Yesterday 152 golfers descended on Lismore Golf Course for the Our Kids annual Golf Day fundraiser. 

Thirty-seven teams of four teed off with a shotgun start at midday in an Ambrose match, having fun, vying for glory and a variety of prizes, and raising money for much-needed equipment in the Special Care Nursery at the Lismore Base Hospital.

Locals Ray Lindwall, David Seymour and Peter Warren have been organising a charity golf day for 20 years, and since 2005, Our Kids have been the charity recipients, with over $210,000 raised. Many players have returned every year, with numbers steadily growing. Each team is sponsored by a local business. Prizes, lunch and snacks are provided for the day, with the remaining funds going directly to Our Kids (usually around $10,000-$12,000).

Ray Lindwall shared how supportive sponsors and players have been each year.

“When we tell people it’s for Our Kids, they’re keen to support it. People like to support a local charity, where they can see exactly where the money goes. We just want to make sure everyone has a good day, because we want them back next year.”

“Sponsors have been incredibly consistent. It doesn't take long to fill the spaces. Which is extraordinary during the tough economic times we live in and what this city has gone through. Even last year, post-flood, they were just leaning in.” Rebekka Battista, Our Kids Fund-raising co-ordinator said.

The community benefits of the Golf Day were also clear to see, with a great buzz in the air and people catching up with each other. The Lions Club were onsite today to provide a BBQ lunch to fuel players up before they hit the course, and the clubhouse was busy post-game.

Teamed up to represent Instyle Sleepcentre on Woodlark Street were Dave and Sharon Martin (Owners, Instyle) and Simon and Donna Mumford (Owners, The Lismore App), with the women a little dubious about their golfing proficiency but ready to give it a crack for the kids.

(Sharon and Dave Martin and Donna and Simon Mumford are ready to tee off at the Lismore Golf Club)

Dave and Sharon's twins were born the same year as the tournament started in 2005. They were premature and benefitted from the special care nursery. They have supported the golf day every year since.

The Lismore App spoke with Dr Chris Ingall, founder of Our Kids, who explained what this year's funds would go towards.

“We are going to buy some feeding pumps for the nursery. This will allow the very tiny babies who are needing tubing feeds to get it in a really safe manner. Especially when the nursery is busy. That means a baby doesn't have to go away or can come back to Lismore sooner because we can meet their needs.”

The organisers of the Our Kids Golf Day recently visited the Special Care nursery to see first-hand what last year's funds had purchased, an ETCO2 Phillips Module Monitor which measures the concentration of carbon dioxide exhaled to show how well-ventilated newborns are breathing.

“Taking them into special care and seeing them talking to the nurses who are working with the pieces of equipment was just extraordinary. It's a full circle of giving,” Rebekka Battista said.

“There are people here who know people who have had kids in Special Care, and they’re sitting in front of a humidicrib that has a plaque on it that says ‘from Golf Day’ (or Winter Ball or the Samson) and people go “I get this - this is where all the funds are going, this is how by training, turning up, flipping tires, playing golf or dressing up I’m making a difference”.

Now we're trying to put our arms around Tweed hospital and Grafton Hospital and love on other hospitals around the region.”

To check out what Our Kids are doing for the community and what other events they have coming up, you can visit their webpage at https://www.ourkids.org.au or follow their social accounts.