Organisers said it was not really a money-making event but still managed to raise nearly $7100 for the Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust.

“Because times are tight the idea was to make the day great value with lunch, dinner and a round of golf all for $40, just to encourage people to get off the farms and have a fun get-together,” says Cockies Golf Day co-organiser Tom Lane.

“So to have been able to raise $14,189 to be divided between the Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust (Gisborne) and the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter Service (Hastings) was a huge result.”

For the event at Wairoa Golf Club on August 18, 100 players took to the course on what Mr Lane said was “an absolute stunner of a day”.

Entry fees were part of the donation; the club waived green fees; much of the food for the day was gifted; and auctions and raffles helped boost the pot.

“One auction was for an Olser’s mince and cheese pie and that alone raised $500,” says Mr Lane, a rural agent with Gisborne Property Brokers who organises the event together with PGG Wrightson sheep and beef rep Mason Birrell.

“Things are still tough at the farm gate so the generosity of the rural community just blows me away.”

Cockies Golf Day was founded in 2019 but, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, took a break until 2022 when it raised funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

“This year we were stoked to be able to get behind rescue helicopter services in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay . . . regions Mason and I both work in,” Mr Lane says.

“The choppers do an amazing job for those in rural and remote areas so this was a fantastic opportunity to show our support.”

CAPTION: It was a fun day out and Cockies Golf Day organisers Tom Lane (left) and Mason Birrell (centre) also raised $7100 for the Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust. The donation was accepted at the Gisborne hangar by Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter critical care flight paramedic, Thomas Grantham.