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Ex-Service Section Report
Report on Remembrance Trophy and Ex-Services Golf Day 2021
The 95th ex-services day and Remembrance Day golf competition was held on Saturday, 13 November after Covid health orders were eased allowing a field of 209 to take part. This included five members of our armed forces by invitation.
As a result of the day our Club has been able to forward a cheque to Legacy for $4,300 which includes direct donations from Ex-Service Members of $300. Additionally, the Committee was able to allocate a further $5,000 to the Second Memorial Gates Fund increasing the balance to $40,000 comprising profits from Ex-Service Golf Days of $22,000 and direct donations of Ex-Service Members of $18,000.
We again enjoyed the generous sponsorship of Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across a wide range of spirits and beers. Diageo provided prizes and sustenance in the form of the iconic Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky and the “living sprit” - Bundaberg rum. The Committee is most grateful to Diageo. We also acknowledge Woolworths at Beecroft who provided the bread free of charge and Bunnings who provided their wide brimmed and trilby version of straw hats to our volunteers.
A large group of volunteers drawn mainly from the Friday Long Lunch group provided a breakfast of sausage and onions washed down with a nip of Johnnie walker as well as the half way sustenance of Bully Beef and Damper Rolls, taken of course with the traditional gunfire brew of Bundaberg Rum and Coffee. Our thanks to Emeritus member Michael Williams who coordinated this enthusiastic team, the players certainly were grateful of their efforts.
The main raffle prize was a mixed dozen of Glandore wines donated by Peter McBeath and won by Ross Howarth.
Chris Howlett, Michael Fitzgerald, Kevin Pike and Pebbles Punia acted as bookmakers for the day tempting punters with enticing odds to land their ball in the inner circle, outer circle, on the green or over the creek. As usual, a major part of the money raised on the day came from this source providing $3,345. Legacy volunteers led by Julie Bowden assisted at the 18th green with nearest to the pin duties and the issue of raffle tickets. Young Park won the playing lesson with Neil Rolfe landing his ball 95cm from the pin.
Ex-Service member Brain Hamilton read the Ode and we were fortunate to again enjoy Andrew Hansch, a bugler and member of the Navy Band playing the Last Post and Reveille prior to the presentation of trophies. This was a moving ceremony that reminded us all of the sacrifice of war and why the day is an important part of the PHGC calendar.
Bruce Lumsden, on behalf of the family of the late Geoff Lumsden donated the Ex-Services Trophy won by Michael Rowan who described this as his “third” win outlining the amusing circumstances of the first two. The 96th year of competition for the Ex-Services Trophy will be held on Saturday, 12 November in 2022.
The Remembrance Trophy; known by some as the Lucknow Trophy is a magnificent trophy and has its own interesting history and military connection. The trophy donated by the Waterson family and presented by Terry Waterson was won by John Keenan.
The A Grade, B Grade, C Grade and Scratch trophy winners were Tim Fairbairn, Robert Bramston, Mark Canto and David Bailey respectively. Mark is an employee of the Club and needed to take off his apron from behind the bar to come forward to receive his trophy. Tim Fairbairn will no doubt recall his win having hit a hole-in-one on the 4th green.
The winning 4 Ball Team with a score of 54 was Mathew Reid, Mike Reid, Brendan Jordan and Conor Mansfield who received trophies provided by Legacy. The winning Ex-Services team with a score of 49 included Bryce Corderoy, Peter Cook, Ross Howarth and Geoff Burke who also received trophies provided by Legacy.
The “pot” of $627 on the 14th was won by Mark Heffernan.
Michael Rowan
