We welcome all our members to the 2025 season. It promises to be very exciting with many positive changes and the final season on the Jim Kirk Pitch1, before redevelopment. There are many items we wish to share with you.
At our planning day the Hockey Geelong Executive spent a great deal of time mapping out the year and addressing important areas.
Junior Development Coach
At the HG forum last year, it was very clear from all who attended that there be a Junior Development Coach to lead and introduce our game to new players as well as developing the skills of all players including those with more experience and at an elite standard. We have written a position description and this shall be placed on our website and socials to advertise this role and we encourage all qualified and experienced people within our community and beyond, to apply. It is a paid position and we as an executive have prioritised this as very important.
Coaching – the Bigger Picture by Andrew Smith
We are very honored to be able to have Andrew Smith present at Stead Park on Wednesday 5 th March from 6.00 to approximately 9.00pm “Coaching – the Bigger Picture”. Andrew is the current Premiership coach of our Men’s Hockey Club Melbourne side as well as an Olympic Bronze Medalist and former coach of our Shark’s men’s side. We shall be providing dinner and drinks. At the time of writing we have over 30 attending which is marvelous. Please rsvp to our secretary Nette Williams asap for catering purposes.
Summer Hockey
It has been great see so many people playing summer hockey and enjoying themselves. The season finishes at the end of this month. I wish to thank Cass Calder, Shannon Calder, Harrison Calder, Peter Taylor, Russell Allthorpe and Jesse Allthorpe for their efforts.
The challenge after summer hockey is encouraging those new players to join a club. If you know any summer hockey players who are not attached to a club then please connect them with yours. We need to get to 1200 players.
Hockey Victoria $450,000 Regional Grant
As has been previously reported, Hockey Victoria was successful in gaining a three-year grant of $450,000 from Sport and Recreation Victoria for the Regional Development of Umpires and Coaches.
Geelong is in a regional group with Hamilton, Warrnambool and Ballarat. On a rotation basis qualified leaders in coaching and umpiring shall be visiting a regional group to develop locals and the others in the group in these two areas.
There is a requirement for each local association to have a Developer in Coaching and another in Umpiring to be the liaison person. There is a $2,000 renumeration attached to each role. Those interested in this should contact Nette Williams or Graeme Dent.
HV is currently receiving applications for regional coaching and umpiring leaders for each group. Interested and qualified people should see the HV website. This is a significant investment in Victorian Regional hockey and we thank HV for their initiative and diligence in this area. As this program is rolled out more information will be presented.
Kings Birthday
Hockey Geelong has entered a men’s and women’s side in A Grade and a female Masters side for the Kings Birthday in Bendigo this year. We are asking local players to place their name on the sign-up list when it is posted in the clubrooms.
To date we have Peter Hill, Hugh Dreher, Greg Walton and Gavin van der Meer who have indicated they are interested in leading and organising the weekend. We do wish to have some females and anyone else who is willing to be involved. There is a chance of a male Masters team and we welcome other teams.
Our Secretary Nette Williams has emailed further information to clubs about this exciting opportunity. Please see Nette or Graeme if you require further information.
Canteen Price Rises
We have found ourselves having to increase quite a few prices on the canteen as from 1 st March, 2025. We are not exempt to such prices rises and while prices are always kept to a minimum, we had no choice but to review them.
Please rest assured that these increases are necessary and we are still proud that our prices are among the lowest of any sporting canteen. We are able to maintain low prices due the level of volunteers and we thank all those who undertook that work last year. We hope it was an enjoyable experience and you will return this year.
Project 1200
Our Project 1200 was launched last year and shall be ongoing this year and next. We had 1200 players in 2016 and last year that number was 735. The aim is to get back to 1200.
It is up to all of us to encourage someone who used to play hockey, to return and give it a go. Another way you can contribute is to bring a friend who has not tried our sport, to training. It is remarkable how successful local clubs have been with these two approaches.
During the season we will be having clinics in “bring a friend” as a means of getting to 1200 players. Mediocre Monday is a great way to introduce someone new, to hockey.
Hockey Victoria recently said that there had been an 18% decrease in their numbers post COVID. Last year that reduced to a 12% decline when compared to pre COVID numbers.
Canteen Manager Required
We are currently advertising for a Canteen Manager for this season. If you know of anyone then please refer them to our website and socials for more details.
Redevelopment of Stead Park and Torquay
We have had another positive meeting concerning the redevelopment of Stead Park recently and a second and final meeting is to be held next week. The Torquay ground is progressing and as more information comes to hand, we shall pass it on.
Level 2 First Aid Course
A Level 2 First Aid course was led by Leanne Basham on Thursday 20 th February. There was a great attendance and everyone gained so much from the evening. Leanne presented in a way that was both engaging and informative.
We thank Leanne for her time and for those who attended. Thank you also to Nette Williams who organized the evening.
Stead Park Grounds Person
Russell and Jesse Althorp have agreed to continue their work in opening and closing Stead Park as well as in working in the canteen, through the coming winter season. We are fortunate to have both gentlemen as they provide a valuable service to our members.
Stead Park Maintenance Person
Hugh Dreher has kindly agreed to be our maintenance person to fix those little and bigger items around our facility. We thank him for his service and please see him or Nette Williams or Graeme Dent if there are needs.
Spare Sticks
If you have any old hockey sticks and wish to donate them to us, we shall gratefully accept them. We give them to new players as well for school students to borrow.
Sponsorship
If anyone has a connection with a business or organisation who may be interested in having a sponsorship relationship with Hockey Geelong then please contact Tom Griffin or Graeme Dent.
Thank you all. Exciting times await.
Graeme Dent
President
Hockey Geelong