Rural Life 10

By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay

CANEGROWERS Mackay recently held its AGM, an important event in the membership calendar. Pictures: Contributed

WEEKLY PRODUCTION FIGURES

Wilmar Sugar Plane Creek Mill Week 27, Week ending 17 December 2022

This week Season to date

Weekly production figures

Cane crushed 54,737 Average bin weight 3.72 CCS 11.17

1,379,343Wilmar Sugar 3.84Plane Creek Mill Week 22, Week ending 12 November 2022

12.96 This week Season to date Cane crushed 54,157 1,146,725 Cane variety performance for region Average bin weight CCS 3.80 13.01 3.86 13.14

Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Cane variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS

Q183 33.3 11.46 Q253 Q183 Q240 4.326.0 24.6 13.23 12.98 10.88Q242 SRA9 3.7 3.3 12.47 12.57 Q208 26.6 11.29 Q252 Q208 Q253 3.817.9 9.9 13.13 12.52 11.42Q138 Q252 3.0 2.7 12.11 13.36

Q240 13.8 11.31 Q232 3.5Comments: 10.03

Q138 6.9 10.61 Q242 1.3 10.83Plane Creek Mill crushed just over 54,000 tonnes of cane for the week, bringing the season total to more than 1,146,000 tonnes. Total mill throughput was below budget due to a number of stoppages throughout the week. The planned 15-hour cleaning intermission on Thursday was extended by seven hours when a replacement injection water pump failed upon restart. Further unplanned stops during the latter part of the week also affected overall throughput. Average weekly CCS was 13.01, down slightly from 13.04 the previous week. The season to date CCS closed out at 13.14 units. The highest CCS was 15.6 units from a rake of Q240 2nd ratoon from the Carmila productivity district. Please continue to use your train brain and remain alert around our cane rail network. Do not linger near any part of the rail network, and only cross the line using designated crossings. Remember our locos are towing heavy loads and can take up to 1km to come to a complete stop. Our cane trains are in operation around the clock, seven days a week during the crushing season.

Comments:

Plane Creek Mill crushed just under 55,000 tonnes of cane for the week, bringing the season total to just below 1.38M tonnes. Weekly throughput was impacted by a shredder tip change on Monday, and a chemical clean and maintenance stop on Thursday. The average weekly CCS was 11.17 units. The season-to-date CCS fell below 13 for the first time since week 15, closing out at 12.96 units. The highest CCS was 14.35 units from a rake of Q183 2nd Ratoon from the Plane Creek productivity district. With the risk of additional rainfall, Wilmar has decided to crush through the Christmas holiday period, provided there is adequate supply. With school holidays under way, we ask parents and carers to remind children that cane trains will continue to operate into January this season. Please keep your train brain switched on. Be alert, stay off our rail network and always give way to cane trains.

Jim Kirchner Cane Supply Manager Plane Creek Region

Jim Kirchner Cane Supply Manager Plane Creek Region

Fifty Flood-Affected Farmers Receive Hay From Rural Aid

Focused on increasing your production and profitability

Independent agronomic support for all your Cane, Cropping, or Livestock needs

Atrusted rural charity has distributed more than 700 bales of hay to Central West New South Wales farmers, helping to make Christmas a little brighter for flood-affected producers. A hay drop was held at the Central West Livestock Exchange in Forbes on Friday, December 16.

Ten road trains delivered more than 480 tonnes of hay to the saleyards for Rural Aid’s registered primary producers. Forbes cattle breeder Danielle Beard said her property is still covered in floodwaters and thick layers of mud, smothering any grass underneath. “75 per cent of our property is under water and we’re going to have water on our place for another seven months.” She said the bales of hay were exactly what her family needed to help them recover from the flooding event. “We’re just so grateful for this hay,” Ms Beard said.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said flood affected farmers are facing a difficult recovery that will last well after Christmas. “Rural Aid has brought back its Buy a Bale campaign, which was first created in the Millennium Drought, to help raise funds to support farmers impacted by these record-breaking floods,” Mr Warlters said. “Christmas is going to be an enormously difficult time for thousands of our farming families.”

