About Us
STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Season 2009 was a very exciting year for the club. We started the year with two games against Japan’s Tenri University Ladies Squad.The first was against the Rockingham Ladies 1′s Squad, recently promoted to Willow Bridge League, and the second a Rockingham All Stars match. These were both thrilling to watch and the Tenri University team showed what it really takes to play at top level international hockey.
Last year also saw the introduction of Edny Van de Broek as head coach for the Ladies 1′s and Michael Nobbs as the head coach for the Mens 1′s. The ladies were competitive in their new grade, having moved up to Willow Bridge League from Promotional 2′s. The Men had an excellent season, only narrowly missing out on the finals by one game. This team is poised to make finals this year, and with some more development the Ladies team will consolidate their position in this new grade.
The club is very pleased and fortunate to have a high level Club Coaching Director in John Wright. Michael, Edny and John are a great trio and make an awesome contribution to the direction and development of our club.
Again, we had a great season with many Men’s, Ladies and Junior teams entered into the Metropolitan Competition. The junior teams had a great year with 4 of the 6 teams making finals. For the first year in the clubs history there was an U/13 girls team in the metro competition and these girls went all the way to the final game, proving that they are definitely a team to look for in the coming season. The U/13 Boys represented the club at A-Grade level, while all other teams played at A-Reserve level.
A separate junior competition (local) is one of the strong points of our junior development and this will continue to run at Larkhill Sportsplex. So, if you are looking at getting yourself or your children into hockey, go to the CONTACTS page and drop us a line, we would love to hear from you! Our club caters for all age groups from 5 to 65 and all skill levels for seniors and juniors.
This year we have already host three exciting international games which took place in February at Larkhill. These featured 2 friendly matches: SIS/SAS Australia v New Zealand Blacksticks and an Australian Hockeyroos v New Zealand Blacksticks Test Match. Australia won all of these matches and both captains complimented RDHC on the quality of the events. It was a great pleasure to host the Blacksticks at Larkhill for their training sessions and the games, and we compliment them on how well they represent New Zealand. Thanks to Mark Hager and his team. We wish Australia all the best in qualifying for the World Cup.
Please take the time to explore all areas of this website and seriously consider becoming part of one of the fastest growing hockey clubs in Western Australia as we would like you to join us in the experience!
History
A recollection of facts by Peter Janczyk (Former Club President)
I firmly believe that if the almagalmation of the men and women’s club in 1979 had not eventuated, there would not be a hockey club in Rockingham today.
It would be remiss of me not to mention that the association between our club and the Navy (Fleet Base West) has brought constant talent and resources to this club over the years that has served to make the club stronger each year.
The Rockingham Ladies hockey club was formed in 1969, when Laurel Carter gathered a team together. The club eventually expanded to three teams with the home ground at Shoalwater Oval. Players for that first match were, Jean Ritchie, Laurel Carter, Jan Smith, Jan’s two daughters, Allison and Helen (age 10), Lynette, Rosalie and Marilyn Earnshaw.
Mr George Earnshaw, father of the last three mentioned girls was coach and mentor and the team played the ‘old rules’ remembered by so few today, the roll in from the sideline, 25 line bully, and the centre bully.
Games were played on Sunday mornings and opposing teams came from as far south as Dwellingup and North to Kwinana. During those early years there were many social gatherings and scratch matches, where husbands played wives and when raffle prizes were exhausted, a husband was raffled. Gordon, (you know who) after umpiring many games at a carnival on Shoalwater oval, was won in the raffle by a very embarrassed Liz (then) Pollini at a following barbeque.
The men’s hockey club was formed after an advertisement in the local paper inserted by Laurie Doncon and Terry Tate, who were the instigators of their first team. The first meeting was well attended and a team was formed of, Terry Tate, Laurie Doncon, Pat Adlam, Ken Byfield, Bob Steer, Ron Chaplin, Rod Vernon, Marty Cappleman, Derek Jones, Ray Lillig, Joe Vasilauskis.
They played in the Murray Districts competition against teams from, Mandurah, Pinjarra, Harvey. Some primitive grounds in those days resulted in players dribbling the ball into cow dung then hitting it as the opponent tackled. The resulting adornment of cow dung on the uniform at least distracted the flies from the barbeque following the match.
In 1974 the men joined W.A.H.A. and excelled into the ensuing years, winning the Guth Ardarth pennants and making grand final appearances on several occassions.
1978 saw the ladies and men’s clubs join forces and grow to more than 100 members. The men were finally after some years granted a home ground on the Rockingham Oval.
The ladies played in the Murray Districts Association until the Coastal Districts Association was formed. Then in 1980, a team of dedicated players went to the metro to try their skills and succeeded in bringing home premierships in the following three years. A grand effort.
Future Plans
A comprehensive 5 year Strategic Business Plan has been created and implemented as of Season 2008.
The Strategic Plan encompasses all areas of Club management, promotion and marketing, development of coaches, umpires and players at all levels, senior and junior. As well as facility and turf management, sponsorship attraction and management, media marketing, promotion, attraction and retention of members past and present and exposing hockey to the wider community.
The newly developed and new home of Rockingham Hockey situated at the Lark Hill Sportsplex off Warnbro Sound Avenue, Port Kennedy boasts a purpose built clubroom and facilities to accommodate 250 people and a first class wet synthetic turf that will now see hockey in Rockingham become a 12 month of the year sport.
A very dedicated Board of Directors and their subsequent committees will ensure that the goals set within the Strategic Business Plan are met over 5 years and they will be striving to ensure the Club continues to grow and promote the sport of Hockey within the Rockingham District.
