Our Team
Heath Courtney
CEO
Heath Courtney - CEO
Born and raised in the industrial town of Gladstone in Central Queensland, Heath’s interests growing up revolved solely around sport. He was happy whether it be standing at the crease facing a quick or the physical confrontation of the various forms of Rugby or AFL football.
Upon leaving school Heath initially entered the construction industry before joining the aluminium industry in his early twenties. He returned to his passion of the building industry in 2004 where he predominately built residential housing under the “Courtney Homes by Design” banner.
Heath entered into racing administration in Toowoomba, Qld, through his passion for the industry and thoroughbred ownership.
Toowoomba is a very busy racing precinct with 500+ horses in work per day and 46 race meets a year. This ensured Heath had a solid grounding into how to prepare, run, and turnaround a weekly racing facility, while ensuring the seven day a week training facility operated efficiently.
He brings to the Scone Race Club a strong work ethic and business acumen achieved through not only his time in racing, but also his many years spent in the Construction and Aluminium industries.
The setting of both new and personal challenges has always driven Heath to seriously consider exciting opportunities when they arise, and such an opportunity presented itself with a move to Scone. Heath joins a race club steeped in tradition, though one looking to expand and evolve itself into the busier facility the Upper Hunter so rightly deserves.
The Scone Race Club is privileged to have the support and partnership of some of the most respected names in the industry. Having the chance to learn from and work alongside such industry stakeholders, while enjoying the quiet country lifestyle Scone provides, was too hard to ignore.
When not at the races, Heath can be found spending leisure time with his family and friends, attending the local gym, and supporting his much loved Geelong Cats.
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Catherine Wendell
Events & Hospitality Manager
Catherine Wendell – Events and Hospitality Manager
Having grown up in the Hawkesbury region of Sydney and then moving to the Mid North Coast 16 years ago, Catherine is relatively new to the Upper Hunter, making Scone home only three years ago.
Catherine has been employed in the hospitality industry for close to 30 years working as a Freelance Food Consultant, Caterer/Event Manager and Nutritionist. Her experience has included weddings, corporate events, managing food and beverage at airline terminals as well as all aspects of catering at three football stadiums in Sydney.
Her extensive professional experience includes a Bachelor Degree in Science (Food and Nutrition), adult training and assessment and recently studying in the legal sector as well as Leadership and Management.
For the past 12 years, Catherine has spent time working in the Community Service Sector in Mental Health, managing teams across the Hunter New England with community managed organisations. Catherine has extensive experience managing a team and supporting carers and families to navigate the mental health system towards recovery.
Moving back into hospitality and event management within a sporting facility is something Catherine is looking forward to, bringing her expertise, organisation skills and seeing people enjoy their special day or day at the races.
In her spare time Catherine enjoys cooking and spending time with family.
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Jody Rogers
Racecourse & Facilities Manager
Jody Rogers - Racecourse & Facilities Manager
Jody spent his childhood growing up in the western suburbs of Sydney playing a bit of Ruby League but mostly earning his stripes amongst his 4 brothers. Leaving school he found himself working on multiple construction sites for many years until an opportunity arose at Wyong Race course in the track maintenance team. It is here where Jody found his passion for Turf Management and quickly rose through the ranks before being offered the Track Managers position in Cessnock.
Jody continued to learn his trade at this smaller facility With his thirst for knowledge growing the calling of a larger facility came knocking and Jody soon found himself battling the Goulburn winters as their new Track Manager. The differing weather patterns of Goulburn were a great learning curve for Jody juggling the harsh winter conditions with the oppressive heat of summer.
Jody’s passion and skill set had caught the attention of his metropolitan counterparts and soon he was offered another opportunity to work alongside the best in his field joining the Randwick and Rosehill teams. Jody’s learning curve continued on an upward spiral working under the likes of Navesh Ramdhani and Greg Puckeridge, the later would later entice Jody to turn around a facility a long way from home in Townsville.
This was to be Jody’s biggest test on multiple fronts as this highly utilised North Queensland track had fallen on tough times and required a heavily skilled and committed Manager to turn its fortunes around and they most certainly got this in Jody.
Having a new baby and holding a desire to be back closer to family saw Jody apply for the vacant Scone position in September 2020. In his spare time Jody enjoys catching up with friends and family and supporting his beloved Sydney Roosters whilst enjoying his favourite XXXX Gold beverage.
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Suzi Craig
Administration Officer
Suzi Craig - Administration Officer
Born and bred in Zimbabwe, Suzi spent the bulk of her childhood travelling the globe with her parents and 2 sisters. After being educated in 9 schools across 8 different countries and adopting numerous lingual and cultural skills, she said goodbye to her expat lifestyle and joined the Polo world in the UK.
Three years of working for prestigious polo teams in the UK led her to the oasis that is Ellerston to maintain her love of polo and world class ponies. Once Suzi chose to settle down and raise a family, she discovered a passion for finance thus enhancing her education in that area. After 17yrs hiding in the hills of the Upper Hunter, Suzi has decided to re-enter the (slightly) wider world, that is Scone, and pursue a new lifestyle and career in the surrounds of the Racing Industry.
Her enthusiasm for finance and entertaining, combined with her love and knowledge of horses, make Scone Race Club the ideal location to unmask her talents and persona.
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Chloe Russell
Administration Trainee
Chloe Russell – Administration Trainee
Born in Newcastle then spending her early years in Emerald, Queensland and Maitland, NSW, Chloe grew up amusing others around her with her funny, outgoing personality. Chloe’s life has always been surrounded by sports from playing cricket or tackle footy in the backyard with her siblings, to playing and coaching netball on the weekends, whilst always supporting her friends and families sporting teams.
In 2014 Chloe made the move to Scone where she attended Scone High School up until she graduated in 2019 and started her job at McDonalds in 2016 where she worked for over 4 years. This is where she learnt how to communicate with and lead a team effectively. In school Chloe participated in as many different sports that she could, but she has always had a true passion for netball, in which she has represented both Scone and Muswellbrook at state level.
In 2017 Chloe and 20 other girls travelled to Los Angeles to train with some of Australia’s best netballers and showcased the sport to America.
Her confidence and friendliness make her very approachable, which has helped her throughout her life whether it be in school, work, sporting events, or everyday interactions.
Chloe joined Scone Race Club in March 2021 and with her can-do attitude wishes to extend her already existing skills whilst developing new ones in the many years to come. When she is not working Chloe can be found at the netball courts or spending time with her friends and family.
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Committee
| Chairman | Alastair Pulford | Godolphin |
| Treasurer | Damien Toose | Godolphin |
| Committee Members: | Daniel Morgan | Morgan + English |
| Graham Brown | Kitchwin Hills | |
| Peter Townsend | Landmark Townsend | |
| Warren Turner | Norm Turner Electrical |
