The funds were split between the Portobello Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust.
Portobello residents Claire and Neil Metcalfe’s son, Jack, died on October 31, aged 26.
In the wake of Jack’s death, the Otago Peninsula and wider Dunedin community had provided wraparound care for the couple and, as a thank you, they had decided to fundraise for local emergency services as well as suicide prevention.
In total, the Memorial Golf Tournament — Drive for a Cause, a three-person Ambrose and auction held in Jack’s memory on April 10, raised $17,242 for the charity Life Matters and for the Portobello Volunteer Fire Brigade to split.
Each would get $8623.11
The Metcalfes are going to make the fundraiser a yearly event, and next year’s is booked for April 16.
Mrs Metcalfe said she was ‘‘really, really shocked’’ by how much was raised on the day.
‘‘Oh, the response was just amazing — it was a great, great day ... very tiring, but just fantastic.’’
Portobello Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Jamie Ramsay said it took a particularly brave set of people to put on such a large event, and have such a big success, so soon after a tragedy.
He, and all the volunteers, were very pleased with the donation.
‘‘I’m just blown away with the generosity from our local community — they’ve really done their bit.’’
The money would be going towards a new first response vehicle and shed to store it in for the brigade.
‘‘As far as I’m concerned, what Neil and Claire have done is above and beyond. If it wasn’t for them, it wouldn’t have happened.’’
