There’s a particular kind of energy in a room when producers, processors, customers and community come together — and last week’s Casino Beef Week Industry Dinner had it in spades.
Bindaree Food Group was proud to again be naming sponsor of the dinner, an event that sits at the heart of one of the most important weeks on the northern beef calendar. For us, it’s far less about the sponsorship and far more about the chance to stand alongside the people we work with every day and say thank you.
This year’s dinner was built around the theme “What We Do” — a look at the people, partnerships and processes behind Bindaree’s beef programs across our domestic and export markets. And at the centre of all of it are our producers. The cattle you raise, and the relationships we’ve built supplying them, are the foundation everything else is built on.
Guests heard directly from producers and customers throughout the evening, a reminder of just how connected this supply chain really is. Richmond Valley Council Mayor Robert Mustow spoke to the significance of the region and its industry, and the night was hosted by MC Lyndsey Douglas, Editor-in-Chief and Director of Writers Who, with a curated menu showcasing Bindaree’s beef.
“Casino Beef Week is an important moment on the calendar — it’s an opportunity to reconnect with the people who make this industry what it is,” said Bindaree Chief Executive Officer Andrew McDonald. “From producers through to customers, it’s those relationships that continue to drive our business forward.”
A real highlight was the charity auction, led by auctioneer Allen Ramsey, which raised $7,000 for Windara – Achieve Australia, a local disability support service. It’s the kind of outcome that says a lot about this industry — when the room gets together, good things follow.
Closing the evening, Bindaree Food Group Chairman John Kotzur reflected on what makes nights like this matter.
“There’s something pretty special about a room like this — people from all parts of the supply chain, all playing their part,” Mr Kotzur said. “What we saw here tonight is what makes this industry strong — good people, strong relationships, and a willingness to give back to the communities we’re part of.”
To everyone who came along, and to the producers who continue to back us — thank you. We’ll see you at the next one.
