On behalf of the Apsley Racing Club, I wish to thank all those who contributed to our special fund-raising dinner on Tuesday, September 11.
The event was organised for the benefit of former jockey Louise Cooper, of Camperdown, who was tragically injured in a fall at this year’s Apsley Cup and is now a paraplegic.
Thanks to the wonderful generosity of all those involved, we have raised in excess of $23,000 to help Louise and her family with the adjustments associated with such a life-changing accident.
We also remain very grateful to our two special guest speakers, Colin McKenna of Midfield Meat at Warrnambool and Darren Thomas of T&R Pastoral at Murray Bridge in South Australia. Both extremely busy men, the pair provided engaging and entertaining insights into their considerable successes in the meat industry and also in horse racing.
Both of these men and their respective companies play a major part in the livestock industry, particularly in southern Australia, and are to be commended for their generosity and community spirit.
Processors are often the first to be blamed whenever livestock prices drop and too often such criticism is uniformed and unfair. As such, it is even more important that we acknowledge and highlight the charitable work done by such processors, which in the case of Midfield and T&R is extensive and ongoing.
Tom Porter, president, Apsley Racing Club
