We are very excited to announce the fantastic fundraising effort of our long-standing supporter, The Metropolitan Golf Club.
Joan Cumbrae-Stewart, Women’s President from The Metropolitan Golf Club recently presented OCC CEO, Therese Desmond with a cheque for $16,260.30. The money was raised from a combination of activities during their inaugural Charity Week last November and will go to the to the OCC Achieve Fund.
“The Metropolitan Golf Club has supported OC Connections for many, many years and the relationship strengthens every year. We are delighted that some members have visited OC Connections sites to see first-hand the work that we undertake with people living with an intellectual disability. The visits also enable us to showcase the work we do and how the funds raised allow us to support people.
We are grateful for the relationship that continues to build, for the generosity year on year and for the vision and action undertaken by members of the Club to support us to make a positive difference to people living with a disability. We could not do the work we do without the generosity and kindness of everyone at The Metropolitan Golf Club.”
OC Connections CEO, Therese Desmond
As a volunteer, Joan Cumbrae-Stewart heads up The Women’s Committee which is a team of eight members who look after all the women’s needs at the Club from golfing to wellbeing.
Early in 2019, Joan, together with her Vice President Caroline Nicolson and their Committee had the vision to change the Stall Day into Charity Week and involve all members of the Club to raise funds for OC Connections. The Committee sought and received approval from the board to hold their inaugural Charity Week.
Charity Week included a Women’s Social Golf Event, Family Golf Day and Charity Stall Day which has been running since the ’90s selling homemade goods such as cakes and craft goods.
Joan and Caroline had approached all groups at the Club, including golfers, bridge and mahjong players to donate goods for hampers to be raffled off at the end of the week. Every player attending the Club during that week was asked to make a one-off $10 donation. The week proved to be a great success.
The Metropolitan Golf Club also provides their course for the OC Connections Charity Golf Day held in June each year for around 200 golfers. On this day the course is closed to members
The Metropolitan Golf Club has proudly supported OC Connections for over 20 years. It has helped to raise more than $600,000, which has funded specialist equipment to support health and fitness programs and community art programs.
The Metropolitan Golf Club is a club that is very connected to the community. It takes a keen interest in supporting the local area, whether it is through its relationship with OC Connections or providing tuition and membership opportunities for juniors and women. It is a progressive and inclusive club that is a proud member of the Monash and the broader Victorian community. Its members take great pride in its association with OC Connections.
“Supporting OC Connections has provided the Club with an opportunity to assist a smaller community group and have a larger impact on them achieving their goals. The Club has enjoyed watching the transition and enhancement of the organisation in recent years and takes great pride in knowing it has contributed towards that positive evolution.”
Metropolitan Golf Club General Manager, Peter Paccagnan
Joan Cumbrae-Stewart says that in 2020 they will continue to support OC Connections and raise awareness of this worthwhile organisation.
