AGM Helps People Connect

By Joseph Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay

It is certainly a very busy time of year, not only in the paddock, but also in the boardroom and governance of not only Mackay Canegrowers, but for numerous other clubs and organizations.  I am of course talking about Annual General Meeting season.

On the 20 November, Mackay Canegrowers held its AGM at the Mackay Turf Club.  We were fortunate enough to have a satisfying attendance of around 100 members and industry stakeholders.  This number of members attending compared to our full membership of just under 700 farming businesses was probably hamstrung somewhat by the fact that the harvest was still ongoing, and members were unable to attend due to being still in the paddock.

The members that were present had the opportunity to witness presentations from our two guest speakers, that being Joseph Marano, who is the Senior Vice Chair of the Queensland Canegrowers Organisation (QCGO) and the other being Mick Bartlett, Chief Executive Officer of Sugar Research Australia (SRA).

Joseph Marano is a multi-generational canegrower and harvesting contractor himself, hailing from Innisfail in north Queensland. He presented a detailed report on what QCGO is currently working on, as well as what it does and offers its members which include handling international trade for the sugar industry, water and electricity policy, environmental policy, industry and farm-based compliance and numerous other industry issues and concerns.  He very much focused on the value of Canegrowers as a grassroots collective, both at a local and state level.

Mick Bartlett has worked all over the world in numerous agricultural industries and for just over 12 months now, has been the CEO of Sugar Research Australia.  SRA is the major research organization of the Australian sugar industry and is co-funded by growers, millers and Government.  Mick gave a detailed overview of the current position of SRA and in numerous capacities, that being financial, research and logistical scenarios which are playing out.  I think it is fair to say that the buzzword on all the grower’s lips at the present time is cane variety development, and Mick gave a report on this very topic, including new approaches using genomic selection for sought-after traits.  He fielded numerous questions and comments on all facets of operations of the sugar industry’s premier research organisation. The frank “warts and all” approach Mick took was appreciated.

Parking the official part of the meeting to one side, the AGM gave members the opportunity to voice their views on numerous topics at the heart of their cane farming operations.  As well as this, the AGM is a valuable social and networking opportunity for growers to discuss new techniques and technology, as well as farming in general and of course…the weather!

It was great to see large numbers of members taking the opportunity to mix, well after the completion of the formal proceedings.  Members are the foundation of Mackay Canegrowers and when large numbers assembly together, it is a show of strength and unity for the organisation.  I would like to personally thank all those who attended and the input which was given in the meeting.  It was a positive afternoon.

End Of Crush: The harvest is now very much down to the pointy end and Wilmar Plane Creek Mill in Sarina crushed out for the 2025 harvest last week.  Mackay Sugar’s three factories - Farleigh, Marian and Racecourse - will have another week or so before they complete the 2025 season in mid-December.

All the best!

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Joseph Borg, Chairman of CANEGROWERS Mackay addresses attendees during the MCL AGM. Photo credit: Kirili Lamb.

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