Qld Rural Press Club president and Beef Central editor James Nason hosting the 50th anniversary lunch.400 friends and guests of the Rural Press Press Club of Queensland have gathered in the main auditorium of the Brisbane City Hall this afternoon for a long lunch to celebrate the club’s 50th anniversary.

The event is celebrating the integral role the Rural Press Club has played in connecting city and country and amplifying issues of importance to rural Queensland, ever since 23 rural journalists attended the first Rural Press Club lunch in 1972 to hear a veterinarian argue for greater State Government support for artificial breeding services.

Guest speakers at today’s 50th anniversary event include ABC Landline presenter and Rural Press Club hall of famer Pip Courtney, and journalist and author Trent Dalton, who has award-winning works have included numerous insightful media articles about the culture and characters of rural Queensland.

The Rural Press Club of Queensland is sponsored by Colliers Agribusiness, Australian Retirement Trust and McCullough Robertson Lawyers.

Beef Central’s camera was there to capture some of the many faces at today’s event.

Former Rural Press Club president and life member Pete Lewis with Rawdon Briggs from Colliers’ Agribusiness and entrepreneur Chick Olsson.

Rob Marshall and Samantha Bryce from Laguna Bay Pastoral with Tess Jagger from PwC.

Daniel Hanson from Centurion Cattle Company with Luke Meaney and Breanna Keoghan from Westpac.

Smithfield feedlot manager Kailen Hodgson with Scott McLellan from Dalby.

Michael Norris and Nick Gregory from Hillhouse with Naomi Staines from Blue Hill PR.

David Orchard from OBE Organic, Albert Capel from NAB and Jane Campbell from Manana Pastoral.

Sally Gardiner from Baked Relief and Gemma Somerset from QAAFI

Senator Susan McDonald’s chief of staff Matthew van Horan with Les Cox and Derek Tan

Pete Lewis interviewing long-time rural journalist Kenrick Riley.