A charity golf tournament supporting the Gospel School for the Deaf has been revived and will tee off today as organisers push to make the event an annual fixture to help meet the school’s running costs. Howard Politini, who is leading the effort, said the tournament’s return follows the success of a hastily arranged event in 2021 that proved the concept could work post‑COVID.
“That one was put together quickly, but it showed what we could achieve. Now we want to make this an annual event,” Politini said, stressing that the primary aim is to provide reliable support for the school’s operational expenses. He said community fundraising — including walkathons and church contributions — has long sustained the school, and the golf tournament is the latest effort to broaden that base of support.
Politini also emphasised the tournament’s role in building local capacity. Young adults from the school community have been enlisted to help run the event, gaining hands‑on experience in administration and event management that organisers hope will equip them to carry the initiative forward in future years. “We’re building for the future, bringing in younger people so they can carry this forward,” he said.
Organisers say the tournament is intended as both a fundraising and community‑building exercise. Registrations open at 9am today, with the first tee‑off scheduled for 10am. Politini framed the day as an opportunity for families, church groups and the wider public to get involved in practical support for the school while enjoying a community sporting event.
The move to revive and institutionalise the tournament reflects broader concerns among supporters about sustainable funding for specialised education providers. Politini noted that while ad hoc donations and periodic fundraisers have kept the Gospel School for the Deaf operating, establishing regular events could provide a steadier stream of income to cover day‑to‑day needs and reduce pressure on families and church networks.
For now, the latest development is that the tournament is back on after a multi‑year hiatus and that organisers are seeking to turn a one‑off success into an annual tradition. If the event meets expectations, Politini and volunteers hope it will become a recurring source of income and a practical training ground for young people within the Gospel School for the Deaf community.
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