By Sonia Ball, QCAR Central District Manager
As a rural journalist a millennium ago, I recall being utterly confused yet totally captivated by the complexities, the diversity and resilience, the culture and the people (great people!), the practices and politics.
I just could not stop looking, and that hasn’t changed.
To me the cattle, the grain, the horticulture and other primary industries all seemed so…. Well, simple.
I may never have grown a stick of cane, yet I have become indelibly bonded with the industry that has virtually held me spellbound and been a focal point of my career for more than four decades.
That said, it has not always been a journey of sunshine and lollypops. With time comes change, and with change comes progress, and sometimes it hurts.
Right now, the sugarcane industry is being faced with and presented with an exciting opportunity to take a good hard look at itself and proactively commit to shaping what the next four decades may look like. We can’t do this standing still.
Get involved, speak up, act – whether you’re a farmer, mill worker, mill owner, contractor, haulout operator, sugar chemist, representative or stakeholder. The path forward doesn’t exist if we never take the first step. Consider if change is needed, and then do, or do not (Yoda, Star Wars).
Opportunity Exists
QCAR’s first election is now underway, and we are inviting all QCAR members to nominate the people they want to lead the priorities and strategic direction of QCAR’s Central District Committee across the mill supply areas of Proserpine, Plane Creek and Mackay. Could this be you?
There are five elected representative positions available on the Central District Committee. Nominations are open through to 28 March 2025. Do you need a form? Email our Company Secretary at melissa.boulter@qcar.org.au or call 4783 2111.
Choose, and ‘May the force be with you’ (said General Dodonna, Star Wars, before sending rebel troops into battle).
Roadshow Dates Announced!
Friends, farmers and countrymen, lend us your ears. QCAR has finalised dates for the QCAR Central District Roadshows. Venues are being finalised, so please Save the Date for now and we’ll get details to you soon. Our CEO Stephen Ryan will be attending all three to provide our corporate overview of successes and goals, while our QCAR Board Chairman Christian Lago, and local Central District Chairman Steve McKeering and committee members will also be present.
Everyone will have an opportunity to be updated on all three levels of industry activities - local, state and federal issues, and topics in play.
Events will be held on the following dates:
• Tuesday 25 March at Proserpine
• Wednesday 26 March at Mackay
• Thursday 27 March at Plane Creek
We’ll get back to you soon with details and look forward to seeing you all.
**Other activities include: **
• MSL, Wilmar Proserpine and Wilmar Plane Creek cane supply agreements
• Sugar Research Australia Central District priorities
• Cane Variety Selection
• Pig control
• Mill maintenance progression
• Cane Analysis Program (CAP) Review across Wilmar milling areas (excluding Proserpine) and respective individual District Schedules.
QCAR committee members and Central District Manager Sonia Ball are easily contacted so please call if you have any queries, input or if you need any assistance.
QCAR CDM: Sonia Ball, 0467 573 321.
The QCAR team, front from left, QCAR Central District Manager Sonia Ball, QCAR Burdekin District Manager Angelo Licciardello, back from left, QCAR Chief Strategy Officer Michael Kern and QCAR Herbert River District Manager Lawrence Di Bella. The team gathered at Ayr recently to collectively work on a number of sugarcane industry projects.
QCAR Central District Committee member representing the Plane Creek area, Craig Keating, right, with his son Evan at their Plane Creek cane farm last week where they met with QCAR Central District Manager Sonia Ball to host a meeting. Craig said he is looking forward to catching up with growers at the upcoming Central District Roadshows.
QCAR Central District Committee Chairman Steve McKeering, left, and QCAR Central District Manager Sonia Ball, right, took up the invitation to meet with the local QSL team to catch up on the sugar market with QSL Grower Relationship Manager Brad Dunn and to meet new QSL Grower Relationship Officer Tanneal Micallef. Photos supplied
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