Life Members
CLARK, Ros
Ros ‘was roped in’ to hockey in 1971. Ros contributed enormously to the Club in a playing, umpiring, coaching (mid 80’s-mid 90’s) and in an administrative capacity for over 20 years. She was first president after the cyclone in 1975/76, 1977 and 1978. In 1980, Ros was awarded life membership.
CLARK, Andrew
Andrew started playing at the age of 5 years for Waratahs in 1971 and transferred to RSL when they started a boy’s team in 1978. He first played A grade in 1984. Since that time Andrew has played around 250 A grade games with the club. He has played in 6 premiership teams and has scored more goals than anyone in the Club’s history. As a player Andrew has consistently been one of the best-performed players for men’s A grade spanning over 15 years. He has represented the Territory at state championships on numerous occasions and more recently became a member of the first “Stingers” team playing in the National Hockey League. Andrew was a consistent A grade hockey umpire for more than a decade and he made a major contribution to club administration serving on the Committee in a number of roles. Andrew was awarded life membership in 1997.
LOCKLEY, Don
Don Lockley arrived in Darwin in the Armed Services in the mid 1950’s playing hockey for the Services Club and then Waratahs. After leaving the Services, Don was employed by the YMCA. Don was involved in the amalgamation of the YMCA and RSL hockey clubs in 1978 and has continued to play hockey into the 90’s. Don was very active in the administration of both YMCA and RSL. He was RSL Club President in 1984 and 1985. Don was awarded life membership in 1985.
LOCKLEY, Leigh
Leigh Lockley started playing hockey in 1971 in the YMCA under 17competition at the age of 12 years. Leigh played in NT Senior Men’s representative teams in 1982, 1984 and 1985. He played in the RSL/St Mary’s 5 consecutive premiership wins 1987-91 and has played 250 plus A grade games. Leigh has an impressive coaching history first coaching under 10’s in his early teens. He has consistently coached club juniors and seniors winning several premierships. Leigh coached NT secondary schoolgirls 1990, NT primary schoolgirls 1991-94 and NT primary schoolboys 1997-99. In 1997 and 1998 the NT primary schoolboys won the national championships. In 1998 this team was awarded the NT Sports Team of the Year at the Sports Awards. Leigh has coached Premierships for the Saints Club in U10 Boys, U16 Boys, U16 Girls, C Men, B Men, C Women. Leigh has officiated in many Club administrative positions, President in 1986, 1989 and 1992 and he has been coaching coordinator for the club over numerous years. He was awarded life membership in 1989.
BUCKLAR, John
John Bucklar “BUCK” started playing hockey in Cairns as a junior and was selected in the South “A’ grade side at the age of 21.He played 5 yrs at that level in Cairns before moving to Darwin in 1968. In 1968 he played for Nightcliff Hockey Club for 2yrs in “A” grade. In this time he was also involved with R.S.L Rugby League Club playing in “A” grade comp. He played 6yrs in “A’s” and 4yrs “B” grade. He was made a LIFE MEMBER of the R.S.L RUGBY CLUB. And it was in this time that the footballers were looking to do something in the off season to keep fit. He was a founding member of the R.S.L Hockey Club in 1970 and continued to play hockey up to 1990. He played 8yrs in the top grade for R.S.L. He also tipped his hat into coaching the “A & C” Women’s side as well being one of the 1st badged umpires in Darwin. He was involved in the Master Games in Alice Springs playing 5yrs. He became the 2nd LIFE MEMBER of the R.S.L HOCKEY CLUB. During his playing years he played as a forward and knew where the net was at all times. He often called on his football skills into his hockey game (If the ball didn’t take the goalie into the net the goalie was fair game or roughed up.) Past players of the club will recall his words of wisdom from the side lines.
MACDONALD, Margaret
Margaret MacDonald commenced hockey playing for Regals in 1962/63 wet season. When Regals folded Margaret went with the Nickels girls to play for Waratahs and then Easts. Margaret was the first RSL junior coach, coaching the under 13 girls in 1972/73 and continued to be a major contributor in the coaching capacity for both club and school hockey. Margaret coached the NT Primary Schoolgirls representative sides for many years consistently maintaining 3rd and 4th positions in the championships. Margaret was also a major contributor to Club and DHA administration acting as Secretary and Club Junior Vice-President for many, many years. Margaret was awarded life membership in 1985.
MACDONALD, Doug
Doug MacDonald was a founding member of the RSL Hockey club in the 1969/70 wet season and played consistently until 1997. Doug was a major force behind the success of RSL / St Mary’s premierships, applying his very successful rugby coaching skills to hockey. He coached U/16 boys, A & B grade women and men’s teams to success. He also contributed enormously as an umpire and administrator in various capacities in both club and DHA hockey. Doug was awarded life membership in 1995.
