It was third time lucky for a couple of the Port's charitable organisations which had to battle the pandemic and flooding before being able to run major fundraising events.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Nelson Bay Rotary members were forced to wait patiently for 12 months to conduct their 29th annual charity golf day on April 23, while the Tomaree Breast Cancer Support Group 'In The Pink' golf day was conducted on April 20 after two cancellations.
The Rotary event was first scheduled to be held at Nelson Bay golf course in early April 2020 but was postponed due to COVID-19. It was then expected to take place on March 23 but was washed out and eventually went ahead with 130 players on April 23 in perfect weather conditions.
Chief organiser Arja Levonpera said she was overwhelmed with the support of players, volunteers and sponsors, resulting in more than $20,000 being raised on the day.
"Port Stephens Toyota has been a loyal supporter of this event for over a decade and supplied a Toyota Yaris, valued at $26,000, as a major hole-in-one prize, which was not won. Port Stephens Council was also a major sponsor and many of the sponsors entered teams for the event."
Proceeds from this year's charity day will enable the Rotary Club of Nelson Bay to provide further funds to Hunter Medical Research Institute for Associate Professor Kelvin Kong's project for more efficient indigenous ear diagnosis and many other Rotary community projects.
"Dr Kong has had a long association with Nelson Bay Rotary, which has already donated $20,000 to HMRI, and the success of the charity golf day provides an additional $10,000 to meet the club's commitment. The federal government is also supporting Dr Kong's important project.
The Rotary Club of Nelson Bay is celebrating its 66th year of serving the local community and the charity golf days have returned in excess of $300,000 which has been donated back to the local community.
Christine Walston from the breast cancer support group said that the successful 'In The Pink' golf day had raised approximately $6000.
"These are much needed funds as we were unable to fundraise during the pandemic but that did not stop us getting breast cancer patients and seeing to their needs," she said.
"A huge thanks to all the all the wonderful businesses in the Bay that have supported us during the pandemic which was a really hard time for all of them. Also and for the incredible donations for our raffles on the day.
"The Nelson Bay Golf Club has been extremely supportive and Beautiful Occasion decorated the room for our lunch, which looked fabulous, and donated the gorgeous flower arrangements."
