PGA associates with veteran charity

The PGA of Australia has announced Solider On as its official charitable partner for the 2016 PGA Championship.

The charity works towards reintegrated generation of serving and ex-serving men and women in Australia’s history. To achieve this, Soldier On supports those who have served by focusing on their physical and mental health, their family, their community, and their future.

Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia, said the PGA was proud to associate with an organization helping people who had scarified so much for their country.

“The services Soldier On provides to the men and women who have served Australia are crucial to ensuring that these brave veterans and their families are supported on their road to recovery,”

Soldier On has over 500 connections with veterans and families across Australia each month. It has recently expanded the support services offered to veterans and families in various locations across Australia, including the Gold Coast where a Soldier On psychologist recently started.

“At Soldier On we provide veterans and their families with a range of support services to help them overcome any impacts from their service. This includes a range of social connected activities and programs such as golf programs, which have been hugely popular with our veteran community,” said Tony Fraser, Director of Sports Recovery at Soldier On.

“This partnership between Soldier On and PGA is wonderful. Not only does it connect the golf and veteran communities, but it allows the golf community to show just how much they care about our modern veterans and spread the word about the work we do.”

One of the players in the field for the 2016 Australian PGA Championship, PGA Professional David McKenzie, is a passionate supporter of Soldier On, having coached the Australian team of veterans competing against the British for the Clyde Pearce Cup in August 2016.  Named after an Australian amateur golfer killed in World War I, and sponsored by Soldier On, the Clyde Pearce Cup is a golfing event for veterans who have found the sport of golf to aid in their physical and psychological recovery.

McKenzie’s caddy has been a beneficiary of the many services provided by Soldier On. Veteran Ian McNeil who retired from the Army following injuries he sustained from being involved in a bomb blast when he was serving in Afghanistan, will be McKenzie’s trusted support as he competes for the Kirkwood Club.

“I really believe that we owe our wounded veterans an enormous thank you. Anything that I can do to help their transition after leaving the army and enjoy this great game with other mates from the service is my pleasure” said McKenzie.

The Australian PGA Championship is proudly supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland’s It’s Live! in Queensland major events calendar.

The Australian PGA Championship will be played at RACV Royal Pines Resort from 1-4 December with tickets on sale via Ticketek.

For more information about the Australian PGA Championship please contact Olivia McMillan, Media and Communications Manager, PGA of Australia on 0425 702 153 or omcmillan@pga.org.au.