MACDONALD, Shane
Shane followed in Doug & Margaret footsteps contributing in playing, coaching and umpiring capacity. Shane was an A grade player for over 13 years and has coached various teams for many years as well as being a regular DHA A grade umpire. He also coached the NT Under 15 boys to an Australian championship – the first NT team to win a full fledged National tournament. This team also won the NT sports team of the year award. Shane was also awarded life membership for his contributions to the club.
MOO, Stephen
Stephen started playing hockey with Waratahs. In 1972, when RSL were training at Kahlin Oval, next to Stephen’s home, he started playing U/12’s. He played in two U/14 premiership teams before having a break from hockey. In 1978, he returned to playing hockey in the YMCA / RSL amalgamated team which won the A grade premiership. Stephen has an impeccable coaching history from 1978 – 2009. He coached men’s A grade for 6 years, with 4 consecutive premiership wins 1988-91. He also played in two A grade and four B grade premiership teams. Stephen also coached junior and women’s A grade. On the administrative side, Stephen’s business management skills and financial background established St Mary’s in a firm financial position. Stephen was Club Treasurer 1980-85 and President 1993-97. He was awarded life membership in 1990.
RACHOW, Greg
Greg Rachow first played in 1978 in the amalgamated YMCA / RSL hockey team. He was awarded Club Fairest and Best and many other Club awards. Greg was Treasurer 1978, 1979, 1990-1997. Greg was awarded Life Member 1993
RACHOW, Alison
The Rachow family has been instrumental in maintaining St Mary’s Hockey Club in a healthy financial position. Alison established Bingo at the St. Mary’s Football Club in 1991 for the purpose of supporting of junior hockey. St Mary’s has consistently supported and promoted junior hockey players, assisting them financially and through coaching development, giving them opportunities to reach their highest level of achievement and develop their careers. Alison continued to run Bingo at the St Mary’s Football Club on behalf of the hockey club until 2009. Alison was awarded life membership in 1993.
ALDER, Trevor
Trevor Alder began playing hockey in 1972/73 wet season for YMCA. He transferred to RSL when it amalgamated in 1978 and continued to play C grade until about 1986. Trevor has been a tireless worker for hockey in general in Darwin. He was DHA Treasurer for 5 consecutive years 1975-1979. He has remained committed to the RSL/St. Mary’s Hockey Club as a player, coach, umpire and in many supportive administrative positions. In the late 90’s he held one of the most challenging positions in the Club, that of umpires coordinator, and on many occasions umpiring games when players failed to turn up for their duty. Trevor first coached in 1973, the U/12 boys for YMCA and continued to coach juniors and B and C women for a number of years. Trevor was awarded life membership in 1987.
Lawler, Eva
Eva Lawler commenced playing hockey for RSL in 1972 at the age of 10 years. The team was established from students of the Berrimah Primary School with Margie MacDonald the very first RSL junior girls hockey coach. Eva has been a notable player for the NT playing in a number of ‘first’ teams. She was in the first NT school girl’s team in 1977, which her sister, Louise captained and Lee Clarke (Campbell) coached. Eva was of the first NT women’s team to travel to the Queensland championships in 1978, and Eva was in the first under 19 side and first NT Senior Women’s representative side in 1980 as well as the first women’s National Hockey League Team in 1993 and Blazez in 1994. She represented the NT from 1987-1994. Eva was awarded the DHA Fairest and Best in 1979, 1984 and 1990 and was awarded an NTHA Award of Merit in 1990. Eva commenced coaching in the early 1980’s and has coached U/10, U/16 and senior teams winning several premierships. She coached the NT primary school girls team in 1987 and 1988. She was the RSL Women’s A grade coach in 1984 and 1985 taking the team to a premiership win in 1985. Eva was chair of the NTHA women’s selection panel for 1997 and 1998 and was a member of the NTHA High Performance committee in 2009. Life membership was awarded to Eva in 1990.
CLARKE, Lee
Lee Clarke were undoubtedly the most influential people in establishing the reputation NT has today within the national hockey scene. On arrival in Darwin in 1975, Lee was an international hockey player who had just returned from the International Federation of Women’s Hockey Championships in Scotland. She also played in the Four Nations Tournament held to replace the boycotted Olympics in the US in 1980. Prior to this, she had captained QLD in the Australian Women’s Hockey Championships (NT did not have a representative team until 1980). She was the NT Senior Women’s coach from 1976-78. In 1978, Lee made representation to the NTHA on the future of women’s hockey in Darwin and was instrumental in getting the first NT Women’s Hockey team playing at the Australian championships in Hobart in 1980. Lee continued as a major contributor as a player, coach and administrator for RSL. Lee was the club president in 1990 when RSL negotiated for affiliation with the then St Mary’s Football Club. Lee was awarded Life membership in 1986.
