General News
2 August, 2026
Farmer Sam bows out of Canegrowers after 22 years
AFTER more than two decades of steady leadership, calm judgement and quiet influence, Sam Spina’s retirement from the Canegrowers Innisfail board marks the end of an era for the local sugar industry.
For 22 years he helped steer growers through some of their most challenging periods, not with fanfare or ego, but with a willingness to step forward whenever the industry needed him most.
Mr Spina often joked that he never intended to become a leader. He first stood for election around the introduction of GST, only because Basil Micale insisted the industry needed someone with financial knowledge.
“I don’t know why he thought I understood it,” Mr Spina said in his farewell speech.
“Back then no one understood it.” Yet that readiness to help became the hallmark of his contribution.
When the previous generation of leaders retired, Mr Spina and current chairman Joe Marano suddenly found themselves at the helm.
Mr Marano described those early years as “a steep learning curve,” but together they formed one of the longest serving leadership partnerships in the Australian sugar industry.
For almost 20 years, Mr Spina served as deputy chairman, working side by side with Mr Marano through industry negotiations, management committee meetings, board discussions, contract mediations and countless behind the scenes challenges.
“The sugar industry is bigger than an individual,” Mr Marano said in his tribute.
“There is no place for egos.”
It was a philosophy Mr Spina lived by.
Their partnership was built on trust, respect and shared purpose. “We’ve shared the lead role,” Mr Marano said.
“At different times we’ve been good cop, bad cop, but ultimately, we trusted each other and always had each other’s backs,” he said.
Mr Marano described Mr Spina as a calming influence during difficult negotiations, someone whose judgement he relied upon throughout their years of representation.
The work was rarely glamorous with long meetings, tough conversations, travel away from family and hours spent navigating complex industry issues.
As both men joked, there were times they spent more hours together than with their own wives.
“Cane farming and Canegrowers has been a big part of my life,” Mr Spina said.
“I’m going to miss it.”
His words reflected not only his commitment, but the countless volunteer hours invested on behalf of fellow growers.
While growers often see the outcomes of improved agreements, better conditions, stronger representation, they rarely see the years of preparation and persistence behind them.
Mr Spina’s retirement closes a significant chapter, but his influence will continue through the relationships built, the decisions made and the example he set.
As Mr Marano concluded, quoting Dr Seuss: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
Read More: Innisfail