CCWHA History
An Association to foster women’s hockey in the Campbelltown area was formed in late 1978 by a lady named Barbara Thomas. Mrs Thomas had been involved in the Macarthur Association at Camden, but felt it was time to develop the sport in the ever-expanding Campbelltown area. Her husband, Chris, became the Association’s first president, with former Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, becoming the inaugural Patron.
Mrs Thomas approached Campbelltown City Council for playing fields; the only success was to acquire fields at Campbelltown High School, and across the road at Campbelltown North Public School.
Competition commenced in 1979 under the name of WERRIWA WOMENS HOCKEY ASSOCIATION and a total of four teams took part, with most players being of junior high school age. The Association was known as Werriwa until 1989 when it changed its name to CAMPBELLTOWN CITY.
In a short time, numbers grew rapidly, with the formation of several new clubs. In these early stages, participating clubs included Ingleburn, Leumeah, Campbelltown, Macquarie Fields, Campbelltown City and Bears. When it was apparent that more fields would be needed, the council was once again approached.
After much negotiation, Werriwa was granted permission to develop and use a large reserve at Raby. The area was big enough to fit ten fields – which was needed in order to host State Championships back then. At about the same time, Campbelltown was eager to enter a team in the Sydney Grade cricket competition; it was also offered Raby as it’s home ground and between both parties, Raby Sporting Complex was soon up and running.
Representative hockey existed in a slightly different manner in the earlier days. Teams from Campbelltown, Macarthur and Penrith were joined together to form a Zone. This Zone (Zone 9) accessed State Championships in the Under 17, Under 19 (later changed to Under 21), Opens and Veterans Divisions. It wasn’t until 1986 that Campbelltown (then Werriwa) was able to enter at team of its own into the State Opens Championships held at the Crest Playing Fields in Bankstown.
The team was entered in the very lowest division and only 2 years later was crowned its first State Title, with the help of a young Alyson Annan, who a was soon to become Campbelltown’s first Australian Representative. Alyson went on to compete at many tournaments, including a total of three Olympic Games, winning 2 Gold Medals (Atlanta – 1996 and Sydney – 2000), as well as numerous individual honours including being recognised as the World’s Number One Player by Hockey’s International Governing body - FIH.
Campbelltown City progressed through each Division, and by 1995 had earned a place in the elite State League. State league is the premier division at the Championships and Campbelltown has won this league for the past 5 years (2001 – 2005).
Campbelltown has a Junior State Championships record that is equally impressive with our U/14, U/16 and U/18 Teams all winning State titles throughout our short history. Our U/10 and U/12 Teams have also been victorious at Carnivals across the State.
Campbelltown City has had numerous individual successes through representatives in the areas of playing, umpiring, and coaching at Regional, State and National levels.
On a local level, Campbelltown City now caters for U/7s through to Opens Ladies with five Clubs represented – Macquarie Fields, Moorebank, Raby, St Andrews and Varroville. Raby Sporting Complex is still home.
The newest addition to Campbelltown hockey is its successes at Indoor State Championships. Whilst Indoor has only recently become a major item on our representative calendar, we have already won Opens and Under Age titles. Indoor provides Campbelltown City with another avenue to expand and succeed in, as well as offering more players the opportunity to participate in and enjoy.
In the short history of Campbelltown City Women’s Hockey there have been a number of people that have helped in its formation, organisation, running and success. Whilst every player, past and present, is grateful to each of these people, the Association has in its history of operation chosen just nine people who have made or are still making such a special contribution to the Association that they have been thanked and recognised with Life Memberships.
