Rabobank Rotary FNQ Walkamin Field Days a Huge Success

‘What recession?’ seemed to be the most-asked question amongst free-spending patrons and well-pleased exhibitors at last month’s Rabobank Rotary FNQ Field Days held at Walkamin Central. Record numbers of patrons crowded the grounds on both days — and the highly positive feedback from exhibitors will be posted on this website soon.

Highlights included Inventors Contest wins to local entrants Tony Rocca and Robert Watkins. Tony’s Plastic Mulch Retriever won the over $1,000 catgeory &mdash $500 from sponsor Rural Press — and the overall grand prize — transport and accommodation to the sprawling Ag-Quip Field Days in Gunnedah New England this October, courtesy of Mareeba’s Travel Experience, where his invention will compete as the North Queensland Champion Farm Invention. The Under $1,000 category was won by Robert Watkins Banana Blankey — unit cost of which is just $6!

Tony Rocca’s $25,000 Plastic Mulch Retriever allows just two operators to do the work of two tractors and an entire team of workers. The invention retrieves left-over plastic that is placed along rows to minimise weed infestations and evaporation of precious irrigated water. Easily towed by a small or medium size tractor, the P.M.R. is a two man operation — one on the trailer — mounted PMR itself, the other at the wheel of the tractor. Given the poor availability of casual farm labour and spiralling fuel prices Tony Rocca's P.M.R. has enormous potential.

Robert Watkins Banana Blankey is already achieving it’s potential — Robert scored a $500 cheque from the Tablelands Rotary Clubs for a winning entry that had already won the night on ABC TV’s New Inventors program — and, as of the week of the Field Days, became part of a trial manufacturing project at nearby Lotus Glen Prison, the former Field Days venue. In-mates at Lotus Glen have begun churning-out the exquisitely simple plastic banana packing enclosure, which protects fruit from the tree to the display case at the supermarket. The Banana Blankey attracted hundreds of patrons from the Ingham to Innisfail banana growing region — many of whom had never previously visited a Walkamin Field Days.

Congratulations to both winners.

Heart Felt Thanks to All

The overall quite stunning success of the event gladdened the hearts of the hard-working team of Mareeba and Atherton Rotarians — and both Field Days Committee Chairman Dr. Iain Fogg and site co-ordinator have warmly thanked exhibitors, sponsors and especially the many thousands of patrons for making the event such an outstanding success…

The Clubs plan to keep this website up and running until the next FNQ Rotary Field Days in May, 2011. Townsville Rotary Clubs conduct their Field Days in the alternate (even numbered) years. And all for Charity and the Community. The tidy profit earned by the event will be distributed evenly (50/50) to charities and community groups chosen by the Atherton and Mareeba Rotary Clubs.

As with all events staged by Rotary Clubs throughout the world, the Field Days is essentially a charity fundraiser — although it’s also clearly served as a great business opportunity for exhibitors and a great day out for patrons… Which raises one complaint received — the event is now so large (almost 250 exhibitors and countless enjoyable supporting attractions) that one visitor raised a highly valid point: “this is so big that you need more than one day to see it all”. Fair comment — in 2011, the gent’s suggestion just might be taken on board by the Rotarians organizing committee: perhaps a slogan or a line in the advertising: “You’ll need more than a day to see it all!”

Please keep browsing this website — it will be updated often with the latest news on planning for the 2011 Rabobank Rotary FNQ Field Days at Walkamin Central.

All for Charity

As with all Rotary Club projects, all monies raised are donated to local, Tablelands, charities and community groups. Explains event co-ordinator Collin Messervy: “We’re only in it for the money we can raise for the community - so the wonderful public support we receive directly benefits the people who need and deserve assistance”.

Rotary Field Days Backed by Leading Agribusiness Bank

Rabobank in Partnership with Rotary Clubs

One of the world's leading agribusiness banks Rabobank has joined the bi-annual F.N.Q. Rotary Walkamin Field Days in a partnership that ensures the viability of the event, taking place on 27 and 28 May next year.

