Tooheys New Crew - Racing NSW

charity
Tooheys New Crew
gives a helping hand
THE TOOHEYS NEW CREW PUT IN COUNTLESS HOURS OF WORK TO HELP BUILD A
NEW UNDEROVER ARENA FOR THE NSW THOROUGHBRED REHABILITATION TRUST
WORDS: CAITLIN CHURCHILL
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www.racingnsw.com.au

OPPOSITE: Members of the Tooheys Crew following the completion of the work with Scott Brodie (blue jeans, NSW TRT manager) and Peter
V’landys (Racing NSW’s Chief Executive) who holds the Tooheys Crew plaque OPPOSITE BELOW: The new undercover training complex at
Canterbury Park
ABOVE: Racing personnel and officials in attendance included (L-R): Patrick Murphy (jockey), Lindsay Murphy (ATC’s EGM Racecourse
Management), at rear Kevin Greene (Racing NSW Board Member), front Malcolm Johnston (Racing NSW Training Officer), Maurice Logue
(Racing NSW GM-Employment & Education), Scott Kennedy (Racing NSW GM-Analytical) and Hugh Bowman (jockey)
The first week of spring promised a fresh start to
more than just the flora with Paul Harragon and the
Tooheys New Crew giving former racehorses the
best chance at a new career.
The NSW Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Trust, which is
dedicated to the rehabilitation and re-homing of former
NSW racehorses, received a helping hand in a building
project conducted at the Trust’s headquarters at Canterbury
Racecourse.
Until now, the facilities at the Canterbury stables were
certainly functional; however, a lot of time was lost over the
winter months due to wet weather.
Tooheys New Crew stepped in to offer their help and
was able to provide a brand new undercover arena
in a previously dilapidated block of stables, as well as
improving drainage in the existing arena and around the
stabling facilities.
The week long project brought together people from
many parts of both the racing and local community and
with the passion and determination of those involved, a
fantastic new facility was established.
Rugby league legend Paul ‘The Chief’ Harragon, who
heads the Tooheys New Crew in helping out various
communities and mates in completing local building
projects, heard the plight of the Trust and jumped at the
chance to get involved.
“The racing industry and their passion about the horses
really struck me, and this is our first real specific project in
helping out animals,” Harragon said.
“It’s so great to see so many different types of people from
all aspects of the industry pull together to achieve this.”
The real winners of this project are most certainly the
former thoroughbred racehorses.
Racing NSW’s Thoroughbred Retraining Manager, Scott
Brodie, believes that with the new facilities more horses will
be able to receive dedicated re-education from his team all
year round, allowing more retired thoroughbreds to pass
through the program.
Paul Harragon echoed Brodie’s sentiments, saying: “I
would like to think that now you can get on with the
business of rehabilitating thoroughbreds and helping to
raise the percentage of the number of horses you can save
with the news facilities here.”
In an official unveiling on a windy Friday afternoon,
Paul Harragon passed the new facilities back over to the
Trust, represented by Scott Brodie and Racing NSW’s Chief
Executive, Peter V’landys.
Other important guests that attended to support
the handover and congratulate the initiative included
Ray Williams, MP for Hawkesbury, and Stuart Ayres,
MP for Penrith.
Supporters from the racing industry included leading
Sydney jockeys Hugh Bowman and Nathan Berry, as well as
former champion jockey Malcolm Johnston.
The NSW Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Trust would
like to thank their sponsors, Australian Stud Book,
Thoroughbred Breeders NSW, Inglis and Racing NSW for
their donation towards purchasing building materials.
Thanks must also go to the volunteers and supporters
who helped complete the project, including students
from TAFE WSI, staff from Darley, and friends and family
who came to offer their skills and hard labour.
www.racingnsw.com.au 15