Melbourne Cup Day for Professor Mark Lunney is particularly special. For Mark, Melbourne Cup Day is all about remembering his dad, who sadly passed away 7 years ago. You see, Mark’s dad, Brian Lunney was a book maker. For the most part of a decade, when Mark was studying to be a lawyer, he worked with his dad as a bookie’s clerk.
Betting Ticket
Mark has very poignant memories of his time as a bookie’s clerk. He remembers experiencing intense short term pressure, and the racecourses being noisy and busy. In the 1980s, the minimum bet was 50 cents! He also spoke of how difficult it could be, to undertake the complex calculations required when placing the bets. Today, of course, this is all done electronically! In those days, when a punter would place a bet, someone would calculate the amount the punter would get if the horse won or ran a place, someone would write down the bet amount on a separate ledger, and, if the punter placed a winning bet, someone would pay the punter their winnings after the race. At various times Mark did all of these jobs when he worked at the races.
Finish at the 1972 Melbourne Cup- Winner- ‘Piping Lane’
If you have ever walked past Mark’s office at UNE, you would have seen the memorabilia from this time, in the form of his dad’s bookie bag. If you have recently studied LAW232 with Mark, you also may have spied photos from the Melbourne Cup on his wall!
Melbourne Cup Day for Mark’s dad, Brian Lunney, was one of the busiest days of his year. He only went to the Melbourne Cup once, but every year he worked at the Brisbane races, taking bets from punters wanting to bet on Sydney and Melbourne races (including the Melbourne Cup). Brian chose book making as a profession as he loved horse racing! In fact, for much of the 20th Century, horse racing was widely known as the national sport of Australia! After Brian retired, the Lunney family often spent the whole day watching all the races on Melbourne Cup Day.
Mark, who has worn his best bowler hat today, will spend the day remembering his dad and the wonderful memories he shared with his family.
Thank you Mark for sharing your beautiful story with us!
Famous Queensland Horse- ‘Bernborough’ – Also known as the Toowoomba Terror.
