House debates

Monday, 17 October 2016

Statements by Members

Australian Women's Masters Hockey Championships

4:22 pm

Photo of Madeleine KingMadeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I am pleased to report that on Saturday my teammates representing Western Australia at the 2016 Australian Women's Masters Hockey Championships in Hobart won the gold medal in the 40s age division. WA defeated the noble Queensland two goals to one in the gold medal match. The Australian Women's Masters—

Photo of Russell BroadbentRussell Broadbent (McMillan, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Can I interrupt the member for Brand and ask her to put the sash around her neck so she can speak—

Photo of Madeleine KingMadeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Certainly; I would be only too pleased to do so. I am honoured. Thank you. The Australian Women's Masters Hockey Championships bring together hundreds of women hockey players over seven age groups, ranging in age from 34 to 70—and even beyond 70 in some cases. The fantastic masters hockey community love their sport and are fiercely competitive. They show a lifelong commitment to being active, involved and sharing experiences of loss, disappointment, defeat, camaraderie and, happily, victory. Most importantly, we share the fun and joy of playing a great game.

In Hobart, Hockey WA women won gold in the 40s, silver in the 45s, gold in the 50s, the 60s got silver and the 55s and the inspiring 65s valiantly finished fourth. I commend all of the women across this country who have been selected to represent their states in masters hockey, who have trained throughout a long winter and who competed last week in Hobart. You set a great example to us all of the value of participation. To my own team, the absolutely fabulous 40s, it looks like a great start for Hockey WA.