4 President’s report It is with great pleasure that I success as she prepares to move on 2019 also saw the launch of the introduce the 2019 Annual Report to pastures new in late 2020. The Sultana Bran Hockey One League and reflect on what has been legacy she leaves is which will be a pivotal cog in the another milestone year for our significant. The longstanding commercialisation of hockey in sport here in Western Australia. In relationship with Curtin Australia. Notwithstanding the the face of unprecedented University continues to grow and the delays in preparing and signing legal competition hockey continues to long term strategic support we framework documents, the season lead the way in contemporary receive in the areas of high kicked off in October and the Perth gender parity and accessibility to performance, Asian Engagement Thundersticks men’s and women’s participants throughout Western and infrastructure development teams were launched. The Australia. ensures the continuing enhancement commercial support through of hockey in WA. sponsorship will be the lifeblood of The ever-changing face of our flagship teams and again, I’d like governance principles has seen Our Asia Engagement ambition to take this opportunity to thank many sports fall foul to external cemented its placed in our long term those partners who engage with us influences and I’m proud to say that vision as we embarked on multiple in our foundation year and I urge the hockey has remained resolute in projects to enhance Hockey WA’s hockey community in WA to get maintaining its sovereignty in our relevance and standing amongst our behind our cause in season 2 and federated system. Additionally, 2019 fellow Asian hockey playing beyond. saw the emergence of a new level nations. With the support of a of cooperation between the sports funding stream through DLGSC via To my fellow Directors Peter member associations and the state’s Asian Engagement Westlund, Christine Truscott, Hockey WA has been at the Strategy the success of the 2019 Shonelle Duthie, Stephen Cain, forefront in ensuring the mandate FHE Cup underlined this key Adam Scott Gary McGrath and our for change is always delivered with deliverable for our association. newest elected Board member the sport’s long term interests and Engagements with and Narelle Finch, thank you for sustainability at heart. I would like to participation from Japan, continued vision and commitment thank the Department of Local Singapore and Malaysia helped us to our association and our sport. Government, Sport and Cultural deliver what is and what will become Similarly, Hockey WA is blessed Industries and in particular the Hon Asia’s pre-eminent U16 and U18 dual to have a number of committees Mick Murray. His leadership in gender international tournament. whose knowledge of our sport and maintaining control amid the threat With a mandate for growth of the broader community, provide an of change in our home state, which participating nations, the 2020 invaluable resource both to the we serve, was invaluable. He was version has already seen a record organisation’s operational delivery also key in attaining a global number of international teams and also to the Board. To the recognition that hockey in Western expressing their desire to compete. individuals who make up these Australia remains relevant, focused An agreement with the East Java committees a sincere thank you for and agile. This will ensure our vision Institute of Sport in December will the time and commitment you to make hockey more attractive and also see Hockey WA elite coaches afford. affordable to the 21st century visit the region to prepare their lifestyle where people seek flexibility athletes and coaches for the Our success in 2019 is only ever in when, where and how they want Indonesian National Games and will made possible by the dedication of to play ensuring they are see the Indonesian national team the Hockey WA staff. This group of participating in hockey longer. visit Perth in mid 2020 for a high dedicated and passionate performance camp. people commit countless hours to Without the backing, direction and our sport, regardless of the time, support of our key partners, February saw a record crowd at day or location and I extend my hockey in WA would not be the Perth Hockey Stadium as we sincere gratitude to Chief thriving state body we see today. hosted our inaugural FIH Pro League Executive Stu Gilsenan, his The continual and much needed fixture in front of a crowd in excess Executive Team and all the staff who financial and in-kind support in of 4,500 as both the help grow our game in WA. particular of our Major Partner, Kookaburras and Hockeyroos played Healthway, promoting the host to Great Britain. Showcasing Once again, I’d like to close by Smarter than Smoking message, the our facility and equally our unrivalled acknowledging our entire volunteer State Government through DLGSC capability and capacity to deliver family, a true community in every whose support of hockey has been elite international hockey is a sense of the word. Whether you are incredible and a true testament to standard we are proud to lead. We a player, a parent, an umpire or a the shared vision we have. are working closely with Hockey committee member, you should be Australia and various state very proud of the role you play in I would like to extend my gratitude government departments to ensure making our sport the success it is to the Curtin University Vice that Perth becomes the default today. Chancellor, Deborah Terry for her destination for world’s best teams vision and ambition in embracing which will help us to inspire future Garry Fitzpatrick hockey as a key strategic lever for generations of hockey players. President, Hockey WA 5 Chief Executive Officer’s report The Hockey One League was formally launched in 2019 following a period of Strategic Priorities protracted negotiations and Hockey WA, through its licensing agreement with the League owners, Secure the long term tenure of the HAHPP beyond 2024. launched a re-branded Perth Thundersticks which sees our elite As a Board and an Executive of influence, develop relations with Men’s and Women’s teams government at all levels. compete in a truly national competition. A broadcast partnership with KAYO and Fox Sports has now provided our sport with unprecedented commercial reach and, whilst there is still much work to do, this has well and truly laid the foundations for significant To say that 2019 was a landmark Our representative indoor and uplift and exposure. year for hockey in Western Australia outdoor state teams also continue to would be an understatement. The perform well on the national stage An organisational restructure during state’s hockey voice was heard loud with some notable performances 2019 saw the realignment of our and clear as we embarked on a as hockey in WA continues to bat internal operations and the significant year of change and above its weight. introduction of resources to drive innovation and strengthened our our Asian engagement ambition. on-field and off-field performances. 2019 saw the FHE Cup back and Already as a sport we are gaining better than ever before with the significant traction highlighted by a With more that 52,000 participants commencement of an MOU signed partnership arrangement with the involved in the sport from our with FHE and a footprint of partici- East Java institute of sport and a introductory products in pating teams from across the Asian continuing dialogue with many of HookIn2Hockey, sub-junior regions representing teams from Ja- the Asian hockey territories. programs, schools and masters, to pan, Malaysia, Singapore and umpire and officials’ development representative teams from Our Board continues to seek and and beyond, our range of programs Victoria and of course our very own drive the highest standards of and activities continue to cater for state academy teams from Western governance and strategic leadership all those who have an avid interest in Australia. We thank the state and I would like to thank President our game. government through the Garry Fitzpatrick and his fellow Department Local Government, directors, not only for their Our sport’s footprint across the state Sport and Cultural Industries for dedication, time and contribution to is ever growing and the interaction their support and we are proud to our sport but equally for their and support of our regional align this competition to the States unwavering support to myself and associations throughout the year Asian Engagement in Sport Strategy. our staff. highlighted the significant inroads The FHE Cup will ultimately become we are making to achieve our Asia’s pre-eminent dual gender U16 I am extremely proud and collective ambitions. I would like to and U18 tournament. grateful for the passion and drive of take this opportunity to thank the my team here in the Hockey WA countless officials, coaches, players, From a governance perspective, office. Their commitment to the administrators and volunteers for 2019 was significant with much of sport, its growth and ongoing their time and dedication. the year centred around a success is testament to the culture structural reform strategy. After and standards they set and drive on In 2019 our major competitions and more than two years of member a daily basis. events continued to flourish with a engagement, I would like to thank number of key headline activities the members of the Linear Model As a sport, we should take great including the Club championships, Rules Committee for their pride in what we have achieved in state country championships and leadership and foresight and 2019 and I very much look forward our various underage carnivals.