Community
9 October, 2025
On the course for a cause
ALMOST $5000 was raised for a local mental health not-for-profit when the community rallied around one another over the weekend.
Timmy’s Get Around Your Mates Golf Day was held at the Terang Golf Course on Sunday, providing an opportunity for friends to gather for a day on the course.
The day has been held in memory of Tim Rollo, who died in 2022 to suicide.
Over the years the event has taken on a fundraising component in support of local mental health initiative Surviving the Dark Times, which Lizz Kelly and Sheryn Mcdowell launched after Ms Kelly lost her son, Thomas Vickers, to suicide in 2021.
Event organiser Paul Blain said this year had been one of the most successful fundraising efforts yet, with a raffle bringing in $1500 and an on-the-day auction raising $1800.
“Last year we raised around $2000 but this year’s total was $4886,” he said.
“What a great day – a fantastic day which just blew us out of the water.
“We had almost 50 players with perfect weather, so everything ran smoothly.
“We’re well and truly over double where we were at, so this thing is well and truly growing in momentum.
“We literally had people come down, just walk down to catch up for a few seconds, and hand Lizz a $50 note – not even buying a raffle ticket, just making donations.”
Mr Blain said the most important aspect of the day had been raising awareness for mental health and providing an opportunity for members of the community to build or strengthen their connections with each other.
“I probably only knew 20 per cent of the people there, so people have travelled to get involved,” he said.
“The idea of getting around your mates and supporting each other’s mental health is obviously really gelling.
“We’re stoked – and hopefully, we can somehow raise it bigger and better next year.”
Ms Kelly said it had been overwhelming to see so much support on the day.
“It’s amazing – I’m blown away because the day went off great and everyone enjoyed themselves on the day,” she said.
“The money goes a long way towards getting closer and closer to our goals.
“The community comes together and rallies behind so many – it doesn’t have to be suicide victims, it can be anything and they’re always digging deep.
“To be able to repay something back to the community, to give them some time out to blend and enjoy the day, was just fantastic.
Ms Kelly and Sheryn Mcdowell have spent the part few years working towards their vision of creating a mental health hub in Terang as part of their vision for Surviving the Dark Times.
She said work was continuing behind the scenes as both have now completed their Certificate IV in Mental Health, and are methodically researching what the future will hold for what their dream will look like.
“When it first started, I put a lot of pressure on myself but I have not given up,” Ms Kelly said.
“I still want to bring this to Terang but I’m doing a lot of research so I know when it goes in, it will be done right.
“I don’t want to get a building and just slap it open, I want things in place so I am researching and looking at other hubs.
“I want to know when it does open, it will be right for the community.”
Ms Kelly said the continued efforts of the community to throw its support behind Surviving the Dark Times meant everything.
“I cannot thank Paul, our sponsors and everyone involved enough,” she said.
“They’ve done an amazing job every year, and every year it gets bigger and bigger.
“Their support, along with the community, has been incredible.”
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