Gary Faccin wins the first inaugural ''Local Hero Award'' hosted at Euramo Pub

from Wet Tropic Times, 2023, February 2, Newspaper Edition

Fishing News

SARI RUSSO

"NO one has done what he has done Fifty-seven years in one industry and never missed a season," said Tom Johnston, an owner of a farm that Mr Gary Faccin has been harvesting for the last twenty-seven years, "Here was the most amazing part he never missed a day. His cane was on the points every day."

Mr Faccin is a man who has never wanted any acclaim for the life that he has lived and the work he has done for the sugar industry. Yet, his mates wanted to ensure that he was recognised, leading to the first inaugural ''Local Hero Award'Award' presentation at Euramo Pup.

Mr Faccin started to work in the sugar industry at age 15 in 1966 in the position of railway builder. This position required that rail tracks be built into the paddock so that hand cutters could load their cane onto the horse-pulled rail. He then took on the role of cutting cane by hand. Over fifty-seven years, he has cut over three million tonnes of sugar cane. At the age of 71, he is still cutting.

Mr Faccin is known for his manufacturing genius. That he is the man who knows how to make his machines run like clockwork, he was the first person to bring track harvesters to the region in 1972.

"The track harvesters have been a God send for this area," said Mr Faccin, "…We finished

13 ahead that year, and that year changed the rules of the mill. One of the things I get joy out of, and in one way, is how they gave me the name God over there (in the sugar mill). The mill two-way had just come into the harvesters at that time, and I had a good friend of mine who has since passed away, who was having a tough day. His harvester was bogged down and had only cut 6 bins. The mill called me and asked if I wanted more bins, and I said yes, another hundred. The crew of my mate on the two-way who were struggling with their cutting said, "We have only cut 6, and he wants another hundred. He must be God."

Despite the opposition at that time, Mr Faccin started harvesting in the way that continues today.

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