3 minute read
2023 CANE FESTIVAL FIRES UP
By Robyn Devine
Sweet Days Hot Night Festival started with a blast at the Home Hill Showground when the First Fire was lit in front of over 4,000 attendees.
The substantial yield of the Q183 variety, fifth ratoon, blasted high into the night sky. The cane specifically grown for the 2023 Australian Cane Cutting Championships, to honour the traditional way that sugarcane was harvested by hand before mechanical harvesting was introduced.
The Burdekin district is one of the few districts that burn their crop annually in preparation for harvest, and the First Fire did not disappoint the locals and visitors sharing the experience.
Once every two years cutters of all ages and sizes come along to the Burdekin, to go ‘cut to cut’ against each other on the burnt cane in the Australian Cane Cutting Championships, vying for glory and the champion’s cup –a cane knife trophy.
The cane cutters really fired up the crowd on the very hot and humid Saturday in late May, cane knives swung into action and young men and women tried their best amongst the older and wiser cutters like Olivo (Ollie) Pozzebon, who at 90 years old was a crowd favourite in the 55 years and older category.
He may not have won any trophies on the day, but Ollie had the crowds’ hearts in his sweaty palms as he slowly and steadily worked through his drill until his cane was neatly cut, his first-hand knowledge as a cane cutter from the 1960s clearly on show.
After a day of gruelling competition, it was Adam Gilbert, from Mareeba, that took out the title of the Australian Hand Cane Cutting Champion at the grand finale, sponsored by CANEGROWERS Burdekin, with a record time of 23.10 minutes.
Adam’s nephew Stuart Gilbert came close behind in second place, Stuart was last year’s champion cutter and he and his father grow cane in Tully.
Stuart said the competition was always exhausting and this year was no different.
Burdekin Shire Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said the Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival proved to be a major drawcard for visitors.
“With the festival’s unique blend of cultural celebrations, exciting competitions, and engaging activities, it enticed individuals from near and far to experience the charm and vibrancy of our local community,” Cr McLaughlin said.
“The Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championships served not only as a thrilling spectator sport but also as a means to preserve and honour the traditions of the Burdekin, the sugarcane capital of Australia.”
RESULTS FOR THE 2023 AUSTRALIAN HAND CANE CUTTING CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL SPONSORED BY CANEGROWERS BURDEKIN
1st Adam Gilbert Time – 23.10min
2nd Stuart Gilbert Time – 26.17min
3rd Enzo Codega Time – 28.09min
4th Jeff Elwood Time – 28.25min
5th Mark Vass Time – 28.31min
6th Tony Felesina Time – 29.55min
7th John Arrate Time – 32.19min
8th Karl Vass Time – 34.08min
