Newly appointed Cooktown hockey coordinator Anthony Davies with Greg Mill from the Douglas Hockey Association.
A TWO-YEAR search for hockey coordinators in Cape York is over, with appointments made in Weipa and Cooktown last week.
The Douglas Hockey Association may be based in the Douglas Shire, but has a passion for growing the sport in the Far North.
With funding from the federal government, it has plans to bring hockey to all corners of Cape York, as well as the Torres Strait.
“We haven’t got a coordinator for the Bamaga and Thursday Island area yet, but we are looking,” said Greg Mill, the chairman of the Douglas Hockey Association.
“But we’re thrilled to have made two appointments in the Cape.”
Anthony Davies will be the hockey coordinator for Cooktown and the southern Cape.
He will target the Hope Vale, Wujal Wujal, Coen, Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw communities.
“Anthony has played hockey in Cairns and Darwin and has just recently moved to Cooktown with his partner Lucy,” Mr Mill said.
“He will officially commence on March 1, working with schools, PCYCs, councils and our local Indigenous communities.
“He has a passion for our sport and will be a great asset to our team in developing kids and adults to play hockey in Cape York.”
Weipa resident Shania Kannell will be the hockey coordinator for the western Cape region, including her native Lockhart River.
“She is enthusiastic to take on this amazing new role and we know she will be a big hit working with kids in the local schools and community,” Mr Mill said.
She will also start in March.
Mr Mill said there would be opportunities for children and adults to partake in hockey sessions and hoped regular competitions would start in the bigger communities of Weipa and Cooktown.
“We don’t have hockey fields in any of the communities but we can play indoors in the PCYCs and sports stadiums,” he said.
“There’s a focus on five-a-side games which is a great entry point.
“We have found that there are a lot of people who have played hockey before and now live in the Cape, where there is no access to the sport.
“We’re hoping that can change and maybe they pick it up when they move.
“Places like Weipa are transient communities.”
Mr Mill said Hockey Australia and Hockey Queensland had been supportive of the Douglas Hockey Association’s bid to grow the game.
“Through Hockey Queensland we just got access to $6000 in equipment,” he said.
“Cook Shire has also given us a grant and we’ll look to partner with other councils in the region.”
