The Birdsville Races are calling on volunteers nationwide to help deliver its historic 139th edition. Renowned as the Melbourne Cup of the outback, the 2021 Birdsville Races will begin on 3 and 4 September, with demand for the event expected to be high following the event’s cancellation in 2020 due to COVID.
Event organisers announced that tickets must be pre-purchased, and numbers will be restricted to allow for social distancing. Vice President of the Birdsville Race Club, Gary Brooks said, “All indications are that interest is very strong this year and demand to secure a ticket is bigger than ever before, so volunteering is a great way to guarantee you can be part of all the action.
“Volunteering is the best way to really be immersed in the magic of the Birdsville Races. You’re behind the scenes on one of Australia’s best-known Outback events. We know that previous volunteers have developed friendships and memories to last a lifetime and have been part of a truly unique experience,” he said.
Volunteers can choose a particular skill-set or area of interest. Roles are available in hospitality, information, marshals and gate staff, media liaison assistant, ticketing, minibus drivers, set-up and pack-down, and volunteer coordinators. In return, volunteers receive an exclusive souvenir polo shirt, a stubby holder, cap and a souvenir medallion which gives complimentary entry to both race days to access all of the fun of Birdsville’s iconic desert race track.
Volunteering also presents an opportunity to give back to the community, with the event raising funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. This charity provides help to remote areas often cut off from medical services, as well as inter-hospital transfer services between metropolitan areas. Tickets will go on sale 26 May, and volunteer registrations are now live, with all volunteers required to be 18 years of age or over.
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