Eight added to Hockey Australia Hall of Fame

The Hockey Australia Hall of Fame will have eight new inductees in 2021 after the HA Board ratified some of the sport’s most highly respected figures.

Colin Batch, Tracey Belbin, Lisa Carruthers-Powell, Jamie Dwyer, Peter Haselhurst and Juliet Haslam will be inducted to the HA Hall of Fame’s Athlete Category.

Richard Jewell and Lisa Roach will also be inducted, the duo to be listed in the Hall of Fame General Category for their distinguished careers as umpires.

This will take the number of people inducted into the HA Hall of Fame to 79 since it was launched with 22 inductees in 2008.

“The Hockey Australia Hall of Fame Committee, led by Chair Richard Aggiss, put forward some of Australian hockey’s most decorated and outstanding players and officials,” said HA President Ross Sudano.

“What each of these people have achieved in their hockey careers and the high esteem and reputation they are held in makes them more than deserving of this honour.

“On behalf of the HA Board and everyone associated with Australian hockey, I congratulate the eight inductees on this recognition and thank them for the lasting impact they have made and continue to make on the sport.”

Induction into the HA Hall of Fame is awarded to Australian players or officials who have achieved excellence on the international playing field and, by their achievements, significantly enhanced the image of the sport.

“The Hockey Australia Awards Committee sets the bar for inclusion into the Hockey Hall of Fame extremely high,” said HA Hall of Fame Committee Chair, Richard Aggiss.

“Our task is to ensure we induct the players, coaches and umpires who have excelled at the highest level in the toughest of competitions and often have the X factor.

“The six players and two umpires to be inducted in 2021 have all excelled at Olympic Games and World Cups and have earned their place in the Hall of Fame. I congratulate them all.”

Presentations to officially induct the eight individuals will be organised at various events throughout 2022. Locations, dates and times are to be confirmed.

The Hall of Fame sits among the inventory of Hockey Australia Awards that also includes Life Members, Award of Merit, Award of Distinction and Legends.

HOCKEY AUSTRALIA HALL OF FAME - 2021 INDUCTEES
Athlete Category
Colin Batch (VIC)
Regarded as one of the most skillful players of his time with a sublime ability to read the game, Colin is a dual Olympian and would have competed at a third if not for the 1980 Moscow boycott. He was vice-captain of the Kookaburras during parts of his 175 game, 12 year career, which saw him win a World Cup in 1986 and four Champions Trophies. He also held the record for the fastest hat-trick in Champions Trophy history from 1980 to 2009 with an 8-minute hat-trick against the Netherlands in 1980. Since retiring from playing, Batch has carved out a successful coaching career. He is currently in charge of Australia’s national men’s team, the Kookaburras.

Tracey Belbin (QLD)
The highly skillful and resolute defender from Cairns would go on to be one of Queensland’s and Australia’s finest hockey players. Between 1985 and 1993 Tracey represented the Hockeyroos 95 times, including at two Olympics. She was a member of the Hockeyroos’ 1988 Seoul Olympic gold medal winning team and also competed at two World Cups and two Champions Trophies among other major tournaments in her 95 international matches. Tracey’s standing in the game is evidenced by her induction into the Queensland Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002 and being named in the Queensland Hockey Team of the Century in 2000.

Lisa Carruthers-Powell (ACT)
Described as playing the game at one pace – fast, Lisa was first selected for the Hockeyroos in June 1989 for a 5-test series against New Zealand. From there she rose to great heights, competing in three consecutive Olympics (1992, 1996, 2000) collecting two gold medals along the way. Lisa also played in two gold medal winning  Hockeyroos teams at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups. After celebrating her 200th game for Australia during the 1999 Oceania Cup, Lisa went on to represent Australia 230 times before retiring after the Hockeyroos’ Olympic gold medal at Sydney 2000.

Jamie Dwyer (QLD)
Heralding from Rockhampton in Queensland, Jamie is widely regarded as Australia’s greatest every male hockey player and one of the best the game has seen on the world stage. A career that comprised 365 international matches and a phenomenal 243 goals in a 16 year career, Jamie is a household name in Australian sport. He competed at four Olympics, famously scoring the winning goal at Athens 2004 to secure the Kookaburras’ first Olympic gold medal. He also played in four World Cups (winning two gold medals), won three Commonwealth Games gold medals, six Champions Trophies and was voted the FIH (International Hockey Federation) World Player of the year five times. Jamie was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2021.

Peter Haselhurst (WA)
The 248th player capped for the Kookaburras, Peter would have competed at the 1980 Olympics if not for the boycott, before he went on to represent Australia at the 1984 Olympic Games. He was part of the Kookaburras’ 1986 World Cup gold medal winning team and won a medal at all nine Champions Trophies he played in, including two gold. Peter was also selected in the 1988 Seoul Olympic team but was injured prior to the team leaving Australia. Peter played 150 international matches, scoring 34 goals and was widely applauded for his brilliant stick skills and high work rate. In 2005 Peter was inducted into the distinguished WA Hockey Association’s Champions Room.

Juliet Haslam (SA)
An integral player and leader of the Hockeyroos’ golden generation that won successive Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2000, Juliet played 220 international matches and scored 30 goals. Juliet’s decorated career also saw her win a Commonwealth Games gold medal, two World Cups and five Champions Trophies. She was named in the Australian Women’s Hockey ‘Team of the Century’ and in 2004 was announced as South Australia’s Greatest Ever Female Hockey Player.

General Category
Richard Jewell (WA)
Highly regarded across the world, Richard is in the top echelon of hockey umpires to have represented Australia internationally. Following in the footsteps of Australia’s greatest umpires, Richard umpired at the 1972 (where he umpired the gold medal match) and 1976 Olympics, 1975 and 1978 World Cups and was appointed Umpire Manager at the boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympics. Between 1973 and 1979 Richard also umpired international Test matches, including being invited to umpire at the prestigious European Cup and the first Junior World Cup. Upon retiring from international umpiring Richard was a member of the FIH Rules Board, the WA Hockey Association Board and the Australian Hockey Association Board.

Lisa Roach (NSW)
Starting in 2000, Lisa umpired at the highest level for 14 years. She has umpired at two Olympics, two World Cups and six Champions Trophies, including the Gold Medal match at the London Olympics in 2012, the 2010 World Cup Final and the 2011 Indoor World Cup Final. Having received her golden whistle for 100 international games in 2011, Lisa went on to umpire 135 international matches. Her calm, no-nonsense approach, strong presentation and confidence is aspired to by many umpires, not only in Australia but internationally.