Eagles Golfing Society of New Zealand

Eagles Golfing Society of New Zealand

 2009 marked 40 years since the Eagles Golfing Society of New Zealand began their support of the Halberg Trust nationally. In February 2009 Eagles National President Pat Kenny presented the Trust with a cheque for $157,342.90 at the 2008 Westpac Halberg Awards which took their support since 1969 to more than $3.5million.

The support of the Eagles Golfing Society has helped encourage the inclusion of young people with a disability to participate in the sport and active leisure of their choice in New Zealand. This is the guiding principle of the Halberg Trust. 

The work of the Eagles Golfing Society is immense. We are very aware of the effort that goes into organising the Golf Days and it requires a lot of effort behind the scenes. It is almost impossible to put into terms the benefits of your support by helping us remove the barriers to enable youngsters with a disability the opportunity to experience playing sport on an equal playing field.

The Eagles Golfing Society has partnered with the Halberg Trust since 1969 when legendary American Olympic Champion, Jessie Owens was guest speaker at our annual ‘Sportsman of the Year’ Dinner. It took the vision of former Halberg Trustee and NZ Eagles President, Leo Hendrey to arrange a charity golf day where the business leaders of the day paid to play in a tournament with Jesse Owens. The proceeds helped fund his trip to New Zealand. Since then the Eagles have contributed over $3.5 million to the work of the Halberg Trust through their regional Eagles Golf Days; funding which has supported children and young people with a disability to sporting and recreational opportunities within their communities.

The Halberg Trust founded in 1963 is also known for its other aim – to honour sporting excellence. The annual Sports Awards of New Zealand dinner is now acknowledged as the country’s pre-eminent sporting evening with the showpiece being the presentation of the Supreme Halberg Award.

Funds raised by the Eagles are directed into the Halberg Trust’s Activity Fund. These funds provide substantial grants towards equipment and lessons to achieve the Halberg Trust commitment of enabling children and young people with a disability to be more active more often.

The grants target the additional costs incurred as a result of a disability which not only allows the opportunity for the child to participate with their peers, but more importantly enhances their quality of life and provides them with the sense of enjoyment that we all experience every time we play sport. Quite simply it’s about inclusion and being able to participate alongside their able-bodied friends and family.

Every New Zealander has the right to participate in the sport or active leisure pursuit of their choice – there are no exceptions!

With over 20 Eagles Golf days held each year, I envision this partnership will continue to grow in coming years and ultimately help satisfy the Trust’s goal that everyone can access sport and active leisure in every community of New Zealand.