There was a cheerful mood as enthusiastic golfers took to Lismore Workers Golf Course yesterday to raise money for Jodie's Inspiration at their annual golf day.

The sun was shining as 172 registered players took part in a four-person ambrose event that raised $15,000 for the well-known charity.

(The crowded golf cart scene just before the afternoon session got underway)

This was the first time that Jodie's Inspiration had held an event since 2019. As with most events in a COVID affected 2020, not one scheduled event went ahead.

Jodie's Inspiration Chairman Jesse Smith said they had a very good fundraising season in 2019 and 2020 would have topped it up but thanks to endless fundraising throughout the year and some very generous donations they still have some money in the bank.

Despite 2020, Jodie's Inspiration still managed to donate $100,000 at the end of the year to keep the palliative care support going in the community.

"There are already requests for more funding to buy more equipment, Jesse said, "stock standard medical items like the syringe drivers, which are from memory about $8,000 a pop."

"Having a syringe driver allows a patient to stay at home as opposed to going into hospital. More and more people are wanting to have palliative care at home and there is an incentive to keep that going from a government perspective."

(On the first tee for the afternoon session was (from left) Wayne Devlin, Ash Simes, Terry Williams and Paul Simes. Photo: Simon Mumford)

The $15,000 raised yesterday was thanks to some generous sponsors, some of whom have been supporting Jodie's Inspiration since 2016:

• Simes Bros
• Bolt Barn
• LJ Hooker
• Somerville Laundry Lomax
• Budget Timbers
• Spinifex Recruiting
• Trenches Solicitors
• Be Seen
• Gava Bricklaying
• Wrapt Signs
• Brett Oaten Solicitors
• Sidney & Hacking Plumbing
• Dash Security Group
• Beaumont Tiles
• Signarama
• Katrina Beohom Real Estate
• RDS Cement Rendering
• Jake McRae Excavation

Plus the 172 golfers who took part in the event.

"We are very happy to be back holding events. This golf day was set down for November 2020 but didn't go ahead so it is so good that everyone has turned out with the sun shining and the course holding up pretty well after the recent rain we've had," Jesse said.

For the record, the foursome of R Davidson, M Scurr, E Elliot and Clark won the day with a 53.

"We are hoping that golf is the start of a series of events that form the new normal for the rest of 2021."

The events include the Marist Brothers football club ladies day in June, a Richmond Rovers football match during winter, an Internationally renowned comedian in August who has his own connection to the circumstances around Jodie's Inspirations, Pink Tradie Tuesday which will be the second last Tuesday in November.

"We are trying to navigate and put in place the COVID safe stuff and hope that things continue to go in the right way," Jesse said.

The next event is this weekend for the Mother's Day Classic at Ballina.

"This was an event where Jodie herself first started with a group of people to gather some support and understand the cause back in 2015," Jesse concluded.

For more information on the Mother's Day Classic visit the website.

For those new to Lismore who are not aware of Jodie's Inspiration, take a few minutes to read how and why the charity started.