Over 100 guests from the northern horticultural industry ventured to Bowen’s Merinda Village Hotel on Friday for a great night of food and fun during the Bowen Gumlu Growers Association (BGGA), annual gala dinner.
The BGGA represents growers of Australia's largest winter growing region with a farm gate value of $450 million and BGGA Industry Development Officer Anna McCowan said the event is specifically held at the peak of the growing season to provide growers and industry stakeholders with an occasion to let their hair down and enjoy each other’s company.
“While the weather was wet and windy, we still had a great turnout for the dinner with Bowen and Gumlu growers joining with members of BGGA’s key partners Brisbane Produce Markets, Visy Board and AustSafe Super as well as Whitsunday Regional Council mayor Andrew Willcox,” she said.
BGGA President Carl Walker spoke briefly about the association’s achievements in the past year which include; advocating and opposing the proposed backpacker tax changes in conjunction with Growcom and George Christensen Fed MP for Dawson and the work done to establish domestic and export market access with regional protocols.
Mr Walker presented all partners present with a certificate of appreciation in recognition of the continuing work they do for the horticultural industry in North Queensland.
Several of the BGGA’s partners donated items for an auction after dinner, with the $3500 in proceeds going to local charity Buck Off Melanoma, and Cr Willcox presented on the charity before the auction.
Proserpine’s Filby’s Motors’ kindly offered a special edition 20th anniversary 2015 premiership North Queensland Cowboys signed jersey which was snapped up jointly for $2500 by Leanne and Wayne Born, Koorelah Farms, and Russell and Janelle Dobe, Pring Rural. The framing was donated by Gillian Jurgens from Zesty Design, Bowen.
Photos by Anna McCowan and Vanessa Kennedy.
