, Olivia Mayne joined in on the day.

Ms Mayne spoke on the impacts that functions like Gumlu’s have on the journey of researchers pursuing the goal of a cancer-free world.

She highlighted the importance of early diagnosis, prevention, treatment and support for the families.

Activities on the day included a monster Cent Sale, a large raffle draw, two $50 moneyboards and two Guess-the-number-of lollies jars.  

There were almost 110 prizes to share – meat trays, a $600-dollar welded artwork from local Barefoot Welder, Mick Dudley, and more - with almost every attendee heading home with something won.

Gumlu resident and event volunteer, Regina Lequerica, said there was reflection on the impact cancer has had on the community.

“Either in our family or in our circle of friends, it has touched us,” she said.

A recollection was made for local Brenda Lord, a firm supporter and helper at the event since its beginnings in 2014, who sadly passed from cancer in December 2019.

“We always remember the reason why we come together [and] we trust that any contribution we make is very valuable towards the efforts of committed people in the medical and health profession who are working towards a vision of a cancer-free world,” Ms Lequerica said.

“Together we can all make a difference.”

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A cold windy start to the morning did not deter the Cannonvale State School community from enjoying their annual Under 8’s Day on the school oval last Friday.

School children excitedly ran from one fun activity to the next - getting their hands covered in slime, painting a masterpiece, ducking under the colourful parachute, combatting the obstacle course and lining up to get their faces painted.

Local community groups were also in attendance with firefighters and police officers entertaining children by sounding the sirens and the SES handing out colourful stickers.

The P&C also cooked up some delicious snags for all to enjoy.

School mascot Bungaroo made an appearance

Children meet the local firefighters

A young Picasso

The P&C manning the sausage sizzle

A pink fairy charms the crowd

Blow me a bubble

Children race underneath a colourful parachute

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Iconic local gallery, Above and Below, has rebranded in the run-up to its fifth birthday and its owner, Brooke Miles says she is excited to broaden its horizons.

“The gallery has always been more than just a photography ‘shop’, so it was important to ensure that the rebrand reflected this,” she said.

Changing part of the name from ‘photography’ to ‘gallery’ further cements the boutique gift store’s reputation as a must-see destination, offering a more extensive range of unique and original imagery for sale as prints, as well as jewellery and other unique souvenir items.

Above and Below Gallery boasts an array of incredible photography from ‘above’ aerial views of the region to ‘below’ stunning underwater shots that capture the true essence of the Whitsundays.

The gallery is personally curated by owner Brooke Miles who is a well-respected local photographer and many of the images feature in households across the world.

“To know that there are beautiful Whitsunday landscapes in the living rooms of people from New York to London is the ultimate dream for me,” she explained.

“I feel extremely lucky to share my home and beautiful backyard with the world over.”

Along with the name change, Brooke has introduced a refreshed logo design blending the existing design with a bold, new look.

“I am really proud of the personal connection I have to the new logo, with the design including images from some of the first collections which have been adapted into graphics,” she said.

For further details or information, visit www.aboveandbelowgallery.com.au or immerse yourself at the gallery from Wednesday to Sunday at the Port of Airlie.

Well respected local photographer and curator of Above and Below Gallery

The rebranded store-front at Port of Airlie

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This week the chamber breakfast meet was held within the Coral Sea Marina complex, with amazing morning views over the marina precinct. A big thankyou to Coral Sea Marina for your ongoing support.

We had two guest organisations visit to meet our members and discuss opportunities. Maddy from Bowen River Utilities provided details on the Urannah dam project, this included the opportunities available for local businesses in the area, plus opportunities on how they can support local community organisations.

Our second guest was the team from IDCARE in Australia and New Zealand. They are a national identity and cyber support service, free to the small businesses and the larger community. Their service has helped thousands of Australian and New Zealand individuals and organisations reduce the harm they experience from the compromise and misuse of their identity information by providing effective response and mitigation.

Please reach out directly or through the chamber to either of these organisations should you see value.

In other news it is an exciting week for a number of our members with the return of cruise ships docking in the Whitsundays. This should have a very positive economic impact for those within the main street precinct and tourism operators, plus the flow onto local industry supporting these consumer facing businesses.

If you would like to connect with other business owners, please come to one of our bi monthly events. If you would like to inform the local business community about your business, please reach out. If you have a business matter that you need or want action on, please connect with us so we can advocate across our network.

From Allan Milostic, President of Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce.

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The Whitsundays’ annual celebration of living in the Great Barrier Reef typically brings the reef to Airlie Beach, but this year plans are to take Airlie to the reef instead.

