Help TAS harness trainer Matthew Cooper afford a good lawyer

Hi

My name is Will Wagner and I'm here to help my friend Matthew Cooper, a harness racing trainer in Tasmania that I have known personally for 8+ years, afford a good lawyer to oppose a whopping and unprecedented 5 year Warning Off race tracks and facilities in Tasmania, all due to a seemingly innocuous comment he made in a private group of c.1250 members on Facebook, which the Director Of Racing (DoR) believes isn't a private group. I know for a fact he is incorrect in that belief. because I created that group several years ago!

Matthew is not only an owner, trainer, and driver, but is also active in the breeding industry in Tasmania, and being Warned Off will affect not only him financially and personally, but the Industry will also be adversely affected as per the following rule (part (f))-

A person warned off cannot do any of the following -

(a) associate or communicate with persons connected with the harness racing industry for purposes relating to that industry;

(b) be a member or employee of the Controlling Body;

(c) be an office holder, official, member or employee of a club;

(d) enter a racecourse or any place under the control of a club or Controlling Body;

(e) race, lease, train, drive or nominate a horse;

(f) conduct breeding activities;

(g) enter any premises used for the purposes of the harness racing industry;

(h) participate in any manner in the harness racing industry.

(i) permit or authorise any person to conduct any activity associated with the harness racing industry at his/her registered training establishment;

(j) place, or have placed on their behalf, or have any other interest in, a bet on any Australian harness racing race.

(k) associate with licensed persons connected with the thoroughbred or greyhound racing industry including but not limited to entering any premises owned or occupied by such licensed persons.

I highlighted part (i) because there was recently a case where 4 participants were Warned Off for far more serious breaches of the Australian Harness Racing Rules (AHRR), mainly mistreatment and abuse of horses & race fixing, but the trainer in question was somehow successful in having a family member train at his registered training establishment (Read - good legal team or could it potentially be something else).

All I'm asking for is that people contribute so Matthew has a good legal team to fight this gross injustice and apparent personal vendetta against a trainer who cares for his horses and wants nothing but good outcomes for the Industry and sport he loves so dearly. If he can have this ludicrous decision overturned then it's a win for the all the good industry participants, and will send a message that the good participants refuse to be bullied by the DoR in Tasmania.

Please, dig deep and donate what you can without leaving yourself short in these trying and testing times.

All money raised, less GoFundMe fees, is going directly to his nominated bank account so it is all above board.

Thank you all in advance.