ANNUAL REPORT 2007 Congratulations to our successful State Teams in 2007. Gold: SmokeFree WA Diamonds Veterans Over 65 Men Veterans Over 55 Women Silver: SmokeFree WA Thundersticks Under 2 Women Veterans Over 40 Men Veterans Over 45 Men Veterans Over 45 Div 2 Men Veterans Over 55 Men Veterans Over 50 Women Bronze: Senior Indoor Men Senior Indoor Women Country Men Under 2 Men Under 2 Indoor Men Under 2 Indoor Women Under 8 Men Under 5 Women CONTENTS President 3 CEO 4 DEPARTMENTS Participation 6 High Performance 8 Finance 9 Operations 0 Profile and Branding 11 PHS - Hospitality, Catering and Functions 2 COMMITTEES Senior 3 Junior 4 High Performance and Coaching 5 Perth Hockey Stadium 5 Officiating 6 Indoor 7 Country 8 Veterans 9 NationaL TraininG CentrE Women 20 Men 2 AUstraLian HocKEY LeaGUE Men - SmokeFree WA Thundersticks 22 Women - SmokeFree WA Diamonds 23 OFFICE BEARERS AND COMMITTEES 25 HocKEY WA Staff 27 Senior Coaches 27 Awarded Members 28 ResULts 33 Challenge Cup 36 Grand Finals 37 Byrne & Judge Trophy 39 Kyle Rutter Trophy 40 State Teams AHL 4 Men 43 Thanks to our photographic contributions: Women 46 Nathan Archer: www.winningsportsphotos.com FinaL Ladders Alex Johnston Men 48 Debbie Eisenhammer Women 5 Guy & Aylene Ivy Boys 53 Girls 55 Editing and Design: Kate Main 2 to this end the board has introduced a system of self regulation, whereby we assess our performance PRESIDENT as a board and our performance as individual It is indeed an honour and a privilege to present to directors. The outcomes of these assessments will you my fourth annual report after what has been be incorporated in a development and improvement another wonderful yet challenging year. program for individual Directors as well as the board as a whole. With much of 2006 devoted to ensuring that Hockey WA and its partners presented a compelling Hockey WA continues to be a highly efficient and submission for the retention of the Hockey Australia effective organisation that is in very good health High Performance Program (HAHPP), we were duly financially and administratively and is committed rewarded with confirmation that our submission was to taking HWA to another level in terms of not only successful and that the HAHPP would be remaining the sport but as a successful business. My thanks in its rightful home – WA for a further 6 years. once again go to Chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee – Tony Leeflang, Finance Manager – Kim My thanks, appreciation and congratulations on Rodgers and the other committee members for their behalf of the WA hockey community is extended to continued financial prudence and leadership which all those involved but in particular Working Group allows our sport to enjoy its on-field and off-field Chairman – Neil McKerracher QC (now the Hon successes. Justice McKerracher) and Hockey WA CEO – Linda Hamersley for their unfailing commitment and Our great sport also enjoys tremendous support leadership of a very talented group of people in (financial and otherwise) and commitment from pulling our submission together. many people and it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge our sponsors, corporate and 2007 has delivered real and demonstrable progress program partners and the many volunteers who in the governance of our sport with the Board’s work tirelessly week in – week out to assist in the continued commitment to providing strategic successful delivery of our sport to our members and leadership over a range of areas including strategic the wider WA community. I continue to be amazed direction, partnership management and continuous (pleasantly) by the commitment of everyone improvement, which has modelled the Board’s involved in hockey and for their pride in supporting motto of “Creating the future, not minding the the improvement and growth of our sport. shop”. Sound governance in these times is about accountability, responsibility and transparency and During 2007, I had the pleasure of visiting and chatting with a number of our regional associations. I thank you all for your hospitality and for your candour in discussing opportunities for improving our sport and the relationships between our city and country partners. Whilst some regions are experiencing a decline in participation, the commitment, passion and determination of our sporting leaders in these areas will ensure that hockey continues to have a presence. The growth and promotion of our sport across the board still requires much work to be done and Hockey WA will continue to explore new and innovative opportunities to not only stem any decline in participants but to also create new avenues for our sport to grow participation and profile across Western Australia. We have once again enjoyed a successful year on the field, with most of our men’s and women’s state teams (field and indoor) finishing in final