John Frith – Roma Picnic Races (18 March)

0:00Welcome back to rural Queensland today Roma picnics. What an event They take place next week and there's a black tie ball and a number-leable race meeting John Frith from the Roma picnics committee joins me this morning John good morning, and thanks so much for being with us Hey, going double. Thanks for having me made how exciting They come around every year and the numbers have just excelled like just a phenomenal phenomenal event this year and One that we should be talking about is a real showcase not only for Roma, but Rural and regional Queensland about communities coming together No, absolutely double. It's we've got a bit of a few years with some weather events that put a To push on offer for the last couple of years in this year is The early support in numbers has been phenomenal kicking off with a sold out Black tie Black Toyota Black tie ball on the Friday night. So it's looking like a cracking weekend

1:02Are you surprised by just the numbers like that that that it is sold out? I think We've had a bit of a we've made a slight change this year going back to a Celebrating the 125th year of the Roman picnic races and going back to a Set down black tie ball and the support has been enormous. I think You know while the stand-up cocktail so the style of that was Fantastic, I think people are really excited about getting a group of people together and sitting down for a For some fine dining and to enjoy things like the club hotel charity auction that's gonna take place as well So I am surprised that the support or surprise that Excited by the support Well 125 years a long time. I was reading yesterday in 1901. It was a shearing dispute or something of that type that actually got the races

2:04Started and then from there. It's this two-day celebration, which is quite spectacular Give us a bit of an idea. We know the black tie ball, but what gates open around 11 a.m What what should we expect on the actual Roman picnic race day? On the race day kicking off at 11 a.m. Is the McCulley contract in Calcutta, which is just that it like it's Has been a lot of fun over the last year Three years and is the momentum with it is Has been excellent. So I really enjoy the way to kick off there and Then we work as I wear a six race program this year and tabs covering it with $75,000 worth of prize money. So the racing and the nominations has been Off the charts for our events. So we're extremely excited with that and then we'll work our way into this further the auction stations of the field and also

3:04From civil close from top-ex Australia Is sponsoring a marquee along with the southwards school. So and to cap it all off at the end of the race day We're having a what they call a schooner race Our foot race along the home straight. So you know if you fancy yourself or the someone with a turn of foot and think that you'll go pretty well And do it and do it all dressed in a schooner arm. So Yeah The fact that it's a ti b race meanings pretty spectacular, isn't it if you look at that I mean prize money draws horses and you know a lot of people go for the social But there's also that racing component which is so big and and you get eyes on the Roma Roma area Which is just spectacular when it's televised Yeah, no absolutely. It's great. I know the the amount of I-old films who always

4:06They'll always send me a message in Aspera winner at Roma when they see it wherever they might be around the country On the t a b. It does add that element of coverage and great for the town And um there I think it's just it's the date that we Race it sits really well for the start of the season with the um country racing So it does get very well supported which is um and it's a testament to that with t a b coming on board to cover it Yeah, it is quite spectacular um and I'm really excited to see how it goes Mate sponsors you don't get this stuff off the ground unless you have support of the sponsors. How important are they? Um extremely important and couldn't do it without them and extremely Um thankful for the sponsors that we have this year with uh which um has been above and beyond

5:07The um racing years before that so we're um, yeah, we're very thankful to people like all Chadwick, Australian Country Choice Churchy, Rabbo Bang, Statham Geesman, Morgan's financial Flutteries, Black Toyota as I've mentioned topax the Southport School and great northern Um, so it is I mean, it's what makes it go around and makes it all possible Extremely grateful for the support we've received. There's a lot of other sponsors in there as well as we Have time to mention just at this moment that we will either believe in Yeah, people need to uh attend. I mean, it's one thing for the black tie ball to be sold out But the race day is the main event um and When you when you get those kind of events happening people need to support it communities need to support it I know there will be a lot of the great thing is for your economy I mean so much outside money coming in over the 27th and 28th Hotels are all booked out You know every single business prosperous from uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, you just an absolute spectacular weekend like this

6:13And that's the big benefit of it all No, absolutely. I mean, it's uh, I think there's uh There's no reason it like I think there's um great reason to get out and about and enjoy. There's been some beautiful weather around um Also, there's a couple of little little areas that are missed out So it's a great chance to celebrate the recent weather and probably commiserate with a with a few little areas down there But get out get amongst it and um, yeah, enjoy the enjoy the sunshine, which it looks like we're gonna How to the first time in a um few years and Get that twinkle in your eye and enjoy a great northern. Yeah, unbelievable Made I appreciate everything that Roma does Not only just in these kind of race meetings, but they're the benchmark in a lot of areas and once again Next I just hope it's dry weather for you. You need you guys need Need a break where you can race some horses and just not have phantom races There is a lot of expectation and hope for the Roma picnics. They kick off next Friday and Saturday the 27th and 28th March

7:21Chew is it's a it's a social calendar smorgasbord the black tide ball on the Friday night that sold out in racing And gates open 11 a.m. On the 28th and and there's a full day a full day of entertainment Good on you John. We appreciate your time. I made a hope it goes well We'll know to have some reports afterwards, but the money coming back into that community is the most important thing And the sponsors and what they do is just spectacular appreciate your time this morning All right. Thank you very much, Ben appreciate your support good on you. Good on you. Rhyme of picnics 27th 28th March and what an event that is we're going to take a short break come back still plenty more to get through This is rural Queensland today