Life Members

GLORIA COOPER

Gloria Cooper (Bryant) commenced playing hockey for Glee in 1955 and played up until the early 1990’s - a total of 39 years.

A long serving representative goalkeeper for Far North Coast from the early days of Country Week in Sydney to later NSW State Championships.

Gloria who was affectionately known as “Coop“ was a willing worker for Far North Coast Women’s Hockey and was always available to help out whenever required.

For her services to Far North Coast Women’s Hockey, Coop was awarded Life Membership in 1983. A wonderful achievement.

PAUL LEADBEATTER

Paul commenced his hockey on the Far North Coast, as a member of the Northern Star U’14 team in 1970 and moved up through the ranks establishing himself as a regular A Grade player.

Paul held many positions within Northern Star Hockey Club including selector, coach, treasurer, Vice President and junior coordinator, he won Clubman of the year on five occasions and for his dedicated service was awarded Life Membership in 2000.

As well as representing Far North Coast hockey at senior and veterans / masters’ levels, Paul was President of the Far North Men’s Committee from 1988 to 2014, was President of the inaugural Far North Coast Hockey Board and with the formation of Far North Coast Hockey Incorporated, served as a club delegate and President 2018-2020.

Paul has worked tirelessly for Far North Coast Hockey and has spent a huge amount of voluntary time at the turf, doing whatever needed to be done including maintenance, construction, cleaning, canteen, bar, turf control, administration, umpiring etc.

Paul was awarded Life Membership of Far North Coast Hockey Incorporated in 2015, an award of which he is justly proud.

CLINTON MALLETT

Clint joined East Lismore Hockey Club in 1964 as an under twelve (12), he was ten (10) turning eleven (11) that year and first took up an administrative role for the club in 1972.

He is uncertain what date he started administrating for FNC, but it was in the seventies (70’s). Clint was an Under 17 Junior Association Coach and Junior Association Secretary from 1977.

Clint was awarded life membership of the East Lismore Hockey Club in 1983/84 and a Life member of the Far North Coast Junior Hockey Association in 1985/86.

As a Board Member of the NSW Junior Hockey Association in 1986/87 he would travel by bus to Sydney on a Saturday evening once a month to attend meetings, but NSW would fly him home.

During 1987 Far North Coast Hockey Incorporated was formed, and he was the founding secretary of that group. Their primary goal was to develop a synthetic surface for FNC, and that inaugural group consisted of Rhonda Mathers (President), Rhelma Savins, Jaye Hannigan, Clint Mallett (Secretary), Trevor Dancer and Barry Carney (Treasurer). Trevor Dancer left the group and was replaced by Steve Garbutt. The Group delivered a Balsam sand filled surface for the 1994 season.

Clint has held various roles, including treasurer of the FNC Men’s Association, the most significant being President of Far North Coast Hockey Inc for 16 years from 2000 to 2015. In that time the group facilitated the development and construction of the FNC Clubhouse and the upgrade of Turf 1 from a sand filled to water filled surface. In conjunction with the Late Tony Porter, he headed up the restructure of the Association by combining the Men’s Hockey Association (Juniors as part of men’s) and Women’s Hockey Associations into one Far North Coast Hockey. This was introduced for the 2015 season.

Having resigned as President for the 2016 season he became the Complex Manager and held that role until 2019 and then took on the acting Secretary role in late 2019 until (currently still in that role).

During his tenure as Complex Manager he was a part of the group that facilitated the development and construction of Turf 2 and the upgrade of Turf 1 to new water filled Tiger Turf surfaces and ancillaries.

RHONDA MATHERS

Rhonda arrived in Lismore in 1972 to take up her teaching appointment at Lismore High School, she was delighted to find that the school had five girls’ hockey teams competing in the Far North Coast Women’s Saturday competitions. Rhonda joined their A Grade team, as well as, umpired and she became the club’s delegate to meetings.

In the following years, Rhonda became heavily involved in Far North Coast Women’s Hockey as a representative player, umpire, coach to junior, senior and veterans’ teams) and also held administrative roles. Her administrative roles included grading, selector, draw committee, umpiring, reporting and carnival organisation. Rhonda also had the privilege of serving a term as President and as delegate to State Meetings.
She was deeply honoured to be granted Life Membership of Far North Coast Women’s Hockey, an award, Rhonda deeply treasures.

When a joint turf committee was formed with representatives of Far North Coast Men, Far North Coast Juniors and Far North Coast Women, Rhonda was appointed as one of the three women’s delegates. This committee worked tirelessly to complete grant applications, raise money, and promote the benefits for Far North Coast Hockey, and, in October 1993, construction began on a sand based synthetic surface at Hepburn Park Goonellabah.

With the amalgamation of the three bodies (Far North Coast Men, Far North Coast Juniors, and Far North Coast Women) into Far North Coast Incorporated, Rhonda continued her active involvement with Glee Hockey Club and representative teams coaching, selecting and umpiring, as well as being a Board delegate and taking on additional roles such as grading, draw and carnival organisation.
Hockey has been an important part of Rhonda’s life and the voluntary time and commitment she has made to Far North Coast Hockey has been a great privilege and one of pleasure and enjoyment.

