November 26, 2024
Nanango Race Club life member Rod Morgan has spoken out about the current crisis affecting the club, saying he fears its very existence could be under threat.
Last week Nanango Race Club president Andrew Green offered to resign after Racing Queensland stripped the club of three 2025 meetings.
This followed complaints lodged by some trainers with Racing Queensland and failed attempts to oust the current Race Club committee at both the 2023 and 2024 Annual General Meetings.
Rod said he had been around the Nanango Race Club – although not always directly involved – for almost 40 years.
“I’ve been a committee person. My wife Jenny has been a vice-president and served on the committee for many more years,” he said.
“We’ve raced horses at Nanango and we’ve been each Life Members for over 30 years. I feel my credentials are more than adequate to express an informed opinion.”
Rod recalled that under the presidency of the late John Lee, the club operated soundly and was a racing and financial success for almost 40 years, but even then there were “pockets of dissent”.
“Likewise Andrew has had a few detractors, however over the past three years a larger number of people have expressed dissatisfaction,” Rod said.
“This appears to be over the fact that the training track has been closed, and the stables were subsequently closed as well.
“However, racing days have still been conducted on a course with some of the best country racing facilities in Queensland and have been held with efficiency and safety under the guidelines of Racing Queensland.
“The club has doubled the credit reserves that were previously held under the management of John Lee and over the last 10 years approximately $360,000 of club funds have gone into track and facilities improvements.
“As a member but no longer involved with Nanango Race Club committee, I have seen some areas in need of improvement, but consider the overall aim and function of the club to have met community needs and racing obligations, with very sound financial management.
“Despite several mediation sessions, a growing body of discontented members and supporters seem to have lobbied Racing Queensland with grievances.
“It appears to me there will always be some discontent with the membership of any club. Not all supporters and members are always on the same page and in agreement.
“It now seems likely that Nanango Race Club’s very existence is threatened.”
Rod said many people were urging a new committee be formed to allow the Race Club to “get on with the show”.
“In race day operations there are numerous procedures and requirements. This needs experience and practice in many intricate details requiring racing knowledge,” he said.
“What is the urgency to remove a management team that may not be perfect but is still working well and serving the community requirements?
“There is an old expression ‘if it ain’t broke – don’t fix it’.
“Nanango Race Club may need some fine tuning but I’m reluctant to drive out any fully operational organisation to replace it with untried newcomers whose knowledge and experience of the many Racing Queensland requirements are certainly limited.
“My wish is to see the race club continue on its way, which apart from world wars and some little time afterwards, has operated since 1861 – which is as long as the Melbourne Cup has been running.
“I’d like to see the clubs, CWA, Rotary and others who provide service of food and drinks to continue to thrive and I’d like to enjoy my life membership for the rest of my life and the community to enjoy a great day out six times a year.”
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