“John Sinclair and Chris Woodbury bailed me up one day and asked if I could give them a hand down at the club and go on the committee,” Mr Bilney told The Free Press.
“After the first meeting and hearing about their various impressive occupations I thought I was out of my depth!”
But the committee career which started in 1986 went for a quarter of a century, to 2011, which included nine years (2001 to 2010) serving as club president before retiring from the committee to pursue a quieter lifestyle.
The now 72-year-old had an interest in horse racing, being part owner of Vainmark which won several races.
Mr Bilney’s presidency included the times of the popular Corowa Race Meeting being on Melbourne Cup Day (now Cup Eve). Being the only club in the area having had this race date, at times up to 5000 patrons were in attendance.
“At times there were up to 25 marquees set up along the back fence and up to 50 bar staff and attendants to service the large crowds for Ian to organise and oversee along with his capable committee. Those were the days!” commented club secretary Gail Law.
Ian rates the big, curved bend at the home bend, two lots of running rails, the big undercover betting ring and club dining room as highlights during his term as highlights of course and club improvements.
“We had high level guest speakers including Greg Carpenter (Racing Victoria handicapper). Leica Falcon was trained here by Richard Freyer (came fifth in the 2005 Melbourne Cup),” he said.
There have been some downturns. “There were about five of six trainers when I started, currently there are none,” Ian said.
“We used to have eleven race meetings per year, there are about half a dozen now. And losing jockey Adrian Ledger in 2005 was a tragedy.”
Corowa Race Club President Brian Scolyer presented Ian with his life membership at the club’s 2024 Annual General Meeting on Monday October 14.
Mr Scolyer said the club was delighted to bestow life membership on Ian. “He has a lovely family,” the president said.
“Ian and his sons Joel and Reece have done wonders for this club, he’s a major sponsor and approved supplier.
“We hope to see Ian around here for a long time. A lot of what the work done to the track over the years is what it is today. The life membership is very well deserved.”
Ian has a strong sporting background with horse racing, but also at the Corowa Civic Bowls Club and Corowa Cricket Club (as A Grade wicketkeeper and middle order batsman) and where he was president at both clubs. He was an A Grade tennis player at Corowa and played football, mainly reserves, at John Foord Oval.
The all-round sportsman very much appreciated his race club life membership.
