THE QUEENSLAND RACING MEDIA ASSOCIATION JUMPS WELL AND IS QUICKLY INTO STRIDE

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, December 17, 2013

The Queensland Racing Media Association (QRMA) is up and running and if the goodwill expressed at its inaugural function at Gallopers last Sunday is any indication it should, in time, be able to meet its essential criteria of being a positive force in the industry.

The function took place on a day when there was no racing in South-East Queensland which translated into ‘downtime’ from their normal hectic schedule for participants (particularly trainers and jockeys) yet most invitees found the time to attend and to enjoy a social day out with their colleagues from a cross-section of the industry.

In his opening address QRMA President Nathan Exelby thanked all the players in the game for the way they assisted the media in doing their job, pointing out, interestingly enough, that journalists covering other sporting codes have often expressed their amazement to him at how accessible and amicable owners, trainers and jockeys are in terms of dealing with the media, even when questions are posed in sometimes ‘awkward’ situations.

Score one for the industry!

It’s very early days for the QRMA and its members are acuity aware of the stormy seas raging around them.

As multi-premiership trainer Robert Heathcote so aptly put it in his acceptance speech on behalf of all the Queensland Spring achievers, “We’ve got the wheelbarrow ahead of us and it’s an uphill journey and we’ve still got a fair way to go,” … but Heathcote also added … “but I applaud you guys, Nathan (Exelby) and Obe (Mark Oberhardt - who was instrumental in the formation of the QRMA) for the work you are doing and for bringing everyone together like this to bat for the one cause … and that is racing.

“We are all passionate about racing. We should put that passion to good use together.”

At the QRMA function Life membership presentations were made to:

Mark Oberhardt
Noel Pascoe
Bart Sinclair
Alan Thomas
Wayne Wilson

Spring Achievers awards (Courtesy of Lyndhurst Stud) were made to:

Liam Birchley
Damian Browne
Danny Bougoure
Kelly Doughty
Tony Gollan
Robert Heathcote

It was also announced that Tattsbet have come on board with the QRMA for the coming year and would be a major sponsor of the ‘Personality Of The Year Award’ for 2014.

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