Dennis Lord and Pat Mooney.
The 26th Jack Mooney Golf Day on Saturday at the Junee Golf Club has seen a large turnout, which organisers have called a “mega success”.
Junee Golf Club said they saw a 40% increase in participants to play Ambrose, and they saw revenue collected from play at a 57% increase. This year, the Club implemented the improvement of the Jack Mooney walk and plans to add further improvements before next year. Denis Lord and his son also won the best of the day for 2 years in a row.
Pat Mooney, son of Jack Mooney, said it was very heart-warming seeing the support. “Dad was an old digger in Borneo, New Guinea and all that. Then he was a top sportsman around Junee. Cricket, golf, whatever, and a really low handicapper, and the people at the Junee Golf Club got together after he passed away and decided they’d like to do something to remember him, and it’s turned into this golf tournament that’s been going for 26 years,” he said.
“On Saturday, there were 47 players, which is good for them because they average about 30 or so usually. “The family donates items, like raffles and all that. Then we get donations from around Wagga and Junee for the prizes, and we’ve probably raised $3,000 in the last two years for the club. The money just goes to the club.
“All the family plays and the grandkids. They do it for dad. He was pretty popular down there, so we do it every year. “We had the 25th last year, and people came from everywhere. There were Queenslanders and people from Canberra, people from down Sydney way, all turned up, and it just keeps getting bigger.
“We are pretty happy with how it went.
“It just feels great everytime. You never know who you are going to see year to year, and we’re really happy that it’s still getting bigger, and it just makes you see what they must have thought of him. You just look forward to it every time.
“You never know who is going to be there. It was just locals originally, but now it’s people from all directions.“A lot of players come from Wagga, Kapooka, because they all play down at the military one, so they all play there too. There’s a bit of a military connection as well, being an old digger.
“Jack would be pretty proud of it. I don’t think he would even dream of what goes on. He did a lot for the club and taught young blokes to play. A couple of them that he taught to play ended up as professional golfers, and one of them runs the MTC now, Jason Ferrario. The MTC Turf Club donated first prize for us, tickets to the Australia Day Races, aVIP box and drinks and food for the day.
“They all know about it, and you’ve only got to ask them and they just donate everything.
“We would like tothank Peter and Rex and all the volunteers, and also to all the people who play all the time, they’re really enthusiastic. “They’ve opened a Jack Mooney walk out there. One of his favourite holes, and now Bunnings have donated a heap of plants. They have got a seat out there with a plaque on it, and they’ve got these big pot plants on either side. Bunnings donated all the plants for that. It’s bigger than we thought it would ever be at the start.
“A big thank you to the Club and everyone.”
Here’s to an even bigger 27th year.
– Jack Murray
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