When the crack of a golf club driving a ball broke the dawn silence at Castle Hill Country Club on 28 October, it signalled the start of a 24 hour golfing marathon for more than 80 golfers taking part in the One Day golf event in support of the Love Your Sister charity. Despite warm and dry conditions leading up to the event, the skies turned grey and wet just prior the 6am start, however, not a single player complained. Given the cause they were playing for, no one was going to let a little damp weather slow them down.
From the first tee shot to the final putt, a fleet of Yamaha G29 EFI QuieTech petrol-powered golf cars, supplied by Yamaha Motor Australia, ran flawlessly. They carried players, gear, and supplies for the full 24 hours without refuelling, helping One Day live up to its promise: 24 hours of continues golf, all for a great cause.
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The One Day event challenges golfers to play continuously for a full day to raise funds for Love Your Sister, the charity founded by Australian actor Samuel Johnson OAM and his late sister Connie. Love Your Sister is devoted to advancing precision medicine so every cancer patient can receive the right treatment the first time.
By partnering with Love Your Sister, event organiser Rodney Frost ensured that 100% of the money raised flows through the charity and directly to Omico — a national, independent not-for-profit organisation dedicated to accelerating precision oncology in Australia. Each partnership is governed by formal agreements with the Garvan Institute, providing full transparency and assurance that every dollar raised goes straight to medical research.
The end of the first 12 hours was marked by a 30 minute dinner break as the flood lights were illuminated for the nighttime action. With the help of glow sticks and luminous golf balls, the course was transformed into a surreal landscape. Players battled fatigue through the night, guided by light, adrenaline, and probably caffeine in equal measure.
Since its inception in 2023, One Day has grown rapidly, both in participation and donations. Raising just over $100,000 in its first year to more than $250,000 in 2024, this year’s event again raised the bar. While the 2025 total will not exceed the $500,000 Rod Frost had hoped for, it did come close and he is already setting his sights higher for next year. “For sure, I think the $1 million mark is achievable in 2026,” he said. “With the incredible team behind this event and the amazing players who give so much, raising $1 million for Love Your Sister is a realistic target.”
Actor and Love Your Sister founder Samuel Johnson OAM joined players at Castle Hill to thank them for their commitment. “There’s Rodney, and then there’s everyone else,” Johnson said. “I’ve never seen anything like what he’s built in just three years. He does it clean, he does it right, and he safeguards every donor dollar the whole way through. He’s not just raising money; he’s showing people there’s a smarter, purer way to fundraise, where every cent counts and nothing is wasted. Rodney has found a way to turn community spirit into something truly powerful. We give $1.8 million a year to Omico, and we simply couldn’t do that without him, I wish we had more Rodneys.”
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Among the day’s standout highlights was Tim Khoo’s first-ever hole-in-one. Although the $5000 hole-in-one jewellery prize from Robert Cliff Master Jewellers had already been claimed earlier in the day by Alexander Sutherland, Khoo couldn’t have been happier. “It’s my first hole-in-one, and to do it on a day like this, supporting such a great cause, was incredible,” he said. “I missed out on the $5000 prize, but that’s fine, just seeing that ball drop into the cup was one of the greatest feelings of my life. A hole-in-one is a hole-in-one and doing it at an event like this makes it even more special.”
To help Tim celebrate the achievement, the Integrated Office Solutions team stepped up and provided a $1000 voucher to Tim so he could celebrate the achievement with family and friends.
Rod McDonald, Yamaha Motor Australia’s Golf Car Sales Lead and Castle Hill member, was instrumental in Yamaha’s involvement. He has supported One Day since its inception and this year worked with Rodney Frost to provide the G29 EFI QuieTech petrol fleet, ensuring maximum uptime and distance. “In the first two years, organisers had to rotate electric cars through the night to recharge,” Rod explained. “It was tough to manage, and some players walked more than they swung. The petrol Yamahas solved that instantly, they just keep going.”
The G29 EFI engine delivers industry-leading fuel economy with a whisper-quiet 61 decibel output. Even in the early-morning hours, the fleet moved quietly between holes. Independent suspension, USB ports, and generous storage helped keep weary golfers comfortable, hydrated, and ready to keep swinging.
By the end of the marathon session, fatigue gave way to satisfaction. Every swing and every soggy hole played meant more support for families facing cancer, and Yamaha Motor Australia was proud to be along for the ride.
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