Huge show of generosity at Albury's New Year's Eve trots meeting

More than $2500 was raised through a raffle for the family of the volunteer firefighter who died at the scene of the Green Valley bushfire on Monday.

Albury Harness Racing Club president Sue van de Ven was blown away by the response.

"Overall, $2610 was raised which was great, considering it was one of those things that was done on the moment," she said.

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"A lot of people that came would have had no idea about the raffle and they were going to the ATM.

"It was an excellent effort.

"I was speaking to some of the Lavington firefighters earlier in the night and they said they could not believe generosity people have shown. It's a tribute to the crowd and our town.

"We normally have a raffle on but it depends what's on at the time and where the funds go, but a normal raffle would never raise that amount of money.

"The ticket-selling ladies donated a considerable amount as well and Stewart McDonald (owner of race two winner Hayjoshandco) donated $200 of the prize money he won to the fund.

"He came up to me and said 'pick a number between one and five' and I said two and he said he'd give $200. It was fantastic."

The crowd was estimated at around 4000 and was impacted by the current bushfire crisis around the region.

"Unfortunately, there are so many people that are suffering at the moment in so many different ways and it's very hard," van de Ven said.

"We unfortunately had five scratchings due to owners involved in fires and those that couldn't get through.

"We had a number of workers that normally come from around the Goulburn area that couldn't get out and had to replaced the day before to make sure the event went on."

Van de ven admitted she received phone calls prior to the event that were "a little unpleasant" questioning the traditional fireworks display, which did go ahead as planned.

"Those people don't look at the big view," she said.

"The cost of the fireworks, the people it employs and the revenue it brings to town.

"We had people here from Corowa that when their fireworks were cancelled, came up for the night."

The club now looks ahead to its next meeting on January 31, which coincides with the retirement of iconic race caller Allan Hull.

It was Hull's final New Year's Eve call at Albury and his last day behind the microphone will be at the club's January event.

"We're looking forward to that event and having a great night," van de Ven said.

"We're sorry to see him go, but we've all got to hang up the shield at some stage.

"It will allow him to spend some time with his children and grandchildren.

"Allan will be staying a couple days in Albury to celebrate his retirement with us and then he'll call his last meeting."

Hull, who resides in Wagga, has been the voice of harness race meetings across the Riverina region since the mid-1970s.