Life-saving Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) are being placed all around the city, and Gordon’s idea was to run a Golf Competition to raise money to fund three AEDs – one at each of the golf courses in Porirua – Titahi, Pauatahanui and Judgeford. Teams of four were invited to enter the competition, and sponsors were found for each of the 18 holes (6 at each club). This sort of competition had never been held before – with all three courses involved, so there was a lot of interest from local golfers.
A project manager, David Stewart, from the Rotary Porirua Sundown club was appointed to co-ordinate all of the activities, from catering, sponsors’ signage and communications to rostering of volunteers. The local newspaper, Kapi Mana News, came to the party with sponsorship, by providing full page adverts and editorial coverage over several weeks. Noel Leeming kindly matched the Club’s contribution to a prize table.
Seventeen teams entered the competition, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all who participated. Most of the club’s members were involved in some way – either on the day at the registration desk, scoring, running the sausage sizzle or co-ordinating logistics with the sponsors and the groundsmen; other tasks included the design of the advertising, website pages and an online newsletter to participants.
Tom Campbell, father of Michael Campbell (who won the 2005 US Open) said, “It was the most well-organised competition that I’ve ever been involved in!”
The three AED’s are located so that they serve not only members and visitors of the golf courses, but are available to the local community, in case of an emergency – supporting a wide range of people.
Website: www.poriruasundown.rotarysouthpacific.org
Lowdown
The Rotary recreational fellowships include the International Fellowship of Golfing Rotarians with the closest 'chapter' being in Australia (see http://agfr.org/ ) With so many NZ Rotarians golfing and so many Rotary clubs holding golfing events why is there not a NZ 'Chapter"??
For more about Rotary Fellowships go to: HERE
