Longreach Jockey Club stalwart rewarded for years of service

By Andrew Smith

When trainers, jockeys, owners, workers or even the president himself needs a question answered or help with an issue, they know exactly who to turn to at the Longreach Jockey Club.

Helen Morton has race day operations at the Central Western Queensland club down to a fine art.

The woman that’s affectionally known as “Mort” around the region has been crowned the latest Racing Queensland Cheer A Volunteer winner.

She was always destined to be involved in racing - her great-great-grandfather Frank Cory was the secretary of the original committee when the Longreach Jockey Club started in 1890, serving alongside founding president Rowley Edkins.

“I’ve been in this role for about 12 to 15 years, been involved in racing my entire life and my family at this club goes right back to the very, very beginning on my Mum’s side,” Mort said.

“We’ve always been involved with the Longreach Jockey Club in some way or another.

“Even my grandfather, he was a timekeeper here for years and then Dad took over and I came back to Longreach and I just fell into this by default because I was always at the races I suppose!

“I’m quite humble about these sorts of things, and I think it’s more an award for the club – there’s so many of us here that all put in hours and hours.”

During the week, Mort will be answering emails, hosing the gardens and keeping the club’s admin running smoothly.

On race day, she is usually at the track by 6:30am, organising staff, directing trainers and jockeys, setting up equipment and making sure the bar is stocked.

It is vitally important work for the club’s nine annual race days, especially late last month when they hosted a huge crowd for the final running of bush legend Fab’s Cowboy.

“My main focus is the horses, the jockeys, the trainers, and the owners, that everything is right for them,” Mort said.

“It’s pretty full on for the whole week, and race days are the easiest part.

“I just love racing - I love dealing with the trainers, the owners, the jockeys, that to me is racing.

“I try and get to every race meeting in the Central West, and also help out a fair bit at Barcaldine and anywhere else that they want me.

“If you don’t have volunteers you don’t have a race meeting basically  - if more people put up their hand and you only have to give a couple of hours, or whatever you can give, it all makes a big difference.”

Longreach Jockey Club President Andrew Watts paid tribute to Mort for her win.

Watts had nominated the club stalwart following her years of service, highlighting her passion for racing in the region.

“Volunteers are so important to our operation whether it be a small contribution or a big contribution and with Helen it’s a big contribution – her heart’s in the club,” Watts said.

“She’s unique in the sense that her volunteering is back to the horses, the stakeholders, making sure the jockeys are being fed, jockey and animal welfare and making sure all those boxes are ticked before and after a race day.

“One of the best things with Mort too is whether it be in a committee meeting or whether it be during the week, she’s not afraid to have a robust conversation with myself and other members of the committee respectfully as well.

“It’s always in good nature, she’s always got the industry’s best concerns at heart and she’s a well-deserved winner of the award.”

The club hosts its next meeting on Saturday, August 17 with a five-race card.

Aside from being the Longreach president, Watts travels all around the state calling races on the country circuit.

He is better placed than most to speak about the importance of finding volunteers to help bush racing survive.

“Lots of people don’t understand the volunteering role and people shy away from it and a lot of our clubs are going to fall over without strong volunteers,” Watts said.

“Here in Longreach, we are lucky enough we can pay some of our staff and do some of the bigger jobs but the smaller clubs don’t have that.

“The once-a-year, twice-a-year clubs you need someone to be mowing lawns and serving beers and just to help make sure they’ve got longevity.

“Volunteers don’t have to be everyday volunteers - it can just be race day volunteers, it can be race week volunteers, anyone that’s just willing to give a hand and help out and just make sure these bush clubs can survive.”

Clubs are encouraged to nominate their valued volunteers for the award, which is sponsored by Neil Mansell Transport & Mittys.

State-wide, there are more than 8,300 volunteers who make an invaluable contribution to the industry, providing their time and expertise to sustain Queensland’s three codes of racing.

Click here for more information on Cheer A Volunteer and to nominate.