Winner shares fashion podium with daughters
JUNE Sheppard only started entering fashions on the field to show her daughters that it was okay to lose.
But yesterday everyone was a winner after the Atherton mother was named best dressed lady of the day at the Mareeba Turf Club 2017 Boxing Day Races.
To cap off a great day, her daughters Mila and Aubree were winner and runner-up in the zero to five years category.
This was her first time entering the fashion competition at the Boxing Day races.
“My little girls love doing fashions on the field and I started doing it because they would get upset they didn’t win,” she said.
“So I would go in so that they could see mummy not win.”
Her eye-catching ’80s-inspired outfit, complete with a dress bought online, homemade fascinator and horseshaped purse, impressed the judges. “It’s pretty exciting. I didn’t think I had much of a chance today,” she said.
Runner-up in the best dressed lady category, Kymberlee Cockrem, said her outfit had been designed by a friend in Sydney.
“I love pink and I love ruffles, so that was the inspiration behind it,” she said.
“And I love different, ‘out there’ headpieces.” had Christmas.”
The races were a great chance for people to catch up as many former residents returned to Mareeba to see family over the holidays.
“It’s such a beautiful relaxed family atmosphere,” said Ms Deanne.
“This is probably one of my favourite race days.”
Two big races were held – the Graham Hotel Bracelet and the Mareeba Cup, which had been transferred from the September meet.
Mr Thurlow said there were 59 runners, meaning there were full fields the whole day.
The Boxing Day races have been a constant on the region’s social calendar since “the dawn of time”, but Mr Thurlow said it had only been over the past few years that the event had boomed in popularity.
“The community expects it now,” he said.
“They’re knocking us over to get in the gate.
“It’s an iconic race meeting for the community in respect to that it’s a day people use to catch up.”