Canegrowers Mackay CEO Kerry Latter dies after cancer battle

A titan who fought hard to advance Queensland’s sugar industry has died after a short, but harsh battle with cancer, sparking grief and affection among Mackay’s farming families.

Canegrowers Mackay chief executive officer Kerry Latter meeting with Dawson MP George Christensen and Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan at a shed talk on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Picture: Heidi Petith

An agri-political titan who passionately fought to advance Queensland’s sugar industry has died after “fighting a very short, but harsh battle with cancer”.

Canegrowers Mackay CEO Kerry Latter was diagnosed with an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer earlier this year.

Chairman Kevin Borg said it was with regret he advised the community that Mr Latter died on Monday night after a valiant fight.

“I extend our deepest sympathies and support to Kerry’s family and friends during this difficult time,” Mr Borg said.

“In speaking to Kerry during his last days, I can tell you all that Kerry counted the Canegrowers community as part of his family.

“He was a passionate and strong leader of our organisation.”

Barnaby Joyce, Paul Schembri, Kevin Borg, Kerry Latter and George Christensen.

Mr Borg described Mr Latter as a “very strong, stoic sort of guy” with a “reputation as a bit of a Blue Heeler” when it came to advocating for farmers’ causes.

While he never technically grew his own cane, Mr Latter had no qualms about lobbying politicians on the industry’s behalf whether it be about a major road project cutting through farms or advocating for growers to have a stake in the burgeoning biofutures sector.

He was also involved in major issues such as the Federal Sugar Industry Code of Conduct, sugar marketing, and the environment, and served in many committees and groups from a local to state level.

Paul Schembri and Kerry Latter wanted to provide a solution to tackle rising electricity costs.

“Kerry leaves behind a legacy of advocacy in agripolitics that the whole sugar industry can aspire to,” Mr Borg said.

“We also value what Kerry has done for the Mackay region, as one of its eminent business and community leaders.

“Kerry had a real trait where he would analyse any sort of problem and come up with a solution and a way forward when other people would see it as just a brick wall,

“He took his job very seriously but at the end of the day, he was a friend.

“He was probably one of those people you could sit down and confide in and I guess that comes with the job description ... he got on very well with staff ... and even up to his last days, he would ask how they were going.”

Canegrowers manager Kerry Latter and board director Kevin Borg with samples of sugar cane juice at the Sarina Show. Photo Lee Constable / Daily Mercury

Mr Borg recalled the day Canegrowers selected Mr Latter for the CEO or “district manager” role 15 years ago.

A small businessman at the time, owning a service station in Glenella and the nearby Carinya corner store, “(Mr Latter) was interested in the role, he was watching the sugar industry and what we were doing at the time,” Mr Borg said.

“The moment we interviewed Kerry, we knew he was the man,” he said.

“He settled into the job in a short amount of time and gave it all he got.”

Mr Latter had served as Canegrowers Mackay CEO since 2008. He was also formerly deputy CEO of CHR Group, the CEO of Pioneer Permanent Building Society from 1998 to 2003, and a Senior Non-commissioned officer with the Royal Australian Air Force.

He was also a Queens Scout.

He is survived by his two beloved daughters, his mother and siblings.

Share your memories of Mr Latter in the comments section below.

Originally published as Canegrowers Mackay CEO Kerry Latter dies after cancer battle