For more than 20 years Jean Robertson has been sponsoring a golf day for her late husband Alvin.
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Both were keen golfers and when Alvin died, she kept his memory alive.
But this time the tables have been turned and Dungog Golf Club is hosting the day for Jean who lost all her possession when her Alison Court unit was inundated with water during the April super storm.
Jean, who is 83, feels she was lucky not to have been in the unit when they were swamped by water.
“I wasn’t well and was in Dungog Hospital for a week,” she said.
“I remember the day so clearly.
“We had been up and had our showers and breakfast and were waiting to go out on the verandah.
“Staff said we weren’t going out there that morning and to go back to our beds, but I went out the front to see what was going on.
“I couldn’t believe all the water that flooded the town, but still didn’t think my unit would go under.
“When I eventually went down to the unit and saw the damage in the bedroom, I knew I wouldn’t have survived.
“The bed had been upended and I would have been stuck between it and the window.”
Jean has been living at the Tall Timbers Motel for the past four months and knows she won’t be going back to Alison Court before Christmas.
Golf club president David Berry said the committee had a meeting three months ago and suggested they run Jean’s Day instead of Alvin’s Day.
“Over the past 20-odd years Jean has raised thousands of dollars for the club through Alvin’s Day,” he said.
“Jean would get the trophies and prizes for the event and organise lunch for the competitors.
“It was a unanimous decision to hold the benefit this year for Jean.
“She has been through so much and lost all her possessions, that it’s time we do something for her.”
Due to ill-health Jean has not played for the past five years, but has always been at the club watching the proceedings.
This year won’t be any different.
The event will be held on Sunday, September 13 with 9am for a 9.30 shotgun start.