MONTO may have missed out on the top gong in Dairy Australia’s inaugural LEGENDAIRY Awards but it can still hold its head high for the resilience it’s shown in the face of adversity.
The small community, 340 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, was one of eight finalists in the national search that celebrated and showcased Australia’s most vibrant regional communities.
Monto – home to the only dairy festival in the southern hemisphere - was pipped at the post by northern Victorian town Stanhope which was named the LEGENDAIRY Capital.
As the Subtropical regional finalist, Monto received $2500. Monto has been a dairying town since the early 1920s.
North Burnett Regional Council Mayor Don Waugh said Monto could be proud of its achievements.
“One of the big things that has stood by Monto over the years is resilience and country character,” Cr Waugh said.
“It’s the fact that people have the strength to stay on the land.
“It’s so important for people to stay on the land. It’s so important that the government encourages the people with the experience and knowledge to stay there.
“We need to take that into consideration into the future because food is going to be a big aspect.”
Cr Waugh said Monto had overcome the downturn of the dairy industry and Mother Nature’s fury in more recent years.
“The dairy industry virtually collapsed after deregulation,” Cr Waugh said.
“There’s been three floods through the area since then.
“But they have survived and come through.”