Co Cont’d 3 four placings. In particular, congratulations to the SmokeFree WA Diamonds who secured back to back Gold in the Women’s AHL (making it three out of CEO the past four years) – special mention must go to As 2007 draws to a close and I reflect on the retiring coach – Colin Brandis for his commitment business of the year, I provide the following report and drive with this team, which has played no to the Hockey WA membership. small part in the team’s success. Acknowledgement must also go to our SmokeFree WA Thundersticks, Hockey Australia High who with a young and developing team overcame Performance Program injuries and adversity to finish a creditable 2nd and Whilst all activities of the administration are demonstrated they will be a force to contend with in important, the directive from the board was to the future. Our thanks to Jason Duff for his coaching focus our resources on the retention of the Hockey and development of this team and we wish him all Australia High Performance Program. A Working the best in his new role with the Hockey Australia Group was formed in 2006, most admirably led High Performance Program. by Justice Neil McKerracher, teamed with Graham Brimage – Department of Sport and Recreation, I concur with one of my fellow state presidents who Steve Lawrence – WA Institute of Sport, Ceri wrote “that it is indeed an honour and a pleasure to Writer, Sally Carbon – Hockey WA board and fully lead such an outstanding organisation” – as it has supported by the Premier and Minister for Sport truly been an honour and a pleasure to be President and Recreation. of Hockey WA for a fourth year. An honour because I lead such a well organised, healthy and dynamic After submitting a formal and compelling tender organisation and a pleasure because hockey is such to retain the program in Perth and providing a a wonderful game administered by competent and presentation to the Hockey Australia board in devoted people right across Western Australia. November 2006, it was with complete jubilation that we received the news [in April] that Hockey I must once again thank an outstanding Board of WA was successful in its endeavour to retain the Directors for their loyalty, commitment and support program for a further 6 year term, commencing and for their undying commitment to improvement. January 2009. I would like to think that after four years I might have provided the leadership and direction but the I fully believe this is the best outcome for continued Board has been the ultimate decision maker. success of the High Performance Program and with valuable support from the State Government, Finally, I would like to acknowledge the value and includes tangible financial benefits to the Western dedication of a wonderful group of management and Australian hockey community. The contract staff, exceptionally led by CEO – Linda Hamersley. has been signed by all parties with work now It is largely due to the dedication, commitment, progressing on providing the initiatives that were expertise and sound judgement of this group of included in the tender. people that we have been able to continue to enjoy another successful year. Strategic Plan At the January board retreat a review of our plan My personal best wishes to all our members, sponsors took place with new objectives included for 2007. and partners for a safe, happy and enjoyable “off Our advisory committees and staff have worked season” and I look forward to once again being a together to achieve those objectives; which will part of such an exciting sporting entity. complete the third and final year of our current strategic plan. Ceri Writer President The next strategic planning phase will take place with the board in January 2008. In anticipation of that, the administration has been gathering data to provide the board with as much detail as possible to enable them to set the direction for the next five years. Cont’d 4 C Projects undertaken during this year have been: major partners and we continue to prosper as a EO State Sporting Association through their ongoing . Bar and Canteen Business Process Review: support and commitment to Hockey in Western The review was commissioned to gain a clear Australia. Our Regional Development Programs understanding of processes currently being flourish with the support from Healthway and we undertaken that could be integrated with existing thank them sincerely for that assistance. It could Hockey WA processes and to identify changes only be considered unparalleled support that we that will be required to streamline administrative have received from the Department of Sport and activities relating to the two entities. Further, the Recreation during the tender process to retain the review was to ensure the staff are operating to Hockey Australia High Performance Program and industry best practice standards.