Return of Hockey Australia Country Championships a pleasant surprise according to GVHA president

By Jay Bryce

Aug 7, 2023

Representing: Mayor Shane Sali (centre) with team captains representing their state. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

After the Hockey Australia Country Championships finished in 2019 Goulburn Valley Hockey Association president Cameron Druitt was looking forward to it coming back to Shepparton ― hopefully in the next 20 years.

After all, it was the late ’90s Shepparton had last hosted it.

After the pandemic hit, hockey (like many things) was completely halted in Shepparton for an extended period.

Beyond that, the floods last year left the facilities of the hockey complex at Shepparton Sports City largely unusable for months.

All of these factors would lead Druitt to feel even less hopeful of a return of the championships anytime soon.

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Down low: Victoria's Kahlua Smart. Photo by Megan Fisher

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In the zone: South Australia's Jordan Ganley and Victoria's Jane Young. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Searching for a teammate: Victoria's Shanaye Alexander. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Dish it off: Victoria's Jorgie Wright. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Eyes on the prize: Victoria's Chelsie Hird. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Keep control: Victoria's Sophie Collings. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Focused: Victoria's Jorgie Wright. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Battling it out: Victoria's Naomi Hunter. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Calm and composed: Victoria's Kahlua Smart. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Locked in: Victoria's Rhea Sutton. Photo by Megan Fisher

And yet, four years later, on Friday, August 4, he stood at the hockey fields that were submerged in water 12 months earlier to launch the return of the national competition to Shepparton.

He was joined by City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali, Hockey Australia representatives and competing captains of the state men’s and women’s teams ahead of the hit-off on Saturday, August 5.

Over the moon: GV Hockey Association president Cameron Druitt was overjoyed to get the chance to host the championships again. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

The competition, which began at the weekend, runs until Saturday, August 12, with free entry for all.

While there are no competing players from Shepparton, Druitt stressed how important it was for local players to see the country champs as a legitimate pathway, given that all players are from regional areas, meaning they do not have to compete with players in metro areas.

“This is showing our kids that they can play for their state, represent Vic Country, travel the country and be in a high performance program,” Druitt said.

“Roughly you expect it once in 20 years, so we were more than happy to take it off of Goulburn’s hands.

“It’s just great exposure, it’s a wonderful atmosphere and hopefully we can get a bunch of people through the gates that haven’t been here before to see what hockey is really about.”