Inaugural Australian Masters Service Awards presented

The first recipients of a new Hockey Australia Masters award have been announced during the recent combined Australian Masters Championships in Perth.

Graham Napier (WA), Nicola Ogden (WA), Karin Walduck (QLD) and Gail Lomas (QLD) are the inaugural recipients of the Australian Masters Service Award. The awards were presented by Hockey Australia Board Director and Awards Committee Member Pat Hall.

The Australian Masters Service Award is for recognition of significant, outstanding and sustained contribution to Australian Masters hockey at the national or international level underpinned by the ‘One Masters’ tenets of participation, performance, passion and partnerships. The award is a continuation of the previous Men’s Masters and Women’s Masters Service Awards.

Following the introduction of the ‘One Masters’ motto and unified restructured Hockey Australia Masters Committee, a new Hockey Australian Masters awards system was introduced this year.

The system and process has been approved and award recommendations are endorsed by the Hockey Australia Masters Committee (HAMC) and Hockey Australia.  

These Masters Service Awards are complementary to the current suite of Hockey Australia awards, which include Legend, Hall of Fame, Life Member, Award of Merit and Award of Distinction.

“It is important to recognise that Hockey Australia Masters is promoted, organised, administered, officiated and delivered predominately by volunteers,” said Hall.

“These volunteers may be players participating in domestic and/or international events. They may also be officials working tirelessly behind the scenes supporting Masters hockey and contributing to the good of the game.”

“Graham, Nicola, Karin and Gail all epitomise what this award is about and are thoroughly deserving of this recognition.”

“The amazing popularity of Masters hockey in Australia and the comradery among the Masters hockey community is testament to the time, commitment and service people like these four devote and contribute to the game.”

2023 Australian Masters Service Award Recipients
Graham Napier (WA)
Graham has been a long standing contributor and supporter of Australian Masters Hockey, World Masters Hockey and hockey in his home state of Western Australia. Over many years Graham has been the face of Hockey Australia Masters officiating in the role of Tournament Director at Australian Men’s and International Men’s Masters level, the most recent appointment being the 2022 Men’s Masters Championships on the Gold Coast. As well as his Masters involvement, Graham has been a dedicated umpire in the Hockey WA Premier League and has run umpire coaching and mentoring groups for HWA including writing umpire information columns for HWA publications. He has been an excellent mentor for many and is always willing to encourage and empower those around him to be the best they can be.

Nicola Ogden (WA)
Nicola has done a lot of behind the scenes work growing and promoting masters hockey to new players at club, state and national level where she has done anything that needs to be done to support masters hockey. Nicola has made significant contributions as a player, manager and official at Western Australia Masters promoting the Australian masters community to hockey players and officials. Nicola is probably best known for her longstanding contribution to National Men’s Masters Championships where she is regarded as an approachable Technical Officer who has filled roles including Tournament Director, contributing over many years to the highest levels of performance at Masters championships.

Karin Walduck (QLD)
Karin has contributed to Australian Women’s masters to assist the Queensland Delegate since 2007 and in the role of Delegate since 2013 as an active contributor who provided feedback, supported surveys and efficiently managed two-way communication. She was the convenor for the Celebration of 30 Years of HA Women's Masters Championships in Brisbane in 2015, ensuring a successful Hockey Australia Women’s Masters event celebration. Between 2017-2023 Karin has encouraged participation of contingent members as voluntary technical officials at Masters championships in her Contingent leader role. She joined the HAMC in 2023 as a member of the HAMC Growth & Promotion Pillar Group and promptly volunteered as a minute taker. She also fulfilled the role of HA Masters Contingent Leader at the 2023 Trans-Tasman Masters event.

Gail Lomas (QLD)
Gail volunteers tirelessly for Hockey Australia, the Masters community and her local hockey association and club. She was a member of the Hockey Australia Women’s Masters Committee from 2015-2017, then a member of the combined Masters Committee from 2018-2021, until appointed as a member of the restructured Committee from 2022 until present. Gail has held several Australian Team Manager positions and was a player in an Australian touring team in 2014. Gail would be considered the powerhouse behind the current committee demonstrating great expertise around administration and communication. She also provides a passion for innovative ideas and problem solving. A masterful quiet achiever.