Latest News

By Mark Brassel

Mackillop College Women’s Legal Fund will benefit from the dashing win of well-fancied galloper Victorem in today’s $500,000 Newhaven Park Country Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick.

The charity will receive $5000 courtesy of TAB after Port Macquarie News nominated it as its charity of choice in the 2018 TAB Country Editors’ Challenge.

Winners are grinners - jockey Ben Looker with trainer Jenny Graham following Victorem's win

The Country Championships has generated huge interest right around the state and as such, newspaper editors were invited to ‘support their local horse’ leading up to today’s Final on Day 1 of The Championships.

TAB joined with The Championships to get behind each region’s horse and editors were asked to nominate a charity with $5000 heading to the winner’s respective charity.

Racing NSW Chief Executive, Peter V’landys AM, said: “The country media support the Editors’ Challenge and it gives locals a horse to cheer home in the Final at Royal Randwick while benefitting charities. It is a win-win for all concerned.”

Port Macquarie News was the lucky newspaper to have Victorem as its representative with editor, Tracey Fairhurst, saying: “This is fantastic news and we are so pleased for our charity.

“A $5000 contribution to the Mackillop College Legal Justice Fund in Port Macquarie will have a significant impact on the reach of this student-driven community project to provide Hastings women experiencing, or at threat of violence, to access legal assistance and advice.

“The students represent a generation that has been left with a cultural legacy of violence against women and they intend to do something about it. The fund was established in 2016 and already they have been able to help women across the Hastings break the cycle.

“As a community we couldn't be more proud of these young people who are standing up and saying enough is enough - the time for change is now.

“The Mackillop College Legal Justice Fund is a project driven by senior legal studies students and has been embraced by the school and broader Port Macquarie community. All money raised for the Fund and distributed to women in need is via donation and fundraising.”

View all information the challenge at - 2018 TAB Country Editors' Challenge