Women’s hockey celebrates

SOUTH Coast women"s hockey will celebrate a rich and colourful history at its 60th anniversary dinner at Kiama Bowling Club on Saturday, April 28.

More than 100 past and present players, supporters and officials are expected at the dinner, which will commemorate the association"s diamond jubilee.

The dinner will also mark a brave new world for South Coast women"s hockey, the week after the five Division 1 clubs will play their six Illawarra counterparts in the inaugural combined competition.

The sides will play a round-robin competition before splitting for separate finals series later in the season.

This initiative is a milestone for the association and aimed at strengthening both competitions in the years to come.

The dinner will coincide with the release of a new history of the game on the South Coast, complied by long-time publicity officer and life member, Marg Snelling.

Mrs Snelling has been the driving force behind the dinner and the new 76-page volume that picks up where the association"s 50th anniversary left off.

"A lot of the players from the first South Coast representative team will be at the dinner," Mrs Snelling said.

"We"re hoping the event will be a really good night."

The Kiama Independent caught up with Mrs Snelling at Bonaira Street Oval, the spiritual home of hockey in Kiama.

"I"ve spent a lot of time on this field, watering it and playing on it," she said.

"This was a great spot to play hockey , they were really nice fields."

The first life member of the association was Dorothy Bailey (1957), followed by Lillian Taylor in 1962. Mary Marley was inducted in 1966, followed by Betty Chittick (1973), Lexie Mayo and Joyce Parton (1981) and Raylene Holz in 1990. Marg Snelling and Virginia Castray (1997), Dale Green (1999) and Lyn Brandon (2004) have also been rewarded life membership.

Jamberoo"s Nancy Waters will join that elite list when she is presented with life membership at the reunion dinner.

Among the association"s most prolific on-field talents are current Hockeyroos team member Casey Eastham, Susan Downes (Australian Country) and Kerrie Nealon (International Masters).

The incomparable Di Gorman, Maree Lackenby, Karen Burge, Natalie White-Muik, Susan Timbs, Sue Carney (Over 40s) Jenny Grey (Over 50s) and Danni Gregson (Under 16 All-Schools) have also represented South Coast in the green and gold.

South Coast products that have competed for Australia in indoor competition include Karen Seaman, Di Inderswisch, Rebecca Brennan and Sam Gillard.

Albion Park Kiama, Gerringong, Kangaroo Valley, Nowra and Berry formed the Shoalhaven District Women"s Hockey Association on May 7, 1947. The Association changed its name to South Coast in 1973, when Nowra withdrew.

Jamberoo joined the year after, followed by Railway Greys in 1952, while Oak Flats (1960), Warilla (1968), RSL (1975) and The Oaks (1979) and Shaolahven Heads (1991) joined in later years.

Albion Park joined the Illawarra competition from 1968 until 1991, when they returned to South Coast competition.

One person who has witnessed the evolution of the women"s game on the South Coast is Albion Park matriarch Mary Marley.

Mrs Marley is a foundation member of the Albion Park club that banded together with Kiama, Gerringong,

Kangaroo Valley, Nowra and Berry to form the Shoalhaven District Women"s Hockey Association on May 7, 1947. The Association changed its name to South Coast in 1973, when Nowra withdrew.

South Coast"s gleaming artificial surface at Croome Road Sporting Complex, opened in 1992, is named after Mrs Marley.

The addition of these fields has been the biggest leap forward for the association, Mrs Marley said.

"The quality of the hockey has been stronger since the turf was opened," Mrs Marley said.

"We have international players in our South Coast competition."

However, Mrs Marley acknowledged competition numbers had fallen away in recent times.

"I wouldn"t say the association is at its strongest but girls work and go to university," she said.

"In my day all we had was hockey , shops would shut by midday on Saturdays and off we went to play."

South Coast Women"s Hockey will celebrate 60 years of competition at Kiama Bowling Club on Saturday, April 28 from 6.30pm.

All past and present players, supporters and officials are invited to attend.

Tickets are $30. For more information, please phone Marg Snelling on 4232 2897 or Sharon Jeffrey on 4464 3229.