Sport
Gallery | Fifth annual Stuart Davidson Memorial Rotary Mooroopna Golf Day goes off without a hitch
Sun shining, Davidsons smiling — Mooroopna Golf Club was indeed the place to be on Friday.
The fifth annual Stuart Davidson Memorial Rotary Mooroopna Golf Day took shape last week as droves of golfers gathered on the greens for a day to remember a pillar of the community.
However, Stuart wasn’t the only Davidson in their thoughts this time around.
Sadly, his wife Jeanette died in November 2024, leaving behind a legacy of a woman who was similarly fierce to Stuart in her servitude to the club and town.
As a parting gift, Jeanette worked with Mooroopna Rotarian and organiser Kelvin Rogash to see the fifth edition of the golf day land on a special date.
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Jeremy Rensford bombs one off the tee box. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 9
Felix Odell admires a straight drive down the fairway. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 9
Aidan Basile drives long and true off the first. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 9
Craig McIntyre watches his putt drift towards the pin. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 9
Mooroopna Rotary’s Richard Speedy, Ken Faulkner, Graeme Wood and Kelvin Rogash display some of the raffle prizes. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 9
Mooroopna Rotary's Rob Johnson and Chris Clark had a busy morning on the tongs. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 7 of 9
(Back from left) Laurie Fagan, Bill Porter, Graeme Wood, Ken Faulkner, Rob Johnson and Rod Wood with (front) Denise Mandersloot, Fred Mandersloot, Kelvin Rogash, Richard Speedy, Greg Martin and Chris Clark. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 8 of 9
Admoor Plumbing's Rhys McKenzie and Ash Thompson were the winning pair on the day.Image 9 of 9
Aquafil Fresh's Craig McIntyre (left) and Kevin O'Donoghue (middle) came second, pictured with Kelvin Rogash.“She was the matriarch, the one that sort of organised everything,” Rogash said.
“When I said we'd had to change the date for it and I went and saw her to see how that would fit in with the family, she said ‘that'll be good’.
“In fact, it’s actually Stuart’s birthday of all things that the golf day was held on.”
And so, on April 4, 2025 — 77 years to the day since Stuart was born — a total of 84 players rolled into Mooroopna Golf Club on Friday for a celebration of a life lived to the fullest, with family, fun and golf front of mind.
The barbecue was cranking all day.
The drinks cart too.
And when all was said and done — snags and beers devoured, 18 holes under the belt, raffle prizes won — Mooroopna Rotary was able to look back on another damn good job by all.
Rogash estimated about $10,000 was raised, half of which was handed to Shepparton Foodshare, which takes the total donation in the past five years to roughly $25,000.
As for the golf itself, Admoor Plumbing’s Rhys McKenzie and Ash Thompson finished on top with a score of 62.25 to claim the Stuart Davidson Perpetual Trophy ahead of runners-up Kevin O’Donoghue and Craig McIntyre (62.75) of Aquafil Fresh.
A raft of prizes, from Bridgestone golf apparel to wine to a 50-inch telly, all went flying off the rack as players put their hands in their pocket for a great cause.
One novelty of the day was the custom stubby holders with Stuart and Jeanette Davidson’s faces on the front, reminding those who took to the course what the day was all about.
And for a certain golfer, Friday’s event isn’t one he’s likely to forget.
“One of the guys was talking to Kaye Faulkner the day after at the golf club,” Rogash said.
“He said he’s played in quite a few tournaments, but he said ‘that would be the best one I’ve ever played in’.
“It’s a good, friendly day — a day to remember Stu and now Jeannette, and a day for everyone to enjoy a good day of golf.”