COMMUNITY SUPPORT
WRC is committed to ongoing support and involvement within the Central Coast Community
Community and Social Benefits
Activities associated with the Wyong Race Club play an important role in the development and preservation of social and community benefits throughout the broader Central Coast region. The majority of these social impacts are initiated through club activities, both on race days and non-race days, as well as the partnerships they form with many community organisations. The contribution to community social benefit enhances both individual and community well- being throughout the region.
The economic activity generated by the Club complements the social impacts, particularly as a regional racing club where racing events and quality facilities foster social cohesion and provide benefits for a broad range of individuals and community organisations.
Racing and non-racing events attract community members, independent of socio-economic status, age or gender. This is highlighted within Wyong’s local racing industry, where racing is a profession, sport, hobby and leisure activity.
The development of social initiatives also has a positive impact in terms of family socialisation and volunteerism. With this, racing also supports health, education, employment and environmental practices. However, maintaining and building the trust and respect of the communities in which the racing club racing operates is also extremely valuable.
The implementation and communication of social and environmental initiatives play an important role in managing community perceptions and in doing so, protect and enhance racing’s image and reputation. This in turn provides Wyong’s local racing industry with a greater opportunity to foster the support of customers, corporate partners and Government, as well as building pride and increased satisfaction with internal stakeholders.
- Community Building: Building inclusive and welcoming communities featuring powerful collaborative partnerships and relationships
- Family: Providing opportunities for family participation in racing and assisting in the development of stronger family relationships
- Education and Training: Supporting the education, training and development of participants and racing club staff and volunteers
- Tourism: Attracting in-scope visitors to major racing events which benefits the broader regional economy
- Leisure: Providing enjoyable leisure opportunities for hobby owners, trainers and breeders, raceday customers and other racing club event attendees
- Employment: Creating a source of employment and a variety of career opportunities for local residents
- Environment: Adoption of many environmentally friendly practices that support government and community expectations relating to the protection of the local environment
COMMUNITY BUILDING
The Wyong Race Club engage with individuals and build strong partnerships with organisations within their community. This is particularly visible in terms of supporting charitable organisations and building community partnerships.
The Club has recently supported a number of community organisations including: –
- RYDA Safer Driving Programs
- Coast Shelter
- Central Coast Seniors Festival Expo
- Northlakes Toukley Rotary
- Wyong Chamber of Commerce
- ClubsNSW
- Itty Bitty Fundraiser
- Wyong Roos Foundation
- Cancer Council
- Caves Beach Surf Life Saving Club
- Police Memorial Day
- ASX Refinitiv Charity Foundation
- Men of Football
- Wyong Golf Club
- Kooindah Waters Golf Club
- Magenta Shores Golf Club
- Markets2259
The racecourse also plays a role in the provision of facilities to the broader community for functions, events and a wide-range of unique activities. Some examples include the Australia Post Motorcycle riding induction program, RYDA safer driving program, Markets 2259 and numerous schools cross country events
SUPPORTING FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
The Club actively promotes services and amenities which are conducive to bringing families together to build stronger relationships. Many of the feature race days form a venue or ‘meeting place’ for families and friends to socialise – many with a community feel. This has seen the development of family or children’s themed race days which provide a strong link to the community. The Club has held Give Me 5 for Kids Charity Race days, Hit 101.3 Family Race days as well as donated race names to acknowledge family oriented programs such as Domestic Violence awareness week.
TOURISM
The racing industry has a long-proven history of being a tourism drawcard, both from a spectator and participant perspective. Major racing events such as the Magic Millions Raceday, Carlton Draught Wyong Gold Cup, Ladies Day and the Provincial Championships generate economic impacts for the region, not only from visiting attendees, but also from visiting participants and accompanying people.
These feature race days generate expenditure in the overnight visitor economy as the broader region of the Central Coast benefits from the influx of intrastate and interstate visitors. hospital wards on the Central Coast and provides an opportunity for local businesses to engage with both the charity and racing to support a great cause. The Hit 101.3 Family Raceday provides a range of entertainment for the entire family including rides, jumping castles, giant slides, 9D cinema, a petting zoo and live music. In addition to this entertainment, the Club also runs a ‘Kids Fashions on the Field’ with special prizes. These events attract significant numbers of first time racegoers who are attracted by the broader attractions and the community engagement, not just the racing itself.
There are two key areas in which racing has a unique capacity to generate economic impacts for the region. The nexus between racing, hospitality and fashion is one of the areas in which major racing events at the Wyong Racecourse have a differentiated (and positive) capacity to generate economic impacts. Additionally, wagering is an important vehicle in generating economic impacts. Major racing events like those mentioned above, attract broadcast coverage and wagering through interstate and international wagering providers which leads to strong financial returns for the Central Coast regional economy.
