Page 23 - Tropic Magazine Issue 29

TROPIC • FINANCE

Agribusiness

support

DISASTER RECOVERY
As banana growers in the
Innisfail district recover
from destructive wild winds,
NAB has been on the ground
to help minimise the financial
burden for its customers.

Words: Renee Cluff
Like all residents between Mission Beach Assistance has been offered in the form Local empathy
and Cairns, the Sciacca family was caught of fee and cost waivers for withdrawing
by surprise when winds caused by then term deposits early, hardship assistance, Elisha-Vi Raso’s own
yet-to-be-formed Tropical Cyclone Niran support to manage existing bank experiences have
tore through their banana plantations. facilities and concessional loans for shaped the way she
Grower Dianne Sciacca told Tropic the repairs, restocking and reopening. does business. This is her
destruction was devastating. “We lost For the Sciacca’s Pacific Coast Eco recount of the first cyclone
100% of the trees that had bunches on Bananas business at Boogan, the she encountered as a child.
them, all of the crop that was there,” Ms financial support means there’s one less “I remember Cyclone Winifred
Sciacca said. “We do have some trees still thing to worry about. like it was yesterday. My family
standing so the next time we’ll have an lived on the Esplanade at Flying
income will be around August Fish Point and we evacuated
or September.” It’s just an almighty to the Shire Hall in Innisfail.
Long before any government assistance It was a heady mix of people,
was offered, NAB representatives weight off your shoulders nervous chatter and torchlight.
were on the ground visiting impacted knowing options are there Everyone was doing their best
farmers. Among them was Elisha-Vi to comfort one another. At one
Raso, NAB’s Business Bank Executive for Dianne Sciacca, point, the doors blew open and
Far North Queensland. “The devastation Pacific Coast I remember a rush of panic as
to agribusiness clients, in particular Eco Bananas people tried to push against
the banana industry, was far beyond the wind to lock them
expectation,” Ms Raso said. “We’ve been long-term clients for over 40 back down.
“We know this has impacted a lot of years but including generations before
people and we are here to support all NAB us, probably 80 years,” Ms Sciacca said. Arriving home after that
customers, colleagues and the “That’s the sort of thing you want from a cyclone and seeing the
wider community.” bank – to know that when you have times devastation it left behind
of disaster, they’re there for you. – to homes, livelihoods
For us, the low interest loans offered by and agricultural crops – is
the Queensland Government are not an something that has stayed with
option because they’re not fixed. me all my life. As the years
We’ve been told the interest rate will be and the cyclones have rolled
assessed yearly.” on, I’ve watched how the Far
Last year, NAB also announced a new North community has been
Foundation Community Grants program devastated and I’ve watched
aimed at funding projects that prepare them recover – proving resilient
for natural disasters, support long-term each and every time.”
recovery and build resilience against
future disasters. Grants of up to $10,000
are available for local projects. MORE: nab.com.au
Innisfail team (Left to right)
Nigel Edwards - Business Banking Manager
Tony Duggan - Senior Agribusiness Manager
Elisha-Vi Raso - Far North Qld Executive
Anita Baker - Agribusiness Manager
23 • tropicnow.com.au