Westpac Rescue and Scone Race Club saddle up together

THE Scone Race Club has entered into a twelve-month partnership with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (WRHS) valued at $20,000.

The support includes a significant cash donation plus exclusive charity partnership rights, which will give Service volunteers the opportunity to fundraise at signature race days, such as the upcoming Scone Cup Day on May 14.

The Scone Race Club will also offer the Service ‘race day experiences’ and entry tickets for use as fundraising prizes across Northern New South W alesto further complement the sponsorship.

Scone Race Club CEO Heath Courtney said the partnership was important to the industry and even more important to the wider community.

Scone Race Club CEO Heath Courtney (centre), with WRHS Community Liaison OfficerDanny Eather (far left) joined by WRHS Volunteers from the Scone Support Group. Photo: Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

“The Westpac Rescue Helicopter is available to benefit every member of the community. The Scone Race Club, like many businesses I’m sure, are inundated with requests for support and we feel that aligning with an organisation such as the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service indicates the Clubs intentions of showing support to the broader community,” Mr Courtney said.

“The thoroughbred industry is as unpredictable an industry for injuries as it comes. Working with such large and athletic animals, all with their own personalities and quirks, makes for a hazardous work and leisure environment,” he said.

“With the Upper Hunter being somewhat remote from expert medical care combined with these obvious dangers, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter is a critical piece of equipment in ensuring participants, employees and social owners of horses the best possible chance of swift access to the specialist medical care needed in the inevitable event of injury,” he said.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service Community Liaison Officer Danny Eather said the new relationship between the WRHS and the Scone Race Club is a first in the Upper Hunter.

“We’re really excited with the opportunity to increase our existing relationship with Scone Race Club and the Upper Hunter Thoroughbred Industry as a whole, particularly given how important access to the Rescue Helicopter is for those within the industry and the broader community within the Upper Hunter,” Mr Eather said.

Ticket sales for the Darley Scone Cup on Friday, May 14 are selling fast, with only General Admission tickets remaining. 

“We are looking forward to our presence at both the Scone Cup Day and the inaugural Upper Hunter Race Day in September and encourage the Upper Hunter community and others to put the events in their calendar and support both the Race Club and the Rescue Helicopter Service,” said Danny Eather.