Community & Business
10 November, 2026
Cup boost for local turf club, charity
THE 2026 Melbourne Cup winner Point of Law wasn’t the only one in the winners’ circle last Tuesday.
As part of the Melbourne Cup tour, Mareeba Turf Club was allocated a barrier in the iconic race and drew barrier 9.
Lady Luck was smiling on the local turf club as eventual cup winner Point of Law also drew that barrier.
The Victorian Race Club committed $25,000 to first place, $15,000 to second and $10,000 to the third-placegetters from those clubs that drew the barriers of the placegetters, to be donated to each club’s nominated charity.
Mareeba Turf Club’s nominated charity was The Black Cockatoo Foundation.
The foundation is a registered health promotion charity based in Mareeba and established in honour of local mental health advocate Dr Mark Bestmann.
In addition to the $25,000, $3300 was raised by Cr Mladen Bosnic’s band of volunteers when the cup came to town.
“In all, a donation of $28,300 to the foundation from Mareeba Turf Club,” Mareeba Turf Club secretary Rhonda Stevens said.
Ms Stevens paid tribute the club’s tireless committee member Monique Appi who brought her vision to fruition and was the leading light behind the whole event.
