All of Moree will be backing whichever horse draws barrier four in the 2020 Melbourne Cup next Tuesday, after mayor Katrina Humphries drew the barrier as part of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep.
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Moree was one of 24 regional towns across Australia chosen by Victoria Racing Club to be allocated a barrier in the race that stops a nation, and last month was the first destination to host the 18-carat gold Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy on its virtual regional tour this year.
As part of the national sweep, the town that draws the barrier of this year's winning horse will be presented with a cash prize of $50,000 to put towards a charity of their choice.
In its application to be one of the 24 destinations chosen, Moree Race Club nominated the Northern NSW Westpac Helicopter Rescue Service as their chosen charity, which secretary Michelle Gobbert said was fitting.
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"We nominated the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service to tie in with our charity weekend," she said.
Each year Moree Race Club hosts a chopper charity dinner and race day to coincide with the annual Moree Cup, raising funds for the vital service which provides a lifeline for people in the bush.
Cr Humphries was nominated by Moree Race Club to be Moree's representative during the barrier draw, which was held via Zoom on Thursday.
She said it was a privilege to be asked to draw the barrier and was thrilled to draw number four.
"A horse has won five times now out of four, so we're happy with it," she said.
"We're just happy to be there.
"It's very exciting."
In a joint collaboration with Moree Race Club, Tourism Moree and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Cr Humphries was decked out in a Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service cap and keyring earrings, while Tourism Moree's Brianna Harborne even dressed up as a chopper in the background during the barrier draw in an effort to promote Moree to the nation.
Cr Humphries credited Moree Race Club for being successful in securing this promotion for Moree and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, and Tourism Moree for taking full advantage of the opportunity.
"Moree Race Club has done a phenomenal job at getting into the 24 finalists to be allocated a barrier in the National Melbourne Cup Sweep," Cr Humphries said.
"All power to them. It's absolutely amazing that they get this opportunity to put Moree on centre showcase.
"A big thanks also to the ever-enthusiastic team from Tourism Moree who set the scene ... we transformed the Tourism office to look like a helicopter. Tourism once again stepped right up to the mark to make this really professional.
"It was a wonderful joint effort."
Barrier four is the number of the barrier that the horse will jump from at the start of the race, not the horse's number.
The horses will be drawn barriers during the official barrier draw on Saturday.
Cr Humphries is hopeful that Surprise Baby draws barrier four on Saturday.
She plans to put a trifecta on last year's winner Vow and Declare, Surprise Baby, Prince of Arran, Verry Elleegant and Steel Prince.
"I'm going with what I went with last year," she said.
"Mum and I would always pick five horses and put $30 in each for the trifecta. We won in 1987 when Kensei won."
This year will be the first Melbourne Cup Cr Humphries has been without her mother, who passed away in May.
