Past Legends | Legends of Cane Country

13 recipients

Meet the past legends

Past Legends — Video Package

Albert ‘Bert’ Saunders Pollock (deceased)

Mossman

Bert Pollock was a stalwart of Queensland’s sugarcane industry and a dedicated grower advocate. A Mossman grower for more than 47 years, he served 28 years on the local CANEGROWERS Board, including 22 years as Chairman and QCGO representative, while also serving on the Mossman Cane Growers’ Co-operative Board. His contribution extended into the wider community through the Cairns Port Authority, rural training councils, Scouts, Red Cross and local sport. A Second World War veteran, Bert served with the 2/1 Casualty Clearing Station, 9th Division AIF. In 1995, the Shire nominated him for the Premier’s Awards.

Drewe Burgess

Tableland

Drewe Burgess has dedicated decades to the Australian sugar industry, playing a pivotal role in developing the Tablelands as a distinct cane-growing region. An agronomist with BSES and later CANEGROWERS Tableland, Drewe helped ensure research, varieties and production systems reflected the district’s drier, irrigation-dependent conditions. He established variety trials and seed plots, improved irrigation management and supported growers adopting the SIX EASY STEPS® nutrient framework. Drewe also advocated for Tablelands-suited varieties through Sugar Research Australia. Respected for his technical knowledge and generosity in sharing it, he has been a trusted adviser and mentor whose contribution has helped shape the Tablelands sugar industry.

Guido Ghidella (deceased)

Cairns Region

Guido Ghidella dedicated his life to the sugar industry, serving growers with commitment and integrity. His representative career began as a director of Babinda Central Mill before joining the Babinda Mill Suppliers Committee following the mill’s sale. He later served on the QCGO Ltd Board, where he was known for looking beyond local interests to issues affecting growers across Queensland. Guido was also instrumental in bringing the Mulgrave and Babinda grower organisations together to form CANEGROWERS Cairns Region. A respected community member, friend and mentor, Guido helped pave the way for those who followed and left a lasting legacy of industry service.

Basil Micale

Innisfail

Basil Micale has made a lasting contribution to Queensland’s sugar industry through grower representation, industry advocacy and mentoring. First elected to the Mourilyan Mill Suppliers Committee in 1989, he went on to serve as Chairman of the committee, Chairman of CANEGROWERS Innisfail, a Board Member and Junior Vice Chairman of Queensland CANEGROWERS. Basil also played an important role in developing the Australian Sugar Industry Museum in Innisfail, serving as Chairman from 2000 to 2010. Since leaving farming, he has remained a trusted mentor to successive generations of grower leaders. His integrity, leadership and ability to bring people with him have left an enduring influence on the industry.

Mario Raccanello Jnr (deceased)

Tully

Mario Raccanello was a highly respected and industrious cane grower, a passionate ambassador for the sugar industry and a local pioneer of agricultural innovation. He contributed to a number of water quality projects and was particularly recognised for his work trialling and manufacturing biofertilisers, exploring new approaches to improve farming practices and sustainability. His willingness to innovate, contribute and champion the industry earned him the respect of those around him, leaving a lasting legacy following a life cut far too short.

Bill Adams

Herbert River

Bill Adams has dedicated decades to the Herbert River sugar industry, proudly representing local growers on the Macknade Mill Suppliers Committee for 28 years. A third-generation cane farmer, Bill comes from a family whose property has been continuously owned and farmed for more than a century. His commitment to the industry, his fellow growers and the continuation of family farming has been reflected in the successful transition of the farm to his sons, who now carry on the tradition as fourth-generation cane farmers. Bill’s long service and deep connection to cane country have created a legacy that spans generations.

Paul Sgarbossa (deceased)

Burdekin

Paul Sgarbossa made an enormous contribution to the sugar industry through decades of service, research leadership and grower representation. His roles included the Inkerman Mill Suppliers Committee and Cane Protection and Productivity Board, Queensland Cane Grub Steering Committee, BSES Board and inaugural Chairmanship of Burdekin Productivity Services. Paul was particularly renowned for championing research into Greyback cane grub control when the pest was costing the Burdekin around 400,000 tonnes of cane. His efforts contributed to improved control methods and Suscon Blue development. Recipient of the 2001 Sugar Industry Innovators Award, Paul’s practical leadership delivered benefits well beyond the Burdekin.

Luigi (Lui) Raiteri

Proserpine

A third-generation cane farmer, Lui Raiteri dedicated decades to the Proserpine sugar industry as a grower, contractor and industry leader. He served 20 years on the Proserpine Sugar Mill Board, including six as Chairman, and held leadership roles across harvesting, productivity, research and grower organisations. Lui was also at the forefront of mechanisation, with his family’s Up River Harvesting introducing the first chopper harvester to the Proserpine district, which he began operating at just 17. Through practical innovation, strong grower representation and a lifelong commitment to cane, Lui made a lasting contribution to the Proserpine district and Queensland sugar industry.

Antonio (Tony) Perna (deceased)

Mackay

Tony Perna was a dedicated member of the Mackay sugarcane community who gave many years of service to growers and the wider district. Through his involvement with CANEGROWERS, the rural fire service and local community, Tony demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting those around him. His contribution reflected the community spirit and willingness to serve that have long been at the heart of Queensland’s cane-growing regions.

Allan Dingle

Bundaberg

Allan Dingle has spent a lifetime in agriculture, helping shape both the Bundaberg sugar industry and agricultural advocacy across Queensland. A Bundaberg cane grower, Allan served 14 years as Chairman of CANEGROWERS Bundaberg and went on to hold senior leadership roles with CANEGROWERS at state and national levels. His commitment to representing farmers extended across agriculture, serving on the Queensland Farmers’ Federation Board from 2014, as Vice President from 2017 and President from 2019 to 2023. He also contributed to regional irrigation, groundwater and grain and cane organisations. Through decades of grower representation and advocacy, Allan has been a strong voice for Bundaberg cane growers and Queensland agriculture.

Harry Bonanno (deceased)

Isis

Harry Bonanno was one of Queensland’s influential cane grower leaders, dedicating 37 years to representing growers in the Isis district and across the state. Rising to become Chairman of CANEGROWERS, Harry was a strong voice for growers during significant industry change. He played an important role in major negotiations and reforms covering regulation, marketing, expansion and the future structure of the industry. Known for his forthright approach, determination and willingness to speak up, Harry earned the respect of growers, industry colleagues and political leaders. His decades of service left a significant legacy for the Isis district and Queensland’s wider cane-growing community.

David Braddock (deceased)

Maryborough

David Braddock was part of a family with deep roots in the sugar industry, contributing to the growth of cane farming and the local milling sector through generations of significant change. The Braddock family’s connection to the industry stretched back to the early 1900s and continued through the evolution of the local mill and its eventual incorporation into MSF Sugar in the 1990s. Through this longstanding involvement, David carried forward a strong family legacy in cane country and became a well-respected member of his local community.

Richard Skopp

Rocky Point

Richard Skopp dedicated almost four decades to representing Rocky Point cane growers, serving on the CANEGROWERS Rocky Point Board from 1985 to 2022, including 15 years as Chairman. The organisation’s longest-serving Board member, Richard played a pivotal role in the Woongoolba Flood Mitigation Scheme, which improved drainage, opened significant areas to cane farming and increased production. He also served on the Drainage Committee and cane supply agreement negotiating team. Even after retiring from the Board, Richard continued assisting CANEGROWERS Rocky Point with drainage matters, leaving an enduring legacy of leadership, knowledge and service to the district’s cane industry.