West Gippsland Charity Golf Day almost reached capacity on Friday with 116 players signing up to raise money for West Gippsland Healthcare Group and Warragul and District Specialist School.

In its eleventh year, the Bendigo Community Banks event raised $21, 000 through team registrations, sponsorship, raffle ticket sales and an impromptu auction of two Parliament House dinners after the game. The day is a combined effort between Bendigo Community Bank branches of Drouin, Neerim and Trafalgar, event host Warragul Country Club, and the voluntary organising committee.

Warragul Lions Club cooked a barbecue lunch out on the course with supplies donated by Gippsland Choice Cuts and Bakers Delight (Warragul Woolworths site). WGHG and Warragul and District Specialist School ran novelty activities and raffle ticket sales on holes 1 and 18, while local businesses donated prizes and provided hole sponsorships.     

WGHG CEO Shannon Wight praised everyone involved.

“This year I was excited to get down to the course to meet many of the players and thank the volunteers and partners who make this day happen each year,” she said. “The atmosphere was fun and friendly, and it was uplifting to see the way so many members of our community get behind the event.

“We are honoured to be recipients of the funds raised alongside Warragul and District Specialist School, with whom we have a special relationship through our paediatric services.

“Thank you to everyone involved.”

Thank you to all sponsors:

• Bendigo Community Bank
• RW Advisory Group
• RW Property Group
• Warragul and District Specialist School
• Warragul Denture Clinic
• West Gippsland Healthcare Group
• Wayne Farnham MP
• Drouin West Timber
• Baw Baw Real Estate
• Warragul’s Cheapest Cars
• Kubale Constructions
• Dave’s Garage Doors
• Gippsland Choice Cuts
• Westfalia
• Warragul Country Club

Overall winners and raffle ticket prizes were announced at a casual gathering at Warragul Country Club after the game. The winning teams were:

• First place – Joel Thomson, Anthony Bambridge, Jessica Ploeger and Zach Bambridge
• Second place – Lenny White, Michael White, Barney Sell and Paul White
• Third place – James O’Connell, Jamie Wood, Jay Hynd and Jason Robertson