Nearly 300 Golfers Rally For CORES At 2025 End Of Harvest Golf Classic

By Chelsea Ravizza

The community flocked to the Ayr Golf Course on Friday, the 12th of December, to be part of one of the shire’s most anticipated and well-supported charity sporting events.

The 2025 End of Harvest Golf Classic was a resounding success, attracting nearly 300 golfers and raising $37,150 for Burdekin based CORES Queensland programs and initiatives.

The event aims each year to bring the community together to celebrate mateship while highlighting the vital work CORES Queensland does across the state. The organisation delivers suicide prevention and early intervention training, helping communities recognise risk, have safe conversations, and connect people with appropriate support, while strengthening mental health awareness.

Over the past several years, the End of Harvest Golf Classic has raised more than $100,000 for local charities, including CORES Queensland, a milestone organisers Kelsey Shand and Ben Smith are immensely proud of.

“We were thrilled to welcome 290 golfers to the 2025 End of Harvest Golf Classic,” Kelsey and Ben said.

“The turnout speaks volumes about the strength of our community and the generosity of everyone who continues to support this event year after year.”

In an emotional final year of organising the event after almost a decade, Kelsey and Ben have decided to step down from their roles in the new year, thanking everyone who has supported them and the End of Harvest Golf Classic.

“Events like this give us an opportunity to come together, enjoy the game, and reflect on the importance of checking in on friends, family, and neighbours. Through CORES, the End of Harvest Golf Classic helps turn that care into meaningful action,” they said.

“It’s not all about the money raised, it’s about connecting and having a good time with each other, and making sure that when your mates are down, you go grab them,” added Ben.

The event also featured a heartfelt address from Ross Romeo, CORES Queensland Coordinator for the region, who praised the community for coming together.

“We can measure the donations, but one thing we can’t measure is community connection,” Ross said.

“We hope that today you’ve run into people that you haven’t seen in a while, made some new mates, had some chats, and connected with one another.”

With the community’s generosity and spirit on full display, the 2025 End of Harvest Golf Classic not only raised vital funds for CORES Queensland but also reinforced the importance of connection, mateship, and looking out for one another.

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Rodney Williams & Bob Clarke

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