Marc Braun

Gav - you are a champion. There is no other word for it. The things you have done and achieved would be the envy of most.

You found and married the love of your life at a young age. You have stuck together with Maz through thick and thin, and are still with the woman that you love, and that loves you. There are many people that never achieve this, and nothing will ever diminish the love you have for each other.

You have 3 beautiful children in Gus, Josie and Van, who will carry on the great Larkin tradition of love, creativity, determination and positive thinking.

You were selected by arguably Australia's greatest ever ad-man to front one of his businesses. What an achievement!

You have single-handedly, from scratch, created one of the most successful anti-suicide campaigns seen in RUOK? day. The positive impact this will have in the future will be immeasurable.

You have provided for your family a beautiful home with everything they could need or want.

You have lived and worked overseas and had many fantastic holidays.

Your outgoing and charitable personality has meant that everybody wants to be your friend. And I mean everybody! You have one of the largest group of sincere friends imaginable, who together will make sure that any needs of your family in the future will be looked after.

And of your sporting achievements, I need say no more than these 3 words……"Two Green Jackets". But I will…...

I have got to know you well through our Leura Classic tours. The Classic was slowly losing attendees, until you revived it. Your drive in making changes was unstoppable. I remember you hosting several meetings and providing the beers at your office in Paddo, without which we would never have gone to Hawaii and enjoyed the greatest Classic of all time. When people think of the Classic, they think of you! You have been on 17 of 22 tours, only missing when you were overseas or ill. You are a two-time Jacket winner (1994, 2006), a four-time shield winner (1991, 1994, 1998, 2005), one of only two men to win the Jacket and Shield in the same year (1994), and the only man to get a hole in 1 on tour. Your win in the play-off in 2006 after chopping into the bushes had to be seen to be believed. You have the highest all-time average score of all regular attendees (31.2). You gave us all Augusta ball-markers, Green Jackets for past winners, you initiated green shirts for Butlers and white shirts for Buffalos in the RideHer Cup, you taunted the Buffalos with pink golf balls, you fearlessly took on Koolau while all those around you lost their balls (and then wanted to play another round). Luckily we were drawn together a lot, and you guided me around the course many times, only for me to choke at the final hurdle every time, until…..you pointed out the trajectory of my final putt in 2010 to win. Handicapping decisions were never made without your input. You had two calcutta wins with Tranq (2005) and Lift (2008), but win or not, that didn't stop your night time activities. You survived garden gnomes and hanging baskets at the Cumberland (Throw) Motor Inn Cessnock, $20 rooms including one beer at The Islander, Courtyard Marriott (5 times), Hollywood and Larry Wongs Chinese. And of course, you have given us all memories that can never be erased through your 20 year video, your Butler interviews, your Hawaii movie and last year your compilation of the Jacket winners' DVD (thank you). Mate, nobody has as much enthusiasm for the Jacket than you. You are the Leura Classic!!!

Gav, you are an inspiration. I love you mate. Always will.

Nugget