Club in focus: Old Carey Hockey

Old Carey Hockey Club

Patrick Rebakis Social Co-ordinator

Courtney O’Sullivan Player

The Old Carey Hockey Club currently fields two teams across the Mens Metro grades and has recently introduced an Over 35s Master team. They are looking forward to a fun and hopefully successful season of hockey. During the early part of 1961, Phipps Gay (1958) and Stan Rees (1932) commenced discussions with interested OCGs regarding the formation of an Old Carey Hockey Club (OCHC). They presented the idea to the OCGA at their November committee meeting that year, and commenced their own OCHC committee the following month. They entered the team into the Victorian Hockey Association for the 1962 season. The Club joined the Melbourne Women’s Hockey Association in 1983, and has since become one of the most successful and stable old school clubs over the past 58 years. It has been a rich and fulfilling history, which is something very few clubs can boast. The club has approximately 50 playing and non-playing members aged from 12 to 75, and provides both social and serious competition across the teams. OCHC encompasses a broad range of the community, including not only Old Carey Grammarians, but players from all walks of life across Melbourne. One of the elements that keeps the club strong is the sense of contributing to a community while staying active. Life member Polash Larsen said, ‘When I haven’t had much going on in my life it’s given me something to feel good about. And during the times when I’ve had a lot going on, the club’s rallied around and supported me. It’s a great community.’ In 2011 the Old Carey Hockey Club became a pilot club for the ‘Fair Go, Sport!’ program. This initiative, funded by the Australian Human Rights Commission, seeks to ‘Increase awareness of sexual and gender diversity in hockey and promote safe and inclusive environments’. In proud support of the program, the OCHC celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new inclusive Code of Conduct and a Fair Go, Sport!

match where all players wore rainbow socks. This helped the Club to build an inclusive and welcoming culture, which is still a defining feature today. If you are interested in being a part of this enduring history, get in touch with the Club on Facebook or by email at the address below. New and experienced hockey players are welcome. oldcareyhockeyclub@gmail.com