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.