From AFL and cricket heavyweights to a former triathlete world champion – plus a sprinkling of pro golfers – the day will provide a star per hole, with three slots open to businesses or individual locals who want to pay and play and happy to be squeezed into any gaps.
RRGC sales and marketing manager Paul Lavars said the day was already off to a flier because none of the ‘stars for the day’ were being paid to attend.
He said every one of them understood Echuca-Moama’s plight and they wanted to do everything they could to help reboot the local tourism industry after extensive lockdowns and crippling travel confusion and chaos.
“A lot of our businesses are going to be feeling the strain of this virus for a long time,” Mr Lavars said.
“Our big goal is to really get on the front foot and advertise our community and get the message out there that we are open for business, people can come back to our towns and we would love to see them again.”
The golf day has been driven by Hawthorn superstar and four-time premiership player Gary Buckenara.
Mr Lavars said Buckenara was already booked for a mental health in the business community and “when he heard what we were hoping to do, he was all over it”.
He said Buckenara told him he would “ring a few people”.
“The next thing I knew he had rounded up more than enough stars and celebrities for a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ event on a local golf course,” Mr Lavars said.
A list that includes Buckenara himself, along with fellow Hawthorn superstars Jason Dunstall and Robert Dipierdominico; larger than life former Test cricketer Merv Hughes; two-time world triathlon champion Emma Carney; former Carlton coach David Parkin; and other AFL identities including Ricky Nixon, Chris Mew, Ian Prendergast, Jay Schultz, Paul Dimmatina, Lance Whitnall, Richard Maloney, Ben Dixon and Rick Ladson.
Hughes will also be joined by fellow Test player Tony Dodemaide, along with Victorian first-class player Nick Jewell and former Australian selector and Tasmanian first-class great Jamie Cox.
Play will be a four-person ambrose competition, with teams of three to play with one of the sport stars, followed by a sportsman's fundraising dinner and auction.
“You rarely get a group like this; and donating their time at no cost,” Mr Lavars added.
“But they’ve put their hands up to help out our community and that means a great deal to the everyone in the twin towns community.”
Mr Lavars said all the signs were that the teams would be in for a great day.
“There are some fantastic people on the course,” he said.
“There will be a lot of great stories throughout and hopefully a really good day of golf. That said, you'd be feeling pretty good playing if you were teamed with Lisa or Mark.”
Corporate packages are available, including three entries into the golf day with a celebrity randomly drawn, three tickets to the dinner, as well as sponsorship of a hole, as well as an and executive package which allows the choice of celebrity for your team.
For information on the event, contact Paul Lavars at sales@richriver.com.au
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