General News
18 August, 2026
Strong field in salami comp
THE annual Mareeba Sausage and Salami Festa at the Mareeba International Club, attracted a strong field of entries, with competitors showcasing generations of family tradition, craftsmanship and a passion for preserving authentic Italian methods.
In the individual categories, Tony Raso claimed top honours in the northern style section, while Carmella Raso took out the southern style category.
Debbie Camuglia impressed the judges by winning the no style category, recognising an outstanding salami that did not fit the traditional northern or southern classifications.
The cured meat categories were dominated by David Moreno, who won both the salsiccia and culatello sections, highlighting the quality and consistency of his entries.
The capocollo category was won by Ross Mangano, whose expertly prepared entry also helped secure the competition’s highest individual honour.
After tallying the results across all categories, Ross Mangano was crowned the overall champion of the 2026 competition.
David Moreno finished as overall runner-up, while Tony Camuglia claimed third place overall following another impressive showing in one of the festival’s most hotly contested events.
The competition remains one of the most anticipated features of the Cairns Italian Festival, celebrating the rich culinary traditions handed down through Italian families across the region.
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