FROM THE CHAIR

By Owen Menkens, Chairman CANEGROWERS

EXCITED AND HONOURED TO TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE

This is my first column as the CANEGROWERS Chairman. Having worked closely with Paul Schembri over many years, I know I have a strong foundation on which to continue the CANEGROWERS work to advance the interests of growers.

I know that while many of you know me, many of you may not. I started working on our family farm in 1997 alongside my father and brother.

We were a cattle and cane business at that point but later we separated the two arms and I stayed with sugarcane while my brother focused on cattle.

Sugarcane let me continue with the coastal lifestyle and community that I love and, after studies in accountancy and a stint working in the city, the crop made a good business choice.

Since 2002 we’ve expanded the original family cane holdings in the Burdekin which has great agricultural potential.

The whole time I’ve been a member of CANEGROWERS, my whole life really. My grandfather was a grower representative.

I’ve been in roles on committees and then the CANEGROWERS Burdekin board since 2007.

The 2022 CANEGROWERS election was a good time personally to invest more time and I felt I had the passion and energy that the role of Chairman demands.

I want to thank my fellow growers for having the confidence in me to give me this honour.

I’m excited by the changes that the 2022 election has brought, the people who’ve come into the local Burdekin board and the CANEGROWERS Policy Council from around the state.

Already there’ve been some fascinating and inspiring conversations - there’s a real vibe from people who are dynamic and innovative and we have so many opportunities for the future in front of us.

Having a new Federal Government will bring some challenges and I look forward to meeting and discussing with them our grower perspective on the sugar industry right across the board.

There is also only two years to the next Queensland Election and in Brisbane for the Policy Council I have already started that process. I’ve told the Agriculture Minister that there a lot of issues we need to talk about.

Within the next few months, I look forward to travelling to meet as many of the CANEGROWERS members in all districts as I can and to understand more about your local issues. Please keep an eye out through your district office for when this is organised. •