Racing Queensland has unveiled the steering committee that will oversee the Cairns Amateurs Carnival in 2024.
Having announced late last month that the Far North Queensland Amateur Turf Club would not administer this year’s Carnival after 65 years, the new steering committee has been convened for the first-time and elected Jacinta Reddan as Chair and Rowan Giddens and Nick Trompf as her deputies.
The members of the steering committee are:
- Advance Cairns CEO Jacinta Reddan;
- BESIX Watpac Project Engineer Rowan Giddens;
- Tallangalook stud principal Nick Trompf;
- JCU councillor Michael Delaney;
- Brisbane Racing Club Racing Analyst Bart Sinclair;
- Racing Queensland Senior Club Development Manager Phil Buckle; and
- Cairns Jockey Club Committee Member Rebecca Conlan.
Pleasingly, Mr Delaney and Mr Trompf, who also serves as the Chair of Advance Cairns, are both highly regarded former members of FNQATC Committee, while Mr Sinclair has served as the Cairns Amateurs Patron for the past two years.
Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott said he was delighted with the composition of the steering committee and the skills that they will bring to the Cairns Amateurs Carnival.
“We’re extremely grateful to each and every one of the steering committee members for agreeing to drive the Cairns Amateurs forward,” Mr Scott said.
"It was imperative that prominent business leaders were strongly represented on the new steerco 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 iconic event at Cannon Park.
Ms Reddan said she was looking forward to leading one of the region’s most important sporting and tourism events.
“I have a lifelong love of horse racing, particularly country racing,” Ms Reddan said.
“I am honoured to bring that to bear while drawing on my experience elsewhere in Victoria and overseas. 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.
“We are collectively passionate about the region and passionate about this event.”
The Cairns Amateurs steering committee is next scheduled to convene on Wednesday, March 27.