Birdies fly at chopper golf fundraiser

For the second year running, the MVPs team won the women’s section of the Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust Charity Golf Tournament. From left are Marg Colebourne, tournament organiser Sarah McNaught, Miggles Shanks, who is also the Poverty Bay Golf Club president, Pere Gayford and Vicki Fraser.

A special fly-over towards the end of their round reminded golfers just why they were playing in the Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust Charity Golf Tournament.

Returning from attending a trauma in Wairoa and taking the patient to hospital in Hastings, the Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter had the around 140 players staring upwards from the fairways and greens of the picturesque Poverty Bay course.

“Everyone just stopped and looked up to the sky,” EHRT event organiser Sara McNaught said. “It was pretty cool and a great way for the team to acknowledge all their supporters below.”

A squally morning had given way to a fine afternoon for those who took part in the 18th annual charity tournament.

“It looked pretty hairy for a while but the weather came through for us on the day,” trust treasurer Ian Parker said.

“It made for a fantastic event for the 35 teams who took part in what is an important fundraiser for us and the Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter service.”

The funds raised help keep the rescue chopper in the air 365 days a year — last year’s 360 completed missions an increase of over 45 percent more than those flown in 2022.

“In that time the team has grown to a full complement of 12 and while that is amazing for the service, everything comes at a cost,” Mr Parker said

“So we’re grateful for the incredible support from our community, our sponsors and each and every player on the day.”

Between the raffles run on the course, the sale of succulent steak sandwiches, the post-play auction and the green fees donated by Poverty Bay Golf Club — which offers use of its Awapuni Links for free — $15,400 was raised to help EHRT meet its fundraising obligations.

The trust was not the only winner on the day. The four-person team ambrose format produced several major prize winners. They were —

Overall winners, men’s division: Wilencote Herefords net 53; AMFs 56.75; East Coast Electrical 57.25.

Mixed division: G-Trap Hustlers 53.5.

Women’s division: MVPs 63.88.

One of the most coveted individual prizes was the Craig’s Investment Partners Gisborne closest-to-pin award for top male and top female. Both going into the draw to win one of two major prizes at the 2025 New Zealand Open. The Gisborne winners were Poverty Bay course superintendent William Brown and Jo Kerr.

“We’re grateful for the wonderful support for what is a crucial fundraiser for our region’s rescue helicopter service,” EHRT chair Patrick Willock said.

“That it takes close to 50 sponsors to pull together just shows the incredible backing we have from our community. But the best thing is that everyone comes together to have an amazing day.”