Emergency service personnel have donated more than $20,000 to Nardy House over the weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Friday was the 2017 Bega Cheese Emergency Services Golf Day and more than 140 players braved rain to enjoy a round for a good cause.
“It was truly awesome,” event organiser Darren Jones said.
“We worked with Pat the course super and the boys did cop a little rain early on, but after the first few holes it actually held off.
“Everyone just embraced it, more than 140 headed out in the rain and it ended up being a really funny day on the course.”
Beyond the fundraising, Mr Jones said the day was primarily about acknowledging the work of our local emergency services, sharing a few stories and some good laughs.
However, there is also plenty of bragging rights attached to the cup, which has been retained by the NSW Police Force.
“The Police have held on to the cup again,” Mr Jones said with a laugh, adding “the Fireys were extremely close behind -they're yet to crack it for their first win , but hopefully next year.”
No one was able to claim a $5000 holiday package as a hole-in-one reward on the fourth, but Mr Jones said one player came within just centimetres of the flag.
The day has drawn phenomenal support from both players – with 140 packing out the Pambula-Merimbula Golf Club – but also local businesses with more than $20,000 in raffle prizes and auction items going off on the day.
Mr Jones said it was tremendous to donate over $21,000 towards a community therapy pool at Nardy House.
“We thought we hit $20,000, but we actually low-balled ourselves and it’s going to be over $21,000 donated,” he said.
Last year about $7,000 was raised for the children’s ward of the South East Regional Hospital, with Mr Jones saying it was incredible to see the fundraising almost triple in just one year.
“From just three years ago the day was started by one of our [NSW Police Force] volunteers and that raised about $1000, so to get to this is just amazing.”
A charity night at Sundeck on Thursday also contributed more than $1000 to the cause with Andy O’Donnell and Garry Carson-Jones donating their time to entertain guests alongside some silent auctions.
With a number of players travelling to compete, Mr Jones said the organisers now wanted to look at strategies of growing the event even further including the possibility of visiting other courses – all with the purpose of helping community causes.