There is something special about team sport. It is a wonderful means of educating people. No group can succeed without a thorough grounding of skills of their sport or without a deep understanding of their teammates and colleagues. There must be a close bond between members as the team and its coach work to a common purpose. It can be summed up with this ' that teams succeed in proportion to what the members put in' 

OFFICIAL MAJOR SPONSOR HISTORY

Wodonga Hockey has been fortunate due to the fine efforts of Committees and members to have the support of some well respected business sponsors. 
1986                      Sunicrust Bakeries
1991                      Mobil Melrose Drive
2000 - current   -     Ray White Real Etate Wodonga
All major changes in uniform have been associated with these sponsorship deals.

THE  PAST     Hockey has been played in Wodonga since 1950.  Unfortunately, there are no records

available of these times.  The history is complicated by splits within the Club.  The Club has been successful in winning many premierships. The Club has a history of strongly supporting Junior hockey thoughout the community as well as in the Wodonga Primary & Secondary schools.

In 1983  3 separate clubs existed.

Wodonga Mens Hockey - 3 mens teams who all won premierships, 2 junior boys teams

Wodonga Womens Hockey  - 2 teams

Wodonga Vultures - 1 junior team

1984 Wodonga Women won the Div 2 Premiership and were promoted to Division One in 1985. 

1985 teams commenced playing on all weather dirt fields in lieu of grass. 

Teams played at Lord Oval, Bandianna, Wodonga Showgrounds/Racecourse, moving in the 80's to

Kelly Park and finally Birallee Park in 1985. 

1985  Minkey commenced (modified hockey for under 10 children)

17 February 1986 25 people attended the Annual General Meeting of Wodonga Men's Club with a view to amalgamate with the Womens Clubs.  A unanimous decision was made to become a united Club and a committee was elected.  Within a week the Vultures team also agreed to play in the maroon and white.   Sunicrust Bakeries was the major sponsor.  Teams nominated for the season

were Div 1,2,3 Men & Women Junior Boys Under 13 and Minkey with approx 40 children attending.

28 July 1987 The Club became incorporated.  Ian Livingstone & David Sutherland,  Executive Committee members, approached Wodonga Council in regard to new fields.  In December 1987 a decision was made to construct two all weather fields at Birallee Park, Silva Drive, next to the BMX formally shared by the Soccer Club.  The moved to Kelly Park.  The total cost of $26,000 was shared 50/50 by council and the Club.   An extra junior boy's team was nominated during this year.

1988 the bicentennial year with the new fields now in use and fundraising and sponsorship top priorities to repay the $13,000 loan. A Carnival to promote the sport of Hockey was conducted.

Noel Mason was honoured as the First Life Member. Team entries remained the same as 1997.

1989  In a remarkable effort by Club members all monies owed for the new grounds were repaid.

A new team, being the Under 13 girls was nominated.

1990 The Club continued to increase the junior teams, by assisting with  primary school programs

particularly in West Wodonga. Now 3 boys and 3 girls teams were nominated along with 30 Minkey children.

1991 Phase 1 of a training light project commpleted at a cost of $4,500. An Under 11 Boys team was added.  Premierships to 13 Boys and C Grade Men.

1992  Under 11 Girls team and Veteran Women's team entered, making a total of 14 teams. Now one of the largest Clubs in the Association.  7 teams played in finals. 17 Boys won premiership. The Club won the inaugural Flo Joynson Memorial Hockey Albury Wodonga Championship Cup in recognition of games won by teams during the year. 26 players represented Albury Wodonga. 5 Juniors went a step further and represented Victoria. Melrose Drive Wodonga became the Clubs major sponsor.

1993 Teams were nominated in all grades.  10 of the 14 teams were in the final four of their respective grades, with premierships won by 17 Boys and 13 Girls. We were runners up in the Flo Joynston Cup. Brett Livingstone was selected in the Victorian Under 18 team. The Club made a submission to Council to have a Synthetic Field constructed using the exisiting dirt fields as a base.

Elaine Behrens was made the second Life Member.

1994  Numerous local rep players with 7 chosen to represent Victoria.

1995  Due to loss of many junior players mainly due to increase of ages, junior teams dropped to 3.

5 Players represented Victoria.  A Grant of $68,000 approved by Council/Vic Govt for construction of new synthetic field.

1996 was a time of confusion in regards to our Synthetic Field. This project was too large for a Club to manage and fund, thus the Association were approached.  Approx $200,000 project with loans secured by Wodonga Council and Hockey Albury Wodonga.  Suggestions were made in regard to possible alternative locations, The Wodonga Golf Club and the Wodonga Raiders Football Club however the cost was less at the Birallee Location due to the dirt base already in place.

Construction commenced. the Club was now a tenant of this field which was managed by HAW.

Premierships were won by Womens Veterans and 13 Boys. Dawn George was made the third Life Member.

19 April 1997 The Synthetic Field was oficially opened. The Club introduced a new-look uniform and worked hard during pre-season to increase the strength of the Club.  6 Senior teams, 7 junior teams, Vets Men & Women and Minkey.  One of the largest Clubs this season.  The vision was to create a club for members to have lots of fun and enjoy the game socially.  Bids for premierships will follow.

THE PRESENT

THE FUTURE
Our Club has been and will continue to work towards a bigger and better future.  We strive to make this the best Club in the Association.  One filled with friends for life.....

CLUB RECORDS - Year records with details of Committee, Premierships, Player Awards, Player Achievements  plus other Awards.

Club Life Members

Noel Mason                    1988
Elaine Behrens                1994
Dawn George                  1996
Ian & Denise Livingstone 
Margaret Darmody

Committee 

1986    Dave Sutherland   Merran Gibson        Elaine Behrens 

1987    Dave Sutherland   Denise Livingstone  Elaine Behrens
1988   Ian Livingstone    Marg Darmody        Dawn George 
1989    Ian Vivingstone    Marg Darmody        Dawn George
1990   Ian Livingstone    Marg Darmody        Dawn George
1991    Dianne Myers       Dawn George          Pam Martin
1992    Dianne Myers       Dawn George          Denise Livingstone
1993   Kyle Brereton       Dawn George          Denise Livingstone
1994   Kyle Brereton       Judy Isaac              Dana Brereton
1995    Kyle Brereton       Judy Isaac              Dana Brereton

1996    Kyle Brereton       Judy Isaac              Dana Brereton
1997    Dave Chandler     LisaWildmo/            Kylie Wheeler

                                    Judy Isaac
1998    Dave Chandler     Janine Thornycroft  Kylie Wheeler
1999   Dave Chandle/    Janine Thornycroft   Michael Fogarty

          Neville Frichot
2000    Neville Frichot      Janine Thornycroft   Michael Fogarty