The Cassowary Coast worked its way into the Guinness World Records at the weekend with a 8.04km banana split – the longest in the world.
Innisfail’s Callendar Park was transformed into a sea of people, cardboard frames and banana splits, as communities came together for a tilt at the record held by Selinsgrove in Pennsylvania, USA, since 1988.
The attempt was carried as part of the Feast of the Senses festival and event coordinator Kirsty Densmore said she was thrilled for the Cassowary Coast community.
“We have a conditional record,” Ms Densmore said.
“We still need to supply photographic evidence and as long as that happens it will be final.
“The community spirit on Saturday morning was unbelievable.
“Everyone was excited and so keen.
“They worked hard to do it.
“It wasn’t about resilience or recovery it was about creating someone unique to the Cassowary Coast.”
Ms Densmore said the attempt had its beginnings about 18 months ago.
“We lamented the fact that banana splits are not popular and yet we live in the banana capital of the country,” she said.
“The idea started about 18 months ago but it was shelved last year due to issues with the framework.”
Melbourne-based cardboard artists Boxwars came on board to create the framework, which held the 8.04km banana split comprising tonnes of bananas, topping, ice-cream and tropical fruit.
Ms Densmore said volunteer crews started on site around 6am, including students and staff from the Innisfail State College and Bunnings.
“They were the backbone of the day but then we had others come in and help including buses of students from Cardwell and Tully,” she said.
The length of the frame was surveyed and a health inspector was on site all day.
An adjucator from the Guinness World Records oversaw proceedings.
Ms Densmore said there was a time on Saturday where they thought looming Tropical Cyclone Debbie was going to run havoc.
“Even as late as Saturday afternoon we were unsure we were going to get there,” Ms Densmore said. “The windy conditions were blowing over the frames.”
Ms Densmore said the world record was just the start.
“We can’t let it stop now,” she said.
“We are now the home of the longest banana split in the world.
“We need signage at either end of the Cassowary Coast region promoting this and we need to encourage every restaurant, cafe and food outlet to create their own banana split, so when people come to the Cassowary Coast they come to have a banana split.”