A fundraising dinner supporting the greyhound industry’s legal action against the report which led to the ban has surpassed expectations, raising $50,000.
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Attended by NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley, 280 people from within the industry and the general public also packed into the Orange Function Centre for the Fair Go Dinner and Charity Auction on Thursday night.
Organiser Sandra Spratt organised the function after the industry ban was announced, just a week before she and her husband were due to leave their jobs to run her parents’ Cudal greyhound education business.
“And I read it on Facebook,” she said.
With the money to go to the NSW Greyhound Racing Industry Alliance to fund the court challenge against Commissioner Michael McHugh’s report, Mrs Spratt said she had hoped initially to raise $20,000.
“It shows how much support was out there,” she said.
“It was the most amazing night that the greyhound industry needed – supporters of the industry have been put through a lot lately and the night was more to relax and come together as one.”
The $50,000 was funded through ticket sales, a live auction, raffles and donations.
“People were ringing saying they couldn’t come but asking for bank details to donate,” she said.
“We had people ringing in – a couple from Tasmania donated $1000 and a gentleman threw in $5000 for the cause.”
Mrs Spratt said she was just as blown away by the raffle and auction donations, with a boat and a kids’ motorbike among the items.
Former footballer Royce Simmons was the guest speaker with Gabe Middleton providing the musical entertainment.
Mrs Spratt said any surplus funds would go towards advocacy as a state government-appointed panel works on a direction for the industry.