A VIDEO competition has shone a bright and proud spotlight on the efforts of sugarcane farmers to safeguard the Great Barrier Reef.
The Canetube competition, backed by the Australian Government Reef Program, called for short videos to highlight the efforts of farmers, partnerships with government programs and the importance of the industry to regional Queensland communities and the economy.
CLICK HERE to watch the 2016 Canetube Winners and Finalists.
Major prize winner ($10,000) – The Reef that we love – Kathryn Dryden, Innisfail. A two-minute animation showing the relationship between cane farming, the environment and coastal Queensland communities.
Second Prize ($5000) – Cane growers: The Wet Tropics hidden environmentalists – Cameron Kennedy, Cairns.
First prize Secondary School ($1500) – Sustaina-billet-y – Sam Camm, Mackay region.
First prize Primary School ($1500) – Finn’s Word on the Sweet - Finn and Hannah Dryden, Innisfail.
Matt Kealley from CANEGROWERS said farming in Queensland had changed significantly in recent years and growers were driven by a deep desire to protect the beautiful reef that was in their backyard.
“But farmers can be a modest and quiet bunch so we needed the help of budding filmmakers and animators to help celebrate their achievements,” Mr Kealley said.
“We wanted to entertain while also educating everyone about what really happens on modern cane farms.”
Mr Kealley said the videos told the story of the technologies and positive farming practices that were helping the Great Barrier Reef.
The Canetube competition was made possible with assistance from the Australian Government and additional support from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and Smartcane BMP (the sugarcane industry’s best management practice program for farms).
