WOMEN 

As we get close to Christmas, it’s time to reflect a little on the season that wasn’t.  TEM ladies started preseason with great optimism and energy.  We kicked off with a team building session with the Mens division, we saw rock climbing feats that showed a level of fitness and determination that was inspiring and pointed to an exciting season to come.  The first two practice matches against Footscray and Yarra Valley saw wins for the PL and PLR ladies, and more reason to be excited.   Then just as the other grades were about to really swing into training, the news of the Covid-19 pandemic struck. While we had seven teams entered (PL, PLR, Pennant A, B, E, F and Metro) no official matches were played.  We were confined to our homes for 23 hours a day, and could only leave within a 5km lockdown.  Nonetheless the TEM spirit reigned supreme!  TEM ladies stayed connected through ZOOM fitness sessions, quiz nights, and the now famous ‘Sweaty selfies’.  We got involved in a charity walk/run event, did virtual work outs together, shared recipes from our living rooms and even got to meet TEM pets; dogs, cats, goldfish and chickens!  We also heard from many of our dedicated club members who were front line healthcare workers - you are inspirational!  Returning to hockey involved more than just picking up our sticks.  As well as maintaining safe distances, for the first time ever we had to be conscious of disinfecting equipment and preventing the spread of infection, and while these constraints meant that it wasn’t quite ‘hockey as we know it’, it was great to see so many members participating.  Despite not getting to play an official game, I’d like to thank our coaches Ian Kleinschmidt, Ben Lord, Leanne Downer, Cam Macphie, Sam Hill, Claire Douglass, and Tony Dudley for their commitment and ability to find innovate ways to keep ‘socially distanced’ hockey going during this very strange time.  I’d also like to thank the leadership team (Darci Kleinschmidt, Bonnie Bonness, Emily Butler, Jordi McCullough, Sophia O’Beirne and Jen Eager) who have all gone out of their way to help, be it in sourcing bulk hand sanitiser or checking in on other club members; it is appreciated.  I also want to thank Penny Senior who has kept the whole show rolling this year, and who’s warmth and enthusiasm epitomises our TEM values. There is lots to be excited about for next year. Here’s wishing everyone a happy Summer with friends and family, and hope that 2021 will be perhaps a little less ‘unprecedented’.

2021 PLANS

We are excited to be planning the preseason for 2021, and with that in mind I'd like to introduce Ross Sudano who will be coaching our Premier League women's team in 2021.  Ross has an extensive hockey background, attending the AIS on a hockey scholarship before deciding to follow a career off the hockey field.  Nonetheless, he continued to play at Premier League level for many seasons and has maintained an involvement in hockey, most recently as a member of the Hockey Australia Board.  We are really excited to welcome Ross, and I know he will bring a lot to the women's group.  

We'd also like to thank and acknowledge Ian "Klinka" Kleinschmidt for his fantastic service and achievements with the women's group. He has been a fantastic contributor to our club over the last 10 years as a coach,  not just with the womens section but also as the Men's coach before that. There will be a formal thank you for Ian later.

Christie

womensvp@tem.org.au