The clock turned back on Saturday as Kingscliff Hockey Club celebrated its 50th anniversary.
And while they mainly play in Murwillumbah on the two turf fields these days, all teams were at home playing on grass – something that was a normal sight right up until the late 90s. Green, white and black was everywhere as teams from juniors through to the Div 1 men and women took to the grass on the Merv Edwards and Walter Peate Fields from Saturday morning until late in the afternoon.
Then it was over to the Cudgen Leagues Club for an evening of – “do you remember when”. Fifty years of team photos and newspaper clippings were on display with members from the original teams right down to current players getting together to celebrate the milestone.
Former Kookaburra’s player and Kingscliff junior Nathan Eglington was flown in from Perth – catching up with his friends and family and speaking at the event. Current Australian team member Jason Wilson was unable to attend due to team commitments in Perth, however, he did record a special message for the night.
Nathan, whose grandfather Merv Edwards was part of the group that formed the club in a Kingscliff garage 50 years ago, said getting to their golden anniversary was an “amazing achievement”.
“They actually had eight or nine of the original 14 that started the club back in that garage,” he said.
“It has been great to see a lot of people I haven’t seen for 10 or more years.”
