But her grandfather, Ray, is making darn sure that her memory and influence lives as long as he does.

For the better part of 24 years, Ray and family have been organising a memorial golf day and charity auction in honour of his beloved Elly and all the other cherubs who’ve braved the fight with childhood cancer.

“I hope you never have to go through a kids cancer ward—it’ll change your outlook on life,” Ray said.

He remembers feeling helpless in the face of his family’s tragedy, and organising this event was originally a way of being useful. 

But since the inaugural golf day in 1994, the event has grown to be something beyond Ray’s wildest dreams.

“After the first one, we took our $3000 down and thought, ‘oh isn’t it great?’,” Ray said.

The day has now donated over $380,800 to help fund research for the Children’s Cancer Institute.

The annual Elly Stig Memorial Golf Day is, according to Ray, “the greatest day of the calendar as far as I’m concerned”.

“I have people coming from the Gold Coast every year—one bloke said ‘Ray I’ve been coming down here for this every year for the last 12 years’, Ray said.

Around 150 starters in fancy dress will tee off for a round of nine holes at the Island Golf Course on Sunday, January 7.

There will be 12 trophies handed out and prizes for the best dressed.

And all for around a tenth of the price of a metropolitan charity golfing day at $20 per person.

And if you don’t like golf, then the charity auction is already shaping up to be bigger than Ben Hur with over twenty sporting memorabilia and leisure items up for bidding.

The Rabbitohs, as always, have given generously to the cause with multiple ‘Elly Stig’ caps signed by the South Sydney footballers, a punching bag and 2002 charity shield jumper.

“When God made colours, he should’ve stopped at red and green,” Ray lovingly said.

But other notables include a Fiji holiday for two, a day out for four at the Gai Waterhouse Stables, a 1994/5 Ashes bat signed by the English side, a signed Winx photo and a Cleveland Classic driver golf club and cover.

There’s also a raffle being organised on the day, with plenty more goodies up for grabs.

“Every year is just gets bigger and better,” Ray said.

“After 24 years, a lot of people have said to me, ‘Ray this can’t last’.

“But the community will let me know when they don’t want it anymore.

Tee off on the day is from 7.30am, or 10am for a shotgun start.

To register, call the Pro Shop on (02) 6568 8172.