Hockey fundraiser a fun raiser

An Olympic celebration dinner organised by Hockey Northland attracted 180 guests all wanting to help raise money for six Northlanders in the NZ Hockey Olympic squads.

Last week's Olympic celebration dinner organised by Hockey Northland and a fundraising raffle - which closes on May 20 - aim to raise around $30,000 for the six Northlanders in the NZ Hockey Olympic squads, including a $2000 donation from Sport Northland's Kauri Club fund.

As well as raising funds, the dinner honoured the achievements of Northland's former Olympians and celebrated the inclusion of Northlanders Ella Gunson, Charlotte Harrison, Sam Harrison, Stacey Michelsen, Alana Millington, and Shay Neal in the NZ Hockey Olympic squads.

The money raised will be used to help the Northlanders pay for some of the expenses incurred as a result of their selection.

Olympic Hockey Fundraising Committee chairman Sue Shepherd said all the players were based in Auckland during the build-up to the Games, which puts considerable strain on their ability to earn an income and the expenses they have to pay.

The evening included an auction of NZ hockey shirts and two hockey sticks donated by Stirling Sports, which added almost $2300 to the total raised.

The dinner was attended by a host of Northland hockey players including the current Olympic squad members and past Olympians from as early as the 1964 Tokyo Games.

Nine-year-old Caitlin Morris sang the inspiring song The Climb and set the tone for the whole evening.

Mrs Shepherd said the dinner was a resounding success and she's grateful for the support and generosity of Northland's hockey family. "We're fortunate to have a supportive business community as well as players and their families who are willing to help our current Olympic squad members.

"The evening was a true celebration of Northland hockey. We've always punched above our weight as a region and with Northlanders currently making up 15 per cent of the NZ squad - when we have only 5 per cent of the national player base - it shows how strong we are as a hockey region."

Squad members thanked Northlanders for their support with Ella Gunson summing up what it means to them. "We all appreciate it so much; others in the [NZ] team just don't understand the level of support there is in the community for us."

Guest speaker Dr Debs Robinson entertained guests with stories about her experiences as NZ hockey team doctor and more recently the All Blacks doctor and finished by telling the players to take advantage of the opportunity that is the Olympics.

Sandy Hitchcock, better known to Northlanders as Sandy Bennett - hockey Olympian and NZ women's team captain during the 1990s - was MC and provided entertaining insights into what it means to be an Olympian.

A host of dignitaries attended including Hockey Northland patron and MP Phil Heatley, Hockey NZ president Bill Shepherd, Hockey NZ CEO Hilary Poole, Black Sticks women's coach Mark Hager and Black Sticks women's manager Debbie Balme plus district councillors Crichton Christie, Shelley Deeming and Phil Halse.