Government House Queensland
The Fernberg Estate has opened its gates to an unforgettable meeting of city and country as stockmen on horseback, magnificent Charolais heifers and leaders from Queensland’s Central West gathered at Government House to shine a spotlight on the Outback Queensland Cattle Drive.
Her Excellency and Professor Nimmo were delighted to welcome representatives from regional local government, the beef industry and the charitable food sector, united by a shared purpose: turning Queensland’s proud droving traditions into meaningful support for people doing it tough. Among those attending were Barcaldine Mayor Cr Rob Chandler, Blackall‑Tambo Mayor Cr Andrew Martin and Longreach Mayor Cr Tony Rayner, who travelled to Brisbane alongside industry leaders to highlight the importance of collaboration between urban and regional Queensland.
Exceptional horsemanship was on display as respected stockmen Ben Drynan and Darren Christiansen of Esk Beef demonstrated their skills in the grounds of Government House. They were joined by two impressive Charolais heifers from Clearview at Mount Walker, generously brought in by Gabrielle and Alexander Stokes. The demonstration served as a striking reminder of the expertise, adaptability and resilience that underpin Queensland’s beef industry.
The event also highlighted the impactful work of BeefBank, an initiative founded by the Rotary Club of Brisbane Centenary. BeefBank’s innovative model sees donated cattle processed and transformed into nutritious meals for Queenslanders experiencing food insecurity, through partnerships with organisations including Foodbank Queensland and FareShare.
Attendees included Outback Queensland Cattle Drive 2026 Chair and BeefBank Director Anthony ‘Bim’ Struss, BeefBank Board Member Andrew Rodgers, Foodbank Queensland Co‑Founder David Muir AM and Australian Country Choice Chief Executive Officer Anthony Lee, all reflecting the strong alignment between industry and community need.
As flooding and severe weather continue to place significant strain on regional communities, today’s gathering also acknowledged the challenges currently facing rural Queensland. The visit underscored the generosity of an industry determined to give back, even amid adversity, and the importance of sustained support for those affected by natural disasters.
The Outback Queensland Cattle Drive will begin again in Longreach on 24 May, with stockmen and women, families and community members droving cattle along historic stock routes to Blackall. Following the success of last year’s inaugural drive—which raised vital funds to help feed more than 300,000 families—the 2026 drive has set an ambitious target of delivering one million meals to Queenslanders in need.
Today’s event at Government House was both a celebration of Queensland’s rich pastoral heritage and a powerful call to action, reinforcing the message that when city and country come together, shared effort can make a genuine difference to lives across the state.