Video winners celebrate cane growers’ commitment to the Reef

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 Programme, asked school students and anyone creative in the community to make a short video to highlight the efforts of farmers, partnerships with government programs and the importance of the industry to regional Queensland communities and the economy.

“Farming in Queensland has changed significantly in recent years and our growers are driven by a deep desire to protect the beautiful Reef which is in their backyard,” Matt Kealley from CANEGROWERS said. “But farmers can be a modest and quiet bunch so we needed the help of budding filmmakers and animators to help celebrate their achievements.”

“We wanted to entertain while also educating everyone about what really happens on modern cane farms,” Mr Kealley said. “CANEGROWERS will be sharing these videos far and wide to tell the story of the technologies and positive farming practices that are helping the Great Barrier Reef.”

CANEGROWERS received some excellent entries. The winners and finalists can all be viewed on the Canetube YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL683179722B3DC082

Major prize winner ($10,000)
The Reef that we love – Kathryn Dryden, Innisfail http://bit.ly/2cP4Dcj
A two-minute animation showing the relationship between cane farming, the environment and coastal Queensland communities.

Second Prize ($5,000)
Cane growers: The Wet Tropics hidden environmentalists – Cameron Kennedy, Cairns http://bit.ly/2cwCoTm

First prize Secondary School ($1,500)
Sustaina-billet-y – Sam Camm, Mackay region http://bit.ly/2cRJC3J

First prize Primary School ($1,500)
Finn’s Word on the Sweet - Finn and Hannah Dryden, Innisfail http://bit.ly/2ciTOzi

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).