Big Success at the 2020 MC Labour and Carlton Respects Golf Day Fundraiser!
On Monday the 10th of February, MC Labour was proud to bring the annual MC Labour and Carlton Respects Golf Day 2020 Fundraiser to Greenacres Golf Club for the third year in a row. The purpose of the event to raise money and awareness to support gender equality, diversity, inclusiveness, and the fight against domestic violence.
The day began at 7 am with registration and breakfast for all players – MC Labour employees, valued clients, partners, business connections and sponsored members from the Carlton AFLW. At 8 am, golf carts filled with players rolled out after a commencement speech from Relationship Manager John Morris where he reminded the players of what it was they were all there to support; the fight against violence against women.
For four hours, players played alongside Julienne Soo – professional golfer and the holder of the Greenacres course record of 68 (5-under), having smashed the previous club record in 2015 at the age of 17 – on the 9th hole where they were given the opportunity to have her play their first shot for them. On the 10th hole, players were given the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for the chance to win one of six prizes, all proceeds going toward the Carlton Respects program. Players were also treated to a Smokehouse BBQ cart on the 13th hole and were given the chance to win a brand-new Hyundai if they managed to hit a hole in one on the 17th hole.
At 12pm, the last of the golfers returned to the function center. Having completed 18 holes of golf, they were quite ready for a drink and a buffet lunch. While players ate, MC for the afternoon, Ian Coutts, talked with Carlton ALFW star Tayla Harris and Carlton AFLW second-year player Serena Gibbs about their experience in the AFLW, Tayla about her boxing career, and to Julienne Soo about her Golfing successes and plans for her future.
Following this, Simone O’Brien, Carlton Respects ambassador, mother, and domestic violence survivor spoke. She opened by notifying the room that “7 women already this year have lost their lives to domestic violence”. She continued to tell her own story, how she let the ‘perpetrator’ into her life, the warning signs, and about the afternoon that ultimately changed her life forever; when he came into her home and attacked her with a baseball bat, shattering her skull. Simone explained how important the Carlton respects program is in educating people of all ages about domestic violence; from telling “little Johnny” in grade prep that it’s not usual for his father to hit his mother when he’s angry, to educating workplaces about the warning signs, how to tell if one of their colleagues is in an abusive relationship, and what they can do to help. She stressed the fact that it isn’t just women who are victims of domestic violence, but men and children too.
Simone’s speech was followed by the raffle, the closing of the silent auction and completion of the auction where items such as AFL grand final packages, medallion club packages, and Crown vouchers were auctioned off to make money for the Carlton Respects program.
At the end of the day, through the various auctions, raffle tickets, hole sponsorships and tickets for the players themselves, MC Labour managed to raise $25,000 for the Carlton Respects program; exceeding the $23,000 raised at the 2019 Golf Day.
MC Labour has been a proud supporter of Carlton Respects since 2016 and will continue our partnership with the program in the future so as to aid the program in educating the public about respect and equality.
Thank you again to all participants of the day, to everyone who bought a raffle ticket or bid on an auction item. To everyone who sponsored a hole or participated in the day. To all our special guests, Simone, Tayla, Serena and Julienne, and to Greenacres for hosting our third annual MC Labour fundraising Golf Day.
For more information about the Carlton Respects program, head to https://bluesfoundation.org.au/what-we-do/carlton-respects/