GBOTA Life Memberships Awarded to Diane Cotroneo and Darren Curby

At our annual Association Dinner, held at Wentworth Park on Saturday 9th November, 2024, we proudly awarded two Life Memberships of the GBOTA to Mr. Darren Curby & Mrs. Diane Cotroneo.

Mrs. Cotroneo received a distinguished service award, her’s back in 2021.

She joined the Lismore Branch in 2002, and instantly became Treasurer, a position she held until this year, and additionally, she has been the Secretary of the Lismore Branch since 2015, and was even the Point Score Captain in 2017.

For the past 15 years, she has organised the Family Christmas night, which entails among other things, organising the decorations, purchase of gifts and showbags for the children, and of course organising Santa & his helpers. She constantly organises fundraisers and raffles, including the memorable trailer raffle of 2017 which raised $10,000,

Her commitment in the effort to save the greyhound racing industry including working for days on the Orange pre-poll during that now famous election, She assisted in pre and post flood clean up during major flood event at Lismore, and has consistently helped the GBOTA across many other tracks. She is always willing to lend a hand wherever a hand is needed.

After more than 18 year as a branch official, her commitment to both Lismore, and other NSW GBOTA tracks, and the industry as a whole.

Mr. Curby first held a role with the GBOTA back in 1990, when he was elected publicity officer for the City Branch.

At the same time he was elected branch points score captain for the City Branch, and maintained that role in 2014 when it became the City Parramatta branch, a role he hold to this day.

He was elected Alternate Delegate and then delegate with the City Branch and later City Parramatta Branch from 1994, a role he continues to hold, and that same year he was became the first non-delegate to become the MDA point score captain.

In 2000 he joined the GBOTA Member greyhound of the year committee again, also becoming Point Score Captain.

In 2012, he was presented with the Distinguished Service Award.

In 2013, he was elected MDA Secretary, and this year was elected to the role of MDA Chairman.

He has also for several years been heavily involved with the Yagoona Greyhound Supporters raising funds to sponsor races on country tracks around NSW.

We’re extremely grateful and thank them for their years of service to the GBOTA, greyhound racing and participants.