In an exclusive report , Agriculture Correspondent, Arthur Fallowfield , in Darwin , has revealed why Magnetic Island is being tarted up , the rusty barricade near the ferry terminal replaced to partially hide the long running eyesore, "The Hole ."
Fallowfield says he thinks the answer to the question about the sudden Spring cleaning on the island lies not in a pending royal visit but the fact that the Corteva 2018 Australian Melon Industry Conference and Field Day , run September 17-20, will kick off with a "Welcome Event " on " beautiful Magnetic Island . "
Seminars will be hosted by Mercure in Townsville where there will be 30 trade exhibitors. It just so happens that Mercure has apartments in a block known locally on Magnetic Island as Alcatraz, just behind "The Hole ."
Topics covered will include disease and pest control , melon pollination , post harvest technologies , quality measurement and food safety , the latter important after the rock melon scare. A field day will be held at Ayr where 4000 metres of the latest melon varieties will be on view , with demonstration blocks of crop protectorants and treatments. Fallowfield's revelation will undoubtedly disappoint the forelock tugging sector of the island and mainland community, but delight all the in-house melon and golden carrot growers .
