THE West Hockey Club women’s Over 35 team has returned from the Pan Pacific Masters Games at the Gold Coast with a gold medal to their name, after a tough competition in trying conditions.
Although many games were scheduled early in the day, the team still competed in temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s for the majority of the time, which was challenging for the players considering they usually play in temperatures in the low to mid-teens in the Mount Gambier competition during the winter months.
However, they took that in their stride and over the week the team won four games and drew one to earn a spot in the gold medal play-off against a strong defending champion Gold Coast team.
After being 1-0 down at half time in the final and conceding another goal early in the second half, “Oh Westy Westy” – as the team was dubbed – managed to claw their way back to equal the score with less than five minutes remaining.
In the dying minutes of the game they converted a well-executed team goal to take the lead and hold out the opposition to be awarded the gold medal.
According to one of the driving members of the team Sharon Lewis there were many highlights across the competition, both on and off the field.
“One of the main highlights of the week was playing against a team from Papua and New Guinea that included an 83 year old women,” she said.
“The enjoyment and high spirits displayed throughout the games by this team was truly inspirational and a privilege to be a part of.”
At the end of the tournament, several team members donated their hockey sticks to the Papua and New Guinea team when they heard the cost of equipment was one of the main reasons why so many people are unable to participate in the sport back in their home country.
But there was also something more personal than just a sporting event which attracted the team to the games.
“The West Hockey Club was established over 70 years ago and over this time, like so many other sporting clubs in our community, close friendships have formed between teammates,” Lewis said.
“Such a bond saw a strong desire for some past and present players to come together and catch-up with a close friend and previous teammate, who tragically lost her 10-year-old daughter, Sophie Bombski in 2016, a few years after her family made a move to the Sunshine Coast.”
The team Oh Westy Westy was then formed and donned colourful unicorn headgear during their outings at the event in memory of Sophie, who loved unicorns and rainbows.
“While being involved in the PPMG was a very memorable experience and one the team hopes to do again, a key lesson from the trip was the importance of enjoying life and those around you and a reminder of the importance of having a discussion with your family about organ and tissue donation,” Lewis said.
“It can make such a difference to the lives of so many, as was the case with the sudden and tragic passing of young Sophie.”
