As we head in to the Christmas holiday period and on to the new year, we reflect on the year that has been, and the year to come.
Without a doubt 2023 has been a busy year, and it is all of you, our community, that makes it an amazing year. We thank all those that have helped in any way. Any help, small or large, is key to keeping our club running. We always have plenty of small or large jobs where people can help. Early in the year we will reach out with a list of possible jobs for all, please reach out if you are able to help.
We thank those that have given to our Peter Mac appeal, a truly worthwhile cause. And our Club Sponsor McKenzies who matches your donation to Peter Mac with extra sponsorship to the club.
The addition of our new scoreboard, thanks to the grant received, and the hardwork by Lindsay Smith, moves the environment to a new level, also opening us up to be able to use the scoreboard for sponsors and events.
As we look ahead to 2024, without a doubt the Olympics is an important part of the year. The Olympics is a time when hockey can shine bright on the world stage. With three of our players in the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras squad for 2024 we hope to enjoy the Olympics with special pride.
Premier League will have a new look and feel with only 12 teams in premier league, and a 22 round season. Our women’s section is adding another team in 2024 with the addition of a pennant E team, while men will continue to have three teams on Monday night, together with the seven weekend teams.
Juniors too will have a new format with venue based Under 8 and Under 10s on a Saturday morning, and yes, Farm Rd, is the venue. While the shield competition is also restructured with the removal of Shield B, and back to a three tiered competition, Shield, Pennant and District. We are very pleased to have shield teams in Under 12 mixed, Under 14 boys, Under 14 Girls, Under 16 Boys and Under 16 Girls.
Some other significant changes from Hockey Victoria include significant increases in umpire fees. We hope this will encourage more people to pick up a whistle and keep our game moving ahead.
Bring on 2024.
The Year that Was
Our Australian players once again shone. With three of our players: Amy Lawton, Nathan Ephraums and Craig Marais in the Australian senior squads, while Josie Lawton, and our wonderful new goalie Rene Hunter part of the Australian Development squad, who also played Australia A games against India in 2023. But that is not all, we were excited to see four of our players: Amy Lawton, Josie Lawton, Emily Hamilton-Smith and Craig Marais in the Jillaroos and Burras teams for the junior world cup, while Trent Symss played for Burras early in the year. David McPherson, David Hammond, David Rosser and Tamsin Nelson were part of the Australian Masters teams that played in the trans-Tasman Cup.
Our winter season was busy. Our masters teams hard a great year, with the addition of the 50A team to bring our masters teams up to five, the 50A led the way taking the premiership, over Camberwell, in a nail biter penalty shoot out. Our Premier League teams also had a great season with both men and women finishing fifth on the ladder and fighting their way to the final four in finals and only just falling short of making it to the big dance. It is always exciting to see our juniors move through to premier league and in 2023 Ed Hall and Lachie Thomas made their premier league debuts.
Our other senior teams performed well, as always our Metro 1 women showed that hockey is important to all, taking out their premiership. It was exciting to see the addition of a third Monday open team to our open age teams who play on a Monday night, with two of these teams making finals.
In juniors our under 12s were the stars with the boys shield and pennant teams making the finals, the under 14 boys shield and the under 16 girls pennant were also in the finals. The 14 boys shield were so close to making the grand final with an extraordinary shoot out in the semi final.
Our under 10 venue based program together with our under 8 Friday night program yet again proved very successful. 2024 will see all under 10 venue based, and Southern has been selected for venue based under 8 and 10 on a Saturday morning in 2024.
Lots has been happening off the pitch with the many junior teams taking advantage of time after training to have team dinners at Farm Rd, while the trivia night once again saw much fun and frivolity. Farm Rd continues to be used by the Grand Masters on a Friday morning. If you are not aware, EVERY Friday morning the grand masters (over 60s) from around Melbourne, flock to Farm Rd to continue to play the game they love.
Thanks to all who took part in the club survey which has been used in helping determine our club strategy for the years ahead. The strategy will be released in 2024.
The club has also seen many milestones with 500 games milestone for Julian Pratt and Suzie Styles, and Matt L’Huillier reaching the impressive 150 premier league games.
In representative hockey, it was great to see so many of our juniors don the Southern Metro Sharks shirts with the junior state championships. We were well represented in the Hockey Club Melbourne season with Craig Marais, Nathan Ephraums, Brad Marais, Nick Fitzgerald, Carlin Walker, Amy Lawton, Josie Lawton, Emily Hamilton-Smith and Millie Green donning the HC Melbourne shirt, while Connor Tuddenham and Rene Hunter played for Canberra Chill. In addition many of our juniors put on the Big V shirt for the under age state teams: Will Carruthers, George Papadopoulos, Bec McNess, Jaime Segbedzi Larissa Boshoff, Puck Okhuizen, Heidi Heath, Charlie Gow, Bailey Bishop, Kobi Hull, Ed Nesbitt, Eve Carter, Evan Laing-Peters, Taine Workman, Neve Hoult. Jayden Fernandez.
The summer has also been busy with highly successful “social” hockey taking place most evenings at Farm Rd across the age groups, together with 7 teams taking part in the indoor competitions. The under 18 pennant team finished on a high taking out the premiership over unbeaten Gippsland, while the 16 shield girls finished. In the highly competitive Sunday summer competition, the Nick Durrant team took the spoils.
McKenzies continues to be our Club Sponsor without their significant support our club would not be. It is not too late to take advantage of the McKenzies “Merry Baking for less”
Buxton Brighton has continued as our major sponsor. A reminder that any Buxton property sale first introduced to Buxton through Ross Walker by a member of the club, the member’s family or an associate, will see Buxton donate a further $1,000 on behalf of the vendor to Southern United. To be clear, no matter where the property sale occurs, if it is first introduced to Buxton via Ross, the club will receive a $1,000 donation upon sale.
We also thank all our sponsors including silver sponsors: Arcobar, Wojo Signs; Bronze Sponsors: Carruthers Executive, Dumbwaiters Australia, HockeyWorld, Ashworth Electircal, PlastaMasta, Rhino, Bakers Delight Southland, Prostthetique Dental
