One of the Sunshine Coast’s oldest hockey clubs has announced its top women’s and men’s teams from the past 50 years as part of celebrations marking its golden anniversary milestone.
Maroochydore Hockey Club president and senior women’s coach Jacque Warren says the achievement is a proud moment for the club and its community.
“We have such a rich history competing in the local competition,” she says.
“It’s been a real challenge picking the best men and women’s teams over the past five decades, especially as we have had many of our players go on to play at state level, while Ashlea Wallis (nee Fey) was a silver medallist at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
“Ashlea is now back at the club playing and coaching juniors which says a lot about her and the culture we have fostered over the past 50 years.
“At our club, we often say ‘hockey is family’ and we are very much a club that has had several generations who have represented the club.”
Jacque says the club’s strong culture is reflected in her own family’s involvement.
“From a personal level, my mother Leona Lavery played for the club a year after it was formed in 1977 and I’ve been a player as well as a coach and my daughter also plays for the club,” she says.
The club fields teams in every grade, with more than 100 senior men and women playing at Ballinger Park Sports Complex from Friday night through to Sunday evening. Both Division 1 teams made last year’s grand finals, with the men’s side taking the title.
Jacque says junior participation remains a priority, with Dwyer Quality Homes sponsoring the Hookin2Hockey program for children, aged five to 10.
