QUEENSLAND’s cane industry is mourning the death of Harry Bonanno – described as one of the sugarcane industry’s greats.
Mr Bonanno, who led CANEGROWERS from 1989 to 2001, has passed away aged 88. He also served as chairman of his local CANEGROWERS Isis between 1973 and 2001.
Current CANEGROWERS chairman Paul Schembri will deliver a eulogy at Mr Bonanno’s funeral in Childers tomorrow.
“Harry Bonanno was a strong and resolute leader of cane growers for 37 years through a period of great social, political and economic change and challenge for our industry,” Mr Schembri said. “He never failed to stand up for Queensland’s 6000 cane growers.
“During the 1990s he helped the industry increase production by nearly 40 per cent while also negotiating the challenges of increased environmental scrutiny and deregulation.
“Mr Bonanno’s vision and capacity to see the big picture played a major part in laying the foundation of our modern sugarcane industry.”
Mr Bonanno represented cane growers on the boards of the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations (the forerunner to Sugar Research Australia), Sugar Terminals Limited and the Queensland Sugar Board. He was also a vice-president of the National Farmers’ Federation and a vice-president of the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers.
His funeral will be held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Childers at 11am on Wednesday, April 11.
