Cr Column Councillor Michael Detenon

The mornings are getting cooler as we approach winter which also means the Cane harvesting season is not far away.One of the Burdekins signature events to kick off the season is the Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival which is over the last weekend in May. First on Friday the 30th is the First Fire as well as the Cultural Fair. The cane fire is something that still makes you sit back and watch in awe even when you have seen them your whole life. Accompanied by the Cultural Fair which is a great showcase of the many diverse cultures who call the Burdekin home. This is all backed up on Saturday the 31st with the Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championships. This Bi-Annual competition is something to see as competitors race the clock to cut cane by hand in the fastest time as well as producing a good cut. When you see how tired and dirty the competitors are at the end of the competition it really gives you some perspective on the generation who had to do that day in and out for months on end before the invention of the cane harvester. With many other fun activities for the whole family throughout the day, The Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival is one not to be missed so I look forward to seeing you all at the Home Hill showgrounds in the last weekend of May.