Gympie Turf Club stalwart recognised for crucial contribution

By Andrew Smith

From a club that was on the brink of totally collapsing, to now welcoming thousands of attendees to its race days – the Gympie Turf Club has certainly come along in leaps and bounds.

And it is the dedication and passion of club committee member Spencer Slatter that has played a “crucial role” in that revival.

The 74-year-old has been crowned the latest Racing Queensland Cheer A Volunteer winner for his years of hard work at the Gympie Turf Club.

The local businessman detailed how he and the local community rallied to save the club in the early 2000s when financial troubles were taking their toll.

“The club was basically bankrupt and was deregistered by Racing Queensland,” Slatter said.

“A committee was formed consisting of local business and racing enthusiasts, and we developed a fight back plan, which involved raising a lot of money to repay the debt.

“We also had to secure sponsors for the next two years and convince RQ and the court that we could make a go of it, which we did.

“I was secretary in the first year, and then I became president in the second year the club was reinstated, and I did 13 years as president after that.”

These days, the Gold City club is thriving, attracting racegoers from all over the region for its eight race days every year.

While it is far from the halcyon days of race meetings every week of the calendar, Slatter said the quality and not quantity approach was the right fit for the Gympie Turf Club.

“We have very strong crowds every race day, all our race days are sponsored and the place has a good vibe,” Slatter said.

“It's one of the single biggest attractions in town every couple of months, and it's a very important social occasion for the town.

“It brings people into town from Sunshine Coast and Hervey Bay and it’s of great economic benefit.

“There's a good feel around town, and young people particularly support it…I think we'd be lost without racing in Gympie.”

While no longer in the president’s role, Slatter is still heavily involved in organising sponsorship for race days and applying for grants to ensure the club financially sustains its racing season.

He will also help set up at the track on Fridays and Saturdays including stocking fridges, cleaning the grandstands and helping with barrier maintenance, among other tasks.

While it was financial challenges that threatened to close the club down, Slatter recalls a race day where some equipment sabotage had almost forced the abandonment of the meeting.

“We turned up to the races one Saturday morning and pulled the starting barriers out, and someone had attacked the barriers overnight and cut all the springs,” Slatter said.

“So we effectively looked like we couldn't race because the barriers just wouldn't work.

“But luckily, we had a new person on the committee who was in that sort of line of business with steel work.

“Between himself and a few others, we managed to scramble enough bits and pieces around town to get the starting barriers working, so that was cut pretty fine.”

Slatter has also served on the South East Country Racing Association Committee, as well as the Queensland Country Racing Committee from 2007-2010, and is also the club’s representative on the Gympie Racecourse and Showground Administration Committee.

In recognition of his outstanding service to horse racing and regional racing bodies, he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2015.

In nominating Slatter for the CAV award, Gympie Turf Club secretary Alana Ratten paid tribute to his vital role in the club’s survival.

“The Gympie Turf Club’s story cannot be told without recognising his extraordinary contribution…Spencer’s dedication, leadership, and continual involvement have shaped the club into what it is today,” Ratten said.

“Even after stepping down from the presidency, Spencer has remained an active and highly valued committee member, continuing to contribute at every level.

“What truly sets Spencer apart is his ongoing commitment… he is there any day of the week to help and no job is too big or small.

“His passion for the Gympie Turf Club and work ethic continue to inspire not only myself, but the community around him.

“His vision, dedication, and tireless involvement continue to drive the club forward, challenging us to grow, innovate, and create new opportunities year after year.

“Without that future vision in mind for the turf club, I think we probably wouldn't be in the great position that we are today.”

Slatter has been the driving force behind the inaugural Racing for a Cause: McGrath Foundation Pink Race Day, which is set to launch Gympie’s 2026 racing season on Saturday, February 28.

He has also recently overseen the fit-out of the Bill Bishop Building, playing a key role in the design and development of a new function room that has been years in the making.

“It's been a long-term dream of mine - there was a bookies ring there, and the top level was just a bare concrete pad, and our plan was to eventually put a roof on it and develop it into a club room,” Slatter said.

“With the assistance from the council and the gaming fund (Gambling Community Benefit Fund), we've been able to do that over a period of years, so now it's starting to be used as a function room.

“It’ll be great venue for the town for functions, as well as on race days, so we will look into using it for many years to come.

“The standard of our facilities and improvements has increased tremendously, and we have had great support from Racing Queensland and with infrastructure and equipment.

“Just seeing the club come from where it was to where it is now, and we're really successful and financially very stable, we just seem to be going from strength to strength.”

Far from all the plaudits he has received for his commitment to country racing, Slatter said it was volunteering that had proven to be the core of success for the Gympie Turf Club.

“I think people should volunteer everywhere, not just at country race clubs,” Slatter said.

“If you want to live in a good community, you have got to be part of it, and it means putting a bit back in, not just taking all the time - and it's great fun too.

“You get a lot of satisfaction out of it when you see a race day go off, it it’s a real hit that gives you a good vibe.

“You go home and sleep well knowing you've done something good.”

Clubs are encouraged to nominate their valued volunteers for the award, which is sponsored by Neil Mansell Transport & Mittys.

State-wide, there are more than 8,300 volunteers who make an invaluable contribution to the industry, providing their time and expertise to sustain Queensland’s three codes of racing.

Click here for more information on Cheer A Volunteer and to nominate.