Vale Robin Ding

Hockey Australia is saddened to hear of the passing of Hall of Fame inductee and former Hockeyroo Robin Ding (nee Bennett).

Heralding from Western Australia, Robin was the 171st player capped for Australia’s national women’s hockey team. She went on to represent her country between 1959 and 1963.

A talented full back, Robin competed at two World Cups plus a tour of the USA and Canada.

Robin’s passion and love of hockey came at an early age. As The Daily News reported in an article on 21 May 1954…

WHEN you walk into the Bennett home you keep a sharp look out for flying apples. For the three eldest daughters of this well-known Mt. Lawley sporting family are in the grip of the hockey fever.
At every opportunity the sisters get out their hockey sticks. When there are no balls available, they use apples. Their mother says that you have to have a sense of humour to live in the house with them. "Every time you go out the back door, you take a risk and they even invade the kitchen at times," she said. Keenest of all is 15-year-old Robin Bennett, who has become the first member of the family to reach A grade standard. She is now a regular member of Laurels side.

A highlight of Robyn’s international career was participation in the International Federation of Women’s Hockey Association (IFWHA) triennial conference and tournament in 1959 in Amsterdam.

Robin then captained the team at the IFWHA tournament in 1963, where Australia won five out of six matches.

Her talent and outstanding contribution to hockey in Australia was acknowledged when she was inducted into the Hockey Australia Hall of Fame in 2019.

In reflecting on and celebrating Robin’s life, some of her contemporaries highlight the type of character she was on and off the field.

Robin was a cool, strong and brilliant defender who was selected for WA and Australia for many years. A feature of her play was her ability to read the play and anticipate her opposition’s moves. She was reputably the best full back for her era. Robin attended the IFWHA Hockey Conference in Amsterdam in 1959, played in the 1960 test match against New Zealand and was captain of the Australian team that participated in the 1963 IFWHA Tournament in Baltimore.  In this tournament she was voted one of the two most outstanding players of the world tournament. As a testament to her skills and contribution to WA hockey she was one of the 10 inaugural women inductees to the WA Hockey Champions in 1991.
Wendy Pritchard (Hockey Australia Hall of Fame inductee)

I first played with Robin in 1960. She was already a veteran left full back in the Australian team. Robin was a pleasure to have alongside on the back line. Her defence was rock solid and her immaculate 'left dodge' a delight to watch. Robin was always calm in the face of an onslaught which gave great confidence to her fellow defenders.
Roslyn Noel (teammate and Hockey Australia Hall of Fame inductee)

Hockey Australia sends its deepest condolences to Robin’s family at this sad time.