Groundswell of support benefits Durham Park

A wave of generosity continues to wash through Bruce Edward’s ashen Durham Park, keeping spirits high as the harness racing stud farm recovers form a devastating bushfire. The December 19 blaze that razed Edward’s Durham property and impacted many of his neighbours has attracted an astonishing response from the Ballarat community. 

“People wonder how I stay so positive about everything, but you can’t help but be positive when there are so many people around you being positive and offering so much assistance,” Edward said. 

The Scotsburn Community Fundraiser has raised $20,603 for those affected by the bushfires, which was bolstered when Ballarat and District Trotting Club dedicated a night to the cause. Almost $8000 was raised at the February 12 race meting through donations, raffles and $10 from every dining package, club CEO Paul Rowse said. 

“It is a credit to racing people, who were not only there on the ground after the fires, but are still willing to dig deep and help down the track,” Rowse said. “We hoped we might raise about $5000 on the night, but people just kept giving and we raised $8000, which will go a long way to helping those people affected.” 

The goodwill was shared further, with Minister for Racing Martin Pakula making available a $1500 grant that shouted BlazeAid volunteers a night out at the race meeting. “It shows how racing can be an integral part of any community and look after its participants, but the community more generally as well,” Mr Pakula said. 

BlazeAid volunteers have spent more than eight weeks in the greater Ballarat community, setting up camp from where they’ve rebuilt fences and provided support to those affected. 

Extraordinary support for Durham Park also came from Alan Galloway of Alabar Stud, who offered to graze all 53 horses plus foals for six months free of charge. Galloway also gifted Durham Park access to his barn complex so it could prepare its yearlings for sale and accommodation for his staff. 

The groundswell of support has only strengthened Edward’s desire to remain a key player in the sport. “We are going to recover and we will come back bigger and stronger,” Edward said. “It might take some time, but we will be there and be active participants in the community for a long while to come.” 

Michael Howard

Harness Racing Victoria