Mullets, Queens and Mr Beef: Casino RSM Celebrates Beef Week

After a week of celebrations for the 2024 Casino Beef Week, staff from Casino RSM are taking a few days off to recover – with Operations Manager Donna Battese saying she was so exhausted she slept for almost 12 hours after the festivities wrapped up. 

“I got over Beef Week!” Donna joked. 

“There’s a lot of sick staff from all the work, a lot of aching bones and tired bodies.” 

Located in the Far North Coast region, Casino is home to the annual Beef Week which takes place over 11 days at the end of May each year – aimed at promoting and celebrating the local beef industry, which plays a crucial role in the region's economy.

The theme of this year's Beef Week was ‘Retro Rewind: Celebrating the best of the 80s and 90s’ with the Club’s staff dressing up in their 80s gear each day and encouraging the festival goers to get amongst the jam-packed calendar of events – which started off with the Opening Ball where the much-anticipated Beef Week Queen was crowned. 

“The diversification of what we had here went from the opening ball, to Mullet Fest, to high tea, to a fashion parade, to a talent quest and then Mr. Beef,” Donna said.  

“Mullet Fest was really popular; we were packed downstairs, it was amazing.” 

Donna said there were around 300 people who packed into the Mullet Fest event which saw a kids category, adults category and a ‘vintage’ category – which kicked on with a live country music band after. 

The winner out of the 11 entrants in the junior talent quest was a young boy who played guitar and tap-danced – not at the same time – and the 2024 Mr Beef contest on the final day saw a full house cheering on 11 contestants. 

The inaugural Casino Beef Week took place in 1983, and since then it has grown into a widely celebrated festival. Over the years, Casino Beef Week has become a major highlight for both locals and visitors, attracting people from various parts of Australia. 

Donna said the 2024 Beef Week was a huge success and “a great vibe”. 

“Everyone gets involved and has a good time,” she said. 

“It's just been a great, all round family fun week.”