Patrick Duffy believes Club Menangle is already a very important part of Campbelltown and the Macarthur area.
“But it is going to be even more and more important moving forward,’’ he says.
Mr Duffy, who runs the Duffy Law Group practice, wants to contribute to the next stage of development at Club Menangle so he has thrown his hat in the ring to become a director of the board.
The election for new directors has opened today (September 22) and concludes on October 12.
“I think the current board, the outgoing chairman Robert Marshall, and the CEO Bruce Christison, have done a magnificent job, getting the facility to where it is today,’’ says Mr Duffy, born and bred in Campbelltown and proud of it.
“There’s so much potential for it to go further, and I’d like to assist with it and to be part of that moving forward.
“Engagement with Campbelltown and Macarthur, that’s probably the key, bringing harness racing to the people of the area, and bringing other forms of entertainment to people that will support and complement harness racing,’’ Mr Duffy said.
“And I’d also like to assist with bringing a younger demographic in as well, into Club Menangle, and harness racing.
“Obviously young people are the future and in many ways Club Menangle hopefully can become a world class facility for Campbelltown,’’ Mr Duffy said.
He has several connections to harness racing, from going to the races at Harold Park in his younger days to owning horses and family members being involved in the industry.
“Through family in Albury-Wodonga is a strong harness racing connection,’’ he says.
“My cousin is one of the drivers who’s had the privilege of winning the JC Caffyn Plate, which is the Indigenous race – more than once actually.
“Through him I’ve owned a harness racing horse, or two, and we’re looking to do more with that.
“I’ve also spent those years living in Glebe where we’d always go down to the old Harold Park and Harold Park Hotel.
“Now that harness racing’s out here in Campbelltown it’s set to launch to the next level and I’d like to help with that,’’ Mr Duffy said.
The board election result will be officially declared to the membership at the Annual General Meeting on Saturday, October 18.
