CHC History

As at 2022

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF CHC IN THE BRISBANE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION WAS PROVIDED TO BHA FOR THEIR 90TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

Founding Year: 1944

How the CHC was formed

Commercial Hockey Club (CHC) was formed in 1944, when a group of high school students at the State Commercial High School, George St, Brisbane, formed a J2 team to play in the Brisbane Junior Hockey fixtures. Founding members included Stan Griffin OAM, Eric Vile, Arnold Dodd, K. Schwede, T Lang and R Mavromatie.

By the end of 1945, most of the original members had left high school and in 1946 CHC fielded a B2 team and a J2 team. The number of our teams grew over the following years and in 1949 CHC won its first premiership in the B1 Grade.

CHC played in A2 in 1950 to 1952, and in 1952 we won the A2 Premiership, which resulted in being promoted to A1 in 1953.

In 1959 CHC fielded 17 teams (7 senior and 10 juniors) and we won 6 premierships (2 senior and 4 junior), including our first A1 premiership. In the following four years, CHC played in A1 Grand Finals winning the premiership in 1961, 1962 and 1963. We repeated three in a row in 1976, 1977 and 1978.

The golden era of CHC in Div 1 was when we played 13 of the 15 Div 1 finals from 2002 to 2016, winning 8 times, including 7 in a row from 2006 to 2012.

CHC is the also most successful BHA A1/Div 1 club in the post-World War 2 era, winning 18 premierships from 30 grand finals.

In 1997 CHC became the only BHA club to win the Div 1, 2 & 3 premierships in the same year.

CHC has won a total of 217 BHA senior and junior premierships since 1948.

Major/significant club persons across CHC’s history

The person who made the major contribution to the formation, development and success of the CHC is a founding member, Stan Griffin OAM, who was our secretary for 31 years.

Other people who made significant contributions to the CHC include our foundation President Eric Vile, long serving Presidents Norm Dunning, Kev Holcroft, Ray Hedge, Geoff Robertson, Greg Rollason, Lex Brough and Paul Dawson.

Long serving CHC committee members include; Bert Garraway, Ken McQuitty, Fred Sams, Fred Lane, Keith Mapp, Ken Griffin, Howard Haddrell, Gary Marsh, Ron Marsden, Bruce Mapp, Steve Johnson, Wayne Bellingham, Russell Marsden, John Herwig, Tracey Ballantyne, John Hay, Mark Carter, Sue Brough, Glenn Dickson and Adam Barry.

Our A1/Div 1 premiership winning coaches were Don Currie (4), Keith Mapp (4), Terry Khan (1), Bruce Robertson (4), Blaire Brown (3) and Grant Mapp (2). Other members who made significant contribution to coaching or managing junior and/or senior teams include; Norm Dunning, Alan Robertson, Hugh Robson, Wayne Bellingham, Ken Griffin, Don Muir, Howard Haddrell, Geoff Rowe, Conrad Herwig, Peter Gordon, Lex Brough, Russell Marsden, Peter Cumming, Mark Carter, Trevor Barry, Alan Abbot, Michael Monaghan and Jed Aitchison.

Numerous CHC members have played in or coached or managed BHA teams competing in State and Regional competitions.

Major/significant CHC representatives across playing, officiating and administration

The following CHC members were awarded life membership of BHA: Bert Garraway (deceased), Stan Griffin OAM, Ron Marsden, Keith Mapp (deceased) and Russell Marsden. Stan Griffin OAM and Ron Rideout were awarded life membership of Brisbane Junior Hockey Association and Colin Morley received a BHA Merit Award.

Other CHC members who served on various positions on BHA committees include Graham Mapp, Jack Marshall, Mal Dawson, Roy Brough, Ron Rideout, Ray Simmonds, Jim Elms, Wayne Bellingham, Mark Carter, Karen Kuhn, Joanne Hudson, Adam Barry, Anastasia Cabot and Steve Rogers.

Stan Griffin OAM served in various positions on the Brisbane Hockey Association for 23 years. Stan was the first Secretary of the Brisbane Junior Hockey Association, first Secretary of the Queensland Hockey Umpires Association, first Secretary of the Brisbane Indoor Hockey Association, and first Secretary of the Queensland Indoor Hockey Association. Stan was also the Secretary of the Hockey Queensland and BHA Umpires Associations.

In 1991 Stan Griffin was awarded the O.A.M. honour for services to hockey.

The following CHC members have served on the Brisbane Hockey Umpires Association/Committee: Stan Griffin (President), Lee Regnart, Ron Marsden (President), Ray Simonds, Gary Marsh, Glenn Dickson, Tom Crellin, Ross Rideout, Greg Harris, Mick Monaghan, Bob Gray, Bob Rowley (President), Leon Cross, Jamie Brough, Adam Barry (Chair) and Steve Rogers (Chair).

The following members attained International Umpire Badges: Stan Griffin, Ron Marsden, Ross Rideout, Gary Marsh, Adam Barry and Steve Rogers.

