STAR HELPS WITH SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS
A SWEET deal between casino giant Star Entertainment Group and the Quandamooka community to produce honey on North Stradbroke Island is creating quite the buzz.
Native honey production from the deal, which started as a trial in late 2017, will eventually be delivered for use in restaurants at Star’s Queensland sites including Broadbeach.
The deal is delivering a major boost to the island’s fledgling indigenous tourism industry as Star becomes the first company outside the Quandamooka people allowed to use the honey, produced by a rare native species of non-stinging bees.
Production of the honey will increase in the next three years ahead of the opening of Australia’s first Dorsett Hotel on the Gold Coast in 2022 and the Queen’s Wharf Casino in Brisbane.
Cameron Costello of the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) said the deal would deliver many benefits to the local community.
“Right now, we’re enjoying the sweet taste of success with our joint trial enabling us to realise the potential of an Aboriginal native bee honey microfood business here on our beautiful and pristine island,” Mr Costello said.
“We are proud to have The Star’s support and see this trial grow into a longterm partnership that will create many economic growth opportunities for our Quandamooka People – especially in jobs and training.”
Cheyenne Doyle is one of the young local women exploring bee keeping as a career. The 20-year-old, who is studying a tourism certificate, said she was drawn to the job after hearing that bees bonded better with female beekeepers.
“Women have more of a connection with the bees and it’s become a bit of a tradition,” she said. “Women are calmer with their movements which keeps the bees happy.”