Help Junior Douglas Hockey teams go to State Championships
Local Hockey team
Douglas’ own junior hockey teams are heading to the Queensland Hockey State Championships in July. But to do so, they need your help.
To cover some of the costs, the club is raising money with a 200 board. The squares are up for grabs at $50 apiece and the winner receives $1,000 first prize with the balance raised going towards tournament support costs for families.
Greg Mill, chairman of the Douglas hockey club, said that having two teams attend this year is exciting and a real measure of the club’s growth and success in developing budding hockey players from the Douglas Shire.
However, the costs to tournaments are mostly carried by the parents and include uniforms, airflights, bus transfers, accomodation and living expenses.
“Traditionally parents attend with their kids, so raising money to send teams minimises the financial burdens to families,” Mr Mill said.
“The generosity of the community is the foundation for supporting sport and we are always amazed at how generous locals are in our wonderful Shire.”
Better prepared
“Last year our boys attended the Hockey Queensland State Championships for the first time, they had never played on Astro turf, never played eleven a side hockey and had never played hockey matches that lasted an hour,” Mr Mill said.
“Although they did not win any games they were a model group for having a positive attitude, having fun, great mateship and enjoying their first representative experience.
“These kids will have a better 2022 tournament now that they have learnt what to expect and are better trained for the upcoming tournament.
“Our girls will face the similar challenges our boys had last year, but we anticipate that they will love their first representative sporting experience. Their enthusiasm so far at training has been infectious.
“Queensland hockey selects their state representative teams from these tournaments so who knows, one day we might have one of our kids representing Queensland at National championships or even playing for the Hockeyroos, the ladies national side or Kookaburras, our national men's side at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.”
About the club
Douglas Hockey began October 2018, this is the club’s fourth year running hockey in the Douglas Shire.
The club runs several junior hockey programs, the Cassowary Chicks for toddlers from 2 to 4 years, the Cassowary minis for kids from 5 to 7 year and the Cassowary juniors for 8 to 16 years. There is also a hockey team for adults 18 plus and walking hockey for seniors.
Douglas Hockey also runs their annual Beach Hockey Tournament at Four Mile Beach Port Douglas in October.
For more information about the tournament and to buy your square, you can contact Greg Mill at 0481086056 or email douglashockeyassoc@gmail.com with your number selection.