CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
A new front in Australia’s culture wars has opened following the Maranoa Regional Council’s decision to order the board of the Roma C.W.A House to light up the side of their old hall with a promotion for their town’s November’s horse races.
The old Country Women’s Association hall, widely regarded as most famous structure in the town, is to be commandeered for the iconic Roma Races in their 117th year-running (not including the war years).
The Roma Cup is the richest race day in Western Queensland and promises a weekend of fun, fillies, fashion and frivolity in the country. The annual event is held on the third Saturday in November, following a Friday night with a Calcutta in town.
However, despite not having trouble selling tickets to the big show, the race club has teamed up with the local council for a bold new advertising campaign. A projection on the side of the home base for the Country Women’s Association, Roma Charter.
The edict, delivered late on Friday, will result in the CWA contravening its own policies and flouting the wishes of the building’s late architect, Greg, who was a local chippy.
More importantly, it risks the site’s proposed World Heritage status, and it’s got the townsfolk riled up.
“We are not happy about it!” says the cranky CWA charter secretary, Barb.
“This is the most controversial thing the race club has done since they started awarded fashions in the field prices for strapless dresses!”
However, despite pressure from above, Barb and her gang of matriarchal town gossip magnates vow to hold on strong and say they won’t be told what to do, unlike the Sydney Opera House directors.
“Not happening. If the council and race club want to keep this up, we’ll stop putting on the courtesy barbecue breakfast on the Sunday after the cup” says Barb.
“If they want to play dirty, we’ll play dirty. Alan Jones has been chasing me for an interview all week. We don’t answer phone calls from Alan anymore.”
“Not after what happened in Toowoomba”
