Ready to take on the challenge

Burdekin grower Owen Menkens is the new CANEGROWERS Chairman, following his election to the position during the first meeting of the newly appointed Policy Council last month.

The 20-person CANEGROWERS Policy Council, which is made up of representatives from every sugarcane district in Queensland, met in Brisbane on 24 May to elect a new Board for a three-year term.

Mr Menkens is a cane grower at Home Hill and, prior to taking over the family farming business, worked in accounting and banking. He succeeds Mackay grower Paul Schembri who retired after serving as Chairman since 2013.

“I’m focussed on a bright future for growers in a profitable, stable and diversified industry."

Mr Menkens said it was an honour to be elected and he looks forward to working with and for growers.

“I’m focussed on a bright future for growers in a profitable, stable and diversified industry,” he said.

“This is an exciting and interesting time for us with new opportunities for our crop which can contribute to efforts on climate change as a renewable resource and we have an established sustainability certification system that sets us up to be a premium brand of sugar worldwide.

“I also look forward to working on some of our challenges, like rising input costs, as well as representing growers in discussions with the new Federal Government,” he said.

Mr Menkens’ farming business is accredited in Smartcane BMP, the industry’s best management practices program. He and his wife Sarah are raising four children on their farm.

Turn to page 12 for a full list of CANEGROWERS Queensland Board and Policy Council members. •

Pictured: Paul Schembri with new CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens