By HARRY CLARKE | SPONSORED
AMONG the thousands of revellers and punters at this weekend’s Roma Picnic Races will be a large contingent from Morgans, a leading Australian stockbroking, wealth management and corporate advisory firm whose longstanding sponsorship of the iconic event signifies its strong links to country Queensland.
Since the company’s proud partnership with the Roma Picnic Races began in 2011, staff and friends from Morgans’ Brisbane and Toowoomba offices have been making the trek west for a weekend of classic country fun and hospitality.
Morgans stockbroker Peter Clarke, a Roma Picnics veteran who grew up in Chinchilla, said the event was a great way for Morgans staff who enjoyed reconnecting with their rural clients at the races each year.
“Country race meetings in general are great events to attend and an ideal setting for getting people together,” Clarke said.
“Morgans provides services to a large number of clients in South West Queensland and Roma’s central location in that region makes it the perfect place to participate in an event like the Picnic Races.
“We always have a great time out in Roma. We’ve got about a dozen people from Brisbane and Toowoomba attending this year and usually we get up over 100 people in our tent on race day.”
“Morgans has a big regional network and we’re really proud to continue supporting people in the country. We’re passionate about financial wellbeing, especially in areas where it can be harder to access quality financial and investment advice.
“We get behind the Roma Picnic Races because it’s a touch point to be in the community. It allows us to connect and build relationships with clients new and old.”
Anyone in attendance at Bassett Park on Saturday is invited to visit the Morgans tent to chat with a Morgans advisor about the company’s services and how they can help you to grow your wealth.
In November last year Morgans hosted its fifth annual Big Dry Friday, a fundraiser which has generated more than $4.7 million for rural support charities including Rural Aid, Schools Plus, Outback Futures, the Rural Doctors Foundation and QUT Rural and Regional Teaching Bursaries.
Brian Sheahan, Brisbane-based Executive Chairman of Morgans, said “our business is a bit different to some of the other broker and financial advisory firms”.
“We’re very much a regional network and we always have been. It’s in our DNA. We’ve done a lot of work in the agriculture space and for regional businesses in general,” he said.
More than 520 people have purchased tickets to the Black Toyota Black Tie Ball, held traditionally on the Friday night before the Roma Picnic Races.
This year the ball is themed Disco, following on from Moroccan, Cuban and Roaring 20s themes in previous years.
Roma Picnic Races committee co-president Andrew Harland said organisers were excited to now be putting on the finishing touches in preparation for the historic event.
“The Roma Picnics has been running for 122 years now – every year aside from World War II and the pandemic, which is a pretty phenomenal effort for a local community event,” he said.
“We’re very lucky to have the support of Morgans. They’re long time supporters of the Roma Picnic Races, they’re a great team and they have a big presence out here in the area.
“They draw a big crowd every year and they do an excellent job as stockbrokers. They’re based in Brisbane but they’re willing to spend time and money in the bush. Without their continued support our event simply wouldn’t run.
“It’s shaping up to be a great weekend, as always. We had a few issues with storms last year but there’s nothing forecast for this weekend so it should be a fine day.”
