Awards and Recognition Function celebrates Hockey WA's finest

The Hockey WA Awards and Recognition Function for 2021 has seen six legends of WA hockey receive Life membership in an event that recognises the outstanding passion and contributions of dedicated members of hockey in Western Australia.

Hockey WA Life Membership entails any person who has rendered outstanding service to hockey and subsequently, they may be elected by the members as a Life Member of the Association. 

This year, six recipients received Life Membership to Hockey WA which included former coaches, players, officials and administrators from Western Australia acknowledged. 

Former Australian Men’s National Team Coaches Merv Adams and Richard Aggiss received Life Membership for their elite-level representation for WA hockey, as well as leading national teams at multiple Olympic Games. 

Adams represented WA as a player from 1969-1979 and also coach Australia’s Men’s National Team from 1973 to 1976, claiming a silver medal at the Montreal Olympic Games in 1976; Aggiss also coached Australia’s Men’s National Team in two Olympic Campaigns from 1981-1988, claiming two Champions Trophy Wins and a World Cup victory in 1986. 

Former officials, players and administrators Colleen Dayman, Dennis Kemp, Laura Powell and Denise Willcock were also acknowledged with Life Membership, after their tireless efforts representing WA at the highest level. 

The Award of Merit is awarded to those in recognition of their outstanding services to their affiliated club, with four recipients acknowledged this year for their dedication to servicing their club. 

Fremantle Cockburn and Reds Hockey Clubs’ Chris King, Cricketers Hockey Club’s Jim Black, Fremantle Cockburn and Mordernians Hockey Clubs’ Christine Truscott and Victoria Park Xavier Hockey Club’s Michelle Smart were this year’s recipients. 

The Award and Recognition function also highlighted the outstanding work of key volunteers from across WA for 2021, with two winners selected from metropolitan and regional Western Australia.

Kerry Gallagher of University of Western Australia Hockey Club was the winner of this year’s metropolitan pool, recognised for her 15 years volunteering service at the club, while Busselton Hockey Association’s Kylie Callow received the award for Regional WA, after handling positions such as Junior Coordinator, Governance Director and continuous representation for Busselton in the South West Hockey Association. 

Hockey WA CEO Fabian Ross says all the award recipients across the board have been a great service to the sport and the wider community in WA. 

“It’s fantastic to see such a worthy class of Life Members, Award of Merit and Volunteer of the Year recipients for 2021,” Ross says. 

“From all of us at Hockey WA, we thank them for their ongoing passion and dedication to serving our sport; congratulations to all on a fantastic achievement.” 

The full list of award recipients is below. 

AWARD RECIPIENTS 

LIFE MEMBERS 

Merv Adams (Coach/General Hockey Involvement) 

WA Senior Coach -1960s 

Australian Coach 1973 to 1976 (Silver medal Montreal Olympics) 

Richard Aggiss (Player/Coach/Administrator) 

WA State Senior Representation 1969- 1979 

Australian Representation 1969- 1971 (215 caps) 

Australian Men’s Coach 1981-1988 (two Olympic Campaigns, two Champions Trophy wins, 1986 World Cup win) 

Colleen Dayman (Umpire/Player/Administrator) 

B Badged Umpire 

Coached at YMCC 

2002 Women's World Cup Spectator Services Manager 

1998 - 2004 State Masters Team – Manager 

Dennis Kemp (Player/Coach/Administrator) 

Perth Hockey Club- 1947 -1980 

Western Australian State Senior Representation 1952-1964 

1956 - Melbourne Olympics 

Laura Powell (Umpire Official/Administrator) 

WAWHA Umpiring Committee 

Administrator Hills Night Hockey Association 

Coaching Mentor 

Denise Willcock (Player/Official/ Administrator) 

1980-1998 WAWHA Umpire 

1987-State A Umpiring Badge 

President and Director of Peel Hockey Association 

AWARD OF MERIT 

Chris King (Player/Administrator) Fremantle Cockburn and Reds Hockey Club 

Jim Black (Player/Administrator) Cricketers Hockey Club 

Christine Truscott (Umpire/Administrator/Community Service) Fremantle Cockburn and Modernians Hockey Club 

Michelle Smart (Umpire/Official/Community Service) FIH Umpire/ Victoria Park Hockey Club. 

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 

Metropolitan Finalists 

Kerry Gallagher, University of Western Australia 

Kate Rebeiro, Harlies Hockey Club 

Regional Finalists 

Amanda Byng, Mid-West/Pilbara 

Kylie Callow, Busselton 

Jennie Williams, Goldfields 

Rachel Wright, Great Southern 

Metropolitan Winner: 

Kerry Gallagher, University of Western Australia 

Regional Winner: 

Kylie Callow, Busselton Hockey Association