Hockey Tasmania calls for $600k to support state’s future players

Hockey Tasmania is calling for vital state and federal funding to replace turfs in both Hobart and
Launceston, ensuring it can continue to boost the state’s economy, promote happy and healthy children
and support Tasmanian athletes to compete on a global scale.

Hockey Tasmania CEO Andrew Winch said the organisation needed to secure $600k over the next three
years in order to maintain its proud reputation as a word-class facility.

“Hockey attracts visitors to all parts of Tasmania outside the traditional tourism season, hosting at least
two national tournaments every year, each attracting on average 800 visitors to the state and injecting
$1.12 million into the local economy*,” Mr Winch said.

“A large factor for success in our bids to host international tournaments is being able to maintain our
reputation as a world-class facility with the highest standard of surfaces and amenities.

“Our most recent bid is to host the Federation of International Hockey (FIH) Women’s World League in
2017, which will attract around 5,000 people to Tasmania, inject $7 million into the state’s economy* and
cement Hockey Tasmania’s reputation as providing a world-class sporting venue.”

Mr Winch said each turf had a guaranteed life of eight years, at which point accreditation was at risk,
however, through innovative maintenance management, Hockey Tasmania had been able to extend this
life to up to 12 years, while still maintaining accreditation.

“Hockey Tasmania will continue to maintain the facilities that it has and will contribute to turf
replacement, but we cannot do it on our own,” he said.

Mr Winch said during the winter season, Hockey Tasmania’s facilities attracted 5,000 visitors every week
as well as an additional 3,000 each week in summer.

“There are more than 130,000 players, spectators and families who actively attend and support local
hockey events every year, and this number is growing as we continue to develop our programs and
competitions,” he said.

“In addition, intrastate tournaments bring together players from Smithton, Burnie, Devonport,
Launceston and Hobart, who travel across the state to enhance their hockey skills and meet other
players, while also injecting money into our local economies.

“Importantly we also provide a multi-sport facility for a wide range of sporting groups, including Futsal
Tasmania, AFL 9s and lacrosse clubs as well as hosting dance eisteddfods and training sessions for the
Tasmanian Tigers when their grounds are wet.”

Mr Winch said Hockey Tasmania’s junior development programs reached 10,000 kids in Tasmania every
year, with early hockey in school development programs and holiday clinics seeing increased
participation.

“The attraction of hockey as a family activity has created a supportive, growing, healthy and inclusive
community,” he said.

“Hockey Tasmania is keen to support the state’s young players to follow in the footsteps of past and
present national representatives, such as Australian Kookaburras Captain, Eddie Ockenden – a pioneer
contemporary Tasmanian player.

“But without essential funding, their sporting careers won’t be supported by the best training facilities
available and their futures playing hockey in this state are uncertain.”

Hockey Tasmania today officially launched its planning manifesto, Moving Forward – a blueprint for the
current and future state of hockey in Tasmania.

“Moving Forward outlines Hockey Tasmania’s contributions to the state, including its large injection to
the economy, as well as the benefits to the community, to junior development and the state’s
representative success,” Mr Winch said.

“We hope today’s launch will help us in our bid for state and federal funding contributions, needed to
continue to provide the best training facilities available.”

* Based on calculations of $200 per individual visitor per night.

Download:
Hockey_Tasmania_Moving_Forward.pdf
Hockey Tasmania CEO Andrew Winch