Community & Business
12 November, 2025
Celebrating Melbourne Cup in style
Champagne was overflowing in Pittsworth, Brookstead and Millmerran on Tuesday for various Melbourne Cup functions.
It’s the race that stops the nation (and starts a lot of celebrations) - a day for hats, heels and high spirits!
About 65 people supported the Pittsworth State High School P&C’s do at the Pittsworth Hotel Motel, with a record number of men in attendance.
The P&C has been the beneficiary of the event since 2019, organised by PSHS teacher Jaime Fing alongside Ash and the team from the Hotel Motel.
The three course meal comprised a mini tasting plate for entree, chicken or lamb for main, and Bailey’s tiramisu or chocolate creme brulee for dessert.
The day included sweeps, a silent auction, and multi-draw raffles of which the prizes were generously donated by school families and businesses.
The tables were tastefully decorated by the former owner of the local florist, Donna Ariell.
A selection of Year 12 students took part in the Condamine Clothing and Hollis Rural Trading fashion parades.
The best dressed on the day were to Barbara McEwan and Allan Wicks.
Anita Farrell had the best fascinator - which she handmade in half an hour!
The best dressed runner-up was Narelle Smith.
The Brookstead Pub Ladies Social Group hosted its inaugural Melbourne Cup luncheon, selling out with a staggering 82 tickets snapped up within five days of launching the event.
This was the first major activity at the Pub since the “One Moore” bar officially opened a couple weeks ago.
The ladies didn’t mess around, and within the first hour of celebrations the flow of champagne had run dry!
An emergency trip to Pittsworth had the bubbly flowing freely once more.
All donations from the day were in support of Pittsworth LifeCare.
Co-organisers Renee Eldsen and Tammy Vary were extremely pleased with the turnout and support from the wider community.
The fashion parades by Top Paddock Clothing and Lilly Pilly Style Boutique were very entertaining with Kerry McIntyre as Master of Ceremonies.
Mrs McIntyre gave amusing and uplifting commentary for each model which put a smile on everyone’s faces.
Best dressed on the day were Viviene Jardine (1st), Andrea Moy (2nd) and Lydia Woods (3rd).
In Millmerran, an unforgettable afternoon of style, laughter and celebration was had at the Melbourne Cup luncheon at Carallen Place.
Sixty-four people supported the event, of which the St. Joseph’s School PPF was the beneficiary.
The entertainment included sweeps, raffles and fashion parades by Loo La Belles and Millmerran Rural.
Hors d’oeuvres were enjoyed on arrival followed by a sit-down meal.
When 2pm rolled around, the excitement inside the Pittsworth Hotel Motel stepped up a notch, with cheers from the crowd drowning out any race commentary.
After a morning downpour, Flemington Racecourse had been rated a Soft 6, meaning it was moist but not a badly affected track.
Although the favourite was Al Riffa, a stallion from France, it was Australian-bred gelding Half Yours that galloped away with $4.5 million for his connections.
Winning jockey, Jamie Melham, was the second female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup after Michelle Payne in 2015.
Second and third place went to Goodie Two Shoes and Middle Earth respectively.
Al Riffa placed seventh.
Melham is the first woman to achieve victory in both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.
