Summer Surf Girl Contender To Join Greyhounds Beach Party
The Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club has added an extra attraction to its annual Group One Sky Racing Brisbane Cup Beach Party at Albion Park next Thursday night (December 10).
Marcoola Surf Lifesaving finalist in the Conrad Jupiter's Summer Surf Girl competition, Natalie Ward, will host the Group One night in a bid to raise money for her Club.
The Summer Surf Girl competition, now in its 45th year, is an annual fundraising effort which selects several young ambassadors from Queensland Surf Lifesaving clubs to be the public face of Surf Lifesaving for a 12-month campaign.
Surf Lifesaving has an even fonder place in Ms Ward's heart, after nearly drowning two years ago and had to be rescued by Marcoola's lifesaving team resulting in her spending three nights in a coma.
The then 18-year old was surfing when she was hit by her board, which was spotted ‘tomb-stoning' in the water with the leg rope attached to her lying unconscious on the bottom of the ocean.
Ms Ward, now aged 20, said her nomination for the Conrad Jupiter's Summer Surf Girl competition was about giving back to the Club which saved her life.
“This competition for me is about doing anything I can to repay the Club for being there when I needed them most,” Ms Ward said.
“The goal is to raise about $30,000 for Marcoola, and with everyone's help on Brisbane Cup night it should contribute greatly.”
Each year the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club stages an annual Beach Party to celebrate its Group One Brisbane Cup race, part of the Club's Summer Carnival of greyhound racing.
Ms Ward said she was very excited to become a part of the night, which wasn't the first time Marcoola had been involved with the Albion Park greyhound racing.
“Our Club is always apart of the Surf Lifesavers Cup held at the Brisbane Greyhounds each year, and everyone has a ball,” she said.
“I'm really looking forward to the night and helping spread the word of the importance of the lifesavers.”
She will be raffling off several prizes on the night to help raise the funds.
The Sky Racing Brisbane Cup Beach Party will also feature roving entertainers, music and a competition to win two nights accommodation on the Gold Coast.
The night will kick off at 6.30pm with Race One at 6.41pm.