Andrew Willcox (Dawson, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability) Share this | Hansard source

Out of bed and off we go! It's time to see how sugarcane grows. It is absolute delight to inform the House today of an educational children's book, No Drama Cane Farmer. Written by a constituent of mine and Mackay local Nikki Townley, this book shines a spotlight of the vital industry of our country—sugarcane farming. Nikki, a passionate early childhood teacher and mother to four very busy kids, married cane farmer Charlie and lives in the middle of a cane paddock. In fact, it was during her maternity leave with her fourth child that Nikki somehow found the time and energy to put pen to paper and create this wonderful story, a story that is now being shared with children and families across our community and, soon, the nation.

What makes No Drama Cane Farmer so special is how it blends family farming life with professional expertise to help educate young children—both rural and city—about the process involved in cane farming. Through her storytelling Nikki takes readers on a journey from planting the sugarcane to harvesting, processing and transforming it into the sweet sugar that we eat. She highlights the hard work and commitment of our farmers and the sophisticated process that brings sugar from our paddocks to the rest of the world. It is a beautiful example of how a children's storybook can entertain and also inspire and inform. Nikki told me how, going from living on a cattle property to becoming a cane farmer, she believes it is important for children to understand where food comes from. I could not agree more.

Let's not forget about the stunning illustrations that bring this story to life. Focusing on Nikki's family, the pictures were created by talented artist Victoria Mikki of Ukraine, of all places. Each page's illustration captures the colours, movement and life of the cane paddocks, the machinery and the characters—all from photos Nikki supplied to Victoria. Nikki has taken her everyday experiences and turned them into something that will inform and delight children for years to come. Whether you're a kid growing up on the farm or one who has never even seen a cane harvester in action, this story is one for you to enjoy. Thanks Nikki for sharing your story and for showing us that there really is no drama when you have a heart as big as our farmers have and a strong connection to the land. No Drama Cane Farmer is a must read for everybody. Do yourself a favour: by a copy, read it now and get one for your kids and your grandkids.

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