The Newtown Hockey Club 40th Anniversary gives us a great opportunity to celebrate, enjoy, reflect on our progress, and plan for the future.
The Newtown City Hockey Club officially began its journey on March 24, 1977, with 18 junior players. Through the efforts and participation of many, there have been more than 2200 players represent the Club since then. The Club now sits proudly as the largest hockey club in Victoria outside the Melbourne Metropolitan area. The Club is affiliated with, and is an active participant in the activities of the Geelong Hockey Association.
We invite all members, past and present, to come and celebrate the Newtown Hockey Club 40th Anniversary at our 40th Gala, on Saturday May 6, 2017.
The event will be held in the Peninsula Room at the Novotel Geelong, 10 – 14 Eastern Beach, Geelong.
Celebrate the achievements, both yours and the Club’s, and share with us your memories and stories. Relive your ‘Glory Days’ and catch up with some old friends.
If you have any memorabilia, photos or newspaper articles you can loan us, we would love to hear from you.
In the beginning ……
The 1976 Olympic Silver medal for the Australian Men’s hockey team was the inspiration for a Junior Expansion program initiated by the Geelong and District Men’s Hockey Association. Alan Barnes, Gavin Allen, Dennis Hatton, and Noel Smith, chose the Newtown area as their operating area, and began visiting local primary schools. Accompanied by an Olympic hockey player, the children were invited to come and try hockey. And so began a template for progress which has proved very successful in the following years.
Progress and expansion …..
The club expanded quickly with senior men’s and women’s teams added in 1978. Competition began in earnest with club teams participating in the competitions organised by the Geelong and District Men’s Hockey Association, the Geelong Women’s Hockey Association and the Geelong Junior Hockey Association. The women saw early success with a Premiership in A Grade in their first year, and a repeat performance in their second year (1979). The men’s team took a little longer but finished as Division 2 Runners Up in 1979.
Doug Stephens – and a young David Fitzgerald in the background.
Based on juniors ……
A strong focus on junior development and an active recruiting program has seen the Club continue to grow and progress. Along the way, there have been many innovations which have benefited the club and hockey in the Geelong area.
In 1980, the establishment of a high quality grass playing surface at Lloyd Reserve in Newtown allowed the Club to set up its permanent home. The Reserve provides an accessible base for children in the local area to ‘Come and Try’, and learn about hockey. The Club has been an enthusiastic supporter of recruitment at younger age groups, and introduced the modified rules Minkey (Mini-Hockey) program in 1985, for children Under 9. The Club caters for even younger children, with a Joeys program for children Under 6. The Joeys players participate in small fun games, which teach both skills and strategies in a short 30 minute session.
Great achievements ….
There have been many successes over the past 40 years. We can name numerous Premierships and Runners Up finishes; increasing numbers of members selected in Regional and State teams; construction of the Claire and Alan Barnes pavilion at Lloyd Reserve. The Club is particularly proud of its position as the largest hockey club in Victoria outside the Melbourne Metropolitan area. But we are even prouder of the honour received in 2014, when the Club was named the ‘Community Sporting Club of the Year’ in the Victorian Government’s Community Sport and Recreation Awards.
2014 – Community Sporting Club of the Year
Celebrate with us …..
Come and share the memories with us. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the joy and celebration.