Announcing the endowment, effectively a donation to the Rotary Clubs of Atherton and Mareeba, Field Days Committee Chairman Iain Fogg noted that the event was conducted specifically to raise funds for local Tablelands charities and community groups.

"The event will be presented as the Rabobank F.N.Q. Rotary Walkamin Field Days - and we're extremely grateful to Rabobank for their invaluable support".

Rabobank Senior Rural Manager for F.N.Q. Brian Brown, a Rotarian himself, notes that the bank is enthusiastic about serving local communities and points-out that the Field Days partnership is an expression of Rabobank's committment to the Atherton Tablelands and the wider Far North Queensland region. Read more about Rabobank.

The 'Rabobank F.N.Q. Rotary Walkamin Field Days' has just up-graded this web-site to include an inter-active function where exhibitors can book and pay-for display sites on-line - just go to Site Map.   Event co-ordinator Collin Messervy reports that the event has already received many dozens of firm site bookings - and anticipates that the 'Rabobank F.N.Q. Rotary Walkamin Field Days' will 'sell-out' of display sites well before the event next May.

A Rabo-Branch Near You.....

Rabobank's branch network extends across Australia -
North Queensland branch locations are:

* Atherton * Ingham * Ayr * Cloncurry * Townsville

Look for the Rabobank branch at the Field Days -
located at Site E-3 (go to Site Map above).

New Field Days Sponsor Puts others in the Shade

The Combined Rotary Clubs of the Atherton Tablelands announce another Platinum sponsor of this year’s Rabobank Rotary FNQ Field Days – SHADY CHARACTERS.

Dodgy traders working-out of carpet-bags? Not at all – Shady Characters are in fact the Atherton Tablelands market leader in all things shady – wherever shade is needed to filter-out the harsh ultra-violet rays of the scorching tropical sun – you’ll find a Shady Characters’ product.

Read More

Rotary Clubs Welcome New Platinum Sponsor - Pressure Pumps N.Q.

An all North Qld. family firm has signed-up as a Platinum sponsor of the Rabobank Rotary FNQ Field Days - Pressure Pumps N.Q. have siezed the opportunity to lend their name, prestige and gold-mint reputation for local service to the event...

Founded by owner-manager Derek Ross, ably assisted by working wife Annette, Pressure Pumps NQ specialise in pressure cleaners, cleaning equipment and accessories. Mobile Repair services for small engines and other maintenance services right across North Queensland...

Pressure Pumps NQ cover the turf from the Mount Isa mining region, right throughout the Gulf of Carpentaria and all of Cape York - and everywhere in between, including the suddenly active ship-building docks in Cairns and other northern ports.

Read More

SunWater Shows its Support for FNQ Rotary Field Days

SunWater - Queensland's leading water supplier, has once again shown it's committment to the Far North Queensland community by offering financial support to next year's (28 & 29 May) Rabobank FNQ Rotary Walkamin Field Days.

SunWater has a strong presence in many regional centres through its management and operation of Queensland dams and water distribution networks which supply bulk water to urban, agricultural and industrial water users.

Mareeba Business Manager Charlie Martens said part of SunWater's presence included financial support of community events that formed part of the social calendar of regional centres.

"We are very pleased that SunWater can be a major sponsor of such a popular and important event for the FNQ region", Mr. Martens said.

"Apart from financial support to ensure the event's success, SunWater representatives will also be on hand at the SunWater Marquee to demonstrate the organisation's water products and services, including SunWater Online", he said.

Mr. Martens added that SunWater staff would also be 'on-hand' to answer any questions customers or potential customers may have about effective water supply solutions.

"We're looking forward to SunWater's participation at the Rabobank FNQ Rotary Walkamin Field Days and we encourage customers to make the time to visit the SunWater Marquee and talk with the SunWater team", Mr. Martens concluded.

