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As the Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival draws near, two standout events promise to deliver unforgettable experiences for locals and visitors: the Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championships (AHCCC) and the iconic First Fire.
For long-time competitor and local grower Mark Vass, the championships are about more than just sharp knives and speed.
“It’s good tradition,” he says. “We have all these flashy machines now that do everything, so it's good to go back and get a taste of how hard it was.”
The event, held at Home Hill Showgrounds, pits men and women against rows of green cane stalks in a test of technique, timing and toughness. Competitors are judged not only on speed, but on the quality of their cut—something Mark learned quickly in his early days.
“I can remember when I first did it—I would’ve been around 22, in my peak physical condition, and went in there just to get absolutely dusted by 70 year olds,” he exclaimed. “It's all about their technique.”
But before the cane falls, the fire rises. The First Fire event—held in the same paddock the night before the championships—marks the start of the crushing season.
“It’s a Burdekin icon, burning the sugarcane. We’re one of the only places in the country that still does it,” says Vass.
The fire lights up the paddock with an intensity that’s hard to ignore—crackling heat, falling ash, and flames licking high into the night sky.
“It roars,” says Vass. “The flames could potentially go two stories high.”
Beyond the visuals, the event holds deep meaning for older generations.
“You see the joy on their faces,” Mark says. “There are still a lot of people around here who cut cane by hand, so seeing the tradition kept alive—it means a lot to them.”
The Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival will be held at the Home Hill Showgrounds from 30-31 May. Book your tickets now at: www.sweetdayshotnights.com.au
What: Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival
When: 30-31 May
Where: Home Hill Showgrounds
For long-time competitor and local grower Mark Vass, the championships are about more than just sharp knives and speed. Photo Supplied
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