In late 2006 Bobby Lowrie, a runner for Carlton in the late seventies and eighties, contacted a number of past players, coaches and administrator of the Carlton Football Club to discuss how they could join together to assist the Carlton Football Club. There was a united and passionate feeling amongst the group that they would like to contribute to restoring and enhancing the culture of the Carlton Football Club. Importantly the group wanted this to be done in a non-political manner.
From this initial meeting that included passionate Carlton people including:
Robert Walls, Alex Jesaulenko, Jim Buckley, David Rhys-Jones, Ken Hunter, Geoff Southby, David Parkin, Stephen Kernahan, Mark Maclure, Mike Fitzpatrick, Val Perovic and Keith McKenzie, the slogan “Spirit of Carlton” was born.
The group believe Carlton is entering a new and youthful era and it is the right time for Carlton players and officials, past and present, to get together and make every effort to renew the Carlton Spirit. A spirit that in recent years has been dormant. Importantly the group want this to be a tangible involvement and support and it is not about living in the past but about the future of the Carlton Football Club, the future success on and off the field.
The “Carlton Open Golf Day” is the initiative of the “Spirit of Carlton” and is the first event to be organised by this group. The inaugural Carlton Open Golf Day is being played at Keysborough on Thursday 15th February with all current players and many former greats involved.
All monies raised from the day will go direct to the immediate refurbishment of the current players training and development facilities. The Carlton Open Golf Day promises to be a magnificent day for the Carlton Football Club, it will be more than an important fundraising event, it will be the first sign of the true “Spirit of Carlton” as we look forward to an exciting and successful future.
Joining the current Carlton players at the Carlton Open Golf Day will be:
Geoff Southby, Trevor Keogh, Mike Fitzpatrick, Robert Walls, David Rhys-Jones, David Glascott, Alex Marcou, Spiro Kourkoumelis, Mark Maclure, Warren Jones, Greg Williams, Craig Bradley, Brett Ratten, Stephen Kernahan, Robbert Klomp, Keith McKenzie, Ken Hands, David McKay, Jim Buckley, David Parkin, Adrian Gleeson, Mark Naley, Syd Jackson, Ken Hunter, Peter McConville, Greg Wells, Justin Murphy, Dennis Munari, Ricky Nixon, Peter Brown, Ian Nankervis, Wayne Richardson, Tony Liberatore and Bernie Evans.
The day has received outstanding support with all available positions to play golf being taken up and the dinner following the golf also being sold out. An auction of special items and a raffle will also assist the fundraising activities.
The support through sponsorship of the day has been wonderful with a number of businesses joining in the spirit of the day, including former players businesses and contacts:
Octopus Staffing & Recruitment, Australian Sport Brokers, Bentleigh Sign Company Australia, Ashe Morgan Winthrop, Walls All Sports Promotions, Green works, DMS Glass, NAB, Marcou Agencies, Valvoline Australia, Grosvenor Lodge, Red Texta, Flying Start, Growth Partnership Group, Greg Williams Printing, Lable Makers Group P/L, Docklands Press, Magnet Sheetmetal, Squitchy Lane Holdings, Carlton Past Players Association, DAP Enterprises, OSSA, Premium Showers and Robes and Mills Oakley Lawyers.
In addition to the support through sponsorship donations have also been received from a number of individuals and organisations.
University Café, Ron Barassi, Taltarni Wines, Robert Dutton, Kevin Munro, Bill and Sheila Cook, Allan Rees, Andrew Goulopoulos, MCG, Tabcorp, Joe Hachem, Sportz3, Crown Casino, Eve Nightclub, Telstra Dome, Ramo Poloso, Foster’s, PS Motors, Alan & Laurel Sorrell and Sam Whickam.
Look out for the photo gallery from the Carlton Open Golf Day on carltonfc.com.au
