State funding saves Mackay Regional Sugar Festival
May 21, 2009
The Queensland Government has come to the aid of the Mackay Regional Sugar Festival with a $17,510 funding boost to ensure the event gets off to a sweet start.
Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Regional and Rural Queensland Tim Mulherin today announced the funding as part of the State Government's Blueprint for the Bush - Our Place, Our Future initiative.
He says the Regional Sugar Festival aims to improve the community's view of the sugar industry and its importance to the economic and social viability to the region.
"In the current economic climate, this investment will help to strengthen and enhance the relationships between rural and urban areas," he says.
"It will also help the support networks the sugar industry needs to attract and retain skilled workers.'
"The Mackay region has experienced a period of exponential growth and the Regional Sugar Festival will provide the perfect opportunity to bring the community together."
The Minister says the festival will follow on from the annual BSES field day event on May 21 and 22.
"It will continue through the weekend with a sugar themed art competition, cane farm visits, a float parade, the blessing of the harvest service and cane industry displays," he says.
"The weekend will include a 'sweet dash' footrace, barbecue, concert, street markets and a junior fishing event.
"And then on Monday, May 25, the Q150 steam train will roll into town!"