Sporting greats take their best shot for Samoa tsunami relief

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 1:12p.m.

By Jennifer Colwill

You would expect sports greats like Joe Stanley, Frank Bunce, and Peter Fatialofa to be more at home in a rugby club than with a golf club.

But today, alongside a number of other big sports names, they gave their best shot at helping rebuild Samoa.

“Everyone is happy to give their time, whether it is for a golf event or a match or donating something,” says Stanley.

“It’s been quite overwhelming.”

The sports names team up with enthusiastic golfers for a tournament involving more than 120 people.

But some of the sportsmen admit being out of their league.

“Unfortunately golfing is not one of my strong points,” says ex-Warrior Monty Betham.

“I’m actually the driver of the golf cart.”

The money raised from today’s tournament, and two auctions tonight, will go towards project heal and protect – set up by a telco support company.

“Visitng one of the villages in Potasi, seeing the community centre was totally devastated – I felt that it was a good stake in the ground to start there and rebuild the community centre,” says Oceanic Director Locky Mulholland.

It is hoped tonight’s auctions will raise about $20,000. A range of items will go to the highest bidders, including a rugby jersey, donated by Stanley, signed by the players in the recent tsunami celebrity benefit match at Eden Park.

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