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By Geoff Newling

Scott Jones is humbled the Lismore Turf Club is organising a special charity luncheon for him on Sunday week (18th March).

The LTC Chief Executive Officer was badly burnt in an explosion at Lismore Turf Club in early November, then airlifted to Royal Brisbane Hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and underwent a number of skin graft operations after receiving burns to 45% of his body. He is now recuperating at home and going through a testing and painful period where his skin is tightening.

Scott and Liz Jones with their youngest child, Stella

“At the moment I’m going to the gym, doing physio and even a bit of yoga,” Scott Jones said. “At the moment I’m in probably the worst period for a couple of months but it’s all going alright. I’m pretty lucky.

“The burns unit at Royal Brisbane is one of the best in Australia and I’m just the 26th person to have some special stuff in my leg.”

Which is a positive way to look at a horrible accident that could have easily taken his life or, at best, left him with even more horrific burns and injuries.

That he had attended two first aid courses before his accident was almost certainly a major ingredient in his survival.

Being able to shield his face and then immerse himself under the jockey room showers also a blessing. That local trainer Daniel Bowen and his partner rang the ambulance for him also helped immeasurably.

“I will always be thankful to Daniel and them for that, they may not have saved my life but they certainly helped,” Scott said. “At the time I didn’t think I was that bad but it was only when I got into the ambulance after the shower that it really started hurting.”

Scott, 35, and wife Liz have three young children, George (9), Sammie (7) and Stella (3) and Scott cannot express how gracious he feels toward the LTC for organising the charity luncheon.

“I feel a bit weird about it but very gracious everyone has got behind it and supported it. I remember doing a charity day for one of my mates. He didn’t want it but in the end we told him we were doing it and that was that. I’m glad we did.”

He’s also looking forward to the Saturday, March 17 raceday, which is also Woodlawn Cup day as well as the Sunday, March 18 luncheon. “It’s also St Patrick’s Day,” he said. “Will be out there to have a Guinness.”

One of his mates also has a birthday and Scott laughs about him, how he’s going “to take his swag to the races and stay out there for the charity day”. “Going to be a big day,” he said.

The Sunday is going to be a huge day with an outstanding array of items to be auctioned:
1 - An Adam Gilchrist-signed cricket bat
2 - Four Seasons Accommodation and tickets to The Championships at Royal Randwick
3 - Pro Hart personally signed artwork
4 - Scone stand-alone Saturday meeting package
5 - Tamworth Cup package
6 - Caloundra Cup package and accommodation at The Peninsula

There are also a full set of tyres or wheels, beauty packages and lunch vouchers in the more than 40 items to be auctioned. Click here to view the amazing auction items

Greg Ritchie (former Australian Test Cricketer), Gary Belcher (former Australian and Canberra Raiders fullback), Wayne Grady (former US Open golf winner) are special guests and Mark Forbes is the host for the sit-down lunch.

A Calcutta will also be run on the Scone Country Championships Qualifier being staged on the same day as the luncheon, with the Cath Simes Band performing. Bookings can be made by calling Tarlia (0404 086 438) or Helen Sinclair (0418 201 832).