Gary Mara benefit night - Wednesday 3rd October

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balmainbrett2041

New member
Hi all. Gary Mara played for Balmain and his father is a hall of fame player for Tigers. Gary was on holidays last month with his family in US and was hit by a drunk driver crossing the road at Santa Monica Pier and killed.
Gary was a manager at the Unity Hall Hotel in Balmain and a well known local. The unity Hall is having a benefit night next Wednesday with three bands Sweet Az, Barry Leaf Band and the Unity Hall Jazz band. They are having raffles and auctioning items including a signed Swans Jersey( if anybody can contribute memorabilia especially Tigers please let us know we do not have a signed tigers jersey as yet).
We would love to see a huge turnout to help out a genuine Balmain Boy and his wife and 8 year old daughter who was also injured in the accident.
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http://www.smh.com.au/national/holidaying-aussie-sacrificed-his-life-for-daughter-20120825-24sss.html

Former Balmain Tigers winger Gary Mara saved his young daughter's life moments before he was killed at a pedestrian crossing in Los Angeles.
Mara, who played first-grade rugby league for the Tigers and the Parramatta Eels during the early 1980s, died on Tuesday during a family holiday in the US to celebrate his 50th birthday.
His distraught wife Julianne has spoken about how her husband of 10 years saved the life of their eight-year-old daughter Olivia moments before an allegedly drunk driver struck him at the crossing, near the Santa Monica pier.
"The car just came from nowhere," Mrs Mara, 43, told the Nine Network.
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"Gary picked Olivia up and threw her out of the way.
"He saved her life."
The family had just finished dinner and were due to continue their holiday in Hawaii.
But their plans were cut tragically short when they walked across the crossing against a red light, police say.
Mara died in hospital the following day while Olivia was treated for minor injuries in hospital.
The 26-year-old driver, Cara Cameron of Westchester, California, has been charged with manslaughter while intoxicated and will face court on September 21.
Mara made his first-grade debut with Balmain in 1982 and in the following year, booted two goals in the Tigers' 6-4 semi-final loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs.
He was also a member of the Tigers' 1980 Flegg Cup-winning side featuring the likes of Benny Elias and Steve Roach.
Mara joined Parramatta in 1984, making one first-grade appearance as a centre and helping the Eels to win the under 23s premiership before retiring in 1985.
The West Tigers, which is the National Rugby League (NRL) joint venture club formed in 1999 and comprised of Balmain and the Western Suburbs Magpies, issued a statement on Friday night saying its members had been saddened to hear of Mara's passing.
His father Bobby Mara is a member of the Balmain Tigers Hall of Fame.
AAP
 
It might be a bit late to organise something but have you tried getting in contact with Sirro or anyone from Wests Tigers HQ to see if there's anything the club can rustle up so the pub can raise more money on the night for Gary's family. Good luck
 
Thanks guys. I've no doubt it's not too late and we will get someone to link in with the club so any contacts appreciated. I have suggested to the organizers to contact marketing at Balmain Tigers but Gary was their previous main contact and they are open to suggestions on who to deal with.
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I knew Gary personally from drinking at the Unity. He was the most exceptional and extraordinarily generous individual; and he was always promoting the Tigers.

I was fortunate enough to receive free tickets off him one time for a sold out Leichhardt game, he also arranged through the club to have my 2009 signed jersey framed, which is hung proudly in my house. Plus not to mention the number of beers he bought!

I will definitely be there on Wednesday to raise a glass to Gary and to raise funds for the family. It would be great to see fellow supports there to support and contribute. Equally, if any other forum members can provide (or advise) of any suitable Tigers memorabilia it would be greatly appreciated.
 
Call Wests Tigers on 8741-3300 See if you can speak to Paul Sironen & he might be able to help out in some way. You've got nothing to lose.
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@genoshan said:
My wifes maiden name is Mara and her family are from Peirmont. I must ask her Dad if they are related …
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I knew gary quite well and if he is from the same family they can feel immense pride as gary was the most wonderful of men.Every funeral you will here how rest the person was that died and sadly the reality is they aint but gary truly was a great guy.
 
I grew up with Gazza and his cousin Darren was my best nate , they came from the pyrmont,glebe,lilyfield balmain area.whats your wifes first name Genoshan.
Cant make the benefit night due to work commitments ,hope all goes great .
 
@1/4 chicken said:
I grew up with Gazza and his cousin Darren was my best nate , they came from the pyrmont,glebe,lilyfield balmain area.whats your wifes first name Genoshan.
Cant make the benefit night due to work commitments ,hope all goes great .
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I think the benefit night was on Wednesday night, hopefully they raised a lot of money for his wife & daughter.
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