The city proved that once again over the weekend when the Wagga Ag Races returned for the 30^th year running.

While the much-loved race day is, of course, the perfect excuse for many to get dressed up and let their hair down, the true meaning of the event was far from forgotten this year. 

The very first Ag Races began 30 years ago to raise money for Peter Worsley, an Ag College old boy who suffered a devastating injury during a game of rugby that left him a quadriplegic for life. 

His peers rallied together to organise the race day in support of him and his family, and they have been doing so proudly ever since. 

This weekend was no exception, with 7000 racegoers spilling through the gates of the Murrumbidgee Turf Club to help raise money for Peter. 

The students of Ag College also decided to lend their support to another very worthy cause this year, raising another $7450 for the Drought Angels to help support the region’s farmers doing it tough.

And Wagga dug just as deep for that cause, too, with one person donating an enormous $2900 at the Ag Ball auction on Friday night. 

At the same time the Turf Club was enjoying one of its busiest days of the year, Wagga was putting on another inspiring show of support at a nearby footy field. 

Just two weeks after he walked out of hospital for the first time after a major health scare, North Wagga ruckman Josh Hanlon received a standing ovation when he took to the field to toss the coin and join his teammates for the national anthem. 

It was a moment that was nothing short of moving for everyone involved; yes, they might have been there to watch their clubs battle it out in one of the year’s most important matches, but, in that moment, there was no doubt at all of what was really important. 

This weekend was filled with reminder after reminder of how the City of Good Sport stands for so much more than just a good game of footy.