WELCOME
Good afternoon, and welcome to St Patricks Green to the soft preview of the Moorefield Racecourse video.
A special welcome to Ray Selkrig OAM and Ted Mills, who both rode in the last race meeting on July 14 1951 at Moorefield and to Cliff Clare, who rode in Moorefield races and barrier trials.
Ms Laurice Bondfield is representing St George Historical Society and Robert McGann is representing Kogarah Historical Society.
Welcome to my interview subjects: Mrs Dawn Coutts, Mrs Anne Munsie, Mrs Colleen Rincheval, Mr Allan Boon, Mr Bill Hayes, and Cliff Clare. Apologies from Mrs Pamela Griffiths, Mr Graham Caves and Mr Russell Town.
And a special welcome one and all to the preview of Bob and Anne’s video on a significant part of our local history- Moorefield Racecourse, Kogarah (1888-1951).
We have best wishes and greetings, by email, from an elderly Australian lady, Topsy Wiegersma, who lives in Hilversum, Netherlands (24 km south- east of Amsterdam and 15 km north of Utrecht.) Topsy found me through her internet research on Kogarah in early 2016. We have regular email contact.
The Story behind the Video.
I wanted to make a video on my Moorefield book, which was published in October 2016, after 23 years of research.
I was in Coffs Harbour in mid-June 2018, and decided to visit a clairvoyant. The gentleman said that “my book would take another form – a video or a film.” I wondered how this might be?
Ken Sutherland, a local resident, saw my message on Facebook in possibly July 2018 and rang Bob, a local resident–the rest is history so to speak. Bob has produced videos over many years, and has won awards for his skills.
Ken and I are known to each other as Ken served on Kogarah Community Services Board, which I chaired for almost 10 years.
Bob and I, started work on filming on August 21, 2018. Our first day of filming was on the 11th floor here at St Patricks Green to record the great view over where Moorefield Racecourse had been located. Bob was brave enough to go outside …..
In filming, we had to cope with barking dogs, chirping and noisy birds, planes, trains, cars, phones ringing and two former St Georgians (one from 1980 and the other from possibly 2010) who wanted to chat to me ……
I had many changes of clothes –Bob preferred bright colours, and I became well used to Bob’s command “action.”
Bob and I have today, presented both a visual and oral history on Moorefield Racecourse. Each of the interviews are different, and this is what makes them unique.
We hope that you enjoy our work, which highlights an important part of Kogarah’s history.
Bob and I, are delighted that the Moorefield Racecourse story can again be brought alive, almost 68 years after the last race meeting on July 14, 1951.
A special thankyou to Georges River Council for some financial assistance, which allowed Bob and I to produce this video. Funds were made available through the Georges River Heritage Publications Grant 2018.
Substantial hours of our voluntary labour however, went into the production of this video. I must acknowledge Bob’s video skills.
THE MOOREFIELD POEM
To be read by the local poet, Bruce Sharp, who wrote this poem in 2016 especially for inclusion in my Moorefield book.
VIDEO SHOWING -1 hour
REFRESHMENTS
VIDEO SHOWING – 1 hour 10 mins.
CONCLUSION
Amy to speak about St Patricks Green
Special Thanks to St Patricks Green.
Anne Field, Kogarah
January 23 2019
