On Sunday, at Poverty Bay Golf Club, his golfing “brotherhood”, fellow club players, whānau, supporters and an All Black great came together to make that journey a little easier.
The TP Strong 4 Andy fundraising tournament reached its climax when co-organiser Dave Keown announced they had raised $32,000 for Higham and his whānau.
It was beyond expectations but underlined the incredible support the event received from its conception to the last thank-you given on Sunday evening.
The total was staggering considering what the region and its people have been through.
But perhaps not surprising.
When communities need, communities give.
When the idea of running a tournament for Higham came about; when it progressed to a plan; when that plan became a reality, people near and far stuck their hands up.
The core organising team grew branches.
With Keown — a long-time PBEC rep team manager — at the helm and a keen and committed group of lieutenants under him, TP Strong 4 Andy (the TP stands for his home club of Te Puia Hot Springs) — took shape.
Such was the volume of donated prizes, koha, offers of food and other help, that the only major cost was time.
Not that the “brotherhood” had any problem with that. They saw one of their own in need and responded.
Higham’s uncle — Nigel Higham — summed it up simply in a thank-you speech on behalf of the family at the Sunday prizegiving.
“We are truly humbled by the love and support for Andrew and his family,” he said. “We, as a family, are filled with love for and gratitude to you all.
“It’s not even about the money . . . it’s about all the aroha that’s coming from this.”
A field of 200, including members of every course in the region and others from the Bay of Islands to Wellington, played in the tournament proper over Saturday and Sunday.
Entries alone raised $10,000.
It had star flavour with special guest player and All Black great Christian Cullen taking part, courtesy of Property Brokers.
Cullen, a talented golfer in his own right, immersed himself in the occasion. The number of group photographs taken with him probably rivalled his rugby heyday.
An auction for the other three spots in his playing four made $2250. Local real estate agents Shannon and Rod Sheridan won with a bid of $1250, then donated it back and it was resold to Poverty Bay Golf Club member Richard Foon for $1000.
Foon, his son Adam and Dave Jenkins — whose son Simon played many rep tournaments with Higham — got to see first-hand how good a golfer Cullen is. He shot 79.
An auction on the day made another $9400. Items such as a New Zealand Warriors-signed jersey and shorts went for $1600; a Māhia bach retreat $1250; a Rory McIlroy-signed Nike cap $1150; and a Lydia Ko-signed NZ Women’s Open flag donated by NZ Golf $750.
“We had $18,000 in the bank before we even started the day,” Keown said. “People just kept on giving.”
Golf-wise, Higham — a two-time Poverty Bay Open champion with multiple club championship titles at Te Puia and Poverty Bay — would have been impressed.
Waitangi Golf Club professional Pieter Zwart, who won the PB Open crown in 2006 and is the Poverty Bay joint course recordholder (8-under 64) — played on both days and shot 66, 68.
Poverty Bay head greenkeeper William Brown, one of the “brotherhood” and a long-time rep teammate of Higham, carded 68.
Richard Foon was not overawed by playing with a sporting legend. He had 40 stableford points, as did one of the rising stars of PBEC golf, Marcus Gray.
And as each player finished the 18th, the “brotherhood” were out in force next to the clubhouse offering food and drinks, enhanced by some “sounds”.
“It was absolutely brilliant,” said Keown. “The love, the aroha . . . how the boys came together to do that food — just everything.”
Keown also said that aside from the tournament, they were looking at setting up a welfare trust for sportspeople injured in accidents.
Higham’s cousin Sean Rasmussen told those at the prizegiving that “this is just overwhelming”.
“Andy has a big mountain ahead of him. He’s made huge progress but there’s a long way to go.”
Keown reiterated the team’s gratitude — “thank you, thank you, thank you” — while another of Higham’s PBEC teammates, Tony Akroyd, who looked after the publicity and social medial side of the event, posted “watch this space. Some big things in the pipe . . .”
Q and A with All Black legend
The TP Strong 4 Andy fundraiser featured a video of All Black Christian Cullen’s extraordinary try-scoring feats followed by a lively question and answer session. Property Brokers Bay of Plenty and South Waikato regional manager Simon Short, who comes from Gisborne, donned the interviewer’s cap and fielded questions from the floor.
Nickname: The Paekākāriki Express and Cully come to mind but Cullen chose another — “Crowbar. I was a greedy bugger . . . you needed a crowbar to get the the ball out of my hands.”
Jonah Lomu: “I was really lucky to get to play with Jonah. You knew when he had the ball all you had to do was hang off him . . . Jonah being on your side was far better than being against him.”
Players you fear the most: “I was never scared of anyone . . .” but if he had to name a couple — Jonah, of course, and former Blues winger and Fijian international Rupeni Caucaunibuca.
Great players: “I was good enough to play with some of my idols . . . Jonah (Lomu), Fitz (Sean Fitzpatrick), the Brooke brothers (Zinzan and Robin), Michael Jones — my hero.”
Favourite coaches: Wayne Smith, Dave Rennie.
Old school AB who could make it in the modern game: Ian Kirkpatrick.
Christian Cullen coaching?: “I don’t have the patience. Too much time. I couldn’t play golf.”
Thoughts on the modern game: “Far too many rules . . . players are technically better . . . the truck and trailer is just a mess, that’s why we like watching league.”
All Blacks chances at the Rugby World Cup: “Put your money on the ABs.”
On tour: Taine Randell was “the messiest bugger” . . . Glen Osborne the tidiest — “he’d even make my bed”.
Favourite try: Carisbrook, 1997, v Australia, set up by a sublime 20-metre pass from Zinzan Brooke — a player Cullen described as “before his time”.
Team you liked beating the most: “Probably England . . . they were quite big gloaters”.
Guys you liked to have a beer with after the game: The South Africans and George Gregan — “one of the best boys you would ever meet”.
Summing up his career: “It was a pretty cool ride (but) it goes really quick, so enjoy every moment.”
Australia winning back the Bledisloe Cup: “No. I don’t think so. If they win it (this year at least), I will run naked through Gisborne.”
