The Greatest Investment in Geelong Hockey for 112 Years.

It was with great excitement that at Stead Park on Tuesday 21 st May the State Government announced the building of a new pavilion with tiered seating and the installation of a new pitch 1 at our headquarters. Also, there will be a new pitch at Torquay with a scoreboard and tiered seating.

The Stead Park pavilion will be two stories with a commercial kitchen as well as other amenities like a meeting room and office. The position of the pavilion is to be discussed. The intention is that it is to be a City of Greater Geelong facility.

Hockey in Geelong commenced in 1912 in Eastern Park by a group of ladies riding their bikes there. The ground was marked out by lime for the lines. In the past 112 years the game has developed and expanded, landing on Stead Park as the home of Geelong hockey.

This is the greatest investment in our sport in 112 years and a marvelous opportunity to grow the sport. The ground at Torquay will allow them to expand the sport in the Surf Coast and provide a focal point for their hockey community.

There are many people our association needs to thank for attending the announcement:

• The Hon Ros Spence MP, our Minister for Community Sport for taking time to attend Stead Park for the announcement and her support.
• The Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong Cr Trent Sullivan (a former hockey player) has been a supporter of ours.
• The Mayor of Surf Coast Shire Council Cr Liz Pattison for her work with Andrew Crowley of the Torquay Tornadoes for the Torquay pitch.
• A special gratitude is for our local State Member Ella George. She has championed our cause and we are most appreciative of her efforts.
• Andrew Skillern CEO of Hockey Victoria has also been a great supporter.
• Shaan Briggs from Sport and Rec has led the planned project to this point and will be the person attending and leading the control group.

The State Government Press Release regarding the Geelong Sport Package can be found here……

The project control group shall be established to work through the scope and sequence. Geelong Hockey Association will have one seat and vote at the table and Graeme Dent will be our representative.

Hockey Victoria will also have a seat and a vote and that person is to be Andrew Skillern. There will be a degree of confidentiality in the process and we shall respect these protocols.

As details come to hand, they shall be published on our website and on social media.

Exciting times for our hockey community. The future is ours.

Geelong Hockey Association Executive