The hunt club will hold its annual spring black-tie ball on Saturday, August 30, the club’s major fund-raiser for the year.

This year it’s even more imperative the ball attracts a good turn-up of party-goers, according to Hume Hunt Club president Denise Madsen.

“We have had to move the hounds to new kennels due to the retirement of former kennel master Kevin Richardson,” Ms Madsen said.

“We had to establish a new facility to house them and we have had to dip fairly heavily into the bank account this year to build that infrastructure.

“Also Kevin used to feed the hounds predominantly with fresh meat donated by farmers.

“Now they have been moved to a pellet-based diet for female kennel master Cathy Pollock, which incurs heavier costs.”

The care and maintenance of the club’s 24 English fox hounds is integral to a tradition that is hundreds of years old.

Ms Madsen said the English fox hound stud book was the second oldest in world.

She said the Hume Hunt Club, which is part of the Hunt Clubs Association of Victoria, was strongly governed and operated in a professional manner.

“Our focus is to help cull foxes, an introduced species that are not a natural part of the Australian environment,” she said.

“They have a devastating effect on our wildlife — each fox consumes approximately 300 kilograms of native wildlife a year — and they are also a pest to farmers, killing stock.”

The club also fosters a family-friendly environment for equestrians, although you don’t have to ride to be a member.

Part of the proceeds from this year’s ball will go to the beyondblue foundation with a silent auction on the night.

This year’s event will be held at the Rutherglen Soldiers Memorial Hall with music by Danny Phegan. The cost is $70 per head and kicks off at 6.30pm with a stirrup cup.

Contact Denise Madsen on 0409 635 281 for tickets.