By Darren Cartwright
Racing devotee Carmel Lynch became the first female president of the history rich Esk Jockey Club just a few years ago, but there’s now no shortage of women who could succeed her.
Of the 11 members on the committee, six are women, including Carmel and her daughter Angela (pictured) who, at 40 years of age, is also the youngest member.
In fact, the president, treasurer, and secretary roles at Esk Jockey Club, which was formed more than a century, ago are filled by women.
Carmel’s love for racing and Esk Jockey Club comes from her late father Dan O’Brien, who was president of the turf club for some 30 years and has a race named after him.
As a young teen, she drove stewards along the track to their vantage points, while later in life she spent a decade as treasurer.
During Carmel’s time as treasurer, she became the club’s first female president when she stood, in an ‘acting’ capacity, something that had never dawned on her.
“I’d never really thought about it much, but it is an achievement,” she humbly said.
She then successfully stood for election, although she found it slightly daunting nominating despite having been in the role for half a year.
“I was treasurer for nine years and was acting president for six months while I was treasurer, and then took on the role officially two years ago,” Carmel said.
“I would jump into other jobs, but not this one, and I probably would not otherwise have stood for election if I had not been acting president.
“I felt growing up that it was a male-dominated industry and it probably still is to a certain extent, but it is getting better.”
One of the fun times growing up around the club was being a ‘chauffeur’ for the stewards before and after each race, she said.
For all her siblings, their initiation - when their father was president - was driving the stewards around, she said.