Camel Races

Event coordinator Graeme Eggleston said organisers expected about 7000 spectators to attend.


“Each year we’ve had between 7000 and 9000 people,” he said.

“This is looked at as one of the big crowds for an event in Orange – that certainly helps the economy.

“We know there’s buses coming from Sydney and the Hunter Valley.”

Last year organisers raised about $38,000 for Camp Quality. This year or

ganisers hope to raise the same amount of money for Give Me 5 for Kids. The charity provides aid and support for children and their families in times of need.

“The money raised stays local in special account to purchase equipment for the children’s ward at Orange Health Service,” he said.

“You might look for special respirators to use on newborns and young children or a special type of cardiac machine [if the doctors] feel a baby has a heart problem.”

Mr Eggleston said this reduced the time away from home for families.

“[Doctors] can handle it locally without sending child to Sydney,” he said.

“If we can alleviate that somehow, all the better.”

Mr Eggleston said investment in medical equipment was an investment in the community.

‘It’s about raising money for equipment that at some stage of our lives we may have to use,” he said.

“We hope we don't but it’s all the better to have the equipment.”

Mr Eggleston said camel races were “quite funny”.

“You never know which way they’ll go or if they’ll lie down,” he said.

“They make a lot of noise but that’s a camel.”

Mr Eggleston said a team of about 50 volunteers were involved in the event.

“There’s a mixture of Lions Club volunteers from Orange, Canobolas, Bathurst and Cudal and two Rural Fire Service brigades from Orange and North West,” he said. “Orange Vietnam Veterans is cooking the barbecue so I’d like to give a special thanks to them.”

Gates will open at 9am, the first race will start at 10am and the event will finish at 4pm. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for pensioners and free for children under 16 with a parent or guardian.