Esperance Bay Turf Club and Community TAB have joined forces to raise funds for the Esperance Goldfields Surf Lifesaving Club at the annual Esperance Cup on Sunday, 28 February.
The Esperance Goldfields Surf Lifesaving Club provides lifesaving services to the Esperance region as well as educating the wider community about surf safety.
Esperance Bay Turf Club Secretary Jennifer Brown said the Community TAB program is a great way for the turf club and the racing industry to help local groups within the community.
“The Esperance Bay Turf Club is always looking for ways to engage with organisations outside the industry to help us run our events and raise the profile of our club, while at the same time putting back into our community,” Jennifer said.
“The Surf Lifesaving Club will raise funds on the day through their members marshalling cars in the car park, rattling tins around the ground and we will be selling $100 raffle boards.”
“The Surf Lifesaving Club will be using the money raised to help run lifesaving services by providing equipment for their patrolling members and upgrading and replacing lifesaving equipment, enabling life savers to carry out their voluntary role looking after people at the beaches.”
Community TAB will be matching funds raised on the day up to $2,000.
RWWA Chair Jeff Ovens said the positive effects of the Community TAB program have been extensive for regional WA, with 48 of WA’s race clubs based in regional communities.
“RWWA recognises that race clubs across WA play an important role in their community, contributing both economically and socially, with partnerships like these an example of the strong connection race clubs have within the communities in which they operate,” Mr Ovens said.
“Community TAB is proud to play our part in giving back to the community, and our donation to Esperance Goldfields Surf Lifesaving Club is just one of more than 50 community organisations that will be supported as part of the program.”
The Community TAB dollar matching program has been in effect from early 2015 and has since raised over $700,000 for not-for-profit organisations around WA through partnerships with local race clubs.