President's Report
PRESIDENT'S REPORT

PRESIDENT'S REPORT YEAR ENDING 25 SEPTEMBER 2011

Another year has disappeared from our lives, and in the Racing Industry there have been very few things to celebrate. December saw the removal of the Greyhound Representative from the Board, and to-day has not yet been replaced, due to ongoing legal litigation. While an injection of additional prize money was welcome, the changes made to the grading system had not been bedded down, and is coming up for review next month being October.

While this was happening the Strategic Plan for the Industry (Harness/Greyhounds) race tracks in south east Queensland was released. The funds to implement this plan were dependant on the sale of Albion Park. The Harness people were not happy with
this and immediately lodged an injunction to stop the sale of Albion Park, and this is still before the Supreme Court to-day.

It is now three plus years since the Gold Coast Greyhound Track was closed and the Industry is no nearer to gaining a replacement race track.

Late in the year 20 I 0 saw storm clouds gather over Capalaba. The Management Agreement with Brisbane Greyhound Club was torn up leaving some bruised egos. It required Racing Queensland to step in.

The Capalaba Club was closed for 6 months; this in turn affected the Association's bottom line for the financial year, as we did not trade during this period. Finally Racing Queensland took over the management of Capalaba Club and it reopened under its auspices in July this year. During the closure period much need maintenance was carried out on the track, grounds and buildings of the Club.

The Association has held quarterly general meetings for its members, and monthly regular committee meetings. The general meetings average 20-25 members, committee meetings average full attendance.

The Canteen has now been totally refurbished, and painted inside, and has good equipment to service the Industry. The project for the coming year is to complete the installation of a sprinkler system, repair the fences, and install a timing system at the
straight track at Lawnton

This year has seen some disturbing situations take place at General Meetings, resulting in some members being requested to "show cause" as to why their membership should not be terminated. As a result of this action 4 persons no longer hold membership of the Association.

Finally I would like to thank Pat Marchant for her untiring service to the Association firstly in the canteen, it is a difficult and time consuming job and secondly Pat has recently taken on the additional job of running the trials on Tuesday and Sunday mornings, it is a vast improvement with the system she has introduced, but again time consuming. Many thanks for your efforts Pat it is appreciated.

I would also like to thank the outgoing Committee for their assistance and help and congratulate them on a job well done; we have achieved quite a few things for the Industry.

I take this opportunity to welcome the new Committee and wish them a successful year ahead.

Stephanie Houghton