September 25, 2023
Andrew Green was re-elected president of the Nanango Race Club at a much-anticipated annual general meeting held on Sunday.
The AGM followed months of speculation that club member and race sponsor Peter Jackson, the well-known licensee of Nanango’s Fitzroy Hotel, would challenge for the position.
But when the votes from the secret ballot were counted, Green had been re-elected president with his wife Leisa as secretary / treasurer and Bruce Webb vice-president.
Also re-elected to committee positions were Bernie Duncombe, Jason Livingstone, Barry Green, James Webb, Wayne Hancock and groundsman Peter Jackson (not the Mr Jackson from the Fitzroy Hotel).
Former Nanango Shire Mayor Reg McCallum was confirmed as the club’s official patron.
Speculation about a shake-up on the club’s executive followed the closure in March of the club’s training track by Queensland Racing due to safety concerns.
This meant Nanango trainers had been forced to use facilities at Wondai or Gympie, increasing their costs.
Members attending the AGM on Sunday said that although the race club had more than doubled its profitability during the past year, the cost of repairing the training track was beyond the club’s ability to pay for the work.
Funding would have to be sought from other sources which meant it was unlikely to reopen in the near future.
The AGM, which was held in the betting ring at the Nanango racecourse, was attended by officials from Queensland Racing and more than 100 race club members, with many carrying proxies for other members.
The Nanango Race Club’s next race meeting will be its annual Christmas Races on Saturday, December 16.
(Photo: Ross Stanley)
[UPDATED with correction]
A very well-attended meeting, great to see so much support for racing in Nanango,