March 20, 2014
About 60 indigenous and non-indigenous golfers competed for the inaugural Marley Conlon Reconciliation Shield today at Murgon as a warm-up for this weekend’s Queensland Indigenous Golf Championships.
Marley was a young indigenous man who was a keen member of the Murgon Golf Club.
He died at age 24 on February 8. During his short life he inspired Murgon residents with his determination to enjoy life despite a disability. His funeral attracted a huge crowd of mourners from both the indigenous and non-indigenous communities.
His father Max told 4UM today his son was someone who “brought people together”.
The idea for the shield in Marley’s honour was put forward by Murgon Golf Club president Clowry Kennell.
Players competed over 18 holes in a four ball best ball stableford.
“I was really surprised to see the amount of people, both indigenous and non-indigenous, who turned up to play,” Clowry told 4UM.
“I expected a field of about 20 but at the moment we’ve got maybe 60 sitting on the books ready to play.”
He said the golfers had mainly come from the Murgon, Wondai and Nanango clubs.
“It’s all about two cultures coming together for a common cause and what better cause than to play for the Marley Conlon Reconciliation Shield?” he said.
The Queensland Indigenous Golf Championship will tee off at 7:00am tomorrow with 70 indigenous golfers coming from all over Queensland … from the Gold Coast to Townsville and west to Cunnamulla.
There will also be 14 non-registered golfers competing.
Clowry said he hoped the competition would keep on growing, as the course could host up to 120 players.
Footnote: Clowry was elected president of the Murgon Golf Club in January this year and is the first indigenous president of the club.
“I may be the first indigenous president, but first and foremost I am just a golf player like everybody else … a passionate golfer that just happens to be a blackfella,” he told 4UM.
- Related article: Indigenous Golfers Get Set To Tee Off
