EXPRESS The
Happy New Year to all! Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Locally owned and proudly independent
Off and racing in 2016
Country racing ended on a high in 2015 and the trend has continued in the new year with the annual Malanda Cup, sponsored by the Malanda Hotel, held at the Atherton Turf Club last Saturday. Fabulous fashions, fine racing and entertainment were on show for the first race meet of 2016. Among those who attended and entered Fashions on the Field were Jonathon Bennett and Tiarni Potts, who took out the best dressed teens of the day. Turn to pages 21 and 23 for more on country racing in our region. Photo by Peter Roy Photographer.
Hero, mate and pioneer
As an Albatross jet fighter screamed overhead Mayor Tom Gilmore officially opened the Rex Budd Memorial Park at the Mareeba Airport in front of 130 friends and relatives, honouring a true local hero. By Carl Portella Pastor Chris Wright led a very emotional and at times comical ceremony, as he officiated the opening of the ‘Rex Budd Memorial Park’ late last year on Saturday, December 19, 2015. Rex had become close to Pastor Wright towards the end of his life and it was fitting that he should officiate the park opening, as he closed the chapter on Rex’s life at his funeral in 2010.
As he gazed over the more than 130 people who attended the opening he said; “If Rex were here today he would not be a happy man, he would not have liked the attention, he didn’t like being put up on a pedestal. “He was like that his entire life, even though he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his services to his country and pioneered the helicopter mustering industry in far north Queensland.
“Rex was a very humble man who never sought the limelight and kept very much to himself unless he got to know you,” Pastor Wright said. His brother Arthur, who attended the opening with his niece Ann Budd said; “Rex would have made a big fuss about all this here today, but I am very proud of his achievements and quite taken back by the number of people who have attended this ceremony, he has touched the lives of many
people.” Ann recalls the two choppers landing in the front yard of the family farm and said the pilots had lunch and then went up for scenic flight. Ann, who was with Rex in the chopper said; “When Rex flew over some of the property he noticed some feral cattle which had never been mustered come out of the scrub land and it was from there that he got the idea of mustering with helicopters.” CONTINUED PAGE 3
AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATIONS TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016 FROM 12 NOON OUT THE BACK OF THE PUB!
TOAD RACING, THONG THROWING, KID’S RIDES, MUSIC, BBQ, FACE PAINTING, BEST DRESSED COMPETITION