Koop’s Day

After contracting the disease, Kooper Fox, who is in year 12 at Gilgandra High School, discovered he has a seven millimetre cerebral herniation on his brain. But it didn’t stop there.

“The lyme disease has damaged Kooper’s cardio- vascular, digestive and neurological systems, also caus- ing damage to his kidneys and liver,” said Tooraweenah Golf Club treasurer, Sarah Hill.

“So in aid of all this, we held a fundraising golf day on Saturday, May 14.”

After a fair amount of ‘will we, won’t we’ due to the weather, and after devising a full repertoire of indoor games for a wet day, it was announced on Friday that the course was dry enough for the golf game to go ahead. A turnout of 35 players and seven non-players made the club buzz.

“Koop is a cadet in the Australian Airforce, and 14 players from Australian Airforce Cadets Squadron 313 (Dubbo) came to support their fellow cadet,” said Ms Hill. “Although they didn’t finish the day, it did give them the opportunity to catch up with Koop who had been released from hospital on Friday after his last round of treatment.” Ten players from Baradine and Gulargambone also joined the local members for a day on the course.

There were raffles and prizes, donated generously from the local community, including Scott and Janelle Quilter who donated some of their artwork.

Matthew Joby and Daniel Harte pledged to shave their heads and beards to raise as much money as pos- sible.

“The family has done a lot for our community over the years so it’s just a little to give back and to help in their time of need,” said Mr Harte on a Facebook post about the shave. The final amount raised on the day was $1597. This included a $500 donation from Gilgandra RSL Sub-Branch, $116 from raffle tickets, and $91 from Luke Milsom who made a rash promise that should Mr Joby and Mr Harte raise $1000, he would have his back waxed. The money has gone directly to the Fox family to help pay ongoing medical costs.

Winners in ‘well we came, we played’ (three holes only) comp of 313 Squadron were Brigitte Glyon and Matthew Williams.

In the ‘serious’ 18-hole comp, winners were Simon Timmins and his partner Zoe Kuarse, with runners up Trent McGlashan and Paul Leonard from Baradine.