MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
Well the Simpson Desert Racing Carnival has started for 2016, and what a dramatic carnival it has been so far
weather wise. Three days before Betoota Races the track there received 28mm of rain and things didn’t look good for
racing. On the Wednesday morning the track was inspected by myself as club President and the shire Infrastructure
Manager and it was decided to give it a real good crack at getting the track ready by the Saturday. Both club and
shire swung into action and some very long days were put in. At times it looked like we had pulled the wrong rein
but everything came together just in time. The track was good and so was the racing, the weather effected the crowd
numbers, but the day went off brilliantly. Congratulations must go to the club and the shire for getting the track ready
in what can only be called impossible conditions.
I write this report on the Wednesday before Birdsville Races, and tomorrow 40mm of rain are predicted. Should this
eventuate it will be very hard to race on time this week, but the council workforce has been hard at work preparing
as best they can for a rain event. I wish everyone the best of luck and hope we race as planned. The predicted rain
certainly has not deterred the tourists who seem to come regardless.
As a lot of you would know, I have been on annual leave for the first half of the month, only returning in time for the
council meeting. It is expected in local government that things like annual leave be fitted around council meetings
and other major local government events, and so be it. That being the case there has not been a lot of activity on the
mayoral front this month.
Last week there were a series of meeting held in Longreach, but due to my commitments at Betoota, the shire was
represented by our CEO.
Well that’s just about it for the month. Hope you all enjoy the rest of the racing carnival and have the best of luck
on the punt. I wish the two clubs still to race all the best, I know what goes into running these meetings and can
appreciate the effort.
Until next time
Geoff Morton
Mayor
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Desert Yarns September 2016