TEMtalk - Penny Senior

Occupation: Category Manager (fancy way of saying I buy things for a business)

Hockey position: Full back or Half

Senior Games played: 159

Favourite food: Pizza

Footy team: Essendon

Favourite band/singer: far too many to list one.. it’s no secret a love a bit of Pop music

Ideal Holiday: Somewhere warm near a beach or with 4 meters of snow

Siblings: an older sister and younger brother, who have all played for TEM

Hobbies (other than hockey!): Eating, drinking, going to the races, skiing, going on holidays! ( assuming they count as hobbies)

How long have you been playing hockey at TEM?

Not sure exactly, about 23 years? I started when I was 10 or 11 but also had a few years off when I was at Uni and travelling

How did you start playing hockey?

Peter Hough did a recruitment drive at Glen Iris Primary… he picked up the McLaughlin clan and Sal Catchlove at the same time!

Do you have any special memories from Juniors you’d like to share with us?

Nothing specific comes to mind. However, I obviously loved it, I’m still here! I do remember the 8:25am games on Saturday morning always sucked and I was always late! I remember moving to Friday night games, which  the parents loved cause they could have a wine on the balcony, safe to say I was always on time ( I now understand the joy of a beverage on that balcony) 

You were part of the Women’s Pennant F Premiership winning team last year. What are your memories of that special day?

The hangover the day after?? Ha!

The crowd were amazing, the TEM community and culture is like no other and the day was a fabulous example of it. I remember running onto the pitch feeling like the team was a well-oiled machine and it absolutely showed, we’d worked really hard all season, it was amazing team effort. The roar from the crowd when we scored our goals and of course when the whistle blew and we’d won, that I will never forget!

Who would be your TEM hockey hero?

There is not one person that comes to mind, however the goalies!

I was always afraid of being asked to play in goals ( in juniors it used to happen often), having played full over the last few years and working much closer to a couple of superstar goalies I have a completely new level of respect and appreciation for what they do.

For the ball to get past 10 players and to know you are the last one standing, have it fired at your head and to put your hand up to stop it like your swatting a fly, AMAZING! Hero worthy stuff!

You have been on the TEM Committee for a few years now as Women’s Secretary. What do you enjoy about being a committee member?

I love being able to get involved in making our club an even better place to be, after being a member for so long, it is nice to be able to give back.

It’s also been great getting to know all the members, particularly in the women’s division #YeahTheGirls

What have you been doing to keep yourself busy the last few months during lockdown?

Baking, nothing too fancy or complicated, but I’ve got a handle on some cupcakes, cookies and cheesecake more recently (I’m the kind of person to go and buy the cakes, not bake them)

What would you say is the best part of being a member of TEM?

The club culture and inclusive environment.

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?

I’m very very messy

If you were left to live on a desert island-what 3 things would you choose to take with you?

Sadie (our dog, sorry Junior) a BIG bottle of water and a bottle of Champagne