Hockey Australia welcomes Australian Defence Force as an Affiliate Partner

Hockey Australia has formalised its long standing relationship with the Australian Defence Force with Associate Membership leading to increased cooperation and collaboration between the two organisations.

It will also provide better servicing and support to all the valued ADF personnel playing hockey throughout Australia.

The announcement came just prior to the 2022 Hockey Australia Country Challenge in Albany, an event the ADF has had teams participate in since 1989.

Hockey Australia Chief Executive David Pryles enthused “we are delighted to formally welcome the ADF into the hockey family and work with them on providing an even better hockey experience to all of the valued ADF personnel engaged in our sport.

“With such a strong hockey history and connection, the ADF are a natural fit for Associate Membership status.”

Hockey Australia Board Director Pat Hall is an ex RAAF Veteran who enlisted from Albany and was playing Inter Service and Tri Service hockey from the late 1960s to the mid 1980s.

Hall said he was particularly pleased to see the ADFHA formally become aligned with HA as an Associate Member.

“Sport plays an integral part in the lives of many of our ADF personnel, both at home and when on deployment overseas, supporting their development, fitness and wellbeing along the way,” said Hall.

“In my own case, playing hockey for the Air Force provided many opportunities over more than 20 years to play both in community based clubs as well as in Tri-Service and Combined Services competitions across most of the States that make up the HA Country Challenge.”

“The addition of ADFHA as an affiliate partner of HA will undoubtedly provide more opportunities, starting in Albany, for Service personnel to engage with the broader Australian hockey community as well as strengthening the sport within the ADF.”

The inclusion of ADF teams at the annual Country Challenge has added further competition and depth to the event, which attracts the best players from Australia’s regional hockey associations. It is something the ADF is excited and proud to continue to be part of.

ADFHA President LTCOL Peter Brown enthused “we are thrilled to have the Australian Defence Force Hockey Association (ADFHA) recognised in this our 40th year. Our association is made up of currently serving and reserve personnel across Navy, Army, and Air Force.

“The ADFHA appreciates the announcement leading into this year’s Australian Country Challenge. Our participation at the Australian Country Challenge continues to be a significant highlight each year and is the pinnacle tournament for our Australian Defence Force Men’s and Women’s hockey teams.

“Our members continue to be involved with many hockey clubs and associations around the country and form a valued part of the hockey community.  We look forward to the opportunities the next chapter of this relationship brings.”

The ADF Men’s and Women’s teams held some training sessions in Perth prior to the start of the Country Challenge, which runs from 6th-13th August 2022 at the home of the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association in Albany Western Australia.

The 2022 Country Challenge comprises 12 teams (six men’s and six women’s teams) from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the ADF.

Image courtesy Hockey Australia