THE 2024 Melbourne Cup may have produced 80-1 winner Knight’s Choice and quite a few torn-up tickets, but the result was a clear winner for members of Moree Cancer Support Group and staff at the Regional Australia Bank Moree branch.

This year, as Knight’s Choice stunned punters across the nation, Moree Cancer Support Group became $4000 richer after another successful Melbourne Cup calcutta at Moree Services Club.

Group secretary-treasurer Wendy Long said the organisation was formed to support Moree District Hospital and cancer sufferers and their families, but now supports people with chronic illnesses as well as cancer.

“We provide equipment for people to have in their homes and help with travel vouchers to help with mileage and food. We also provide equipment for nursing staff to help manage patients,” Wendy said.

“We depend on donations from the community, and Moree people are very generous. The money raised by staff at Regional Australia Bank in Moree is absolutely amazing, and we thank them and the club so much.”

Each year, Regional Australia Bank staff sell Melbourne Cup calcutta tickets at Moree Services Club on  Friday nights during the month leading up to the race that stops a nation.

Bank home lending specialist, Bronte Egan, said the local branch has been involved with calcutta ticket sales for more than 15 years.

“Each Friday after work, two of our staff attend the club and sell tickets for approximately  two hours prior to the Friday night raffles,” Bronte said.

“It’s always a fun month, chatting to the members and visitors and seeing the regular faces that support us every year.

“We have some new staff recently join the Moree branch team, Tianna Bettens and Chloe Simpson, who happily joined in and helped out.

“On the Monday night prior to the Cup, all our branch staff, plus any visiting staff and volunteers from the recipient group, attend to write up the last ticket sales – the biggest night of selling,” she said.

(from left) Moree Regional Australia Bank customer advisors Chloe Simpson and Tianna Bettens, with Moree Cancer Support Group members Wendy Long and Amalda Field, and Moree team leader, Sharna McMaster.

Moree Services Club also generously donates 10 per cent of the final calcutta prize pool as well as an additional $1000 to the Regional Australia Bank’s Community Partnership Program.

“This in turn is donated to one of our recipient groups registered with the program,” Bronte said.

“The Moree branch also conduct internal fundraising activities so we can add a little extra towards the final donation each year.

“We have supported several groups over the years and this year the Moree Cancer Support Group was chosen.

“This disease has touched many people we know, so it’s great knowing these funds will go towards assisting families and sufferers during their time of need,” Bronte said.

Moree Cancer Support Group vice-president, Amalda Field, said the organisation desperately needs helpers to carry on the good work.

“There are only five of us at the moment, and it’s becoming increasingly harder to find volunteers to join our group,” Amalda said.

“We only meet every three months and really need more members.”

Bronte Egan said Regional Australia Bank’s Moree branch has raised more than $100,000 for local charities and organisations over the years.

“During my 21 years at the branch, we have always helped out in fundraising events such as charity shield bowls days, trivia nights, ABBA and disco nights, calcuttas and 100-clubs, just to name a few,” Bronte said.

“It always gives us such pride to be a part of an organisation that allows us to host these events and, in turn, financially give back to our local communities.

“We look forward to working with the Moree Services Club again next year to raise funds for another worthy community group,” she said.

Moree Services Club CEO Rob Shields said the fundraising efforts was a collaboration between the bank and the club.

“The Regional Australia Bank and Moree Services Club combine every year to run a Melbourne Cup calcutta for a nominated beneficiary, chosen by the bank, and the girls from the bank do a great job,” Rob said.

“The club puts up some of the money, the bank put up some of the money, and there is money raised on the night for the beneficiary.

“Sometimes we up the ante. The jackpot normally starts at $1000 and the club boosts it up to $2000.

“The Regional Australia Bank girls are always behind the community, that’s the big thing, and they do all this in their own time,” he said.

Moree Cancer Support Group needs more members.

Can you help?

Call Wendy Long on 0437 019755 for details.