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RACING MATES HOSTED ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL BBQ ‘GET-TOGETHER’ FOR RACING PARTICIPANTS AT MANNING VALLEY RACE CLUB (TAREE)

Racing Mates brought smiles to many faces after hosting a BBQ get-together for Mid North Coast racing participants at the Taree race meeting on Friday 15 August.

With the region still recovering from recent severe flooding and extreme weather, the Racing Mates gathering provided further relief to effected participants. This follows a Racing NSW $650,000 Emergency Assistance Package provided to industry participants.

The Racing Mates program, founded by Racing NSW in 2016, is a peer support initiative that encourages ‘mates to look out for mates’ and to ‘start the conversation’ when times are tough.

“We are glad we could assist Racing Mates in promoting what is a very important, and often unseen aspect of our industry,” said Damien Toose, Manning Valley Race Club’s CEO.

“We see the glitz and glamour of the raceday but often miss the hardships that occur in getting to that point.”

Racing Mates has access to clinical psychologists, counsellors and assistance hotlines which is to the benefit of racing industry participants.

Mental illness is very common with statistics revealing one in five, or 20%, of Australians experience a mental illness in any year

“We are no different from any other industries, we’re not immune from the mental health issues that arise and the more we do to let our participants know that support is available, we are well on the way to winning the battle,” Toose said.

The program has appointed Ambassadors such as Pat Webster who have been in the industry and know the struggles that participants may face.

“It’s all about encouraging participants to communicate and talk to each other,” Webster said. “Help is always available and it’s our mission to continue getting the message out there."

Webster said the Racing Mates program is not possible without the support of race clubs.

“Manning Valley Race Club has been fantastic in supporting Racing Mates and the participants really appreciate it,” Webster said. “We are also very thankful to our Lions Club volunteers who supported us at Taree.”

The Taree event follows successful Racing Mates gatherings at Kembla Grange, Parkes and Newcastle.

Hawkesbury Race Club will host the next Racing Mates BBQ get-together on Tuesday 28 October which acknowledges World Mental Health Month.

For further information please visit the Racing Mates website - racingmates.com.au - which offers a suite of resources including direct helplines, referral pathways, and useful information tailored to racing industry needs.

(L-R): Phillip O'Brien, Allen Lenton, John Lenton, Pat Webster, Lorraine Clifton, Jess O'Brien, Debra Lee and Damien Toose