Hockey Australia announces 2022 recipients to honour lists

Eight people whose love of hockey has seen them dedicate countless hours to the betterment of the sport in Australia have received Hockey Australia (HA) Life Membership or an Award of Merit.

Elaine Carr (NSW), Graham Henstock (ACT), Alison Monk OAM (TAS) and Don Smart (WA) are the latest to join the distinguished HA Life Member list.

The four new Award of Merit recipients include Larry McIntosh (NSW), Mavis Randle (NSW), Corinne Reid (SA) and the late Gerry Phillips (SA).

The recipients were ratified by the HA Board at this year’s HA Annual General Meeting.

“Each of these people have given so much to the sport of hockey in their own way with their unique gifts and talents,” said Hockey Australia President Ross Sudano.

“What each of them have done for the game in this country is incredible and we are fortunate and grateful to have such committed, passionate and devoted people making hockey the sport it is and why so many people enjoy playing it and being part of the hockey community.”

“They are all deserving of these awards and I thank the Member Associations and the Hockey Australia Awards Committee for the nominations they put forward.”

Chair of the Hockey Australia Awards Committee, Richard Aggiss congratulated the recipients and said each of them have made highly significant contributions to the hockey community, both at a local and broader level.

“What they have done for hockey and their service to the sport has come from personal desire and their love of the game and the people involved in it,” said Aggiss.

“We are fortunate that we can recognise and acknowledge these people in this way by adding them to the lists of others who have made similarly outstanding contributions.

“Their work and achievements often go largely unnoticed, so it is great to be able to put them in the spotlight and both celebrate and thank them for the time, energy and expertise they have devoted, whether in a playing, coaching, officials or administrative capacity.”

Hockey Australia Life Membership is awarded for outstanding and sustained service to hockey in Australia at national and/or international levels, or conspicuous achievement in significant areas of endeavour which enhanced hockey at a national and/or international level.

The Award of Merit is given for dedicated and sustained commitment to the development of hockey in Australia, and devoted and successful service to hockey and the promotion of the values which underpin the sport.

Presentations to the eight recipients will take place at events to be determined in their home state or territory at a later date.

Hockey Australia 2022 Award Recipients
LIFE MEMBERS
Elaine Carr (NSW)
Elaine has given 60 years of her life to hockey in the Illawarra region as a player, coach and
administrator. An elite talent coming through the ranks of local and state level, Elaine made 31 appearances for the Hockeyroos from 1962-1971.

Off the field, Elaine has served as president of the Illawarra Women's Hockey Association, director of the Illawarra Hockey Board of Management, as well as coach and manager for many local and NSW representative teams. She was inducted into the Hockey NSW Hall of Fame in 2008, received an Order of Australia for her service to hockey in 2013 and earlier this year the new hockey centre in Illawarra was named in her honour.

Graham Henstock (ACT)
Graham “Joe” Henstock has made a significant and consistent contribution to hockey in the ACT and Australia in both the indoor and outdoor form of the game as an administrator, technical official, team manager, coach and umpire.

Graham was a Technical Official at the inaugural Indoor World Cup. He was integral in the establishment of an U13 division at the Indoor National Championships and ran the national event for seven years in various roles. A Tournament Director and Technical Official at many National Championships plus several international series, Graham has been a stalwart in the Hockey ACT community for over 30 years. He continues to serve on the Hockey ACT Senior Competition Committee and has been an official in the local competition since 1991.

Alison Monk OAM (TAS)
A great of Tasmanian hockey, Alison played over 350 A Grade games and over 500 senior games for the POWW Hockey Club and was awarded Life Membership of Wellington Hockey Club in 1984. She has been heavily involved in the Tasmanian Women’s Hockey Association (TWHA) and Hockey Tasmania as a player and administrator, including as President from 2001-2008. Alison has also been part of several national championship committees.

A Hockey Australia Council Delegate since 1998, Alison received Life Membership of Hockey Tasmania in 2009 and a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2021. Her impact and contribution to hockey at all levels including Masters, particularly in Tasmania, has been immense.

Don Smart (WA)
A three-time Olympian, Hockey Australia Hall of Fame inductee, member of the WA Hockey Hall of Champions and WA Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Don’s lifelong love of the sport has seen him reach amazing heights both on and off the pitch.

Don has made a huge contribution to men’s and women’s hockey across every level of the game for 65 years. Representing his state and going on to play 96 matches for the Kookaburras, Don then made a successful transition into coaching. This included coaching Australian Under 21 Men’s and Women’s teams at various Junior World Cups. He was also involved in the creation of the AHA Coaching Manual, conducting in coaching courses all the while continuing to coach at all levels of hockey including playing and coaching Masters Hockey.

AWARD OF MERIT
Larry McIntosh (NSW)
After representing New South Wales for many years, Larry represented Australia in indoor hockey from 1987-1994. The highlight was when he captained the Australian Indoor team that won the 1991 Indoor World Cup and was named the Player of the Tournament.

His impact post playing was just as, if not more significant as he was involved in coaching at Australian representative level over three Olympic cycles. He was an Assistant Coach for the Kookaburras from 1994 to 1996 (where the team won Bronze medals at the World Cup and Olympics) followed by time with the Australian Under 21 Men’s Team. Receiving Hockey NSW Life Membership in 1992, Larry was awarded the Australian Sport Medal in 2000 for his Australian sporting achievement.

Gerry Phillips MBE* (SA)
Gerry was ‘Mr Hockey’ in South Australia from the 1950’s to the 1970’s, devoting vast amounts of time to coaching state players in readiness for success for South Australia and also preparing players for Australian teams.

He was involved in almost everything to do with South Australian Hockey from administration to club development, particularly at Woodville Hockey Club and during his time as president of Hockley SA. He received Hockey SA Life Membership in 1965 and a MBE in 1980 for his service to hockey and cricket. The Woodville Hockey Club continues to mark his contribution with an annual celebration, Gerry Phillips Day, which has taken place since 2000. Gerry passed away in 1999 at the age of 69.

Mavis Randle (NSW)
Mavis’ contribution to hockey in NSW and particularly the Newcastle District Hockey Association and Oxford Ladies Hockey Club has been a lifetime of service beginning in the 1940’s. This 52 years of service, including the 38 years of dedicated service to umpiring and umpiring development, was recognized with an AM in 2021.

Mavis was made a life member of the Newcastle District Ladies Hockey Association in 1982 and received the Sports Volunteer Award in 2006 for her service to sport in the Newcastle area.

Corinne Reid (SA)
An expert in human behaviour, Corinne first worked with the Hockeyroos in 1994 while doing postgraduate work at the University of WA in Psychology. While unable to attend the Women’s World Cup that year, her contribution during many phone conversations was significant as the team struggled to qualify for the finals and then emphatically won both the semi-final and final.

From 1994 to 2000 Corinne was an integral contributor to the Hockeyroos’ team ethos, player well-being and the team's direction and culture. She was then influential in the culture of the Kookaburras as they went on to win the 2014 World Cup. Corinne’s contribution to Australia’s national hockey teams and the advancement of the way teams and leadership are shaped has been pivotal to the advancement of thinking around team and individual development in sport.