CLARKE, Gordon
Gordon commenced hockey in Darwin playing for Waratahs and was best player in the 1977 A grade premiership. The following year, Gordon transferred to coach the newly amalgamated RSL / YMCA men’s A grade team that went on to win three consecutive premierships. He too represented QLD in 1978 prior to the NT entering the national scene at Australian Championship level and was the first captain of the NT Team to play at the Australian Championships in 1979. For over 30 years, Gordon has dedicated his efforts to develop junior hockey players in Darwin. Gordon was part of the Kookaburra Olympic Team in Sydney 2000 and is still involved in hockey at the elite level, working with the NTIS in a senior coaching and mentoring capacity, and recently coaching the 2009 NT Under 18 girls team to their highest ever finish at the national championships, along the way winning the most games of any NT ladies team at a national championships. His dedication is demonstrated by the number of players who came through St Mary’s and other teams, such as Nova Peris, Mark Hickman, Stephen Holt at international level and by the competitiveness and success the NT has at national titles. Gordon was awarded life membership in 1982.
MARKEY, Peter
Peter joined RSL in 1978 from Banks and was a member of the first A grade premiership team. Peter was the Assistant Manager and Fitness Advisor to the NT Senior Men’s representative team 1979, NT Senior Women’s representative team 1980, Senior Men’s Manager in 1981. In the following years, 1980-82 he coached the U/14 school boys representative team and in 1983 the U/15 boys team. Peter and Gloria coached junior girls teams for RSL from 1989-1996. Peter was awarded Life Membership in 1995.
MARKEY, Gloria
Gloria arrived in Darwin in 1979 and when looking to play hockey came across Lee Clar, her former physical education teacher in high school in Perth. Gloria represented the NT in the first NT Senior Women’s representative side in Hobart in 1980 and again in 1981. She was a member of RSL A grade that played in consecutive Grand Finals 1980-1985 and winning premierships in 1980, 1982 and 1985. Gloria and Peter coached junior girls teams for RSL from 1989-1996 and Gloria has coached the C2 women’s team for a number of years, including a premiership in 1997. Gloria stepped in as DHA Junior Vice President in 1995, and with the Junior Sub-Committee of that year, commenced the Under 8 competition. She was Club Vice President in 1998 and was President in 1999. Gloria was awarded life membership in 1995.
POLITIS, John
John started playing hockey with Commerce in 1972 where he was introduced by the Yuen family. He changed to YMCA in 1978 where he played representative hockey for the NT in Under 16 and Under 21’s. He was part of the A grade premiership teams throughout the 80’s and was fortunate to be coached by all of the RSL legend coaches – Gordon Clarke, Stephen Moo and Steve Larkin. John coached the A grade women for several years and was also a long term committee member including 2 years as president. He was awarded life membership in 1999 in recognition of his services to the club.
McADAM, Dean
Dean started playing as an U10 player with YMCA, under the esteemed tutelage of a teenage Leigh Lockley. He represented the NT at all junior levels from U/14s up to U/21s. His first A grade premiership that he played in was in 1984. Since that time Dean has played around 230 A grade games with the club. He has played in 6 premiership teams and was Captain in the mid 1990’s. He has coached both Men’s and Women’s B Grade teams to premierships. Dean was recognized by the club for his contributions and awarded a life membership in 2005.
WALTON, Michele
Michele started in 1978 after being asked by Coach Doug MacDonald to fill a spot in C grade when players didn’t turn up one week end and has not taken a year off since that time. Michele became Treasurer in 1998, contributed to coaching and being on committee. Michele has represented Masters and Vets and continues to play casual hockey today. Been actively involved with Darwin Hockey Association and now NTHA committee. Awarded Life membership in 1999
BARLOW, Mark
Mark joined the SMHC in 1994/1995 his first season played on grass and his team C men only had 8 players. Mark was involved in Treasurer duties from 2000 – 2009, other duties have included umpiring coordinator and club photographer. Over the past 20 years Mark has coached/managed C Men’s team 5 times, managed B Men, and also coached the C Women’s team. Mark has won numerous C Men’s Premierships . Mark has also served the territory doing the following roles, NT Under 18’s Mens Manager ( 1 year ), NT Masters Team Player 2004 – 2014 ( 3 National Gold Medals), Australian Masters Hockey Council NT Representative 2008 – 2014.
Mark would like to say “SMHC is a very professionally organized club , and it’s great to see the club so strong. It’s also been fantastic to see the Juniors in the club, mature into strong competitive players and strong leaders in the community. “
LOCKLEY, Jarrod
Awarded life membership in 2017.
HOLWILL, Paul
Awarded life membership in 2020.
SHEWRING, Barry
Awarded life membership in 2020.
Atkins, Leah
Awarded life membership in 2021.
AULD, Sue
JAN, Michael
KELLY, Adrian
Don Abbott, Warren Kennedy, Arlene Hallen and Pauline Hollier were awarded life membership in the early 80’s.