A couple of points you need to know regarding TQ23.
The committee received only 1 application to run the Quilty in Victoria.
There was another interested person but an application wasn't received.
The successful applicant ran the state champs as required under the Quilty guidelines under extremely trying conditions, with minimal help.
There was a call put out via social media after the running of the SC for people to get on board and help with the organising of the Quilty.
A small handful of people indicated that they were able to help, albeit that it would only be on the day of the ride.
A few weeks after the call for help the organising committee decided to disband and no longer run the Quilty.
AERA put a notice on Fb advising that the TQ23 Committee had folded and would not be running the Quilty.
The SMC met within a few days of this announcement to discuss moving forward so an answer could be given to AERA as to Vic hosting the Quilty.
We did speak to the only other person that had shown any interest in running this event to see if it was still on their radar as a possibility.
After much deliberation they decided that there were a few major factors that meant they just couldn't make it work.
With the clock ticking we informed AERA that Victoria was unable to run the Quilty in 2023 approximately 2 weeks after their FB post.
At no point in this time did we hear from anyone else offering to take on the mammoth task that is the Tom Quilty Gold Cup.
To then have a handful of our membership accuse the committee of not doing enough or not involving everyone was quite upsetting to us all.
At the end of the day this is your sport and being more involved is the only way it is going to continue here in Victoria.
Our AGM is coming up which is your opportunity to come along and get involved.
With the current committee severely understaffed, even after a call for help, we need people to come onto the committee and give back to the sport.