IT was an emotional day for Kathie Shearer, her sons Bobby and Brett and grandson, Jake, because the household just lately unveiled a statue to honour her late husband Bob, at his beloved Southern Golf Membership.
Fittingly, as friends gathered to get their first glimpse of the superb life dimension work of Shearer powering a six iron down the 18th fairway, solely the thwack of membership on ball from golfers on the close by tee broke the silence.
It have to be mentioned right here that bronze statue by sculptor Louis Laumen and Cameron McIndoe of Fundere Foundry is kind of frankly an excellent work.
The Shearer household, spouse Kathie, sons Bobby and Brett and grandson Jake, on the unveiling of the Bob Shearer statue.
The often gregarious Kathie Shearer was in an virtually soulful temper on the unveiling describing the gesture by Southern as a “beneficiant and delightful honour bestowed on us as a household.”
“Bob was a husband to me, a father to Bobby and Brett and simply ‘Pops’ to Jake.
“However virtually as importantly he was a proud member of Southern Golf Membership and as you realize, he wasn’t a nasty golfer both!
“Bob by no means sought or anticipated accolades however I do know for a truth he would have been humbled and overwhelmed with this statue as a long-lasting tribute to his reminiscence.”
Kathie mentioned when Southern GM, Brad Robb, and president, Peter Anderson, approached her with the concept of a statue, she by no means thought for a second that they’d get the assist of the committee and members of the membership.
“I significantly underestimated you all and for that I have to apologise.
“Nevertheless, I did assume there was an opportunity that the spike bar might have been named The Bob Shearer Spike Bar, which to many, together with me, appeared to be a really becoming memorial given the period of time he spent inside these partitions.”
Kathie mentioned her husband cherished Southern’s “values, ideas, inclusiveness, enjoyable and most significantly, the camaraderie of the individuals, a lot of whom got here to be his mates.”
“As Bob bought older, his relationship with the membership developed in a barely totally different means. He grew just a little softer and extra accepting of his golf recreation, though his aggressive spirit was nonetheless shining brightly as his enjoying companions would attest that he nonetheless didn’t like shedding very a lot.
“Till the tip he performed 3 times per week, Mondays, both Wednesdays or Thursdays, or each, and naturally Saturdays.
“I all the time knew when a recreation was on the playing cards as I’d hear him buzzing whereas having a shave and even singing dreadfully a number of bars of his favorite songs, ‘Don’t forsake me’, Oh my darling,’ or the Bob Marley basic. ‘Don’t fear, be glad’.
Amongst Shearer’s most memorable {golfing} achievements was a victory on the 1982 Australian Open, beating Jack Nicklaus and Payne Stewart to assert the Stonehaven Cup.
Kathie mentioned Bob “was by no means happier than when he was at Southern. He was an actual Southern clubman.”
“To everybody who contributed and helped to make this present day attainable, I hope once you see the statue it offers you an identical feeling in your coronary heart because it offers us as a household.”
She paid tribute “three particular Southern individuals” – Robb, Anderson and Kevin Roberts for his or her inclusiveness since Bob’s demise at 73 in January 2022. She additionally thanked PGA Chairman, Gavin Kirkman.
“It has actually been terrific, virtually like Bob reporting again on what’s happening, which has so helped with our grieving course of to know we’re nonetheless included.”
Anderson, Southern GC President, mentioned erecting the statue was not solely about Shearer’s means as a participant.
“I belief once you see this statue, please take into consideration the camaraderie, the friendship, the mutual respect all of us have,” he mentioned.
Anderson mentioned he was happy with the truth that Shearer grew to become considered one of solely 19 life members of Southern at age 44, whereas praising the efforts of GM Brad Robb all through the method concerned within the statue changing into a actuality.
Rodger Davis outgoing chairman of the PGA of Australasia mentioned: “Bob was an excellent man. It is rather uncommon that you just discover that somebody who has a unbelievable newbie profession – then has a greater skilled profession – stays on the one membership. And what a membership. He used to speak about it on a regular basis.
“He was coached by his solely coach, Harold Knights and got here again right here on a regular basis. And was unbelievable with juniors and younger professionals coming into the sport. I do know he helped me after I first began out.”
Davis is the one surviving member of the Coca Cola Younger Lions who travelled the phrase collectively within the 1970’s. The opposite three had been Shearer, Jack Newton and Ian Stanley, all of whom have died far too younger lately.
