Outback Queensland Cattle Drive Media Welcome

Mayor, Barcaldine Regional Council, Councillor Rob Chandler; Mayor, Blackall-Tambo Regional Council, Councillor Andrew Martin; Mayor, Longreach Regional Council, Councillor Tony Rayner; Chairman, Outback Queensland Cattle Drive 2026 and Director of BeefBank, Mr Anthony 'Bim' Struss; Board Member, BeefBank, Mr Andrew Rodgers; Co-Founder, Foodbank Queensland, Mr David Muir AM; Chief Executive Officer, Australian Country Choice, Mr Anthony Lee; ladies and gentlemen of the media. 

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera peoples, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here today. 

This morning, Graeme and I are delighted to welcome the country to the city, with a cattle droving experience in the grounds of Government House. 

I’m not sure there has been this much excitement here on the Fernberg Estate since a wombat, joey, snake, platypus and performing pony were brought in to greet Her Majesty The Queen in 1954! 

I’d like to thank our two amazing stockmen, Ben Drynan and Darren Christiansen for demonstrating their exceptional horseback skills.  

They spend much of their working day on horseback, I’m told, so we hope Fernberg Estate provides a pleasant change of scenery for them, at least. 

Thanks also to Gabrielle and Alexander Stokes for bringing these two magnificent Charolais heifers from their award-winning Mount Walker stud, Clearview.  

Charolais is one of the most reliable, cost-effective beef breeds in Australia today and so a perfect fit for the message we are hoping to convey here today–that Queensland boasts one of the most accomplished, advanced and adaptable beef industries in the world. 

However, despite their incredible efforts to look after the people and the interests of our regional communities, they can’t do it alone and they would very much appreciate our help right now, particularly as flooding persists across so much of our State, decimating livestock in some areas and causing so much hardship in others. 

These wonderful members of our livestock industry are here today, along with our other very special guests, despite this hardship––and to draw attention to an incredible initiative, and which I hope you can also draw attention to, the Outback Queensland Cattle Drive. 

The Cattle Drive, which involves a group of seasoned stockmen and women, their families and community members of all ages droving upwards of 1,700 head of cattle through the ‘long paddock’ of our historic Queensland stock routes, from Longreach to Blackall, is the brainchild of Andrew Rodgers, founding Director of BeefBank. 

BeefBank is a charity established by the Rotary Club of Brisbane Centenary, whose purpose is to provide this nutritious staple to organisations such as Foodbank, of which I am the proud Patron, and FareShare.  

These organisations then distribute the food to charitable organisations that feed our state’s most disadvantaged.  

A hugely significant partner in this venture is, of course, the Queensland beef industry—whose members are always keen to give back and certainly have done by donating cattle to the event.  

And a very respected member of that cattle community is with us here today. BeefBank Director, Bim Struss, not only served as chair of the Cattle Drive but even saddled up for last year’s ride! Bim, I know it came with some unexpected injuries, and I hope you have recovered enough to take part this year!

Graeme and I were thrilled to be in Longreach ourselves last May to launch the inaugural Cattle Drive, which was a memorable experience. To swing open those gates on a cold Longreach morning, releasing the mob, with whips cracking, cattle snorting, and the early risers looking on in awe was simply incredible.  

It not only captured the spirit of Queensland’s legendary droving traditions but ultimately raised vital funds that directly helped more than 300,000 struggling families. 

So, on the 24th of May this year, when the gates swing open once more in Longreach, we will again witness something that is truly, authentically Queensland, and symbolic of our State’s heritage and history.  

This year’s Outback Queensland Cattle Drive will help support these truly remarkable people, their supporters and their communities, who give so much for our State, through good times and bad.  

It will also serve as a symbol of immense hope in tough times, and I wish everyone involved in this year’s event success and safe travels! Thank you.