Community
13 September, 2024
C’down Turf Club receives recognition
CAMPERDOWN Turf Club were named finalists in the Country Racing Victoria Awards for 2023-2024, receiving nominations in two categories.
The awards were held recently, with over 650 people in attendance for the ceremony.
Camperdown Turf Club were nominated for the categories of Event of the Year for the Camperdown Cup and for Community club of the Year.
Club president Anthony Finn said it was “such an honour” to be nominated.
“It’s fairly competitive now when these events are judged, and they’re judged by industry peers,” he said.
“There’re 54 country clubs, and there’s six nominated for each category.
“It’s getting harder for smaller clubs because we’re only a one-event or two-event criteria, whereas Warrnambool, Geelong, Benalla, Seymour, Pakenham – all those clubs, they run constantly.
“It’s pretty hard to compete.”
Events held by turf clubs were judged against various criteria as outlined by Country Racing Victoria.
“Our criteria for the event last year was to give as much back to the community as we could with highlights of the day other than our great Camperdown Cup being Prince of Penzance coming – former Melbourne Cup winner – and also Joel Selwood and three of his mates who were the ambassadors in our main tent,” Mr Finn said.
“They actually went around the whole lot of the community making themselves known, which was fantastic.
Mr Finn congratulated the Mortlake Racing Club, who also received a nomination for the awards, saying it was a “great effort” for the club to be nominated.
He said Camperdown the Turf Club has been working to support the Camperdown community.
“What I’m really so proud about is what we run for a start, and what we give back to community,” Mr Finn said.
“We gave money towards Merindah Lodge – we’re going to give more money towards Merindah Lodge.
“Geelong won the Club of the Year, and in their criteria, they gave $96,000 to the community.
“It just shows you that racing is a big benefactor to the community because that’s what we’re aiming to do with some of our profits is give back to the community, so they’ve got a better standard of living.”
Mr Finn said the nominations the club received were attributed to the work members of the committee put into the turf club.
“A huge shout-out to Karen van Kempton – she does a fantastic job,” he said.
“The hours she puts in is unbelievable.
“A huge shout out to the committee, which I’m fortunate enough to be president of.
“To put on such an event for this town is great, and we will try to do the same in the future.”