Melbourne Cup on tour in Sabah

Kota Kinabalu: A replica of an improvised Melbourne Cup created in Sandakan’s prisoner of war camp in 1942 and the Emirates Melbourne Cup 2015 were displayed here Wednesday during the trophy’s 13th (annual) tour.

Public viewing of the Melbourne Cup 2015 and 1942 replica cup was held at the Le Meridien Hotel in conjunction with the 70th Sandakan Memorial Day celebration on Aug 15. Former prisoner of war (PoW) Lieutenant Leslie Bunny Glover of Queensland, 94, shared with the audience at a cocktail reception at the hotel Wednesday night, of the origin of the 1942 Cup and how it made its way to Kuching before finally reaching Melbourne, Australia.

“It is a very rare event to have the Melbourne Cup and Sandakan PoW Melbourne Cup coming together. Very few nations get a chance to welcome a visit by this valuable icon of Australian sport,” Glover said.

Also present at the occasion were members of the Sabah Polo Association, Melbourne-based Victoria Racing Club and relatives and friends of Australian PoWs.

Lieutenant William E Peck, who was transferred from Sandakan to be interned at Batu Lintang’s PoW camp in Kuching and freed at the end of World War II(WWII), was responsible for bringing the Melbourne Cup replica from Kuching to Australia.

Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said bringing the 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup to the state signified the close relationship between Australia, Malaysia and Sabah in particular.

“This tour reminds us of the sacrifice made by the Australian soldiers during WWII and people-to-people ties, and we thank Australia for bringing the Melbourne Cup on its annual tour to Sabah,” he said.

Queensland Sandakan PoW Family and Friends Association president Michael Glover presented around RM1,000 cash donation to Bangkuai in aid of the Ranau earthquake victims at the event.

Glover will hand over the replica of the 1942 Melbourne Cup to the Sabah state museum at a date yet to be determined. The original 1942 Cup is currently kept in the Australian War Museum in Canberra.

The two cups will next be exhibited at the Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan till Friday. – Bernama

Source: Daily Express