Susan snaps up first ever “Mango Queen” crown 

SUSAN Lorenti of Clayfield Markets Fresh has been crowned the first ever “Mango Queen” after making the winning bid of $45,000 for the 2009 season’s symbolic first tray of mangoes at the Brisbane Markets “Mango Memories” auction for charity.

Marking the 12th year of the event, proceeds from the auction and other activities totalled a massive $70,000, and will be shared between Life Education Queensland, the largest non-government provider of drug and health education in Australia, and Redkite, an organisation that provides emotional and financial support to children affected by cancer and their families.

The newly crowned Mango Queen follows in the footsteps of her husband Carlo, also from Clayfield Markets, who won the crown last year as well as in 2006. Susan said she was happy the $45,000 was going toward helping Queensland children and their families.

“There are generous people within the Brisbane Markets community who look forward to this auction every year so we expected some tough competition,” Ms Lorenti said.

“Carlo and I wanted to make a difference and it is a privilege to know our winning bid will support such worthy causes.

“We dug deep and are so proud we won this year’s auction. It is a strong personal motivator of mine to help children in need and the reason I participate is because the money raised goes towards supporting children and their families who need it most whether through Life Education Queensland or Redkite.

“It’s also good to know we also did better than our New South Wales counterparts.

“I delivered the tray of mangoes to the kids at the Banksia Ward of the Royal Brisbane Children’s Hospital and it was such a joy to see their faces light-up as they tasted some of the season’s first fruit.”

Brisbane Markets CEO Andrew Young said the auction was a great success thanks to the combined effort of the Brisbane Markets community.

“The annual mango auction is an opportunity for fresh produce retailers and wholesalers to show their support for some of our state’s finest children’s charities and celebrate the beginning of the mango season,” he said.

“Congratulations to Susan as our 2009 Mango Queen and a big thank you to her and the whole Brisbane Markets community who faithfully get behind the auction year after year.

“We had a large number of retailers and wholesalers bidding for the prized mangoes which is one of the best turnouts yet. The auction along with donations and raffles raised a grand total of $70,000.”

This year’s “Mango Memories” featured a spectacular grand parade showcasing the Brisbane ‘Hogs Breath Brisbane Broncos’ Cheerleader Squad, Brisbane Broncos Vice-Captain Corey Parker along with Broncos Players Joel Clinton, Tonie Carroll, Nick Kenny, ‘Alfie’ Langer and Peter Ryan.

Since the inaugural event in 1998, the Brisbane Market Mango Auction has raised over half a million dollars for worthy charities.

The mangoes were supplied by Pine Creek Plantation in Pine Creek.