Written by Renee Geelen
Australian Turf Club (ATC) members, led by the Save Rosehill group, are calling for a leadership spill and the removal of Peter McGauran as chair.
On September 3, ATC member Errol Chant wrote to the ATC board asking for Peter McGauran’s resignation and the letter indicated that a petition to members would be sent out to hold a meeting to vote on his removal as director. In a September 17 press release, the Save Rosehill group outlined their reasoning behind the push for the leadership spill.
“The overwhelming sentiment I have received is that Mr McGauran’s position is now untenable,” said Jason Abrahams, spokesperson for the Save Rosehill group.
Jason Abrahams | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Members were already alarmed to learn from documents tabled in the NSW Upper House that the ATC leadership were drafting a press release announcing the sale of Rosehill Gardens before the ATC board were even informed of the proposal. The most recent hearing not only confirmed that his proposed alternative – a racetrack built around the Brick Pit at Sydney Olympic Park – was fanciful, but also that in the six months since the plan was first publicly mooted, the ATC has not even engaged with Sydney Olympic Park Authority to investigate its feasibility.
“Frankly, the ATC’s leadership is publicly embarrassing the club, and it is time for a change of leadership.”
“Frankly, the ATC’s leadership is publicly embarrassing the club, and it is time for a change of leadership.” - Jason Abrahams
The Australian Turf Club is a company limited by guarantee and is governed by the Corporations Act (2010), which requires directors conduct a general meeting on the request of members with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at the general meeting. Members can sign the petition on the Save Rosehill website.
TTR Aus NZ covered all three days of the Rosehill hearings which you can read here:
The Save Rosehill campaign is supported by many highly respected leaders in the racing industry who are also members of the ATC, including Julia Ritchie (former AJC Vice Chair), Debbie Kepitis, Matt McGrath (former ATC Chair), Frank Cook, Bob Charley (former AJC Chair), Greg Kenny (former STC Vice Chair), Neil Werrett, Jason Abrahams, and Annette English.
“The evidence plainly shows that there is no viable alternative if Rosehill were to be sold for development, and we know that first-class racing in metropolitan Sydney cannot survive without a second Group 1 quality track alongside Royal Randwick,” continued Abrahams.
“The evidence plainly shows that there is no viable alternative if Rosehill were to be sold for development, and we know that first-class racing in metropolitan Sydney cannot survive without a second Group 1 quality track alongside Royal Randwick.” - Jason Abrahams
“The ATC leadership have had almost a year to convince members of the merits of selling the Club’s most important asset, and their continued inability to articulate a credible plan is shockingly amateur.
“It is no wonder they cancelled the remainder of their member consultation program. It is clear to us that Mr McGauran has lost the confidence of the majority of ATC members and should be removed as Chair."
