Tash McCarthy was awarded the Esperance Hockey Association’s John Walsh Memorial Service Award at its 2025 season awards ceremony held on Saturday night. Photo: Greg Symes.
They generally get less fanfare, but two quiet achievers of the Esperance Hockey Association continue to make an impact for their love of hockey.
Tash McCarthy and Ian O’Dea were recognised by Association president Angela Hill at last Saturdays windup for their efforts towards the Association.
McCarthy was bestowed the John Walsh Memorial Service Award for her roles as an umpire development mentor and communications officer.
“The John Walsh Memorial Service Award is a very prestigious trophy that is given to someone who has done a lot of work during that year.” Hill said.
Ian O’Dea was bestowed a Service Award at Association at its 2025 season awards ceremony held on Saturday night. Photo: Greg Symes.
“Tash’s main role has been organising an umpire development mentor program and through that she has developed ten new umpires through the program, it has been a huge commitment for her, both in the pre-season and every week.”
“She has also been heavily involved in the new turf project and Tash is also our communications editor. She helps to keep everything structured so everything that pops up on our socials is presented in a professional manner.”
A man who goes about his business quietly behind the scenes, Ian O’Dea was shocked to receive an Association Service Award at last Saturday nights windup.
“Ian has been with the Association for ten years and has participated in many ways on the committee and around the club, umpiring and just helping out when needed.” Hill said
“He was vice president in 2017 to 2020 and again in 2022; he was the President in 2023 and is now the grounds and maintenance person for the Association.”
“He marks the fields for play, whipper snippers around the club house, making sure it is tidy around the outside and he does any maintenance inside the club house that is needed.”
Esperance Hockey Association wind-up. Photos: Greg Symes.
O’Dea, from the Cascade Hockey Club, has also been heavily involved in umpiring for the last ten years, continually putting his hand up to umpire finals and he has been a mentor for the umpire development program.
Hill said he has also been a ‘wonderful representative’ of the Association at the last five Australian Masters Championships for the WA Country side.
