Move to Albury fills hockey void

Players compete at ACT selection trials to gain a spot in the nationals. From left: AB Naomi Lewis, SQNLDR Leon Phillips, CPO Andy Harte and AB Candice Freeman.

Photo by CPL Cameron Jamieson

AFTER 12 years in Adelaide, the 2004 ADF Hockey Championships is to be held in Albury.

The move has been prompted because Hampstead Barracks is no longer available, and RAAF Base Edinburgh can’t provide sufficient accommodation to fill the void as it has in the past.

ADF Hockey chairman Wing Commander Ken Millar said Albury was the best option for a number of reasons. “The Defence infrastructure is readily available to support us and it is likely to be the most reliable,” WGCDR Millar said. “Albury also has the best chance of being a long-term solution should a return to Adelaide prove difficult.”

The championships will be held from 5-11 June at the Albury Hockey centre. The centre was upgraded around four years ago with a waterbase turf laid and has subsequently hosted the Australian Country Championships.

As well as being a great social event and featuring a high level of hockey, the ADF Hockey Championships is also used to select the ADF hockey team to compete at the Australian Country Championships to be held in Adelaide and hosted by ADF in July and August.

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