The following CHC members were awarded life membership of Hockey Queensland: Stan Griffin OAM, Bert Garraway (deceased) and Keith Mapp (deceased). Stan was also awarded Life Membership of the Brisbane Junior Hockey Association and Queensland Hockey Umpires Association.

Hugh Robson and Ron Marsden received Distinguished Service Awards from Hockey Queensland and Ron Rideout (deceased) received an Award of Merit from Queensland Hockey Association.

A unique record in Queensland hockey was created in 1959, when Commercial supplied the team captains for the three State representative teams: (a) Don Currie, Captain of the Queensland Senior team which won the Australian Championships; (b) Ray Hedge, Captain of the Queensland Colts team, and (c) Hugh Robson, Captain of the Queensland Junior team which won the Australian Championships.

Don Currie, Wayne Hammond and Mark Hager are members of the Hockey Queensland Hall of Fame and Mark Hager was also named in the Hockey Queensland Team 100 Years.

The following CHC players represented Australia: Don Currie, Hugh Robson, Wayne Hammond, Mark Hager and Daniel Beale. Other CHC players who subsequently represented Australia are Stephen College, Brett Johnson and Grant Smith.

Home grounds current and past

Initially the CHC used Victoria Park for training. CHC then used Finsbury Park, Newmarket for training and games from the late 1950's until we had a winter tenancy of Flynn Oval, Windsor from 1964 to 1969.

In 1970, CHC returned to Finsbury Park and commenced planning to build our existing clubhouse, which was officially opened on 24 April 1977.

In the pre-artificial surface era, CHC hosted several Australian National Titles (inc. Men's 1978 and Women's 1979 and Colts 1980), international matches and Brisbane Premiership Finals at Finsbury Park.

Major/significant CHC milestones

The Commercial Women’s Hockey Club was founded in 1949 and played in the A Grade Competition in 1952. However, due to transfers, marriages and births, the CHC Women’s Club became inactive in 1958.

In 1971 the CHC Women’s Club was reformed, and it has been very successful winning 136 Premierships, including six Div 1 premierships in 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2016. In 1988 CHC amalgamated with the Commercial Women’s Hockey Club as an Incorporated Association.

The following women CHC players have represented Australia: Michelle Hager, Tracey Belbin, Debbie Barratt, Madonna Blyth (Captain), Renee Taylor and Rosie Malone. Tracey Belbin and Madonna Blyth were also named in the Hockey Queensland Team 100 Years.

The CHC Ladies Auxiliary Committee formed in 1970 assisted the CHC to raise funds for the construction of the clubhouse, through the efforts of mothers, friends and relatives. Prominent members included Betty Rideout, Marie Gould, Heather Dunning, Val Garraway, Wendy Sherwin, Jean Mapp, Gloria Brough, Heather Griffin, Dulcie Stradling and Viv Buhse.

Since 1978 CHC has won the Merv Harris Memorial Shield (Champion Club) 14 times.

Since 1963 a CHC team has been BHA’s Champion Team (Highest Aggregate points) 28 times.

Five Commercial Div 1 players have won the BHA Best & Fairest Medal – Bruce Robertson (2), Jason Green, Jacob Burns, Ian Schultz and Jared Taylor.

CHC has a long tradition of being a family club with many current members being third generation CHC players.

In 2019 CHC celebrated its 75th Anniversary.

As at 2018

It all began in 1944 when a group of high school mates from the State Commercial High School, on George Street, decided to form a team and play in the Brisbane Junior Hockey fixtures.

It has been a fantastic rollercoaster ride up to the present where we have become Brisbane hockey’s foremost family club. The fledgling club of the 1940’s consisted of 3 teams, 2 mens and 1 boys team. Our first Ladies team was formed in 1949.

The men and women were controlled by separate management committees until the clubs amalgamated and the combined club was incorporated in 1988.

Development of Finsbury Park

The Club was granted a lease on Finsbury Park by the Brisbane City Council in 1971. The existing wooden clubhouse was renovated to suit our requirements.

In 1975, plans for a new clubhouse were submitted to the Brisbane City Council for approval. On Sunday 24th April 1977, the new clubhouse was officially opened by Alderman Charles Rowland.

In 1978, the second stage of the development was constructed - an amenities block consisting of dressing rooms and toilet facilities.

Our lease of Finsbury Park has four playing fields with lighting for night training. Over the years, the club has spent a considerable amount of money on maintenance and improvement to the condition of the fields including: top dressing, fertilisation and mowing; an underground watering system; purchase of a tractor and mowers; and upgraded lighting undertaken in 2009 at a cost of $75,500.

In 1994, extensive alterations were completed to the kitchen facilities of the clubhouse to meet Brisbane City Council requirements for a full club license. Between 2008 and 2010, $33,000 was expended on internal refurbishment of the clubhouse and external painting. The public car park was also sealed at a cost of $6,800 with the assistance from the Council of $2,000.

