Duke jumps in as jockey club president

A passion for all things horse racing, Brad Duke is Gayndah Jockey Club's new president.

Brad Duke is Gayndah Jockey Club's new president as of November 2018.

A PASSION for all things horse racing and extensive experience on sporting club committees has seen a relatively new Gayndah local elected as president of the Gayndah Jockey Club.

On Sunday, November 25 members of the club announced their new president as Brad Duke, who works for the North Burnett Regional Council.

Duke has been in living and working in Gayndah for about a year.

"I have a great love of horse-racing and the race day atmosphere itself when I believe all things Australian come together including the people, the food, drink, entertainment, fashions, laughter, celebrations and trying to pick a winner” Duke said..

An accountant and company secretary/ director by qualification, Duke brings a wealth of experience across many community and sporting disciplines and committee roles, both in Rockhampton and the Central Highlands.

He was a former advisory racing steward with the North Queensland Racing Association in Mount Isa and has involvement with rugby league, Rotary, Army Reserves, PCYC, Blackwater Mine Workers and Country Club, Nudgee College Old Boys Association and the Tattersalls Club in Brisbane.

"I decided to run for President to take the club in a new direction with a team of like-minded people with a balance of old and new, that embraces the Club's history, will work hard and deliver premier country racing in the North Burnett,” Duke said.

Duke paid particular credit to former club president Stuart Kirk and the 2018 management committee.

He said the club performed very well considering the financial situation it found itself in in late 2017, and the October weather event that affected greatly the 150th anniversary celebrations of the first Queensland Derby being run in Gayndah.

Other officer bearers include Jason Waldock, Vice President, Matt Benham Junior Vice President, Lisa Bayntun, Secretary and Kerry Goodwin, Treasurer.