Werribee20 Aug 2010
Werribee Primary School students getting up close and personal with the 2010 Emirates Melbourne Cup
To pay tribute to the Chirnside family, who won the 1874 Melbourne Cup with Haricot, the Cup visited Werribee today with champions of the turf, Mr Roy Higgins and Mr Jim Johnson.
Starting off with a visit to the beautiful Werribee Mansion Hotel, Wyndham City councilors, sponsors and special guests enjoyed breakfast at the opening of Heroes and High Drama: 150th Melbourne Cup Exhibition Series, a free travelling photographic exhibition that captures vivid Melbourne Cup moments.
The Tour crew were then escorted to Werribee Open Range Zoo, where Tour Ambassadors, Roy Higgins and Jim Johnson, took the Cup on an open-air safari adventure. The trip offered local media an amazing opportunity to capture the Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy getting up close and personal with a herd of giraffes and zebras.
The friendly giraffes took a liking to the golden trophy, using their long necks to peer right into the bowl of the Cup!
The Cup then made its way to Werribee Primary School, where the Tour crew was formally welcomed by some very hospitable school captains. The group was led to the quadrangle where the whole school was decked out in Emirates caps and racing attire waiting eagerly to see the iconic trophy.
The Tour Ambassadors shared their Melbourne Cup stories with the students and teachers before they answered questions from inquisitive children and awarded sashes to the winners of an entertaining hobby horse game.
Racing legends Roy Higgins and Jim Johnson were then greeted by fans at the Angus & Robertson book store in Werribee Plaza, where they signed copies of the recently released The Story of the Melbourne Cup: Australia’s Greatest Race, and took photos with the iconic trophy.
Following lunch, the Tour crew ventured to Mackillop College, where senior school students listened intently to Joe McGrath, who acknowledged Werribee’s connection to the Melbourne Cup and conducted a Q&A with champion jockeys, Roy and Jim.
The Tour crew stayed on to enjoy afternoon tea with Mackillop College teachers before making an appearance at the Werribee Mercy Hospital where patients and staff were offered an opportunity to take photos with the Cup.
The day’s events ended with a cocktail party at the Werribee Racing Club where members and guests enjoyed meeting turf legends, Roy and Jim, and listening to their reflections of claiming Melbourne Cup victory.
7:30am - 9:00am: Breakfast at The Mansion Hotel, Werribee Park, for Heroes and High Drama: 150th Melbourne Cup Exhibition Series
9:00am – 10:00am: Visit Werribee Open Range Zoo
10:30am – 11:30am: Visit Werribee Primary School
12:00pm – 1:30pm: Visit Werribee Plaza for book signing - Angus & Robertson Werribee Plaza, Shop T141, Werribee Plaza, Heaths Road Hoppers Crossing
2:00pm – 3:00pm: Visit Mackillop College
4:00pm – 5:00pm: Visit Werribee Mercy Hospital
6:00pm – 8:00pm: Cocktail event at Werribee Racing Club
*Please note that the above details may change closer to or on the day of the event
