For Mathew and Sarah Di Mauro, farming is more than a business, it’s a legacy. As third and fourth generation sugarcane growers on Queensland’s Cassowary Coast, the couple are building their future growing both sugarcane and watermelons.
Over the past decade, their journey into farm ownership has been shaped by perseverance and a strong partnership with the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA), which they say helped them take their first steps toward owning land.
“I had an opportunity to grab a bit of dirt through QRIDA. Sam Spina [QRIDA Regional Area Manager for Far North Queensland] was the one who helped us out with getting that,” Mathew said.
Despite deep generational ties to agriculture, breaking into ownership was challenging, with commercial finance through traditional lenders proving difficult.
“We had a few options with other banks and we got told no, it was a big push to try and make it happen,” Mathew said. “Sam came down over many weeks and sat down and told us where we needed to be and where to get to.”
QRIDA Regional Area Manager Sam Spina first met the couple around eight years ago as they explored pathways to ownership.
“Mathew and Sarah are on their third First Start Loan because they have been growing their business in stages, and the last stage that we helped them with was to buy their first large farm,” Sam said.
Through QRIDA’s First Start Loans, the Di Mauros moved from leasing to ownership and expanded their mixed farming operation.
QRIDA’s First Start Loan helped get us where we are today as a family,” Mathew said.
That steady growth has strengthened the couple’s position, highlighting the value of on the ground support for agricultural businesses across Queensland.
For more information about QRIDA’s First Start Loans, visit qrida.qld.gov.au or call 1800 623 946.
