My Moorefield book and CD are now located in a number of libraries and at Racing NSW. I have had the opportunity to address many community groups on Moorefield Racecourse. I welcome these opportunities, so that I can inform people about our wonderful local history in Kogarah.
2016
July 14 2016 e- book launched at James Cook Boys Technology High School , Kogarah (now awaiting my publisher, Kaligraphic Prints in Leichhardt to publish e books in 2020; the original publisher ceased publishing.)
September 2016 John Johnson, Local Studies Librarian, Georges River Council, and I made a power point presentation, which I used at my October launch.
October 6 John Bateman interviewed me on 2NBC community radio.
October 13 hard copy book was launched at Moorefield Bowling Club, French Street, Kogarah.
October 20 My Author Talk, Rockdale Library, Bayside Council.
Dr Wayne Peake, School of Humanities and Communication Arts Western Sydney was also a guest speaker. Dr Peake is a racing historian.
A book was presented to Rockdale Library, Bayside Council for public loan.
November 8 my book to Racing NSW.
November 10 My Author Talk, Kogarah Library, Georges River Council. A book was presented to Kogarah Library, Georges River Council for the Local Studies collection.
November 19 sold books at James Cook Boys Technology High School, 60 year school anniversary.
Facebook site Moorefield Racecourse Kogarah established.
2017
Late January 103 year old Edgar Britt, former Moorefield jockey passed away. Edgar rode as a 14 year old at Moorefield.
Late January my book was catalogued in the National Library , Canberra.
February 9 Moorefield Girls High School Assembly
February 9 Kogarah Historical Society
February 22 my book was given to the State Library and the Royal Australian Historical Society, Macquarie Street, Sydney
March 2 Botany Historic Trust
Early March Jack Purtell, a Melbourne based jockey, who appears on my book cover, died in Queensland, aged 93. Jack received a copy of my book in mid -November 2016. Jack rode the Moorefield grey, Hiraji to victory in the 1947 Melbourne Cup.
March 18 St George Historical Society, Rockdale Library.
May 15 Hurstville Rotary Club.
April 28 I attended the National Trust Heritage Awards ,Doltone House, Pyrmont as my book was entered into the Publications Category of the Awards.
June 15 Dr Gary Darby and I photographed the Victoria Street , Regent Street , Stanley Street , Victor Street and Palmerston Street area in Kogarah . Some of these properties had been built in the late 1880’s, when Moorefield was first in operation.
Sadly, the area is to be replaced by multi storey units 11 and 12 storeys.
July 20 interviewed by Ian McNamarra (Macca) from ABC radio – went to air across Australia on July 30 at 622am.
August 23 I received an email to inform me that my Moorefield Racecourse book was catalogued in the Cox Library, London .This is the world’s largest collection of horse racing books, which are held in this private collection.
September I located Neville Austen, a former Moorefield jockey from the 1945 period, who lives in Grafton , NSW.
October 7 Ron Rathbone Award, Bayside Council. I entered the remainder of my Moorefield Racecourse research to the Award, my 3rd entry since 2006.
October 28 Marrickville Heritage Society.
November 2 Bethelem Nursing Home, Montgomery Street , Kogarah.
November 8 I interviewed 90 year old Harold Green in his Bexley Nursing Home. His father- in- law was Ossie Imber, the Turf Editor for the Mirror newspaper. Harold got to meet the racing identities of the time.
November 27 St George Probus, Kingsgrove RSL .
2018
The 4 most read articles from the Moorefield category on my web site annefield.net.au in 2018 were : Ray Selkrig’s Speech at my book launch on July 14 2016 , Clarence the Clocker, History of Racing Colours, and Australian Jockeys Riding in India, Ceylon and Malaysia. The articles have been read across Australia and overseas.
May My book was entered into the Bill Whittaker Award for new horse racing books in Australia and New Zealand. The award is in memory of the late Bill Whittaker, Senior Turf journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald and is awarded every two years. Thirty two books were entered into the Award.
June Bill Mc Curley ,former horse trainer died, aged mid 90’s. Bill was with Hiraji on the occasion of his Melbourne Cup win in 1947.
Late August to December Bob Hallet and I, worked long hours on making a 2 hour CD on Moorefield Racecourse.