Local Organisations Fund Support For Sick Children

Community Support Essential To Create Sustainable Success

L-R Anthony Heintze and Craig Singleton of Diverse Asset Maintenance Services, Daniel Grech of BMA and Kristi Algate of Mackay Hospital Foundation Catherine Clark Dowden worked for three weeks to complete her artwork. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

Outside and inside the Children and Adolescent Unit (CAU) at Mackay Base Hospital has been transformed into a space for patients and their families to escape their challenges. Two local organisations have chosen to support the projects with BMA providing funding to Mackay Hospital Foundation for the implementation of a Therapeutic Play Space outside of the Unit where young patients, their families and siblings can forget about treatment for a short time and enjoy their surroundings in a ‘happy space’ away from a clinical environment. The inside project is the implementation of an Australiana-themed wall mural which has been funded by Autocorner Mackay. “Seeing these projects come to fruition has been absolutely amazing,” General Manager at Mackay Hospital Foundation Kristi Algate. “Seeing the smiles on the faces of patients who have been able to spend time in both indoor and outdoor areas is heart-warming. “The funding from our local businesses has been overwhelming. “They love to support the local community.” BMA Production Manager Daniel Grech said BMA was proud to fund and support the construction of the Therapeutic Play Space. “Mackay Hospital foundation provides facilities for the entire Mackay and Isaac regions so we’re really happy to support them in any way we can to give back to the community,” he said. “The new facilities will basically mean that the kids will get to come here and enjoy that time at the hospital and not be so clinical.

“It just gives them somewhere to play and be natural and enjoy the facilities.” Artwork inside the Unit and throughout the Play Space was completed by Mackay artist Catherine Clark Dowden who has a history of volunteering her artistic talents to the hospital. Her artwork is intended to inspire and distract patients and families. “I tried to get every Australian animal that I could that would interest kids, so that there was a conversation that they could have with their parents or the nurses,” Ms Clark Dowden said.

“I’d like to be able to take their mind off it, take them on a journey, so the more they look, the more they see on those walls, so they feel like they’re more a part of what’s happening on the wall rather than in the hospital. “It’s been an amazing experience and I’m very thankful to have been given the opportunity to do it.” The mural was funded by Autocorner Mackay who announced Mackay Hospital Foundation as their Charity of Choice in 2021 which continues in 2022.

A second contribution made by Autocorner Mackay in September this year will also be utilized in the Children and Adolescent Unit at the hospital to provide upgrades for mental health in that Unit.

Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank’s recent AGM included announcements that have set the bar for creating impact in our community. During the 2021/22 financial year, our community continued to support Community Bank Sarina with customer numbers up 6.1% - enabling the local branch to provide significant investments back into community groups and organisations. The results also provided for a fully franked dividend of 10c per share to the company’s local shareholders. Last financial year, the branch team focused on connecting with and supporting customers, assisting them on the path to their financial goals, including first home loans, first car or next home, among others. unteer run – to focus on connection, diversity and inclusion.

“We have supported our community directly with a record amount of $424,036 through community grants, sponsorships and activations, including signage and charitable donations, during the past 12 months,” said Community Bank Sarina board chair, Karen May. “Since opening the branch in 2005, building on last year’s investment we have now injected a total of $3.4 million back into the community - supporting organisations and groups with a range of projects and initiatives to enhance liveability and increase capacity in our region. “This year we were pleased to support health and wellbeing in our community through the Mackay Hospital Foundation with a $17,800 community grant to purchase blanket warmers and treatment chairs – to ensure Sarina Hospital patients are comfortable during their stay and treatments.

“Supporting the Hospital Foundation has been a focus this year, with a second community grant of $4,893 being awarded for the purchase of vital signs monitors. “Recognising the importance of sun safety, a number of organisations, including P&Cs, benefited from our Marquee Sponsorship Program which provides a dual branded marquee for shade and sun protection, and feather banners to use at events.

QCWA Sarina Branch President Mary-Therese Watson presented the support they have received from Community Bank Sarina over the years

“We would like to thank our customers for choosing to bank with Community Bank Sarina, as without you, we wouldn’t be able to provide the level of community investment and positively impact our community.” To find out more Community Bank Sarina announcements and the Community Engagement Program, follow their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SarinaCommunityBankBranch.

Seniors Celebrate As ATAR Results Released

L-R Ananya Sinha, Maddison Filtness, Charlie Webb and Pranav Sivanujan

Graduating year 12 students across the state eagerly jumped online last Friday morning as ATAR scores were released.

Sixty per cent of eligible Whitsunday Anglican School (WAS) year 12 school leavers received an ATAR score of 90.00 or above, their results the proof of years of dedicated study. Pranav Sivanujan received the highest possible ATAR score of 99.95, the first Whitsunday Anglican School student to do so under the recently introduced ATAR system and one of 33 in the State. Pranav’s result puts him in extremely good stead for his plans to study medicine at university next year. “Over the last couple of years, just building that repertoire and getting support from teachers has really helped me,” he said. “Putting in the hard work definitely counted for something now.” 48% of WAS students achieved an ATAR result of 95.00 or above and 26% of students achieved an ATAR of 99.00 or higher. Departing School Captain and budding Air Force Engineer Charlie Webb was one of the 26% and said his score aptly reflects his efforts throughout his senior year. “A lot of late nights, a lot of slogs at some points and the effort has paid off,” he said. “I was over the moon when I opened it up this morning, it was fantastic.” Ananya Sinha and Maddie Filtness also earned scores of over 99.00.