The Great Barrier Reef Festival’s four days of mainland activities will be paralleled by tours aboard Cruise Whitsundays, beginning with the launch of a vessel travelling to the company’s Reefworld facility in an “unprecedented” tour.

The tourism operator snapped up this year’s festival naming rights and have doubled down on their partnership by offering an exclusive Cruise Whitsundays and Master Reef Guide-hosted outer Great Barrier Reef experience.

It will be the first time a group of Master Reef Guides will collaborate for an on-water community engagement event, and just one of the company’s special tour offers over the festival calendar.

Beginning on festival launch day, August 4, the Cruise Whitsunday partnership hopes to “increase the Whitsundays community’s connection with the Great Barrier Reef”.

Cruise Whitsundays Sales and Marketing Manager, Renee Branton-Brown said the opportunity for festivalgoers was “unprecedented access to some of the company’s flagship products and ultimately the outer reef.”

“The likes of which has never been seen across the entirety of the reef,” Ms Branton-Brown said.

“Our Reefworld facility at Hardy Reef will be dedicated to the festival, providing a boutique, intimate reef encounter for those aboard our custom vessel travelling direct from Airlie Beach.

The tour will host at least 10 Master Reef Guides onboard.

Great Barrier Reef Festival committee member and Master Reef Guide, Crystal Lacey said guides have never met for the “specific purpose of delivering an immersive, story-telling experience for the general public.”

“From our perspective, this is going to be an invaluable opportunity for us to share knowledge and understanding of one of the world’s natural wonders,” Ms Lacey said.

The edu-tourism event is capped at 200 guests for a full four hours at the platform and includes activities like snorkel safaris, semi-submersible adventures, Eye On The Reef monitoring experiences and practical, in-water photography and videography sessions.

Tickets cost $220 per adult and include lunch, morning and afternoon tea, and all activities except scuba diving.

Renee Branton-brown from Cruise Whitsundays, Margie Murphy from the Great Barrier Reef Festival and Crystal Lacey from Little Fish Tourism Development Consulting

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The new $1.75 million land and berth packages at Shute Harbour Marina Resort have proved popular among a mixture of veteran boating enthusiast, first-time boat owners, or future retirees who have been among the 520 individuals who have expressed their interest in the new development this month.

Rob Taylor from Taylor’s Property Specialists said that the immediate market response to the resort has been incredible.

“We knew we had something special on our hands here, but we have been simply inundated with genuine interest – it’s been a whirlwind,” he said.

“We’re already in the process of converting many of these enquiries into contracts for our future Shute Harbour Marina Resort residents - many of these buyers have been long awaiting a marina project of this calibre to arrive in the area.”

Construction of the first stage of Shute Harbour Marina Resort is due to commence within 12 months and is expected to take two years to complete.

Once complete, the site will encompass a world-class 395-berth marina with individual berths ranging from 10m to 30m on a 99-year lease and private berths ranging from 25m to 45m.

The project will also deliver 58 freehold land allotments; a 100-plus room resort hotel, including function and meeting rooms, bars, restaurants, swimming pool and undercover parking; and 100 managed apartments with resort club facilities.

Land-and-berth prices start from $1.75 million. Expressions of interest are also being taken on future stages which will include marina loft apartments and plaza terrace homes.

An aerial view of Shute Harbour Marina which is due to commence construction within a year

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A new waste education program for schools in the Whitsundays will aim to educate the region’s youngest citizens on how to reduce their carbon footprint.

The new program focuses on broader efforts to help protect the Great Barrier Reef in relation to reduction of organic waste going to landfill.

The School Waste Minimisation Program is being delivered by Whitsunday Regional Council and EnviroCom Australia to support schools in taking a bigger step in reducing rubbish and food waste.

Acting Mayor Mike Brunker said that implementing a program like this in our region’s schools aims to change behaviours around waste from an early age.

“[It] helps students develop good habits and of course take those ideas home to share with the family,” the Acting Mayor said.

“This program provides a fantastic opportunity to show our children how to make the right choices when it comes to waste with a focus on the reduction of food and garden waste to landfill, and how to prevent waste in the first place.”

The program promises to teach students about waste minimisation through activities like conducting a school waste audit, and the setting up of a goal-oriented Waste Management Plan, and organic waste diversion systems.

It hopes to implement these as ongoing programs.

“Living on the doorstep to the Great Barrier Reef, it’s exciting we can provide them with the tools they need to implement ongoing sustainable waste management practices and help protect our environment now and into the future,” Mr Brunker said.

Whitsunday schools will soon be asked to complete an Expression of Interest to participate in the program anticipated to commence in Term 3.

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The steam on the horizon symbolises the prosperous season for Proserpine as the local sugar mill begins crushing - cane farmers are recouping some of the rewards of their dedicated labour and the energy of the expanded workforce creates a bountiful buzz.

