On the 7th of October the La Trobe University Hockey Club held their 44th Presentation Night at the Stolberg Beer Cafe. Celebrating a successful season both on and off the field, we recognised our 2011 Award Winners for outstanding success this year.
At the conclusion of the evening, we were also proud to announce the addition of two new Life Members.
Michael Wilcox
After joining the club in 1991, he immediately made an impact bringing together a group of guys who would later become mates for life. Michael contributed to a number of successful seasons at the Gunners, and would later go on to play State League 2 for the club. Among being a regular finals player, Best & Fairest winner and a keen attender of social functions, Michael, along with a few mates, established a Goal Scoring Award that would later become the George Grouios Goal Scoring Shield.
Michael has also played a key role across a number of areas in the club. While playing in State League, Michael also put his hand up to coach the Women’s 1s, leading them to a State League 4 Premiership. He joined the committee in 1993 and later became President in 1998. More recently, Michael has played a crucial role in the establishment and management of the La Trobe University Hockey Club Juniors program, which has been a continued success over the last couple of years.
For incredible commitment and playing an enormous impact in the Club’s success over the past two decades, we are proud to announce the 13th Life Member of the La Trobe University Hockey Club, Michael Wilcox.
Sarah Dowling
Sarah joined the club in 1994 and in her first year took her team to a Premiership. In fact over the past 17 years Sarah has seen a number of finals, as well as being Team Manager, Captain and the winner of the Best & Fairest in 2008 and 2009.
Perhaps most notably, Sarah has played a crucial role in the organisation of the club almost from the beginning. The organisation of Easter Hockey Carnivals, Anniversary Balls, Presentation Nights and a number of social functions are just a few things Sarah has contributed to over the year, until stepping it up in 2005 when she became the Club Secretary where she has been ever since.
In this role she has done an incredible amount of work behind the scenes, liaising with the local council, the university, Hockey Victoria, the committee and the rest of the club. She has spent countless hours organising fundraisers, entering teams, writing annual reports, submitting grants, coordinating committee meetings and managing everything else that’s required to run a club day to day. She’s done all this selflessly and without any need of recognition.
Sarah is a behind the scene hero, and every club needs one. For these reasons and for many more, for outstanding commitment and service to the club, we are proud to announce the 14th Life Member of the La Trobe University Hockey Club, Sarah Dowling.
Congratulations to both Michael Wilcox and Sarah Dowling, two people who have had an incredible impact on the club and continue to do so. Without them, the club simply would not be what it is today.
For a list of previous Life Members, click here.