Chris Roots and Will Brodie
JAMES PERRY, the former chief steward of harness racing in NSW, was missing and feared dead last night after being swept away by floodwaters near Grantham.
Perry had recently accepted the position of chief steward at Racing Queensland in Toowoomba after leaving his previous post as steward at Seoul Racecourse in Korea.
”James is one of the kindest people I have met and among the best chairman of stewards we have had in the sport,” said NSW Harness Racing Club chief executive James Dumesny. ”I’m sure everyone in the sport is praying he will be found safe and well. It has really personalised this disaster for me. You see all the footage on the news and when it is someone you know it really hits home.”
A statement from Racing Queensland last night said authorities had informed them that ”Perry is one of the 90 persons lost in the flood but sadly he is among the 20 listed as ‘feared drowned.’ The former New South Welshman was extremely popular with all industry stakeholders, who have been saddened by the shock news,” the statement read.
Perry was last seen with his wife and son stranded on the roof of their car in ferocious floodwaters. The family were filmed by a media helicopter on their white four-wheel-drive, after they had been attempting to cross a river near Grantham, in dramatic footage that brought home the severity of Monday’s flash flood.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said Perry’s wife Jenny and son Ted were rescued by helicopter and are recuperating in Gatton Hospital. There was no trace of Perry or his vehicle when the helicopter returned.
Meanwhile, the harness racing stock of mining billionaire Clive Palmer is believed to have been decimated by the Queensland floods. Palmer’s trainer, Murray Sullivan, is in hospital after spending 13 hours on his house’s roof waiting to be rescued.
Australian and international sportspeople are heeding the call to assist flood-ravaged Queenslanders. Socceroo Tim Cahill was one of the first stars to make a public gesture, offering to auction a prize on eBay. After encouraging people to give to the relief appeal by making a phone gesture during Australia’s Asian Cup opener against India, Cahill set up a prize that included travel from anywhere in the world to watch an Everton game.
The plight of Queenslanders also touched England cricketer Kevin Pietersen. He used Twitter to announce he would auction flights, accommodation and tickets for the Australia-England one-day international in Perth on February 6. Pietersen will also give up his memorabilia from England’s victorious Ashes Test series. Cricketers in last night’s Twenty20 clash between Australia and England in Adelaide donated their match wages.
Tennis player Samantha Stosur pledged $100 for every ace she serves in Australian tournaments this summer, while American world No.8 Andy Roddick has donated $10,000 to the appeal.
Source: www.smh.com.au