RHELMA SAVINS

Rhelma played hockey with Glee Hockey Club from 1954 until 1997- a total of 43 years. A long serving Far North Coast representative player from the early days of Country Week to the later NSW State Championships, Rhelma was also a member of the first Far North Coast Veterans team.

She continued to represent with Far North Coast at later championships and in 1986 gained selection in the NSW Over 40’s State Team.

Rhelma played a huge role in the development of Far North Coast Junior Girls Hockey coaching the Wyrallah Road Primary School hockey teams from 1965 to 1980, as well as coaching at Bangalow Public School for over 20 years and also helping at Coraki Public School. Rhelma felt it was a great shame, that around 1980, clubs took over junior hockey and primary school hockey was disbanded.

Over the years, she also took on the roles of coach and Manageress of Far North Coast junior girl’s representative teams, as well as travelling to Sydney to represent Far North Coast at NSW Conferences.

A talented umpire who achieved a State A Umpiring Badge, Rhelma also made a huge umpiring commitment to Far North Coast Women’s Hockey holding junior umpiring clinics, organising junior umpire tests and was the Far North Coast Umpires Convenor for 9 years.

Rhelma together with Rhonda Mathers and Jaye Hanigan, were the Women’s delegates on the combined turf committee (with delegates from FNC Men and FNC Juniors) which worked tirelessly to complete grant applications, raise money and promote the benefits for Far North Coast Hockey and, in October 1993, construction began on a sand based synthetic surface at Hepburn Park Goonellabah.

Rhelma’s huge contribution to Far North Coast Women’s Hockey saw her awarded Life Membership in 1983. A just reward for her dedication and commitment and Rhelma is extremely proud to have received this honour.

NORMA THOMAS O.A.M.

Norma first played hockey at Murwillumbah and represented Tweed Hockey Association at Queensland State Championships.

Norma married in 1955 to Ken Thomas and thus began my lifelong association with Coraki Hockey Club and Far North Coast Hockey Association and was Coraki Hockey Club’s delegate at Far North Coast Hockey for many years.

Norma served as Treasurer of Far North Coast Hockey for over thirty (30) years and represented the Association with Gloria Mortimer and Rhelma Savins at the NSWHA meetings in Sydney. We paid our own fare and stayed overnight with Betty Timms (another Life Member of the Far North Coast Hockey Association) – today delegates fly down and stay at motels at the Association’s expense.

For many years, Norma was a selector of the Associations representative and zone teams while also taking on the role of either the Coach or Manageress role also on many occasions umpired on behalf of the Association.

Norma was awarded an O.A.M. (Medal Of The Order Of Australia) partly for her services to hockey and the town of Coraki.

Norma is both a Life Member of both Coraki Hockey Club and Far North Coast Hockey Association and most Saturdays, during the hockey season, she is on the sideline watching the hockey action.

WENDY TRUDGEON

Wendy has been involved in hockey on the Far North Coast (FNC) for 50 years. She was elected secretary of FNC Women’s Association in 1972 and held this position, then president, prior to the Women’s and Men’s Associations amalgamation. After the amalgamation she held the position of Vice President of Far North Coast Hockey Inc.

Wendy arrived at FNC in 1972, leaving Murwillumbah where I had a rewarding time playing, umpiring and being treasurer of the Tweed Association and joined Northern Star Hockey Club, initially as an A Grade player and umpire, and then branched out into coaching, selection and administration, both for her club and at Association level.

Wendy was a member of the one of the first two FNC teams to play in the Masters (Vets) State Championships in 1985. In 1986, she was selected in the NSW O40s team and made it back into the team in 1987. In 1988 we missed attending the Championship in Perth, due to a pilot’s strike. Unable to continue playing at this level after a health setback in 2005, she channeled her energy into coaching.

For almost forty years Wendy represented FNC and NSW Masters as a player, coach and umpire and continually fostered FNC representation. For Wendy’s involvement with hockey and in recognition of her achievements and dedication she was awarded Life Membership of FNC and then in 1997, was granted life membership of Northern Star Hockey Club.

Wendy has successfully coached FNC teams at the NSW Masters State Championships and coached NSW Women’s Masters teams at Master’s National Championships from 2010 onwards. The Over 60s (for 6 years) and Over 65s (for 2 years) As coach of the O60s from 2010-2015, the team won Gold or Silver every year. In 2016 and 2017 Wendy coached the inaugural NSW O65s team which won gold both years.

Wendy was one of the committee that was the driver behind having hockey included in the biannual Lismore Masters Games, securing teams and umpires to enable this competition to run successfully since 2001.

Wendy has also enjoyed the experience of coaching teams in three Pan Pacific Masters Games competition held on the Gold Coast. The teams won gold on each occasion, (2012, 2014 - over 50s and 2018 - over 65s).

Wendy has been blessed to have had a love of hockey, a wonderful family who has always supported my involvement and many friends whose friendship she cherishes and who have willingly helped her in so many ways.