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Local News
MARCH 01, 2024
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Amateurs go pro
Racing Queensland moves to ensure viability of iconic social event l WOREE | Nick Dalton THE voluntary committee of Cairns Amateurs is standing aside and a new organisation is being created to employ professionals to run the iconic horseracing and social carnival from this year. A new entity is being formed with a fresh steering committee to lead the highlight of the region’s social calender. The transition involves Racing Queensland and the Cairns Jockey Club. Current Amateurs president David Goodman told Cairns Local News that the committee had not quit nor had gone broke. He said the future of Amateurs would be in the hands of a new committee which would hire professionals to look after administration and event managers to run the annual carnival which turns 66 this year. Mr Goodman said the new concern would ensure the survival of the carnival. “Bringing in a new structure and additional people ensures
it does continue and grows and has the ability to compete against other events,” he said. Mr Goodman said Amateurs had become too much for volunteers to run. He said it was extremely time consuming for the committee, all of whom had busy professional lives. “One year I worked out that I had spent six months of the year solely on Amateurs,” Mr Goodman said. He said the carnival was facing continuing competition from events such as the Ironman, Italian Festival and even the Cairns Cup which last year was held just eight days before Amateurs. Mr Goodman said Amateurs cost $1.5 million to run each year with revenue from sponsorships, grants, gate takings, and food and beverage sales. He said the committee had to construct two precincts for the carnival – one at Cannon Park and at the Esplanade for the ball and high tea – onerous tasks for volunteers. Amateurs would be handing over tens of thousands of dollars to the new organisation, Mr Goodman said. CONTINUED PAGE 2
Cairns Amateurs is being restructured to ensure the viability and future of the region’s iconic and premium social and racing carnival.
Picture: Cairns Amateurs/Paul Furse, Frontrow Foto