Our grounds and clubhouse are now used by a number of other sporting bodies and schools. We have formal agreements with City Touch and Brisbane Girls Grammar, who use the park for their fixtures throughout the year. Panthers Softball Club use the fields for training during the summer months.

The grounds are also used by local residents for recreation purposes.

The licensing laws have change over the years in terms of noise restrictions, and as such, the club house is not rented as frequently as in years gone by. Due to the varying times of hockey fixtures, it is very difficult to hold frequent Club fundraising functions. However the Club endeavours to hold 3 or 4 Club nights during the hockey season and the old Commercial party spirit still shines through.

The days of the lamington drives and chook raffles are long gone. The chocolate drive has taken their place. The women are given a day at Downey Park to run a cake stall and raffle and this has become a good fundraiser. The latest trend is of acquiring funds is by way of local and state government grant applications.

Hockey

In 1950, we fielded our first ‘A’ Grade men’s team in the A2 Division. Through the 50s the Club grew to 8 mens and 9 boys teams but sadly, due to transfers, marriages and births, the Ladies Club became inactive in 1958. After gaining A1 status in 1953 the Club won its first Men’s A1 premiership in 1959.

In 1997, Commercial became the only club to win Divisions 1, 2 and 3 in the same season. A record that has not been equalled.

On two occasions our Division 1 Men's team achieved the 'three-peat'. This occurred in 1961 – 1963 and again in 1976 – 1978. However, in the last decade, the Division 1 Men's team have achieved an astonishing feat of 7 premierships in 8 years, with 6 consecutive premiership wins from 2006 – 2011.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Commercial became the force in Brisbane Hockey. The Women’s Club was formed again in 1971 and was promoted to A1 in 1976. Whilst we contested many A1, or Division One grand finals, it was in 1999 and 2000 that we finally won back to back Women’s first grade finals.

Over the last 74 years, Commercial has won 189 Men’s and Boy's premierships, including 18 in Division 1. The Women and Girls have won 112 premierships, including 6 in Division 1.

In 2008, Commercial became the only club in Brisbane to win both Division 1 Men's and Women's premierships, a feat made even more exceptional due to the fact that it was Coach Blair Brown's and Coach Lisa Morgan's debut season as Division 1 coach.

The success of our Club is due greatly to the dedicated members who have volunteered their time freely. On behalf of our club members I thank each and every one of you for making Commercial what it is today.

The following statement from our Jubilee booklet in 1994 is as relevant today as when it was written:

“Hockey has changed much over the past decade. Changes in rules, some good and some hard to reason, the artificial surfaces which are so important to players for skills and exhibition, but have had some side effects on the game. Costs have increased dramatically with artificial surface, and administration at the top level has had to become very professional. The days of honorary officials and workers are becoming increasingly difficult from year to year and finding funds is a major task. The old days of players from all teams getting together to have a drink and chat in the clubhouse has almost gone. The next decade and beyond holds many questions and will give many worries to all administrations and Commercial’s motto “Let Victory Be Ours’ will no doubt be tested. But with 50 years behind us, who knows what the next 50 may bring.”

Commercial has been built on the backbone of the hard work and dedication of many individuals and familles. This ethic has been passwed on by our founders of the club, and it is the reason why the Club is still strong and viable organisation.

The game has changed drastically over the years and we believe that Commercial has done a fantastic job being able to still manage our own grounds and club house. We have a great work force who are ready to work with one goal in mind and that is to benefit the Club and its members.

Our junior development has ensured that our senior teams, at all levels, are predominantly past Commercial juniors. The Club has continued to be the leader in Brisbane with the number of teams fielded, premiership wins and members who have served Brisbane, Queensland and Australia as players, coaches, managers and as administrators, umpires and game officials.

Club fixtures are played anytime between Friday night and Sunday night. This has created a huge work load for our Men's and Women's Players Committees in terms of arranging team personnel, coaches, managers and umpires. Along with pre and post season activities and representative commitments, the hockey season breaks only for a couple of months at the end on the year.

Currently, we have players representing at Brisbane, Queensland and Australian levels. For example, Daniel Beale is a member of the Kookaburras who won Gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and Champion's Trophy. Renee Taylor is a member of the Hockeyroos who won Silver at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Along with Renee, Rosie Malone has been selected for the 2018 London Women's Hockey World Club.

In 2017, we fielded 35 teams (14 male and 21 female) and successful in winning 5 Premierships.

Commercial Hockey Club

Bronze Sponsors

Shutters Direct

Supplying and installing plantation shutters and blinds throughout Brisbane. See our page for CHC members discount.

andrew@shuttersdirect.net.auPhone 3369 1183

Archer Brewing

Archer Brewing provide CHC with our very own Snakes On A Plane beer. 100% Australian made.

hello@archerbrewing.com.auPhone 0426 976 007

Associate Sponsors