General News
25 March, 2024
New boss for Amateurs
TICKET sales and corporate sponsorships are the first two items on the agenda of the new steering committee taking over the running of this year’s Amateurs.
The new group is headed by Advance Cairns chief executive officer Jacinta Reddan (right) after the Far North Queensland Amateur Turf Club stood aside last month with Racing Queensland and the Cairns Jockey Club taking bigger roles in the event.
The new body includes two former Amateurs committee members Nick Trompf, who is also chairman of Advance Cairns, and former president Michael Delaney. Others are Amateurs patron, Brisbane Racing Club racing analyst and former racing journalist Bart Sinclair, BESIX Watpac project engineer Rowan Giddens, Racing Queensland senior club development manager Phil Buckle and Cairns Jockey Club committee member Rebecca Conlan.
Ms Reddan said the committee held its first meeting last week and was focused on delivering yet another successful Amateurs in September.
She said the immediate tasks were ticket sales and corporate sponsorship.
Ms Reddan said the new committee would bring “new ideas and a fresh perspective” to the event which turns 66 this year.
She said she had been passionate about country races since she was a child growing up in country Victoria.
“I am honoured to bring that to bear while drawing on my experience elsewhere in Victoria and overseas,” Ms Reddan said.
“The Amateurs is an iconic event for the region and the new committee recognises the legacy that we will be carrying forward while working closely with the CJC under this new arrangement.”
Racing Queensland chief executive Jason Scott said he was delighted with the composition of the steering committee and the skills they offered.
“We’re extremely grateful to each and every one of the steering committee members for agreeing to drive the Cairns Amateurs forward,” he said.
“It was imperative that prominent business leaders were strongly represented on the new steering committee and it’s great that we have been able to maintain connection with the FNQATC through a number of former committee members.
“As the CEO of Advance Cairns, Jacinta Reddan is one of the city’s most highly regarded business leaders and I’m sure she will do a great job chairing the new entity.
“We’re mindful that the new steering committee has only just been convened, and as such, will be working diligently between now and September to ensure the carnival remains one of the Far North’s hallmark events.”
In addition to Ms Conlan’s position on the steering committee, the Cairns Jockey Club will also increase its direct involvement in the event.
