More smiles from golf day

Rohan Shepherd, Craig Ryan, Peter Zipf and Anthony Zipf. (Rob Maccoll)

Smile for a Child Foundation continues to exceed fundraising expectations at its annual golf days, the latest held last Friday at Noosa Golf Club with a full playing field of 160 golfers (40 teams of four) who enjoyed a great day of golf and hoped to raise about $30,000 to help sick and disadvantaged kids.

This year’s contributions take the event’s total well past the half million mark since it started 17 years ago.

In 2007 Glenn (Puck) Puckeridge took the idea of combining forces to contribute to the community to the managers of the Noosa Combined Clubs and now there are six clubs involved, Sunshine Beach and Noosa Heads surf clubs, Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club, Tewantin-Noosa and Cooroy RSL and Noosa Golf Club.

The clubs and Smile for a Child patrons including Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Roger Cawley convene to determine where the money will be allocated.

The event is driven by Puck and his offsider Little Jo Power along with help from 12-16 volunteers.

“Puck’s the only man who can squeeze 40 teams on to a golf course and make it work,” Little Jo said.

Puck thanked everyone for their continued support including Evonne and Roger, Alan Harris, Tony and Tamara Giles, Anton Mogg, the Noosa Golf Club committee and their major sponsors.

“It’s for the kids … we wouldn’t have achieved what we have today without them,” he said.

The initiative raises funds for sick children, families and organisations such as Sunshine Butterflies, Starlight Foundation, Kids Foundation and local individuals that may be in need of intense medical care.