History of the Townsville Hockey Association
The foundation meeting of the Townsville Hockey Association was held on 29 August, 1929 and elected Major Chumley as President and Arthur Skau as Secretary. The first official competition was conducted at Queens Park, North Ward.
During World War II hockey was played at Corcoran Park and by services teams on the Town Common.
Shortly after the war Cutheringa Park became the home of hockey. After more than twenty years, hockey moved to Endeavour Park in partnership with cricket and then to its present home at the Townsville Hockey Complex.
The Townsville Hockey Association Inc is proud of its record of achievements over many years. Townsville’s emergence as a hockey strength became prominent in the 1960’s when they were regularly crowned as the State Senior Men’s Champions. Townsville has regularly emulated such achievements in various grades. In 1994 our Under 18 Ladies team won its third successive State Championship.
We have produced many international players: Merv Crossman, Barry Malcolm, Jim Mason, Robyn Boniface, Kay Lehmann, Renita Garard, Baedon Choppy, Stephen Colledge, Teneal Attard, Janita Ogilvie, Robbie Hammond, Nathan Burgers and Stephanie Kershaw at senior level. Many players have attended the Australian Institute of Sport in Perth: Ashley Grummitt, Glen Deuble, Kim Willett, Janita Ogilvie, Robert Hammond, Nathan Burgers and Stephanie Kershaw. Townsville hockey has also had numerous players represent Australia at the Masters level and in the Jillaroos (Australian U21) as well as the Australian Country Teams.
In 1988, the Association completed the North Queensland’s first sand-based synthetic surface. Three years later, the Clubhouse overlooking the surface was completed. As well as providing a wonderful viewing platform, the Clubhouse has bar facilities, and entertainment area, food and drink booths, toilet and dressing rooms and offices for the Association and its affiliated Clubs. Since 1988 the synthetic surface went from a sand-based turf to a water-based turf and in 1999 a new water-based surface of the same standard to be used during the 2000 Olympics at Homebush in Sydney was installed.
The Association was very proud to be chosen to host its first Australian Championship in 1984 when it conducted the Australian Veteran Men’s Championships. In 1986, the Australian under 15 Boys Championships was also conducted in Townsville with the host State claiming the title. In 1992, we once again hosted the Veteran Men with 35 teams contesting Australian Championships in five Divisions. This Championship attracted approximately 1,000 visitors who injected more than $1,000,000 into our local community.
In October 1999 Townsville hosted an International Game between Australia and Germany and in 2010 Townsville hosted international games between Argentina and the Hockeyroos. Coaching Clinics conducted by the Hockeyroos were well received by hundreds of Junior players.
From 1993 to 2000 the North Queensland Barras were a very successful team in the National Hockey League.
2008 saw the construction of a second water-based artificial turf.
The sport of hockey in Townsville remains strong.
