As Australia’s oldest industry fund – having formed as the Labour Union Co-operative Retirement Fund in 1978, well before Keating’s super reforms – and one firmly rooted in the trade union movement, it is perhaps appropriate that LUCRF Super is emptying its pockets to support a blue-collar Aussie institution: the races.
Over the first weekend in August – coinciding with the National Jockeys’ Celebration Day and unofficial ‘horses’ birthday’ – the industry fund announced it was entering a three-year partnership, beginning on August 1, to provide financial support to the National Jockeys' Trust.
Established in 2004 to assist the families and help meet the financial needs of jockeys who have suffered work-related illness, injury or lost their lives, the NJT has come to represent the softer side of the often-macho world of Australian horse racing and its concomitant gambling market.
The deal will see the super fund sponsor jockeys’ breeches – with the LUCRF logo to appear on all jockey breeches at all national racecourses for the period of the deal. Funds will also go to individual jockeys in need and their families.
“I am thrilled to announce the partnership with LUCRF Super,” said Ross Inglis, Australian Jockeys Association (AJA) chairman and NJT trustee.
“I am acutely aware of the vital role played by the NJT in providing assistance to injured Australian jockeys who are in need. We are extremely appreciative to have entered into this exciting partnership with LUCRF Super, an organisation with whom we are proud to be associated,” said Mr Inglis.
Former champion jockey Craig Williams came out in support of the super fund, saying that “LUCRF’s significant contribution to the National Jockeys’ Trust provides great comfort to all riders each time we go out to compete”.
Going beyond mere altruism, the industry fund’s chief executive Greg Sword is undoubtedly directing members’ funds into a community service outlet dear to his heart.
Perhaps better known as a former national president of the Australian Labor Party and high-ranking union boss with the National Workers Union and Australian Council of Trade Unions, Mr Sword is also a well-known figure in the world of Melbourne horse-racing.
Mr Sword is a trustee of the NJT, the organisation to which he has just made a not-insignificant financial contribution of behalf of his members.
He is also a trustee of that venerable racing institution, the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve.
With both of these illustrious posts to his name, it would seem Mr Sword’s interest in this particular charitable venture was not merely passing.
In announcing the decision, however, he spoke not of his personal attachment to racing but to the objective marketing goals of his official employer.
“Partnering with the AJA to support the NJT is a good fit with LUCRF Super’s approach to marketing and public promotion of the fund,” Mr Sword said in a statement announcing the deal.
“The partnership with the AJA is an important social investment at a national level. It provides a great opportunity for us to build public awareness of LUCRF Super, and at that same time, we know that we are directly assisting injured working people and their families.”
