REMEMBER WHEN

Thursday August 1, 1974

THE $30,000 Prime Minister’s Cup finished in sensational fashion at Southport when Toowoomba mare Lough Lady appeared a clean winner over Lord Ben.

However, the camera gave the win to Lord Ben by a nose in what was described as the most spectacular ending to a Gold Coast race meet on record.

All bookmakers reported staggering holds far in excess of their huge turnover at the Goldmarket Handicap meeting in 1973.

It was estimated that more than $1.25 million passed through their hands.

Meanwhile, a city council inspector warned that skyscraper fire tragedies could occur on the Gold Coast, and a health surveyor warned that council planning for coping with disasters was incomplete.

Both warnings were contained in reports by the council officers following their attendance at disaster courses in Victoria.

The building inspector, Bill Ryder, urged the introduction of fire danger education for the occupants of highrise buildings.

He said it could be “good luck” that no major fire in a highrise building had yet occurred on the Gold Coast.

He told the Bulletin skyscraper fires had occurred overseas but he could “see no reason why” the same type of tragedy could not occur on the Coast.

“If we are to be spared the effects of such a catastrophe we should ensure that the occupants of these buildings are educated in the dangers inherent in the design and are instructed in the operation of the fire fighting equipment at regular intervals.”