Earlier this year, the Hockey Tasmania Inc Council wholeheartedly endorsed a request from the Board to award Anne Stewart Life Membership of Hockey Tasmania Inc. This award is an acknowledgment of Anne’s outstanding contribution to Hockey in Tasmania, the period of her involvement in the game extending over 45 years.
Anne began playing school hockey with Fahan, then in the women’s roster with Fahan Old Scholars; moving on to play for the Wellington Hockey Club and finally for United, a team set up to cater for those who wished to play a high standard of club hockey but because of family and work were unable to meet the training commitments expected of other club teams.
Her commitment and willingness to put back into the sport she loves has seen Anne take on a wide range of roles and responsibilities over the past thirty years.
Anne’s strong desire to see that women could continue to be involved as players at the highest level of competition resulted in her being one of the driving forces in Veterans Hockey in Tasmania and at the national level. She is well known and highly respected by veteran players and administrators throughout Australia and has become a popular figure at National Veterans Championships during the past eighteen years.
The contribution of a perpetual trophy, known as the Anne Stewart Perpetual Trophy for Restricted States, is testimony to her love of veterans hockey and her wish to see Tasmanian teams have an opportunity of gaining deserved recognition for their efforts against the much bigger states. Since its introduction in 1999 Tasmania has only relinquished hold of this trophy once; the Over 45 Nell Clark Trophy – named in honour of Anne’s mother – has been won by Tasmania twice.
At the most recent Veterans Delegates Meeting, held during the Championships in Adelaide in 2003, elections were held to appoint a new Veteran Women’s Operational Committee. Anne, a member of Hockey Australia’s interim committee, chose this occasion to announce her “retirement” from being actively involved in future Championships, though all those who know Anne well and have valued and appreciated her efforts will be trying to convince her otherwise. If we can shorten the hours of commitment currently required by a veterans tournament director – last year it was averaging 14 hour days – maybe Anne will be back for more!
Anne Stewart
STWHA / Hockey South
Player of 45years Fahan School; Fahan Old Scholars; Wellington; United
Assistant Treasurer 1961- 63
Roster Secretary 1964, 1991
Treasurer 1975-76 Finance Committee, Convenor 1976
U19 Selection Committee 1976, 78, 79, 80, 83
Kiosk Committee 1976-77
Grading Committee 1977, 78, 80, 82, 85
Team Selection Committee 1981, 82, 87, 88
U18 Selection Committee 1984, 85, 86, 89
Junior Committee 1985, 86
Hockey Centre Committee 1991
TWHA / Hockey Tasmania
Senior
Interstate Committee 1962, 74
State Seniors Team 1967-1968
U19 Interstate Committee 1977
U19 Selection Committee 1977, 78, 80, 81
U18 Selection Committee 1984, 85, 86, 90
Veterans Championship Committee, Convenor 1986, Ass TD1994, TD 2001
Senior State Team Selection Committee 1987, 88
Masters Committee, Convenor 1987, 91
Veterans Committee, Convenor 1987, 88, 89
International Committee 1991 Australia vs Korea (in Hobart)
State A Umpire
State Veterans Player, Coach, Manager 1984-95
AWHA / Hockey Australia
Various
Championship Committees include Seniors 21’S 18’s AND Tests Series
1987 VETS HOBART TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
1999 VETS PERTH JUDGE
1991 VETS BRISBANE JUDGE
1992 VETS ADELAIDE JUDGE
1993 VETS CANBERRA TECHNICAL OFFICER
1993 TELECOM STIX CANBERRA JUDGE
1994 VETS HOBART ASS TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
1995 VETS MELBOURNE JUDGE
1997 VETS PERTH TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
1998 VETS DARWIN TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
1999 VETS BRISBANE TECHNICAL OFFICER
2000 VETS CANBERRA TECHNICAL OFFICER
2000 21’S HOBART - W TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
2001 VETS HOBART TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
2001 21’S HOBART – M JUDGE
2002 VETS SYDNEY ASS. TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
2002 NHL HOBART TECHNICAL OFFICER
2003 NHL HOBART TECHNICAL OFFICER
2003 VETS ADELAIDE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR