Right: Cricket legend Dean Jones prepares to cream one down the middle, watched by Frankston mayor Vicki McClelland.AUSTRALIAN sporting greats – cricketer Dean Jones and Saint Robert Harvey – joined councillors and representatives from the City of Casey last week to raise more than $20,000 to help newborn babies at Frankston Hospital.
The event was the inaugural Frankston Mayoral Charity Golf Day.
The funds raised will enable the purchase of a baby transport incubator for the special care nursery at the hospital.
The nursery has facilities for around a dozen babies aged from 33 weeks pregnancy onward who need closer observation, or specialised treatment.
Frankston City Council, with Sandhurst Club and Telstra Country Wide, organised the golf day that saw 30 teams of four negotiate Sandhurst Club’s north course in the Ambrose format golf tournament.
Frankston mayor Vicki McClelland said the golf day was about individuals and businesses coming together to support a worthy cause and making a difference to early childhood medical services in the south-east region.
“It was excellent to see the community rally together for this fundraiser,” she said.
“Our aim was to raise enough to buy the baby transport incubator, valued at $18,900, but thanks to the generosity of all involved we managed to raise an astounding $20,984 for the hospital.”
Former test cricketer Dean Jones hosted the event that began at 12.30pm with a shotgun start, followed by presentations to the winning teams at dinner.
The Frankston Police team came up trumps to win the tournament. Optus Business Direct (second) and Peninsula Market Line (third) rounded off the minor placings.
Support for the day and Frankston Hospital extended beyond the greens.
A charity auction saw people dig deep. A Sir Donald Bradman bat was the night’s hot ticket item, selling for $3000.
