THE Fiji Ship Owners and Agents Association will host a charity golf tournament at the Fiji Golf Club today.
The event was initiated by a group of shipping agent executives in 2006. The group were discussing ways to raise funds for children at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital after a normal round of Saturday golf at the club.
FSOAA secretary Jane Koi said the event was originally played in a inter division tournament of Burns Philip (SS) Limited back in 1984. She said the tournament was played by the shipping agents only with funds raised given to the CWMH (Children's Ward) via the Ministry of Health. She said the FGC members became interested in this annual charity golf for a good cause.
"Over a few beers the group were discussing the headline of The Fiji Times of that day which read 'No Pencilin for Children of CWMH.' It was then decided we do a golf tournament to raise money for the children," Koi said.
She said this year's tournament would be bigger as the organisers are also inviting members of the shipping fraternity to support this worthy cause.
"One of the nice things about this little known charity is that in partnership with the Ministry of Health, we have had the opportunity to meet some of the very recipients of the funds that we have raised — children for whom the fund may have provided anything from medicines, to paying for visas for treatment overseas," she added.
Tee off is 12.30pm today.