STANDING ON STRONG SHOULDERS: STRENGTH IN UNITY

The story of CANEGROWERS on the Herbert is unique. CANEGROWERS, or as it was first known Queensland Cane Growers Association (QCGA), came about when the Queensland Government legislated for commodity associations with compulsory membership and farmer levies. Yet even before the imposition of compulsory association there was a highly organized association advocating strongly for sugar farmers on the Herbert, the Herbert River Farmers’ League (HRFL)

The Herbert River CANEGROWERS stands on the shoulders of a group of small farmers whose aspirations to grow sugar cane were ridiculed by the planters. Nevertheless, six men, only two of whom were English speakers, took on the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR) in 1882 as the Herbert River Farmers’ Association (HRFA), and achieved in 1884 what seemed impossible, a contract to supply cane to CSR. It was the first association in north Queensland to solely represent small sugar growers’ interests rather than those of larger planters and was the voice of the small farmers until the formation of the Herbert River Farmers’ League (HRFL) in 1896.

When the Herbert River district branch executive of the QCGA was formed in February 1926, followed by the Herbert River Cane Growers Association (HRCGA) in February 1932 it inherited branch associations, structure and roles already established by the HRFL. It operated out of the HRFL’s building until the Farmers’ Building opened in 1934. Moreover, the first executive positions of the HRCGA were held by HRFL members who contributed their valuable organizational experience.

This strong associative urge dating from 1882 has defined the strength and determination of CANEGROWERS on the Herbert as it has steered the local industry with a united voice through the many challenges that have beset the industry in the last 100 years.

‍