Brave new racing world
AFTER A TOUGH YEAR, AN UNEXPECTED LEADER IS SHOULDERING HOPES OF AN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL REVIVAL IN THE FAR NORTH WITH THE REINVIGORATION OF THE CAIRNS AMATEURS RACING CARNIVAL,
HE IS the reluctant president, shouldering expectations that the Spring Amateurs will burst from the gates triumphant, after the pandemic and tragedy have cast a long cold shadow over Cannon Park.
David Goodman was appointed to lead the Cairns Amateurs earlier this month, following the shock death of racing and real estate stalwart Ross Moller in January.
After serving on the board as vice president for the past three years, and the previous 12 as treasurer, Mr Goodman stepped up to fill the vacancy left by Mr Moller.
“It wasn’t on my radar to do this,” Mr Goodman said.
“Because of what my role was as treasurer and secretary, I probably had the most knowledge of how things work.
“I’d rather not be president (and) have Ross still around; I have known his family for 30 years and he was a great character with a wonderful family.
“When I got told, I could not believe it. I was sitting in the lounge and sat there for half an hour, thinking, the person that told me does not make up stories or spread rumours.
“I called his best friend and I realised it was true. A lot of people are just in shock; he was a healthy man, he regularly exercised, he ate well and was not a drinker.
“It makes you evaluate what life is all about and not to take it for granted.”
Mr Goodman has already sized up the challenges facing the 2021 Amateurs Carnival.
“We have to work on the basis of one (person) per 2sq m, which affects a lot of the events,” he said.
“It means that with the ball, which was really successful and had a lot of positive feedback in 2019, we can’t put the same number of people under the marquee.
“If we increase infrastructure, then the cost goes up.
“We have set the price of the tickets, so we are keeping it within reason.
“If we do have to have the restrictions, it is up to us as the committee to provide the same quality of carnival that we have become known for.”
He is confident that punters will come out in droves after enduring COVID-limited events and lockdowns in 2020.
“I think it will be very successful; people are crying for social interaction,” Mr Goodman said.
“While the Cairns economy in major sectors is doing it very tough, one hopes that by September, with confidence in the COVID vaccine, people will have no issues with travelling and it will be safe.
“Hopefully the restrictions
DAVID GOODMAN SERVED ON THE CAIRNS AMATEURS BOARD AS VICE PRESIDENT AND TREASURER BEFORE TAKING OVER THE PRESIDENCY
will be reduced to the normal interactions.
“If we still have those restrictions, we’ll have restrictions on serving, food, containers, there’ll be no buffets.
“It won’t be quite the same if someone is handed a cardboard box of food. They are all issues we have to address.”
He said honouring Mr Moller’s legacy and taking the carnival forward to meet the demands of a new market was a balancing act.
“Amateurs has continued to evolve, along with our patronage,” Mr Goodman said.
“There is no point trying to cater for something in the 1980s, or the 1990s for that matter.
“People have shown us from surveys and comments, that style does not suit the current generation. Things do get stale after a while.
“The 25-35s compared to the over 55s, the expectations of life enjoyment are different.
“That young generation make decisions at the last minute and expect service and delivery at the last minute, which is hard for us to do and we try to encourage online bookings, which has been strongly picked up.”
The immediate future will be consumed by management housekeeping and the stewarding of infrastructure projects.
Racing Queensland funding for the Cairns Jockey Club is expected to result in a 600sq m pavilion for the 2021 Amateurs.
“We will also be continuing something that Ross started — restricting the committee so people have defined roles and responsibilities that hark back to the good old days,” Mr Goodman said.
“Then there is the good old basic issues of cashflow and budgeting, and marketing ourselves successfully.
“Irrespective of who is in the shoes, the days of someone writing a cheque for $100,000 are complete history. It is a big infrastructure project putting the carnival together.”
ONE HOPES THAT BY SEPTEMBER, WITH CONFIDENCE IN THE COVID VACCINE, PEOPLE WILL HAVE NO ISSUES WITH TRAVELLING …
DAVID GOODMAN