Justine McDonald was recognised as the latest life member of the Esperance Hockey Association at its 2025 season awards ceremony held on Saturday night. Photo: Greg Symes.
Long serving volunteer Justine McDonald became the latest life member of the Esperance Hockey Association when she was recognised at the 2025 senior awards ceremony held at The Travs last Saturday night.
Association president Angela Hill said it was ‘definitely well deserved’ and that McDonald ‘had done a power of work for both the junior and senior competitions.’
“She started as a Minkey (for players aged four to nine years old) coordinator in 2006 and then went away to junior carnivals from 2012 – 2016. She was the junior coordinator from 2011-15 and then she was the Esperance Hockey Association secretary from 2018-2021.” Hill said.
“She has recently over the last couple of years started umpiring so she now umpires in the junior and women’s competition. This year she has joined the junior committee in an administrative role as well as coordinating travelling to carnivals.”
McDonald has been involved with local hockey since the late 1990’s playing for the Condingup women’s team before making the move to Bacchus in 2021.
She joined her daughter Rachel at Bacchus to ensure the team had enough playing members to continue in the competition.
“She left the Condinup team and joined Baccus ladies team in the early 2020s to help bolster them as they could have folded. Due to her joining they are now a secure and well managed team.” Hill said.
Fellow Esperance Hockey Association life member Matt Ryan reads out Justine McDonald’s achievements in awarding her life membership to the Association on Saturday night. Photo: Greg Symes.
McDonald was also humorously noted at the awards night as the ‘hockey mum’ to the Condingup men’s team which includes her husband and son. It was described that they would be somewhat lost without Justine’s organisation skills and her ability to put the boys back in their place when it is needed.
“Absolutely. They would be lost without her, and they are very fortunate she has been their ‘hockey mum’. At the beginning of the year, she helps them sort out their memberships and registrations, she really has been their backbone.” Hill said.
Earlier, players from the Esperance Hockey Association swapped the shin pads and sticks for frocks and suits as they gathered at The Travs for the 2025 senior awards night.
The Women’s player of the year was Terri Herbert from Condingup who had been awarded her sixth fairest and best trophy for the Association.
“She is just a phenomenal player who is just so consistent every single year, a delight to watch on the field and I feel very fortunate I have been able to play with her she is such a beautiful player.” Hill said.
The Men’s fairest and best was former star junior Ben Piercey from Wolves who had returned to Esperance for work after five years based in Perth.
Men’s co-coordinator Tom Edwards commended Piercey for his high standard of play for Wolves this season and how he had always supported the Esperance teams at the country championships whilst he was living in Perth.
