12th May, 2009
Officiating at the Rabobank Rotary FNQ Field Days will be controversial Federal MP Bob Katter, a long-time Walkamin field days fan who rarely misses the bi-annual event.
“It’s a Tablelands highlight”, says Bob, noting that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Field Days visitors are from the various western districts that are included in his vast electorate, which extends from the Cassowary Coast to the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Northern Territory border.
“I can meet more old mates at Walkamin than I can walking down the main street of Cloncurry” says Bob, who was born and raised in the ‘Curry’ “back when it was a bigger ‘burg’ than Mount Isa”, he adds. Bob will ‘officiate’ at 2.00 pm – and is aware of the incongruity of ‘opening’ the event on the afternoon of the final day.
“I won’t ‘open the show’ as such”, he explains, “but rather take the opportunity to pay tribute to the Tablelands Rotary Clubs – and especially, our hard-working North Queensland farming community. Farmers are a fundamental strength of our nation – a fact that is too often forgotten by city people and city-centric governments”.
6th May, 2009
Rabobank Rotary Field Days attractions include a major Stud Beef Cattle Feature Show, with multi-award-winning Bazadais-Bazaman breeder John McFarlane presenting new stud stock, as well as other leading stud operators also ‘on show’.
Even the tiny Dexters, the bovine equivalent of Shetland ponies, will be featured, as will Droughtmaster, Charolais, Limousines, A.I.S. and other breeds. John McFarlane used the 2007 Field Days as a launch pad for an entirely new breed of beef cattle, the Bazaman, and sold literally all his show stock within a few hours of the event’s first day.
John plans another major presentation this year – and will also conduct his popular ‘Guess the dressed weight’ competition. The contest pits the skills and luck of ‘guessers’ against a premium Bazadais steer called Fiaday. To give prospective ‘guessers’ a heads-up on this year’s beast, John advises that: “Fiaday will be a bit tucked-up after the 800 kilometre road-trip from Greenmount, however he should give cattleman and butchers an insight in to how well Bazadais really weigh, in terms of quality meat yield”.
Butchers Know Best
Meat masters across the country have discovered the value for money and key to customer satisfaction that comes with beef from Bazadais cattle – among the bovine stars of the big Stud Beef Feature Show at the 2009 Rabobank Rotary FNQ Field Days. Bazadais breeder John McFarlane cites high dressed meat yield and consistent lean quality as reasons for the preference of profit and service conscious master butchers for Bazadais beef.
Slade Point butcher Len Little says: “We pride ourselves on the quality, tenderness and flavour of the certified and free range meat and the fact that there is very little fat. Many customers over the last three years have been full of praise for the meat using the Bazadais and, more recently, the Bazamans.
John’s Greenmount Stud will exhibit Bazadais and Bazaman cattle at the Field Days.
6th March, 2009
The region’s major agricultural equipment showcase has defied the current economic downward trend and attracted a record number of exhibitors – barely a handful of display sites remain available – and they’re going fast.
The Rabobank Rotary FNQ Field Days has always been popular with exhibitors as well as patrons – but the demand for display sites this year (Wednesday & Thursday, May 27 & 28) has exceeded all expectations. Explains event co-ordinator Collin Messervy: “Clearly exhibitors recognise the Field Days as a major sales and promotional platform. Any prospective exhibitor who wants to book a site but has yet to do so should contact me urgently (40 96 8255, Mobile 0408 340 341) as we really are selling-out fast !”.
One of the few remaining sites can also be booked on-line on the this website – just click on Site Map and follow the prompts.
The Rotary FNQ Field Days has also attracted the support of a record number of sponsors – including major sponsor Rabobank, Telstra Country Wide, SunWater and local firm Tableland Pump & Irrigation Repairs & Service. Wonderful media support has also been forthcoming from Channel 7, the Tablelands Advertiser and the North Qld. Register, the latter sponsors of the Inventors Contest. Further sponsorships are under negotiation, with some to be announced soon.
The Field Days’ Inventors Contest is also off to a flying start, with contest organiser John Hardy reporting a “swag of interesting entries” – including the already famous Banana Blankey created by Mr. Robert Watkins of Mount Uncle. Major prize in the Inventors Contest includes a trip to the Huge Ag-Quip Field days in Gunnedah N.S.W., where the Walkamin winner will represent North Queensland in the National Farm Inventor’s competition Finals. The Rabobank Rotary FNQ Field Days take place at Walkamin Central on Wednesday & Thursday, 27 & 28 May.
3rd February, 2009
The bi-annual Rabobank Rotary FNQ Field Days, taking place at Walkamin Central on Wednesday & Thursday May 27 & 28, is set to become an even bigger pond, thanks to monetary and technical sponsorship by Australia’s biggest telco, Telstra Country Wide.
Announcing the sponsorship, Telstra Country Wide area general manager Mr. Wally Donaldson said his company was expanding Telstra’s long previous association with the event, including provision of upgraded capacity for on-site wireless Next G Network wireless connections for the convenience of exhibitors – and other essential telephonic services.
Telstra Country Wide will share a Field Days exhibit with Atherton Telstra dealer Adrian Kipps Electrical – and Telstra’s Mr. Rick Stella and other members of ‘Team Telstra’ will be on-hand to demonstrate the benefits to country folk of the ever-increasing range of Telstra Country Wide services, including Next G Mobile, Next G Wireless Data, Business Broadband and other business products for rural producers and suppliers.
Visit the Telstra Business and Telstra Country Wide websites for more info on Telstra’s products and services.
Rabobank Rotary Field Days co-ordinator Mr. Collin Messervy and chairman Dr. Iain Fogg welcomed the sponsorship, noting that the events attraction of such a major and high-profile corporate sponsor confirmed the Field Days’ standing as a major North Queensland regional attraction.
Prospective exhibitors who have yet to book space should do so urgently, as the 2009 Rabobank Rotary FNQ Field Days is rapidly booking out.
2nd December, 2008
The Rabobank F.N.Q. Rotary Field Days taking place at Walkamin Central on 27 and 28 May next year has already ‘sold’ over 130 Display Sites – almost two-thirds (66%) of the 215 sites allocated for the event!
Delighted chairman of the Combined (Atherton Tablelands) Rotary Clubs’ committee that presents the event, Dr. Iain Fogg, attributes the stunning response from exhibitors to the event’s reputation as the major regional showcase for agricultural and mining products and services, the low cost of display space and the huge crowds the Field Days attract (10,000 in 2007).
“As the Field Days are still almost six months away, the firm bookings received thus far are remarkable – and suggest that exhibitors who have yet to book should do so urgently”, Dr. Fogg said.
The Rabobank F.N.Q. Rotary Field Days venue, the Walkamin Central Caravan Park, proved perfect for the event last year – and does have sufficient space for some modest expansion above the 215 sites already planned.
An interactive Site Plan on the event’s web-site allows exhibitors to select, book and pay-for sites on- line. Alternatively, exhibitors can telephone Site Co-ordinator Collin Messervy on 0408 340 341 or 40 96 8255.
Mr. Messervy notes that expansion of the site plan is nonetheless limited – and calculates that no more than an additional 15 to 20 sites could be created.
Both Rotarians are very pleased with the overwhelming response from exhibitors to-date. Adds Iain Fogg: “The rush for site bookings makes it clear that intending exhibitors need to book space as soon as possible!”.
