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So instead of keeping the prize to themselves, Coles Innisfail, in collaboration with Dairy Farmers, decided that it was more appropriate to use the prize to raise funds for the devastated community which had helped them win the prize in the first place.
The prize was a private concert with Goodwill Ambassador for the Dairy Farmers Creating Greener Pastures Program John Farnham.
Coles Supermarkets State Manager (QLD), Tony Hillman, said, because of the damage caused by the Cyclone, there was not sufficient infrastructure to provide the concert locally, so the concert was held in Cairns.
“The fact that Coles Innisfail was able to win the competition in the middle of the havoc that cyclone Larry wrought in the community, was quite an achievement in itself,” Mr Hillman said.
As hoped, the concert raised valuable funds, which Coles Supermarkets and Dairy Farmers are now reinvesting back into the community.
“As a direct result of the successful concert, I am pleased to today announce a donation of $11,000 to the Johnstone Shire Council to rebuild a monument surrounding a time capsule that was destroyed by Cyclone Larry,” Mr Hillman said.
“This is on top of the $60,000 in funding we have already committed through the Dairy Farmers Creating Greener Pastures program to a waterways revegetation project. The revegetation program will take place in the Upper Johnstone River catchment area which in turn supplies the Innisfail community with its water.”
Mr Hillman said they had decided to support the project because of its symbolic value.
“The rebuilding of the time capsule monument is significant in that it symbolises the return to a normal life for a community badly shaken by its experience during the Cyclone,” Mr Hillman said.
“We hope it provides a morale boost for those members of the community who are still trying to get their lives back on track.”
The time capsule was buried in Jack Fossey Park 25 years ago, to be reclaimed in 100 years.
The structure housing the time capsule was badly damaged during the cyclone and the Council was forced to remove it from its resting place.
Dairy Farmers Chairman Ian Langdon said he was pleased that Coles Innisfail had so willingly offered this Dairy Farmers prize back to the community.
“The benefits of this concert will now be felt by the whole community,” Mr Langdon said.
Dairy Farmers, which has approximately 100 farmers in the North Queensland region, will deliver the grants through its partner, the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR).