“I’m not talking about only myself when I say this, but I definitely think that everyone was working very hard and that’s because the cohort was there to support each other at all times, whether it was during exam week or at the start of the term,” said Ananya. “I definitely think that everyone worked really hard, and that teamwork came into play during external exams.” “I’m really happy that all the hard work paid off but a bit sad that school’s out, too, to be honest,” added Maddie “Lots of late nights, especially with sport and work, it was really hard to manage it all but shows it’s all worth it.”

Both Ananya and Maddie are awaiting university offers with the hope of studying medicine.

“I reckon it’ll be a lot harder, but it should be okay, we should all adjust and get used to it,” said Maddie. Ananya said that while a little bit of stress can be good, her advice to the senior year of 2023 is to not stress too much. “Just stay focused and always rely on your peers and your teachers because they’re the ones who get you through the year,” she said.

Whitsunday Anglican School Principal Andrew Wheaton said results were testament to the Year 12s’ hard work in their final year, and a genuine commitment to academic growth, effort and improvement at the school.

“At Whitsunday Anglican School, our commitment to academic improvement allows us to support our young men and women to consistently realise their goals and aspirations – be that University, or a Trade or VET pathway,” he said. Graduates following a tertiary education pathway now await university offers which are expected in January.

Building Skills To Assist People Back To Work

The Queensland Government has committed more than $150,000 from its Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to assist 60 people from Mackay. Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said this was part of more than $31 million committed to assist 5,247 people across the state. “More than 46,600 people in the state have found jobs thanks to Skilling Queenslanders for Work and it’s great to see how these projects will help even more people,” Minister Farmer said. "We know this initiative is life changing because 76 per cent of participants find work or take on further training around 12 months after exiting a Skilling Queenslanders for Work program. “The initiative funds community-based organisations who tailor their programs to suit local conditions, understand where opportunities and local employer needs are.

“Tailored, local community-based support is offered to young people, mature-age job seekers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, women re-entering the workforce, Australian Defence Force (ADF) veterans, recently released prisoners; and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.” Minister Farmer said projects to be funded include:

• Community Solutions Group’s Community Careers project in Mackay, which will assist 45 people thanks to $137,900. • Selectability Ltd’s Workforce Ready in Mackay, which will assist 15 people thanks to $61,800. Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said she was delighted to see funding for local projects in her electorate for the latest round.

“I am excited that 60 residents will have the opportunity to take further steps into the community services industry, or the chance to change their career.” Skilling Queenslanders for Work funds skills development, training and job opportunities for unemployed, disengaged or disadvantaged Queenslanders through a suite of targeted skills and training programs.

MP Di Farmer announcing the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative at the Hendra Pony Club Minister Farmer said the initiative is another way of giving people the jobs, training and skills they need while helping them stay in their communities. “The initiative supports many focus areas from the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 20222032, which aims to attract, connect and educate a thriving workforce to set our state up for success now and into the future.”

HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR LIST TWICE?

In less than 48 hours’ time it will be Christmas. Yes, the time we welcome Santa to enter through our flyscreen and put smiles on kids’ faces after he eats all the biscuits we’ve left behind.

So between today Friday and tomorrow Saturday, everyone needs to take a chill pill, smile and hurry up and finish their gift shopping, because when the shops shut up tomorrow afternoon, that’s it until Monday. Do not leave it until the last minute.

That present you’ve been wanting to get has gone from the shelves. The food you were going to take to Mum’s place isn’t there anymore. That drink from the pub that you wanted to put on ice before the mates come over tonight is now gone too. Don’t do it. It’s not worth it.

Take it from me. I remember back in the 90’s, I went shopping on Xmas Eve for my girlfriend at the time, and boy did I regret it. I had no idea what I was doing walking around Caneland’s like a lost puppy. Thing was, there were heaps of other blokes doing the same because we all didn’t know the rules of Christmas giving. Can I make a suggestion for 2023 please? Make a list and as Santa always says, he checks it twice and finds out who is naughty or nice. That way you’ll be good to go months ahead of time and you won’t have to rush around like a puppy with worms. When you’re getting the list together, please for the love of God, put your partner at the top of the page. Not half way down. Not at the bottom. Put them at the top and get the shopping done first before any others. Once you’ve got them sorted, then you can move down the list.

Again, it’s just a suggestion. Do as you will, but accept the consequences if you don’t follow my advice. The other thing you’ll want to do in 48 hours’ time is eat too much, drink all the wrong things, plus play games you haven’t tried for 12 months that will give you muscle soreness for days on end. That’s just what happens, especially if you play Finska in the backyard in Glenella.

