Cup fever set for Gympie
CUP fever hits Gympie this week with the arrival of the 2012 Emirates Melbourne Cup on Tour.
The iconic $175,000 pure gold Cup trophy for this year's "race that stops the nation" will arrive at the Gympie Town Hall at noon Wednesday accompanied by Cup ambassadors Wendy Green and Sheila Laxon and VRC representative Joe McGrath.
The Cup party will be officially welcomed to the Gympie region by Gympie Mayor Cr Ron Dyne.
During the afternoon the Cup will be taken to several local schools and the Cooinda Aged Care Facility before a public appearance at the Centro Shopping Centre from 4pm to 5pm.
That night the Little Haven Melbourne Cup on Tour Charity Dinner will be held at the Civic Centre to raise much needed funds for Little Haven Palliative Care.
The event will feature interviews with the Cup ambassadors, who have both won the Cup.
Ms Laxon was the trainer of Ethereal who won in 2001 and Wendy was the owner of 1999 cup winner Rogan Josh.
Both ladies have amazing stories to tell. There will also be an auction of racing and other sporting memorabilia and a Cup sweep with a phantom call of this year's Cup.
The evening starts at 7pm with $35 tickets available at Karinya Florists or Little Haven.
On Thursday morning there's an early start for the Cup entourage with the trackside breakfast and barrier trials at the race track starting at 6.30am.
The Turf Club and trainers have arranged a series of four barrier trials with many trainers using the trials as a warm up for horses competing in the Muster Cup Raceday, August 18.
Gympie Apex will make sure no one goes hungry with a great hot breakfast available. The Racing Queensland Mechanical Racehorse will also be in attendance for budding jockeys to try out.
The Cup then heads for the Mary Valley with a ride on the famous Valley Rattler steam train.
Dagun will be the first stop at 9.10am followed by Amamoor, Kandanga and the Imbil Railway Station.
Students from the local schools will join the activities at their local station along with members of the local communities.
Gympie Turf Club president Spencer Slatter said the 2012 Emirates Melbourne Cup on Tour presented probably a once in a lifetime opportunity for members of the public to see the Cup.
Cup Tour
Wednesday August 8
NOON - 12.45PM
Official welcome to Gympie by Mayor Ron Dyne at Town Hall, then walk next door to visit Alma Street Kindergarten and Preschool students, staff and parents to meet at Preschool.
1-1.45PM
Visit Gympie Special School.
2-2.45PM
Visit Gympie South State School.
3-3.45PM
Visit Cooinda Aged Care Centre.
4-5PM
Visit Centro Shopping Centre.
7-10PM
Little Haven's Melbourne Cup On Tour Dinner.
Thursday August 9
6.30-8.30AM
Trackside Breakfast and Barrier Trials at race track.
9-10AM
Valley Rattler Steam Train To Dagun Railway Station.
School students and public view Cup at Station.
10-11AM
Valley Rattler Steam Train to Amamoor Railway Station.
Students and public view Cup at Station.
11AM-NOON
Valley Rattler Steam Train to Kandanga Railway Station.
School students and public view Cup at Station.
NOON-1PM
Valley Rattler Steam Train to Imbil Railway Station.
View Cup at Station.
