Charity pig races return in support of Pindimar/Tea Gardens firies Myall Coast Myall Coast - popup ad by News Of The Area - Modern Media - January 31, 2025 Volunteers of the Pindimar-Tea Gardens Rural Fire Service. LONG-DELAYED charity pig races returned to the Tea Gardens Country Club on Australia Day long weekend, in support of the Pindimar/Tea Gardens Rural Fire Brigade. Unforeseen human matters held the piggies back from their previously scheduled October long weekend derby, but the seven little porkers were ready to run for glory and charity on Saturday 25 January. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au The piggies rested in their bespoke wallows before each event of the six-race card, dazzling onlookers with their sparkling sequins jackets bearing the names of local business sponsors except for one, who ran nude. Punters had the option of bidding to ‘own’ a piggy for each race at the ‘high-steaks’ auctions, or purchasing raffle tickets in hopes of being picked with the winner each round. Some piggies went for several hundred dollars, even before they had performed, placing a heavy glaze upon their hammy shoulders. ‘Sty Racing’ piped the races into the screens inside the Country Club as the races began, the first being truly the premiere event for the porkers, all of which were only a few weeks old. The first race began after the fanfare, with Extra-Crispy and Kosher charging ahead and leading the pack to the first corner, with Kosher and Butcher hot on their trotters. The right angles confused most of the porkers until Sizzler found the opening, then Eat-Beef took over at the ramp. The piggies faced similar struggles as they rounded into the last few straights, but the gong was won by Runty, in the blue jacket, who, despite being half the size of the others, found the goal-dish and dug in long before his brethren. Runty went on to become the most accomplished racer of the day, proving the mantra that many humans have adopted, ‘size does not matter’. New Hawks Nest restaurant Jimmy’s Smash Burgers offered catering outside for the races, even featuring a bacon burger for those appreciative of the circle of life upon such a day. “We are donating $1 from every burger sold, and feel the town has been very generous to us in our early days here, it was a no-brainer to contribute back to that,” owner Jim told NOTA. Brigade Captain David Bright said funds raised would contribute to the ongoing Tea Gardens RFS station extension project, and “purchasing life-saving field and communications equipment that is not supplied by FireCom”. By Thomas O’KEEFE The mechanical bull made a comeback. The porky racers rounding towards the home straight. Rural Fire Service volunteers Lisa and Maurie got into the face-painting. The pigs prepare for the first race. The crew from Jimmy’s Smash Burgers ready to feed the masses.
