3 August 2011

Beginning its day before the sun rose, the Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour headed for Nhulunbuy, located 650km east of Darwin on the Gove Peninsula in East Arnhem Land, marking the 2011 EMCT’s most northern visit.

A full day of events beckoned, with a visit to the rich red earth of Rio Tinto’s Alcan open cut bauxite mine as the first stop on the agenda. Next, the Cup visited the Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Arts Centre at Yirrkala, where the Cup, and Tour entourage, was entranced in the creative wonder of the local indigenous art work and artists.

Arriving in the Nhulunbuy township, the Cup visited the Nhulunbuy Christian and Nhulunbuy Primary schools before heading to the Gove Squash Club, where local children showcased their artistic skills in a colouring competition.

In the afternoon, Galaru (East Woody Beach) delivered a beautiful sunset before the iconic Cup featured at a ‘night at the races’ in aid of the Gove Squash Club, where Nhulunbuy locals dressed to impress. A wonderful evening was complete when former VRC Chairman, Mr Rod Fitzroy, presented a donation on behalf of the Melbourne Cup Community Fund to the Nhulunbuy Christian and Nhulunbuy Primary schools, the outcome of which the VRC looks forward to seeing come to fruition.

To view further images of the EMCT at Nhulunbuy and track the Tour’s progress, visit our Facebook page, Flemington: Home of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Photo: The Emirates Melbourne Cup glistens in the spectacular sunset of Nhulunbuy's Galaru (East Woody Beach).