Tablelands Firm are Proud Sponsors of 2009 Field Days

The combined Rotary Clubs of the Atherton Tablelands have great pleasure in announcing the sponsorship of the 2009 Rabobank FNQ Field Days by local firm Tableland Pump & Irrigation Repairs and Service. The Yungaburra-based family company has built a solid reputation well-beyond the Tablelands for service to customers.

Founded by Jim and Robyn Grimshaw barely 7 years ago, Tableland Pump & Irrigation has grown to the stage where they even employ two apprentices, Lindsay Bartlett and Scott Mahoney (pictured with Jim Grimshaw).

Tabeland Pump & Irrigation are stockists/dealers for a comprehensive range of irrigation equipment, including Orange Pumps, Davey Pool Products, Toro, Guyco and Vinidex irrigation equipment – and others.

Operating from leafy Yungaburra, the company is rightly proud of it’s rapid mobile service facility, which repairs and services pumping and irrigation equipment of all makes and models.

Read more

2009 Field Days — Book Your Site Now

Following the outstanding success of the 2007 Field Days, held for the first time at our excellent new Venue, planning is already well advanced for the 2009 Event on Wednesday 27 to Thursday 28 May, 2009.

The Event

The Rotary Walkamin Field Days cater for ALL types of primary producers with the products and services they need — and often buy ‘on-site’.  And not just farmers and miners, but operators in the myriad range of related occupations — and their families.

Tradesfolk, mining industry operators, cottage-craft enthusiasts and the Far Northern community en masse visit the Field Days — over 8,000 admissions ‘through the gates’ in 2007.

The Event includes a range of family entertainments, ‘fun contests’ for children and — for the first time in 2007 — a night-time ‘Bush Music and Poetry Show’, which was well-attended and extremely well-received by patrons.

Exhibitors benefit from full public address system coverage, local television news and substantial press exposure, live radio broadcasts, and the LOWEST SITE COST of ANY Field Days in the state.

2009 ATTRACTIONS Include:

• Tony Hermann, World Champion Chain Saw Ice Carver
• Rural Press N.Q. Register Inventors Contest
• Radio KZAM Live Broadcasts on Both Field Days
• Educative Seminars for Farmers (topics to be determined).

The Region

The Rotary Walkamin Field Days is the largest, most comprehensive showcase of agricultural equipment and related products and services in all of Far North Queensland.

The Event’s ‘customer-catchment’ areas include the vast Cape York cattle and mining districts, the Great Western ‘black soil’ Plains and the Gulf of Carpentaria Savannah-lands — and the richly diverse local farming areas of the Atherton Tablelands and the Cassowary Coast, which includes the sugar, banana and aquaculture capitals of Innisfail and Tully.

Over 5,000 farms are within a few hours driving distance of the Walkamin venue — in recent years, more than 100 MINES have been established in the wider FNQ region.

Unlike too much of the rest of Australia, the entire far northern region is unaffected by drought — the rain still falls and we are ‘well-watered’ — everywhere!

The Venue

The centrally located Walkamin Caravan Park (mid-way between Atherton and Mareeba) proved the PERFECT VENUE in 2007. Spacious, lush and green, with NO PROBLEMS with Power or Public Facilities like Rest Rooms and Truck & Car Parks, our new Walkamin site is directly opposite the D.P.I. Research Station, where paddock demonstrations of machinery and implements are conducted.

The D.P.I. Research Station provides a helicopter landing site — other aircraft are accommodated at the nearby Mareeba Aerodrome, only a few minutes from the venue.

Rail services are available to Mareeba, and a bus service from Atherton to Mareeba ‘stops’ directly at the Field Days ‘front gate’.

All for Charity

The Field Days are a project of the Rotary Clubs of Atherton and Mareeba, and ALL monies raised (including the tiny $2 Admission charge) are donated to charities and community organizations in the Atherton Tablelands area.