LAURA grazier Cheree Callaghan believes many of the Northern Australia decision makers have “no clue” about what’s needed to develop the Cape.
The mother-of-four runs 107,000-hectare Fairlight Station, one of the oldest on the Cape, with her husband Craig, a fourth-generation cattleman and helicopter pilot. The property has been in the Callaghan family for more than 100 years.
“There is so much potential,” Cheree told the Queensland Country Life. “With the sealing of the Peninsula Developmental Road, live export will flourish.”
But while Cape landholders can see the potential, Cheree believes those in power have failed to harness it.
She said education held the key to unlocking the Cape’s potential and answering propaganda put forward by environmental groups. “I feel that politicians who don’t know anything about Cape York or have never spent time up here have no clue,” she said. “Grab a video camera and record what you do every day so you can talk about what you do.”
Fairlight has enjoyed a good wet season, in stark contrast to 2015, the driest on record. In September last year, the property was 80 per cent burnt out. Fairlight has a carrying capacity of around 4500 head of cattle, a mix of breeders and progeny. The Callaghans are hoping to move to full-time breeding in the next 18 months. The older cattle are sent to the meatworks, and younger stock to the Mareeba Sales. Live export is a future option.
Cheree said the couple was looking to “mould” the property to best fit their needs. A Reef Rescue grant is helping them fence off the Kennedy River at the back of the property. “It’s a win-win situation. We are maintaining something that is fairly pristine.”
Poor internet is also holding back Cape business according to the Callaghans who run an earthmoving operation on a meager 20GB download per month.
“Last year I had to ring my accountant and get them to do up my bills and send them off for me,” Cheree said.
They have applied to join Skymesh to boost their monthly download quota to 200GB.
