Leongatha tees off for Golf Day charity

A FULL field of players enjoyed every moment of their round during Elders South Gippsland Charity Golf Day, helping raise funds to assist three families from the local region facing challenging times.

Progress around the course was sped up by use of the Ambrose format, which enabled all players in the group to take their second shot on each hole from the position of the best placed tee shot for their group.

The same situation prevailed for subsequent shots on each hole.

With everyone there for a special cause, nobody appeared to be treating the golf too seriously and many found time to enjoy the hospitality on offer during their leisurely journeys around the course.

Elders staff and other volunteers kept up a plentiful supply of sausages and burgers.

Refreshments were available from a two-man crew who zoomed around the course in an ideally suited vehicle, complete with esky.

While the day was perhaps a little less sunny than hoped for, the rain held off.

Eight-year-old Liam Lund has a rare and serious condition, Aplastic Anaemia, with his family one of three to be assisted by funds raised through this year’s Elders Charity Golf Day.

Liam enjoyed his day at Leongatha Golf Club with parents Viv and Greg, including venturing outside to try his hand at golf.

“We’re very grateful for today,” Viv said.

“The community is behind us and other families because small towns get together and help each other.”

With Aplastic Anaemia being a bone marrow condition, the family was decked out in Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision (MRV) scarfs and beanies despite mixed footy allegiances.

MRV exists to fund medical research that will lead to new treatments and cures for Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes.

Liam and his parents were invited to this year’s MRV match between St Kilda and Richmond, meeting other families with whom they could share their experiences.

At just 11 months of age, Emmie Donchi has recently been diagnosed with infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, with her family another benefiting from the golf day.

The third family being supported this year is that of Geoff Whykes who had to close his Korumburra butcher shop after being diagnosed with kidney, liver and lung cancer.

Once players finished their rounds, it was time to move out of the cold and enjoy a tasty lunch, along with the chance to bid on auction items and try their luck in the raffle.

Co-organiser Tracey Gollop was delighted with the turnout and the community’s support.

“The big thing is people’s generosity,” she said.

That generosity included the donation of an abundance of impressive raffle and auction items.