Sugar industry honours luminaries’ legacies
Australian sugar industry champions who played pivotal roles in the New South Wales sector, Ian Causley and Wayne Rodgers have have been posthumously honoured at the New South Wales Sugar Milling Co-operative annual general meeting.
In marking the passing in 2020 of Mr Causley, 79, and Mr Rodgers, 52; their legacies have been recognised in the naming of both the newly constructed Ian Causley Freight and Logistics Warehouse complex at Manildra Harwood Sugars, and the establishment of the Wayne Rodgers Cane Harvesting Leadership Program for intensive upskilling of leaders and managers in the New South Wales harvesting sector.
New South Wales Sugar Milling Co-operative Chairman, Jim Sneesby said the entire New South Wales sugar industry mourned the loss of Mr Causley and Mr Rodgers.
“For more than a half-century, Ian served in industry roles from grower representative to chairman of the board for the New South Wales Sugar Milling Co- operative and parliamentary advocate at both state and federal level,” said Mr Sneesby. For most of his life, Ian was a “man of many hats” from cane farmer to industry administrator and politician from 1966-2017.
“A wealth of knowledge and consummate professional, Ian was instrumental in the restructure of our milling and refining businesses, resulting in the amalgamation of the New South Wales Sugar Milling Co-operative and Manildra Harwood Sugars to form Sunshine Sugar.
Mr Sneesby said Mr Rodgers was also an innovator in farming systems, harvesting, weed control and adoption practices – serving as the inaugural chairman of Sunshine Sugars’ own agricultural advisory and extension service committee during the sector’s research and development restructure, and as chair of the boards of the Richmond River Cane Grower Executive and New South Wales Cane Growers Association.
“Wayne worked very hard to bring the growing and milling sectors of the New South Wales sugar industry together,” said Mr Sneesby.
“A good farmer, he was a big man with big ideas, big tractors and a great work ethic.”
Mr Sneesby said the Wayne Rogers Cane Harvesting Leadership Program was testament to Mr Rogers’ contribution to the industry, recognising him for the huge role he played in modern farming. The specialised and ongoing Leadership Program is an advanced training program designed to provide a set of management skills and tools to current and emerging leaders in the New South Wales harvesting sectors.
“The program will provide development opportunities for individuals and a platform to drive continuous improvement in performance, efficiency and management in cane harvesting across New South Wales,” he said.
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