150 years ago, Ernest Henry came looking for the grazing land. History shows that he found that.

He would leave the grazing to Roger Sheaffe, who took up the first pastoral holding and called it Fort Constantine. Ernest Henry was more excited about the mineralisation that he discovered and I am sure he believed he had come to an area of great potential.

Fast forward 150 years and we know he was right.

There has been some hard knocks along the way, but ultimately Cloncurry has been an area of great prosperity both in agriculture and mining.

The potential is still as well. Potential for new projects mining well known projects also potential for emerging minerals and rare earths. Agriculture has a great future with improvements in beef production.

And the focus on new opportunities opening up with irrigation for biofuel, food crops or more intensive stocking rates is close.

Cloncurry’s history is undoubtedly as great as our mining and beef industries.

Names like John Flynn, Dame Mary Gilmore, Alf Traegar, Allan Vickers synonous with Cloncurry and predating them all the Mitakoodi and Kalkadoons. Cloncurry has attracted great people.

For us to realise the next era of potential we need to embrace the opportunities. We can do so much of this ourselves and create a strong and vibrant community providing high quality services and liveability.

We will need some support along the way from government and the major players in industry as a shire, Cloncurry has contributed over $1 billion to the state in just the last 10 years.

That is an amazing effort and should be recognised by the state.

State government support needs to be in the form of employees of department living in Cloncurry and grants to deliver the necessary infrastructure to support industry and the community.

The support required from industry will be varied but not limited to investing in the area, creating jobs locally and helping to improve the ‘social fabric’ of the community.

I look forward to working with mining transport and agriculture companies to ensure our needs are heard.

C150 is here. It’s going to be huge and I’m sure everyone is excited. Like all events it wouldn’t happen without great sponsors and organisers.

The mining sector has been the major group supporting the event, and I thank all sponsors sincerely.

This is also an opportune time to thank all groups, committee volunteers and sponsors who make our regular events the successes they are, year on year off.