A 54 person contingent from Altona’s top men’s and women’s teams ventured to sunny Warrnambool on the weekend for our annual community camp. A not so sunny morning greeted us on Saturday with torrential rain flooding the surrounds of our colourful European backpackers accommodation and putting a damp spoiler on the fitness events planned. Nevertheless, a strong attitude prevailed, both groups persevering through the wet and windy conditions and running their own fitness. After a group breakfast we split up into men and women, with “hockey school” structural sessions and team building activities interspersed with training on Warrnambool’s impressive playing surface. After lunch, a club building activity pitted 12 teams of 2 men and 2 women each into a fun and competitive challenge around the Warrnambool area. Challenges included proving you are “one with the locals” which was taken a little too literally in some cases, with a influx of AHC members in some wedding photos, and a round table discussion inside the family home of tried and true Warrnambool folk! Great initiative guys and girls! Other highlights included hockey worship, finding “Bones” at the local cemetery, and some creative use of hockey sticks to worship our chosen sporting paths. Great fun, great photos and great memories. Saturday night a chance to wind down and share some stories over a meal at the Warrnambool Football Club. On Sunday we marched to the hockey ground for a clinic with 40 young members of the Warrnambool and District Hockey Association. Steve Campbell continued his recent summer work there by breaking up the groups, introducing new skills and techniques and keeping our young coaches on their toes as well, proving they could execute the skills on show in front of hungry youngsters. Our final stop for the camp was to integrate some young locals into our intraclub games. The enthusiasm on the faces of those 7 or 8 youngsters we asked to play was a highlight of the trip, proving that we really do have it lucky, and are privileged to play in the top competition week in and week out. All those locals contributed exceptionally well to the intraclub games, not being overawed at all, and showing their families and friends the potential they possess when challenged. Great fun, a good hit out for the club, and more proof of the social, welcoming and inclusive club that we are.
Thanks to all involved with making the camp a success, and a special thankyou to Monique Ferrier and the Warrnambool and District Hockey Association for their hospitality, and the amazing BBQ on Sunday, and to Andrew Robb and the Warrnambool Football Club for use of their facilities for our presentations, morning and afternoon tea and dinner.
A great success, and a solid platform to build into a successful season
To view photos from the coaching clinics, please visit the Warrnambool Standard Newspaper site.