BENDIGO SENJUNS HOCKEY CLUB HISTORY
The Senjuns Hockey Club was formed in 1986 by close friends, Glenda Nevinson, Alison Ferguson, Alison Campbell and Judy Hasty. Alison Perkins, a senior player who agreed with these friends’ hockey aims, later joined forces with the club.
The vision of these senior players was to use their encouragement, skill and experience to develop young, interested hockey players into an enthusiastic, fair minded and committed team. For their new team, the founders agreed upon the name "Senjuns" which originated from two words, "Seniors" and "Juniors”, and underpinned the goals of this group.
The majority of members of this new team consisted of the aforementioned players and their daughters or young relatives, which made up the original A women’s team. The Senjuns "B" Grade Women’s team was formed in 1988. Later the A grade Men’s team with the same endeavor, aims and enthusiasm as the Senjuns’ founders, fielded its inaugural team in 1995, followed by a Men’s B grade team in 1999.
There has been a concerted effort to develop Juniors from a very young age, (originally through Minkey Hockey teaching sessions and games), then in later years Hooked in to Hockey and HV Schools’ Roadshows. Bendigo Senjuns has worked tirelessly to field teams in U9, U11, U13, U15 and U17 competitions.
As Senjuns has continued to grow, there have been many family groups as well as individuals, whose involvement in playing, administration, coaching and support has been invaluable in raising and maintaining the profile and success of the club renamed in 1999 as the Senjuns Sharks. In 2015 Senjuns Hockey Club became known as Bendigo Senjuns Hockey Club Inc.
Life Members
During 1996 the club founders Glenda Nevinson, Alison Ferguson, Alison Campbell and Judy Hasty, were honoured to receive life memberships in recognition of ten years’ service to the development of the Senjuns Hockey Club.
In 2009 Sheryl Hartney and Tony Capuano were awarded life memberships for their invaluable contributions in their roles as coaches, players and administrators.
In 2018, Dale Boyd, Shane Hartney and Michael McDermott were awarded life memberships for their recognition of their efforts as committee members, coaches/managers and club person.
Kelly Harris (2021), Kerri Boyd and Mark Albrecht (2022) and Maurie Miles (2023) have also been awarded life memberships.
*A more detailed history of successes and family groups can be found in Bendigo Senjuns Hockey Club Inc Bylaws document and Definitive Club History.
Committee of Management
The Bendigo Senjuns Hockey Club Committee’s main role is to ensure that the Club operations run smoothly, members enjoy participation and involvement and that the Club grows in coming years. In order to fulfil this function, the Committee will undertake various functions including governance, finance and promotion of the Club. Additionally, the Committee will support functions such as the day-to-day running of the teams including coordination of Coaches, Managers and Umpires.
Apart from Committee Executive positions (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer) the following roles may be filled by Club Members outside the Committee of Management (COM).
The participation in the success of the club by the wider membership, is encouraged.
Executive:
* President – Vacant
The role of President is to be figurehead for the Club and assist with publicity and growth of Bendigo Senjuns Hockey Club (the Club). This includes representation on external Hockey Central Victoria committees, participation and chairing of Bendigo Senjuns Committee meetings and liaising with other Clubs in the Hockey Central Victoria (HCV) competition.
* Vice President – Kerri Boyd
The role of the Vice President is to shadow and support the President in providing leadership to the Club.
* Treasurer – Jemma Rainbow
The role of the Treasurer is to oversee the financial position of the Club including invoicing members, purchase of Club equipment or receipt of sponsorship funds. The Treasurer is responsible for regularly reporting the Club’s financial position to the Committee.
* Secretary – Hayley Pepperell
The role of the Secretary is to facilitate information sharing between the Committee and the broader Club membership. This includes monitoring the Club correspondence, responding to requests for information from Club members and members of the public and being the primary point of contact for the Club.
Non-executive:
* Membership Officer – Vacant
The role of Membership Officer is to focus on Club experience for members and develop ways to increase Club participation and membership. The Membership Officer has a strong role in Club communications, liaising with the Secretary and Publicity Officers as required. This role has a focus on Club culture and works to actively improve the experience of those involved in Bendigo Senjuns Hockey Club, including offering Exit Interviews with exiting members.
* Fundraising Officer – Vacant
The role of Fundraising Officer is to coordinate Club fundraising events and to liaise with the Treasurer and other Committee members to ensure opportunities for additional fundraising are sought frequently.
* Grants Officer – Suzanne Hartney
The role of Grants Officer is to submit applications for additional Club funding and to liaise with the Treasurer and other Committee members to ensure opportunities for additional funding are sought frequently.
* Publicity / Social Media Officer – Jemma Rainbow
The role of Publicity Officer is to ensure that all media outlets for the Club (including Facebook and the official Club website) are up to date and inviting.
* Umpiring and Competition Officer – Kerri Boyd
The role of the Umpiring and Competition Officer is to coordinate any umpiring requirements for the Club, liaise with the HCV Umpiring Coordinator and act as the Club’s representative at required forums.
* Strategy Officer – Alicia West
The role of the Strategy Officer is to work with the Committee and other Club members to develop long-term vision for Bendigo Senjuns Hockey Club. This includes liaison with relevant bodies, an understanding of strategic development and planning as well as good relationship building capacity. It is important for this role to maintain connection with other Portfolio roles to ensure that the overall Club Strategy includes facets of development financially, culturally and from a governance perspective.
* Property Officer - Hayley Pepperell
The Property Officer will be responsible for the physical property of the Club (including uniforms), managing assets and equipment as required.
General committee members
Mel Alexander, Suzanne Hartney, Alicia West, Paul Threlfall
** Committee meetings are held monthly. All members are welcome
