Hockey’s best celebrated
Volume 11, No. 47, July 13, 2006

TEAMS OF THE DECADES Men 1982-1991: Michael O’Brien (c), Titch Mirallez (vc), Kevin Boniface, Rob Chappell, Daryl Clark, John Clothier, Ross Dann, Adam Day, Scott Dunning, Col Harley, Earl Holmes, Brett Howard, Mal Lockyer, Ian Manhire, Tony Miller, Gary Mott, Wayne Nimmo, Bryan Stothard, Dean Verity, Darren Yates, manager Terry Turner, coaches Les Wark and Peter Luck Women 1982-1991: Roxanne Manhire (c), Leanne Iseppi (vc), Helen Pilati, Leanne Daley, Jenny Hooper, Debbie Leighton, Altair Streetfield, Di Donko, Kim Aeschlimann, Bonnie Boon, Kate Carlisle, Jacqui Chappell, Mary Cornelius, Vicki Chapman, Helen Massa, Barb Jenkins, Judy Ritz, Leonie Wilson, Julie Piggott, Nicki Roche, manager Helen Massa, coach Rob Chappell Men 1992-2001: Titch Mirallez (c), Gordon Brown (vc), Wayne Nimmo, Gordon Simpson, Paul Schofield, Alan Brown, Ian Manhire, Phil Telfer, Craig Burgemeister, Adam Spry, Craig Tippett, Leon Phillips, Darren Yates, Trevor Scholl, Aaron Clausen, Dwayne Kirk, Terry Brodin, Owen Reinhardt, John Webb, Matt Bradley, manager Ken Millar, coaches Titch Mirallez and Mal Lockyer. Women 1992-2001: Leanne Iseppi (c), Brenda Sharp (vc), Helen Pilati, Helen Phung, Donna Douglass, Di Donko, Altair Streetfield, Nicki Bradley, Kim Aeschlimann, Nadine Harrington, Anna Williams, Terri Higgins (Walker), Rachel Clark, Nicki Roche, Patricia Sweetman, Jo Priest, Judy Ritz, Chelsea Dunn, Di Inderswich (Casey), Lisa Makey, Sam Spry, manager Vicki Chapman, coach Roxanne Manhire.

ADF Hockey reflected on past glories and named teams of the decades when it celebrated its silver jubilee at the recent championships in Albury.

The organisation has grown from humble beginnings as the Australian Services Hockey Association 25 years and has produced several players and officials who have represented Australia at the highest levels of the game both indoors and outdoors.

These have included players such as Gordon Simpson (Australian Institute of Sport 1993-96) and Di Casey (Australian indoor team 2002).

Since ADF Hockey’s inception, 16 players have been selected for representative duties in the Australian Country team.

And five ADF players have been selected for Australian Hockey League duties – Cfn Gordon Simpson (Sydney Stingrays 1992, NSW Scorpions 1993 and WA Thundersticks 1995-96, 2001), Wg-Cmdr Leon Phillips (Territory Stingers 1998), Pte Vanessa Peris (Territory Pearls 2001), Cpl Adam Spry (Territory Stingers 2006) and Cpl Samantha Spry (Territory Pearls 2006).

ADF Hockey, as ASHA, held its first competition in Canberra in 1982, playing at RMC Duntroon and being accommodated at HMAS Harman.

After playing in many States and staying on various Defence establishments, ADF Hockey settled in Adelaide in 1992 and remained there for the next 12 years. The ADF Hockey Championships relocated to Albury in 2004 because of accommodation difficulties.

ADF Hockey teams have competed regularly as full members of the Australian Country Championships since 1989 (1992 for the women’s team).

ADF teams have toured internationally, to New Zealand (1983 and 1990), Malaysia and Singapore (1987) and the UK (2005).

New Zealand (1984, 1993 and 1994) and Britain (1994) have visited Australia.

The most recent addition to the ADF Hockey family is the ADF Masters team competing in the Australian and World Masters Games.

ADF Hockey was proud to announce at its championship dinner its “Teams of the Decades” to recognise the outstanding skill level and contribution of members during their time involved with ADF Hockey.