The generosity of the Moree community was once again proven on Saturday night, when a COVID-restricted crowd of 100 managed to raise close to $22,000 for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service at Moree Race Club's annual charity dinner.
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And that doesn't include the funds raised from the gate and Calcutta at Sunday's Moree Cup race meeting, which will also be donated to the Westpac chopper.
Moree Race Club president Rob Mather said the fundraising effort was no small feat, especially considering the dinner was close to being cancelled at one stage as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.
"It was good considering what's going on at the moment," he said.
Normally, the weekend rakes in about $30,000 for the rescue chopper, but Mr Mather said Westpac were thrilled with this year's result considering it comes off the back of the drought and now COVID-19.
The dinner was particularly special this year, as it officially launched the 2020 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour.
Moree was chosen as the first destination to host the 18-carat gold Melbourne Cup trophy on its regional tour this year, however as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, the iconic trophy visited Moree virtually on Friday and Saturday.
First it zoomed into an assembly at St Philomena's School on Friday before dialling into the Westpac Rescue Chopper Charity Dinner with two-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jimmy Cassidy and tour ambassador-at-large Joe McGrath.
Victoria Racing Club (VRC) chair Amanda Elliott also sent a pre-recorded video message, which was televised across three big screens under the marquees at Moree Racecourse.
Also on display on the night was the 1920 Melbourne Cup which was won by Poitrel, owned by brothers William and Fred Moses. Fred's great-grandson Tim Moses from Inverell and his cousin Henry Moses from Moree were in attendance on Saturday night, bringing the "pristine" 100-year-old cup with them. Guests had the opportunity to take photos with the 1920 Cup, while VRC gave Moree Race Club their own miniature gold Melbourne Cup.
Meanwhile, TV personality and racing journalist Jo McKinnon was the special guest at the dinner and was "fantastic", Mr Mather said.
Mr Mather thanked Westpac, who were the major sponsors of the night, and all the other local businesses who sponsored the evening, as well as the two major Cup sponsors - Pacific National and Orica. Moree trainer Peter Sinclair took out the Moree Cup on Sunday.