September Desmond O’Leary brother of former trainer,Terry O’Leary had a wealth of local racing knowledge. Sadly, Desmond died one week before I was to interview him.
October 16 Sydney Water Retired Employees , Parramatta.
October 18 I met with Ted Mills ,former Moorefield jockey in the City. Ray Selkrig and Ted Mills rode at the last Moorefield race meeting July 14 1951.
November 2018 Georges River Council awarded me a Community Grant towards the production of my CD.
2019
January 23 Bob Hallett and I held a “soft launch “ of our CD at St Patricks Green Retirement Village, Kogarah ,which is located next to St Patrick’s Church. Former Moorefield jockeys attended-Ray Selkrig, Ted Mills and Cliff Clare. Norm Munsie’s widow, Anne attended as did John Rincheval’s widow, Colleen.
February I learned of Warwick Mead’s passing . Warwick had helped me with the family archives of Bob Mead, a former Moorefield trainer.
February Alf Leslie from Kogarah Golf Club passed away, aged almost 97. Alf was a wonderful liaison person for me in gaining access to Kogarah Golf Club’s historical records.
March 16 Bob Hallett and I showed Part One of my Moorefield CD to St George Historical Society.
End of March a copy of my CD was delivered to Moorefield’s oldest jockey alive,Jim Griffiths, aged 90.
April 2 A CD to Racing NSW .
April 3 Gopi Selvaratnam , a horse trainer in Dubai, contacted me by email. He told me that Australian jockeys rode for his father and grandfather in Ceylon. Gopi’s Aunt married Ted Fordyce, an Australian jockey, who rode in Ceylon. I have updated my article on Australian Jockeys Riding in India and Ceylon, thanks to Gopi’s input.
We maintain email contact, and I hope to visit Dubai in the future to meet with Gopi.
April 4 Bob Hallett and I attended Heritage at the Australian Turf Club to present a CD .
April 9 Two CD’s presented to Rockdale Library, Bayside Council .
April 16 Pat Craney of 2NBC, a community radio station, interviewed me on my Moorefield CD.
April 27 Official launch of my Moorefield CD in Kogarah Library , Georges River Council to acknowledge Heritage Month in Kogarah.
May 10 Bob and I attended the 25th National Trust Awards Luncheon at Doltone House , Pyrmont. The CD was entered into the Heritage Awards.
June 8 Dhruba Selvartnam’s book “A Racing Family from Ceylon” arrived from Dublin. Dhruba’s book includes mention of Australian jockeys ,who rode in India , Ceylon and Pakistan. The book details 3 generations of the one family, who were horse trainers- an amazing record.
July 14 A CD was presented to James Cook Boys Technology High School .
August 6 John Bosco Friendship Group, Engadine.
August 14 Oatley Probus.
August 21 Moorefield book presented to Georges River Council Library, for public loan.
August 23 A CD was given to the State Library , Macquarie Street.
September 6 I met with Sue Wade for lunch in Kogarah . Her father Bill, a well- known Newcastle jockey, had ridden for the Selvaratnam family in Ceylon in the 1950’s. Bill is now 90.
September 10 Russell Town, whom I interviewed for my CD, passed away, aged almost 89.
September 11 Sans Souci Garden Club .
September 11 Michael Raffaele, grandson of jockey Jack Raffaele, contacted me by email, to tell me that his grandfather had ridden for the Selvaratnam family in Ceylon .
October 5 At the Mercure Hotel in Amsterdam, (10 Joan Muyskenweg) I met with 90 year old Australian lady, and her daughter. She had a connection to Maurice McCarten, a former Moorefield jockey and later horse trainer.
She located me in February 2016 through my web site . A letter was sent to me care of Kogarah Historical Society, who then passed on the letter.
November 5 Melbourne Cup Day guest speaker at Hurstville Probus, Penshurst RSL.
2020
February 5 Botany Bay Family History Society Gymea Tradies
May 23 St George Historical Society, Part Two of my Moorefield CD.
June 1 Kurranulla Probus .
Note : On my Facebook site Moorefield Racecourse I mention additional pieces of Moorefield information ,which have come to light. This information is appreciated.
Anne Field
Kogarah
March 5 2020
