A SECOND-generation cane farmer from the Mackay region has taken out the top gong at the annual Reef Champion Awards which were announced in Yeppoon last night.
Gerrard Deguara of North Eton won the acclaimed Prince of Wales Environmental Leadership – Reef Sustainability Award for his work in prompting stronger natural resource management in the Australian sugar industry.
Mr Deguara was credited for improving the sustainability on his 800 hectare family farm, where he grows sugar cane and several pulse crops.
He started by making major changes to water infrastructure, using centre pivots for irrigation and converted farm and harvesting equipment to a two metre controlled traffic farming system maximising the growing area of his paddocks.
In doing this he reduced fossil fuel use, improved yields and soil health and reduce the volumes of chemical and nutrient run-off in water leaving the farm.
The runner up in the category was Ayr’s Frank Mugica for his progressive use of banded mill mud and green cane trash blanketing to reduce soil erosion and nitrogen use by 20kg per hectare. He has also planted 100 native trees on his property since 2017 to encourage wildlife.
The awards, run by the Reef Alliance with support from the Australian and Queensland governments, recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations working to improve the quality of water entering the iconic Great Barrier Reef.
Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) CEO Travis Tobin congratulated the winners and other finalists and said it was important to acknowledge the continued commitment and efforts of farmers and others working with the agricultural sector to safeguard the future of the reef.
“The outstanding achievements of farmers, extension officers and community members nominated for these awards is testament to the widespread practice change and innovation taking place in reef catchment areas,” Mr Tobin said.
He said programs supported by the Australian and Queensland governments had been successfully supported to deliver mutually beneficial outcomes for farmers and the environment.
“There have been many worthwhile projects undertaken, and these awards allow us to showcase some of the great efforts and achievements.”
Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Leeanne Enoch Minister congratulated the Reef champions for their outstanding efforts to improve the quality of water flowing to the Reef.
“These awards highlight the amazing work individuals and organisations are doing in their communities to protect and preserve our natural wonder, the Great Barrier Reef,” Ms Enoch said.
“My congratulations go to every finalist for their extraordinary efforts.
“In this, the International Year of the Reef, it is fitting that we recognise the outstanding efforts of young Queenslanders who are influencing change as the future custodians of this world icon.”
Other winners include David DeFranciscis, of Ayr, who co-designed a project to test an industry nutrient management standard on grower properties to reduce high nitrogen applications.
Bob Harris, Bowen, took out the Reef Sediment Champion Award for on-farm efforts to fence riparian areas and install watering points reducing sediment loss.
Phillip Deguara, Eton, won the Reef Pesticide Champion Award for his instrumental role in implementing a grower-led water quality management project resulting in significantly reduced numbers of pesticide applications on his and other farms.
Mt Pleasant Station management in Bowen won the Reef Conservation Champion Award for restoring the ecological function of the property with a time-controlled grazing system.
Allan Blair, South Johnston, was named the Reef Extension Officer Champion for his innovative modification of a sprayer that can apply two different types of herbicide at the same time.
John Day, Wondai, was also honoured for being instrumental in promoting landholders’ uptake of best practice soil conservation practices and directly overseeing construction works for the remediation of over 54 sites throughout the Burnett Mary region.
Mulgrave Landcare and Catchment Group, Gordonvale, won the Reef Community Champion Award for holding 31 community planting events and, with the assistance of hundreds of volunteers and 21 landholders, planting 33,000 trees over 17 hectares.
And the younger generations have also been doing their part, with three young leaders honoured for this week.
Nicole Nash of Freshwater, launched The Last Straw on the Great Barrier Reef campaign which has seen over 320 venues across the reef catchments, who were using an estimated 4.1 million straws per year, go plastic straw free.
Gavin Rodman, Gordonvale, played a part in the design and delivery of the Cane to Creek project and rollout of Best Management Practice training in the Wet Tropics as the lead deliverer of SIX EASY STEPS training for the cane industry.
The under 15 youth champion was Sid Crawshaw, Tannum Sands, for also encouraging local businesses, his fellow school students and family members to say ‘no’ to straws.
