AROUND THE REGIONS —
Craig Cogan NZCB President Whangarei
Golf tournament WHANGAREI raises $10K and helps keep steam train rolling A deserving Northland charity took away more than $10,000 thanks to the 3rd annual New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Whangarei Charity Golf Tournament. The event, held at the Pines Golf Club at Whangarei Heads, drew 72 players in 18 teams.
NZCB Whangarei members, the Whangārei Steam and Model Railway Club and the replacement tractor bought with the donated money. Photo taken by Tania Whyte and first used in the Northern Advocate on 18th May 2021.
Players competed for fabulous individual and team prizes, including a $1,000 hole-in-one prize and a $1,000 Carters voucher for ‘closet to pin’. Local NZCB member Mike Bassett took home the ‘closet to pin’ voucher and because no one got a hole-in-one, Carters donated the money to our chosen charity, Whangarei Steam and Model Railway Club. Founded in 1978, the Maunu-based club has more than 100 volunteers who offer $2 rides to children on their vintage steam engine trains on the third Sunday of every month. Overall, $10,384 was raised for the club, which has brought a replacement tractor to help with the heavy lifting for track and maintenance work. “It’s great to give back to the local community, especially to a smaller club that struggles to get funding yet brings a valuable experience to local children,” says new NZCB President Whangarei Craig Cogan. Every golfer had the opportunity to ride the steam club’s Jigger (pictured) with the fastest person winning a prize. “We had a lot of fun, including a couple of people completely derailing the Jigger,” said outgoing NZCB President Whangarei Pete Brown. Last year, the NZCB Whangarei region raised $11,720 for Riding for the Disabled. The organisation bought two new horses and named one “Uncle Howie” after former NZCB Whangarei President Howard Harnett.
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A big thank you to all our returning local sponsors and businesses, with a special thanks to major sponsors Carters, ITM, Mitre 10, and Elite Windows.
