Golfers tee-off to support rebuild

By Lia Bichel
FOR the first time since Black Saturday, Marysville golf members teed off together at a special golfing event on 21 April.
About 100 people, including 20 Marysville members and golfing pro Peter Thompson attended the Marysville Sandhurst Challenge to raise money to re-establish the Marysville golf course.
A ceremony was held prior to tee-off, with the ringing of the captain’s bell for a minute’s silence, raising of the flags, and a procession of 50 golf carts all dressed with yellow ribbons to the champions course.
Marysville Community Golf and Bowls Club president Dr Nick Jans said though it was an emotional day, the event was vital to the Marysville community.
“It was important for two reasons. One is because while the rest of the world is getting on with their lives, Marysville residents are literally rebuilding our lives from the ground up. An event like this reminds us that Australia is thinking about us and supporting us,” he said.
“The second reason is we need money to get the Marysville golf course back on its feet, because it is the major reason why tourists would return there, and Marysville depends on tourism.”
Dr Jans said most of the Marysville golf course greens were destroyed on Black Saturday as well as surrounding trees, a newly implemented fairway water system, machinery and sheds.
About $20,000 was raised during the event, and some of the money will help establish the Liesfield Junior Golf Trust, named after two junior members, brothers James and Mathew Liesfield who perished in the fires.
Dr Jans said more funds would be needed to re-establish the golf course, but he was pleased with the amount raised as well as the support shown by Victorians. “It was a tangible demonstration of Australia’s support for the Marysville community.”