 A memorial golf day and gala dinner in memory of Robert Stone will be held on November 9 to raise money for a charity founded in honour of another Saints family member.
Mr Stone, a 281-game player for St George, succumbed to a brain tumour in 2005 nine years after Diane Bath, the daughter of Saints legend and Stone's former premiership-winning coach Harry Bath, died from a rare form of cancer.
 Founded in her honour, Foundation Diane raises funds for a number of research organisations involved in the early detection of a range of cancers.
Ms Bath became a lifelong friend of Harvard University Professor Dr Carolyn Mountford (now also Medical Director of Foundation Diane), when their fathers played rugby league together (Cec Mountford for Wigan and Mr Bath for Warrington before the former joined Warrington) in England in the 1950s.
"Foundation Diane is overseen by a group of dedicated Australians who are either cancer survivors or have lost a dear one to cancer," Dr Mountford explained. "Diane Bath Robertson wanted medical science to have the opportunity to help patients with cancer so others would not have to suffer as she had. Australia has world class medical specialists and scientists with cutting-edge ideas but finding the dollars to allow those ideas to come to fruition is hard."
Gwen Bath said she was delighted her daughter's name would be paired with Robert Stone's to raise money for priceless research.
"I think the fact that all the rugby league players are supporting cancer research is wonderful," she said.
"Diane was a big supporter of her father and a big supporter of rugby league. Cec Mountford was one of the great halfbacks and he played for Wigan when Harry was playing for Warrington."
Robert Stone was a member of the team dubbed "Bath's babes" and scored a memorable try in the 1977 grand final midweek rematch. The Golf and Gala Dinner will coincide with a 30-year reunion for that Premiership side, which beat Parramatta 22-0 after drawing the grand final in extra time.
Mr Stone's longtime friend Craig Young said he and other former Dragons team-mates hoped the golf day would become an annual event both to commemorate their larrikin team-mate and raise money for the Diane Foundation.
"We are going to have a reunion in August plus the golf day," Mr Young said. "And we are trying to have the golf day as an annual event, if we can get it in the calendar, just to get Stoney's name remembered and to raise money for cancer research."
Stone also represented NSW in the first State of Origin in 1980. He was Executive Officer of the St George Football Club and a Life Member of the St George Football Club.
A gala dinner including a fashion Parade and live auction will follow the golf day at Beverley Park. Hosted in the Heritage and Grange Rooms at the Leagues Club, the Dragons' 1977 side will attend the function.
The Robert Stone Memorial Golf Day & Gala Dinner on November 9, 2007 is a joint activity of the St George Leagues Club and Foundation Diane. All proceeds will be donated to research on early detection of cancers on the advice of Professor Carolyn Mountford, Medical Director of Foundation Diane, in consultation with Robert's widow, Anne Stone.
For more information please contact Natasha Lau on 02 9587 1966 or email: nlau@dragons.com.au
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St George Leagues Club
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