TAREE Greyhound Club conducts 20 meetings (racing) each year.
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Club president Des McGreachie told the Times in March Taree averages 140 nominations each meeting.
“And we get a lot of our nominations from the Newcastle and Hunter area,’’ he added.
Greyhound club secretary Peter Daniel said there are around 100 owners and trainers involved with the industry at Taree.
“They spend money upgrading their infrastructure and kennels,’’ he added.
“It’s not just a hobby to many of them, it’s a livelihood.’’
Mr Daniel said each Taree meeting brings people into the area.
“And they spend money here,’’ he added.
The club’s major carnival for the year is at Easter when four meetings are conducted.
“Our club also spends money to support our suppliers. The decision (to ban greyhound racing) is going to be a blow to the local economy.’’
Mr Daniel pointed out the Taree club – like most in regional NSW – is run entirely by volunteers.
“The people involved have a passion for greyhound racing,’’ he said.
“Now it’s been taken away from them.’’
Mr Daniel said the timing of the date for the ban for racing in NSW – June 30 2017 – is ironic for his club.
“That’s about the time we would be celebrating the club’s 60th anniversary,’’ he explained.
“We were already planning for that.’’
Mr Daniel said he was given no warning about the State government decision.
“I heard it on the news,’’ he said.
When he spoke to the Times on Friday morning he hadn’t heard from Greyhounds NSW about any possible action that might be taken.