After a challenging maintenance season which was blighted by labour shortages and supply chain issues, the crews have been working around the clock to finalise capital works following two successful steam trials.

The factory is now on track to begin crushing on Tuesday.

“It’s been a difficult year for labour availability and procurement of essential equipment,” said Mackay Regional Operations Manager Craig Muddle.

“Like many businesses, we’ve been impacted by COVID-related supply chain issues, which were exacerbated by the flood events in southern Queensland and New South Wales earlier this year.

“I’m proud of the way our crews have responded to these challenges and worked through a massive capital and maintenance program.”

Steeped in history and on-track to complete its 125th crush this year, the Proserpine Sugar Mill employs 100 permanent staff.

This workforce increases to about 150 during the crushing season.

It is estimated that the mill will process 1.64 million tonnes of sugar cane this season and although dictated by a number of factors such as weather, mill performance and size of the crop, it is anticipated that crushing will conclude mid-November.

“It’s always exciting to start a new crushing season. Our people work really hard to get the mill ready for the start of a new season, and there’s always a lot of anticipation around the start up,” said Mr Muddle.

“The start of the crushing season brings a different energy to the town. It means money is being generated, farmers and millers are getting paid for the cane and the sugar they produce, and the local economy gets a boost.”

Mike Porter, Manager of Canegrowers in Proserpine said that they are looking forward to a prosperous season ahead.

“The growers are very excited about the 2022 crop, which will certainly be a bit better than last year, they are more optimistic,” he said.

“The rain has been very good over the last few months. The CCS is an unknown quantity, and the cane is probably a bit green but there are more tonnes.

“This cooler weather has definitely helped as that is when the crop starts to produce more sugar.”

Last year Proserpine’s sugar quality was one of the highest in the state with a season average of 14.3, it is hoped it will get as high as 14 again this year.

Preparing for the start of the 2022 crush at Wilmar’s Proserpine Mill are, from left, Process Improvement Engineer Tom Badger, Assistant Production Superintendent Jamie Bell and Production Superintendent Damien Kelly

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As the 2022 crushing season gets underway, cane harvesters will become a prevalent sight in the district. As you watch these technologically sophisticated cane harvesters with air-conditioned cabs move up and down the paddocks, spare a thought for the cane cutters of the past when harvesting the crop was a vastly different process.

In 1897, the first year of production at the Proserpine Central Mill, kanakas from the Pacific Islands did most of the cane cutting as it was thought “too hard a task for the Europeans to endure”. They also worked alongside the Chinese and these men were paid 2/6d per ton to cut the cane. In 1898, William Chung Do of Ayr and his entire team of Chinese from the lower Burdekin cut the Proserpine crop.

But attitudes changed, and future seasons would see gangs of European canecutters arriving in the district to join locals in cutting the season’s crop.

Hand cane cutting was an arduous, back-breaking task and even experienced men felt real discomfort at the beginning of each season. It was a young man’s job but despite this many managed to keep on until well into their 40s and some even into their 50s. Cutters were required to not only cut the cane which had to be level with the ground and cleared of tops, leaves, roots and shoots but also to load it by hand then chain it down ready for transport to the mill.

Early photos show these men dressed in long sleeved flannels which were worn to protect from hairy mary, a prickle which was prevalent in certain varieties of cane. But this was only minor compared to other hazards such as snake bite or Weils disease (contracted from rat’s urine on the cane leaves) which were serious possibilities before burning cane became common. And then there was also the very real risk of losing a finger.

Over the years, there was very little improvement in the process. About the only technological development that ever came with their craft, was the change from straight to curved blades in the 50s.

But the second world war signalled the beginning of the end for cutters. Many abandoned the cane field for less demanding occupations. Changing times necessitated changing methods. Continual labour shortages forced farmers to investigate new machinery however many growers in Proserpine had such small holdings that they could not afford to hire even cane cutters, let alone a machine. They cut the cane themselves and taught their sons to do likewise.

The year 1951 saw the first mechanical harvesting of cane in the district and the first chopper harvest occurred in 1961. At the time the first mechanical harvesters appeared, there were 235 cutters in the area. In 1968, the year that Proserpine hosted the World Cane Cutting championships, “The Proserpine Guardian” reported, “Manual canecutters continue to disappear … last Friday’s signing seeing only 59 engaged for 1968, compared with 102 last year and 131 in 1966. A further 39 growers will harvest by mechanical means this crushing.”

When the last Proserpine canecutter put down his knife in 1970, it heralded the end of an era.  

Story and photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum

The last hand cane cutter put down his knife in 1970

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