Residents saddle up for the ‘race that stops the nation’ at Bupa South Hobart
Imagine if you got to experience the excitement of the iconic Melbourne Cup trophy before the winners did. Such was the case when Bupa Aged Care South Hobart residents Judith Marsh and Barbara Arnold got to hold the trophy during a recent visit to the home.
"It was exciting to think that we had access to the trophy before the trainer, the owner and the jockey had seen it or touched it,” Ms Marsh said.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour, which in addition to Tasmania, included a stop over to our Portland home earlier this week and has also travelled across the Nullarbor Plain by train, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Seoul.
Wendy Green, the owner of the 1999 Cup, spoke to residents about her experiences about travelling home to Darwin following her horse Rogan Josh's win in the Melbourne Cup.
Wendy Green was a wonderful speaker, she told us of a story about a new born who had not yet been christened, and decided that they would christen him with champagne instead.
“Apparently there were no ministers around, so a local bus driver officiated the ceremony under a tree in the Northern Territory,” Ms Marsh said.
With a buzz still in the air from the visit, it's a safe bet that Ms Arnold and her friends will be ready for round two next month with a chance to wear ostentatious hats, and, at the very least, join in on the ‘race that stops the nation’, even if it is from the comfort of their own home.
“I am a Tasmanian, but I lived in Melbourne for most of my working life," she said.
“I love the atmosphere that the Melbourne Cup creates. The horses are majestic creatures but for me, the real fun is in watching the fashion,” Ms Arnold said.
The 91 year old said that in her years attending various races, she has noticed that fascinators are still hot in the scene and hopes the tradition will continue.
"I was never part of Melbourne’s elite but always loved getting dressed up as if I was.”
"I got dressed up for the visit but decided to leave my fascinator aside for the actual Cup day, don’t get me wrong, I was still dolled up for the occasion," she said.
Bupa’s South Hobart Recreational Activities Officer Deb Rose, who organised the event said the visit was a highlight for everyone in the home.
“Alongside my colleagues, I was fortunate enough to come into contact with the 18 carat gold Cup and I felt honoured to be able to share a piece of that excitement with our residents,” she said.
Up next: Want to live past 110? A supercentenarian at our Pottsville home and her daughter share their secrets.
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