Community
26 September, 2024
Historic committee disbands
THE Mortlake Racecourse Reserve Committee has called time after at least 145 years of supporting the development and maintenance of the town’s racing facilities.
As of last month, members of the committee officially called time as the current committee, which has collectively served for 113 years, steps in to retirement.
Moving forward, the Mortlake Racing Club has been appointed as the sole committee of management for the Mortlake Racecourse on Connewarren Lane.
This week, members of the committee of management received certificates of recognition from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action acknowledging the “years of dedicated service to the reserve and the community”.
The members to be recognised were:
Mick Murphy OAM – 31 years;
Margaret Fisher – 28 years;
Charles Turner – 22 years;
Frank Meade (Chairperson) – 19 years; and
Paul Delaney – 13 years.
Committee secretary-treasurer Mick Murphy OAM said the committee has, for generations, been the government-appointed manager of the public reserve, ensuring everything from financial returns to keeping the reserve neat and tidy.
He said over the decades the committee had developed a strong working relationship with Mortlake Racing Club, as the parties worked collaboratively to provide the community with a track it could be proud of.
“I’ve also been a member of the racing club for 50 years, and they’ve always had a desire to improve the facilities,” he said.
“The main reason that’s come about is because the racing club and committee have worked together to sort out what the priorities are and then worked together to get the money, put the resources together such as local contractors, and just kept doing it.
“I’ve been to every race course in Victoria, and there just isn’t a better one-meeting-per-year racecourse.
“It’s a much better set up than many who race more often, and that’s because of the joint effort.”
Committee chair Frank Meade said there had been challenges recruiting new members to the committee, but believed the current members had stayed on as long as they had due to their drive to support the community and a run of strong results.
“It’s the thing you do in a small town - we’re just volunteers, and it’s good fun,” he said.
“I really enjoy going to the races, especially when you get the big crowds out there.
“It doesn’t get used as much as it should, for things like parties and weddings.
“The amenities are second to none, and there’s always something to do – everything is right one year, but the next year something changes so there is more money to get and more things to do.”
Mortlake Racing Club chair Bruce Redpath praised the committee members for their dedication and the effortlessness in which they supported the club.
“As far as the club is concerned, the committee has always been 100 per cent supportive and behind us,” he said.
“In my term if there is anything we needed, we would speak to the committee and they’ll oversee it all.”
Mr Redpath acknowledged it was “a big step” for the club to have the opportunity to manage the facility, a move which is becoming increasingly common at tracks across the state.
“As far as Country Racing Victoria is concerned they’re so pleased this has gone through, and gone through quickly,” he said.
“Most race courses are governed by a trust and they’re changing it slowly, but they’re very complimentary of the way we’ve handled it.
“It’s a step forward, with all due respect to the committee members who have managed it for so many years.
“If all that’s been accomplished had not happened over the years, there would have been a move to close the place.”
Committee member Margaret Fisher said she was pleased to see the committee had received recognition after the decision was made to disband.
“It’s nice to be appreciated, but we all just enjoyed doing it,” she said.
“Every chance we got, we’d be out there.
“There was always somebody out there, and it’s changed so much over the years because of it.”
Mr Murphy OAM paid tribute to all those who had served on the committee over the years – which, with minute books going back to 1879 – has been going strong for more than 145 years.
“We’re just the last group, but if we go back 50 years ago it was a whole different group of people doing the same thing we’re doing now,” he said.
“They built so many of the facilities and we’re just the end of a long queue of people who have done wonderful work in conjunction with the racing club.”
Mr Redpath said it would be business as usual as Mortlake Racing Club prepares for what is expected to be a bumper Bet365 Mortlake Cup on Saturday, November 2.
“The trainers who come out are so complimentary, even some we had out last week just couldn’t believe how good the track is – and that’s a credit to the work of the club and the committee,” he said.
“The plans moving forward are to maintain what we’ve got because it’s been well maintained, painted and updated.
“We certainly need some younger legs on the committee, with all due respects to those of us on there now, with a couple of spots open.
“We want to make sure the Mortlake Cup is right in addition to having the gallops and the jump outs that we do.”
Mr Murphy said he, much like the outgoing committee members, won’t be far from the track when race day comes.
“It’s the community event for Mortlake,” he said.
“I know our daughters and their friends, they all come home that weekend.
“It’s the weekend everyone comes home thanks to the work the race club has done to promote it as a community event.
“The innovations introduced such as the marquee packages and umbrella packages, the general presentation - it’s become an event everyone wants to be at.
“It’s a credit to everyone.”