This story from Terry Butts reproduced by John Lingard on the injuries suffered by "a volunteer" barrier attendant at a NQ Amateur shows those running the show need to be better prepared than they were on this occasion.
Not quite on a par with the disaster at Magnetic Is golf club when a golfer suffered serious brain damage when hit by another golfer's ball and wasn't covered by insurance normally available to club golfers.The guy who hit him didn't own any property..which would be covered by the home owner's $20M legal liability insurance.
You would think the Charters Towers club would be obliged in terms of their license to have public liability cover,
SILKS & SADDLES with TERRY BUTTS: BADLY INJURED BARRIER ATTENDANT BATTLING TO GET COMPENSATION
SILKS & SADDLES,’ the widely-read column of respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER reports on the case of a barrier attendant badly injured at a bush club who has battled for months to receive some compensation.
This is a story you won’t ready in the mainstream racing media. Butts followed up this case – albeit without a great deal of success – but hopefully (if you read the hoof note to the story) his inquiries may have struck some pay dirt.
The story is also designed as a warning to those barrier attendants working in similar situations in the bush who might think they are covered by workers’ compensation.
Here is the Butts column:
VOLUNTEERS RISK THEIR LIVES AND LIVELIHOOD WITH NO INSURANCE COVERAGE
FOR forty bucks in the hand and ‘a carton after the last’ battling bush horseman Les Critoph was happy to help out behind the starting stalls at the Charters Towers Amateurs on Caulfield Cup Cup day last year.
He remembers it was blistering hot as he arrived around at the 800m start to help his mates put the maiden horses into the gates. And that’s about all he remembers.
The horse Lou Bra, which according to owner Ronnie Finch had been in the stalls for 20 minutes while attempts were made to load a few of the unruly, then suddenly decided to put on a turn.
Lou Bra became very restless (well it was 40 degrees). Les darted over and attempted to sooth her. But she lashed out, the rear gate sprung open and it hit the well-known and respected retired amateur jockey flush in the face.
There was chaos according to Finch. There was no vet on track for that race, the horse was injured from the kick, and so was Les. He was taken straight to hospital with six fractures in his face and a total of four plates were inserted.
Les returned to work at the local produce store only last week. And wait for it – has not received a single cent in compensation. He says to date the only money he has received is $260 for pain killers and medication. The rest of his medical bills were covered by Medicare.
He has asked about compensation for lost wages and, in his own words, is getting ‘the run around.’
Club president Carl McKellar said he gave Les some phone numbers a few weeks ago ‘so that he could follow it up’. Carl believed it was a Racing Queensland matter.
Les got no satisfaction so, disappointed, disillusioned and frankly fed-up, he rang us at the North Queensland Register.
CHARTERS TOWERS CLUB ADMITS THERE WAS NO COVERAGE TO COVER CHRISTOPH
I soon understood his predicament. After four calls to Racing Queensland (none of which were returned) I rang the manager of RQL’s insurance broker (ANO). She said it was a Charters Towers Amateur Turf club matter.
I then rang the general manager of the insurance brokerage in Sydney and she told me on Friday that the smaller clubs in Queensland were not covered by RQL – at least not with her firm.
She said she doubted if there would be any compensation insurance for Les Critoph.
“Workers such as barrier attendants at the smaller clubs are treated as volunteers and it is up to the respective clubs to have them covered.”
And, sadly, according to Mr McKellar there was no such cover in place at Charters Towers on that day last year.
“I only found this out other day,” he said.
“We will have to organize a committee meeting to discuss what we can do.”
Meanwhile, with no money and no work over the Christmas holiday period Les has been ‘doing it a bit tough.’
He didn’t request assistance from Centrelink because he was ‘expecting a compo payout.’
HAPPY TO HELP OUT BEHIND THE BARRIERS BUT ‘NO MORE AFTER THIS’
LES Christoph has regularly worked on the barriers at Oak Park, Ewan, Prairie, Pentland and other remote bush tracks where he rode for years simply because ‘they were good to me when I was riding... I didn’t do it for the money. I was just happy to help out.
“But there will be no more after this,” he says firmly.
He reckons he is entitled to a bit better treatment and besides: “I have bills to pay.”
That’s why he rang our office with this story.
And to warn others, his colleagues, who work part time in the high risk job behind the barriers on bush tracks.
At bigger clubs, all staff is covered by Workcover – but not in the bush.
Les is over $12,000 out of pocket in wages, apart from the pain and suffering.
All because he is a good bloke and prepared to work for forty bucks a day in the boiling sun.
And don’t forget the carton.
THIS episode is bound to have repercussions. In fact they have already begun – and Charters Towers.
Paddy Power, Les Critoph’s good mate and a long-time barrier attendant on the western tracks, has already been ‘stood down’ – by his wife!
And you can bet their replacements will have cover for arguably one of the most hazardous tasks on any race day – no matter where.
HOOFNOTE: On the day we went to press Les Critoph phoned to say 'someone' had been in touch with him and said that provided he can provide proof he hadn’t worked for any wages over the past three months he 'may get an entitlement'.
We will keep you posted.
