MEDIA RELEASE
Even if you’re not a competitor, you can still lasso yourself a $35,000 cheque from the payout window at the Warwick Rodeo!
The Ariat Australia Warwick Rodeo and Pryde’s EasiFeed Warwick Gold Cup Campdraft have proudly put up their hand to give back to the local community in 2023.
Their inaugural Art Union, set to deliver a $35,000 pay cheque to the lucky winner, will raise funds for Protea Place Women’s Support Centre in Warwick.
CEO Amanda Dalton said the new Protea Place Warwick service is about creating tangible change in the community.
“Protea Place welcomes vulnerable women who may be experiencing homelessness or disadvantage,” she said.
“Our work focuses on delivering dignity services such as lunch, showers, laundry, clothing and toiletries along with information and support and referral where possible, around housing and homelessness, domestic and family violence, and legal support.”
After hearing about the work of Protea Place, Warwick Show & Rodeo Society Secretary Terri Gilbert was drawn to making the fledgling local service the beneficiary of an art union idea she’d had, in the process giving Protea Place a much-needed financial boost to continue operations.
“Protea Place doesn’t receive any government funding so what a fantastic way for the Warwick Rodeo to be responsive to vulnerable women in our community, many of whom sit outside the ‘norm’ of other funded women’s services,” Ms Gilbert said.
“Rodeo has well and truly stepped up on women’s fundraising initiatives with the phenomenally successful Wrangler Tough Enough to Wear Pink program raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research.
“Let’s do something to fundraise for a women’s cause that is truly making a difference to help women in our own community.”
As a campdrafter herself, Ms Gilbert came up with the idea of matching winning tickets to competing finalists in the Warwick Gold Cup, with the winning horse and rider combination scoring the $35,000 payout.
“All ticket holders who secure a horse and rider in the final will win $500 cash, but if the horse and rider combination you’ve drawn takes out the Warwick Gold cup title, you then take home a sweet $35,000 cash prize.
“A $20 ticket to win $35,000, plus a chance to positively support a much-needed women’s service in our community, feels like a jackpot to me,” Ms Gilbert said.
To purchase a ticket in the Art Union, visit https://warwickshowandrodeo.com.au/i-want-tickets/ or catch up with Protea Place staff and volunteers in the Rose City Shoppingworld from 26 to 28 October or on grounds during rodeo week.
Anyone with enquiries is invited to call Warwick Show & Rodeo Society or Protea Place for more information.
For further information:
Terri Gilbert, Secretary Warwick Show & Rodeo Society Inc
07 4661 9060 | events@warwickrodeo.com.au
Amanda Dalton, CEO Protea Place
0403 756783 | amandad@protea.org.au
