HORSE RACING
By LIAM DURKIN
TALK about exceeding expectations.
After raising more than $25,000 for Latrobe Regional Health at last year’s pink race day, Moe Racing Club officials set the understandably realistic mark of trying to raise $30,000 this year.
When a final tally of $50,305.35 was revealed, celebrations ensued for an amount that was truly a whole-community effort.
The figure represented all proceeds from last Sunday’s race day, taking in course entry, raffles, auctions and donations throughout the day.
Showing that racing is absolutely more than just drinking and gambling, bookies were also on hand to make significant contributions to the cause.
A packed function room, suitably decorated for the occasion, was a sea of pink.
Attendees jumped in the photo booth upon entry, which was later home to this year’s Melbourne Cup trophy.
Moe Racing Club pulled out all the big guns for the main event.
Racing.com’s Gemma Rielly was emcee, while prominent local musician Mick Harrington (of The Voice fame) provided acoustic entertainment.
A highlight came when Latrobe Regional Health (LRH) leaders spoke about its new development – the Gippsland Cancer Wellbeing Centre. The centre is set to bring supportive physical and emotional care to patients outside their clinical treatment.
LRH chief executive Don McRae said Sunday’s race day would help provide critical financial capital needed to see the project completed.
“We need to be able to raise some money to be able to support the building and fit out. It (fundraisers) gives us the ability to do stuff that’s over and above and create that special experience for our patients,” he said.
“It will be a game-changing facility for the whole region. It will be that last piece in the puzzle of continuing care, caring for the whole person.
“It’s going to be an amazing set-up. It will give people access to some of those holistic treatments that allow them to manage their cancer journey both during treatment and after.”
The centre will be located onsite, but away from the main Latrobe Regional Hospital.
“It’s good to see all the local community here, some local identities, a lot of sponsors that are helping out as well, it’s great,” McRae said.
“Moe Racing Club have been fantastic hosts, they do a ‘beaut job getting this all sorted.”