If there’s any last advice I can give you this Xmas Eve, Eve. Be happy. Talk to your mates and see how they are doing. Listen to them and be involved in their words. Christmas can be a very hard time for many, so the more of us who can reach out, the better. I can’t wait for my kids to come over on Sunday morning, and then catching up with mates in the arvo. It’s going to be a great day. I’d like to wish you and your family and loved ones, a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2023!

You can join Rob Kidd from 5am weekday mornings on 4MK 1026 AM in Mackay and Proserpine, 91.5FM in Airlie Beach or just ask your smart speaker to play 4MK on iHeartRadio!

ARE YOU READY, KIDS?

The New Year’s Eve River Party will feature the soulful folk ballads of Matt Tandy

He spends most of his time in a pineapple under the sea, but Mackay families can catch him on New Year’s Eve at the Bluewater Quay. SpongeBob SquarePants, along with his pink starfish friend Patrick, will be performing at the New Year’s Eve River Party. The duo will be putting on two exciting stage shows and will also be available for a meet and greet. The New Year’s Eve River Party will run from 6:00pm to 9:00pm and will also feature the blissful melodies of local songstress Tiffany Grace and the soulful folk ballads of singer Matt Tandy. Mackay Regional Council Deputy Mayor Karen May said the River Party is a wonderful family-friendly event offering plenty of kids’ amusements, free face painting, food and market stalls.

“We also have the 9pm Key Solutions Group family fireworks display, which is always popular amongst those with children who like to see the year out with a bang before midnight,” Ms May said. “This is a really lovely event that combines local musicians, spectacular fireworks, plenty of local food vendors and some family-friendly entertainment. “The Mackay Festivals team do a lot of work over the holiday period to ensure everyone has a great time and they always go above and beyond.” Festival and Events coordinator Sarah Porter said the River Party will also feature the traditional midnight fireworks display for those kicking on in the City Centre. “The Bluewater Quay is a great venue to enjoy the last night of 2022 and Matt and Tiffany will create a really chilled vibe that’s perfect for families,” Ms Porter said. For more information, including a full list of food vendors, head to themecc.com.au/ festivals

WHAT: New Year’s Eve River Party WHERE: Bluewater Quay WHEN: Saturday, December 31 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm This is a free community event.

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE

6pm - Welcome to Country 6.05pm - Mayor Welcome 6.15pm - SpongeBob Square Pants (show 1) 6.45pm - Tiffany Grace 7.15pm - SpongeBob Square Pants (meet and greet) 7.40pm - Matt Tandy 8.35pm - SpongeBob Square Pants (show 2) 9pm - Fireworks 12am - Fireworks

A SEASON OF GIVING

There is no doubt 2022 has been another tough year – we’re still battling with Covid, the cost of living is out of control, with skyrocketing fuel prices, rising interest rates and the basic necessities constantly going up. While Christmas is all about family togetherness, sadly this is not the reality for many people. So, if you’re feeling homesick or left out of the sense of closeness and comfort that Christmas tends to promote, here are some ways to combat loneliness at Christmas: • Invite other people who are at a loose end around for a meal. Particularly look out for elderly neighbours • Spend the day volunteering • Find community, religious or other social events that you can join – a chance to make new friends • Embrace the solitude. If you are facing the day alone, turn it into an opportunity to really treat yourself. Plan a special day to nurture yourself. For example, having a movie marathon, eating your favourite foods, or taking a walk to a favourite spot in nature. Thankfully, there are some wonderful businesses and organisations in our community that are offering a chance for people to connect over Christmas. Raj, Jess and Lily Sharma from Roshni Indian Restaurant are once again offering free Christmas lunch to anyone who would like to join them. Just drop into their restaurant at 164 Victoria Street, Mackay between 11.00am and 1.00pm on Christmas Day for a delicious lunch of ham, prawns, rolls, salad, dessert and Indian delicacies. On December 28, the Community Accommodation and Support Agency (CASA) will be holding a free community sausage sizzle at their premises – 4/54 Gregory Street, from 10am to noon. And staff from the Australian Street Aid Project, Chances Café and Op Shop, will be assisting their clients during the Christmas break (except the public holidays) with breakfast and a packed lunch. If you aren’t in need, they would also appreciate donations of non-perishable food items or you can pay forward a meal, a night of accommodation or other items online. During this festive season of giving, let us take time to slow down and enjoy the simple things. Have a very Merry Christmas, and a safe and Happy New Year. See you in 2023. “Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day.” – Helen Steiner

Cr Belinda Hassan Mackay Regional Council