The annual Hockey Tasmania Dinner held last Saturday night in Wrest Point’s Derwent Room was attended by 120 guests, including members of the Wrest Point Van Demons, the MIA Tassie Tigers and their major sponsors and supporters.
Also in attendance were family members of Hockey Tasmania’s Executive Officer, Gai Cross, who was presented with Life Membership of Hockey Tasmania for her outstanding contribution to the administration of Hockey in Tasmania over the past twenty years.
The function was an occasion to recognise and acknowledge the achievements and contributions of a number of individuals and groups who have been involved in several major hockey events this year. These included the Australia v Spain Test Series held in February; the Trans Tasman Veterans Hockey Challenge held in May; and the AHL Men’s Finals Series also held in May.
MC Alister Nicholson (from ABC Sport) kept the formalities progressing well and provided an entertaining interview with 1973 Tasmanian goalkeeper, Jon Burns who recalled some interesting details of the ’73 National Championship. In that year, Tasmania made it to the Grand Final but lost to Queensland, the outcome to be repeated by the MIA Tassie Tigers in 2006.
An auction of a 2006 Commonwealth Games shirt, signed and framed, drew some spirited bidding. In response to a challenge thrown out by Jon Burns, the syndicate of Jon Burns-Geoff Davidson-Ken Read purchased the shirt for $2,000, with funds to be used to support the participation of the Sproules, Daniel and Trent, in the MIA Tassie Tigers 2007 campaign. The support of these three hockey stalwarts is fantastic, greatly appreciated and typifies the passion shared by so many in the hockey community who wish to support our AHL players.
There has been outstanding support this year by a growing number of individual player sponsors and members of the AHL Supporters Club. It is hoped that this level of support will continue to grow and the hard work put in behind the scenes to keep costs down will encourage our best players to make themselves available for selection in 2007.
Hockey Tasmania’s major sponsors were acknowledged for their ongoing support, with framed photographs presented to MIA, Wrest Point, Tattersall’s Hobart Aquatic Centre, Jerry Hampton’s Amcal Pharmacies and Hockey South Inc.
MIA’s Di Clark, whose personal support and encouragement of the MIA Tassie Tigers has been fantastic, also made a presentation on behalf of MIA, to Tigers Coach Andrew McDonald, and to players Ollie Close and Trent Sproule. Bob Harris, another who has given fantastic support this year, presented a sponsorship cheque on behalf of Wrest Point for $7,500 and this was received with great appreciation by Hockey Tasmania’ President, Alison Monk.
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Presentation of HT Awards
[30/07/2010]
