The Australian banana industry was awarded former Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) chair Doug Phillips the ABGC Award of Honour 2017.
Phillips was presented with the award recognising his outstanding contributions to the banana industry at the Australian Banana Industry Congress Banana Ball in Sydney on 23 June.
ABGC chair Stephen Lowe thanked Phillips for his dedication to the industry during the six years on the ABGC board.
“Doug joined the ABGC board at a time when growers in Queensland’s north were still getting over the devastation of severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi,” Lowe said. “As many banana growers know first-hand, recovery from such events is never easy and the impacts of such events are also greater than purely financial.
“During his time as chair, Doug visited all of Australia’s banana growing regions to present to and speak with growers and was always a staunch advocate of the industry to governments, to ensure all growers got a fair go.”
Phillips played a key role in establishing the emergency plant pest response levy in July 2013 to fund an eradication programme for Banana Freckle in the Northern Territory, and was heavily involved when the Panama TR4 disease was detected on a Queensland farm in Tully in March 2015.
“Doug’s strong leadership in the months that followed the initial detection – against a wave of industry uncertainly and fear – was unwavering to say the least,” Lowe said. “As well as addressing constant media requests, Doug ensured industry was always well informed, he consistently liaised with Biosecurity Queensland, senior government officials and scientists in the effort to contain TR4.”
The ABGC Awards of Honour are presented at the biennial Banana Industry Congress, acknowledging the banana industry’s finest.
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