Page 70 - Port Douglas Magazine 35

SUGAR RUSH:

HOW CANE FARMING

SHAPED PORT DOUGLAS

WORDS: Sue Bennett for Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas

ong before tourism became Douglas Mill to buy mud, ashes and molasses to improve free credit until the cane was cut and the debt
Shire’s leading industry, sugar production the soil. In the 1970s, Joe moved into fruit growing could be repaid. The Rossi family still farms the
Ldominated the local area. It’s evident and was instrumental in establishing the tropical land today.
today with visitors often passing paddocks of fruits council. In the past, the cane harvest, known locally as “the
tall canes swaying gently in the breeze. The large influx of European migrants to work the crush” (which takes place each year from June to
The trade not only brought economic prosperity to cane fields occurred during the early 20th century November) was an occasion for celebration. This is
the Port Douglas region but an Italian legacy which and particularly after World War I. They replaced something Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort has been
lives on today. Chinese, Indian and South Sea islanders who had inspired to revive and breathe new life into, in our
As a boy, farmer Peter Verri would pass the grown rice and cereals. annual event calendar.
canecutters’ barracks on his way to Sunday lunch Peter Rossi’s ancestors were among the first Italians Almost all Australia’s sugar cane is grown in
at his grandmother’s. It was the workers only day to arrive. Like many migrants, men would travel Queensland and the Mossman Sugar Mill services
off each week and Mr Verri still recalls the aroma of to Australia first, on the promise of riches to be an area from the Daintree rainforest to the Atherton
coffee and simmering tomato sugo as he passed by. made in cane cutting. Mr Rossi’s grandfather was Tablelands. Visitors see cane flowers in June
It was accompanied by laughter and song. followed by his wife and three children, parents and and July before harvesting when small gauge rail
Many Italian migrants may have been half a world sisters. carriages and huge road trucks laden with lengths
away from nonnas’ cooking but they did a fine job of cut cane are a familiar sight. At the sugar mill
in honouring their traditions. “If there was no money to buy food, a they are compressed and converted to raw sugar,
Like many compatriots, the Noli family arrived in shop would offer interest free credit until much of it exported.
Far North Queensland in the 1920s and ‘30s. Theirs the cane was cut and the debt could be Italian migrants may have sought a better life in
was a very Italian way of life, making their own repaid.” Australia but, for some, there was no escape from
cheeses, salamis, sausages and pasta. But enterprise the impact of global events.
and initiative was a key to success with Joe Noli and Sebastiano and Rosa Scomazzon arrived in 1933,
his brother-in-law, Agusto, later buying a 122 acre His mother, Adelaide, recalls time of goodwill and buying a cane farm between Mossman and Miallo,
plantation. When fertiliser was scarce after World community spirit in the community. If there was but he found himself interned during World War
War II, Agusto negotiated with Mossman Sugar no money to buy food, a shop would offer interest II, leaving his wife alone to look after their six
72 tourismportdouglas.com.au