Lyn Hill receives Hockey Australia Life Membership

Hockey Queensland is thrilled to announce that Lyn “Hilly” Hill has been granted Hockey Australia Life Membership.

While successful internationally in her own right on the field, Hill has dedicated much of her life to the development of hockey in many roles simultaneously. This is the case for both officials and indoor hockey within Australia at club, association, state and national level.

Lyn Hill is a highly respected and highly skilled volunteer who has uniquely contributed to both field and indoor hockey for over 40 years and is very popular in the hockey community from local to international level – and very fondly called “Hilly”.

Lyn said she was, “Feeling very honoured to receive Life Membership from Hockey Australia along with the other 5 recipients who are so deserving and major contributors to our sport in so many ways.

I know that behind these awards there are people from Hockey Queensland, Staff and Volunteers, who have nominated me for the HA Life Membership and I am very appreciated for all who took the time to initiate this.

Hockey in all aspects has really given me so much in friendships, opportunity to meet, play, officiate and administer with amazing people. I am really humbled by the time that so many people have taken to send messages of congratulations, means a lot.”

Hockey QLD CEO Alison Lyons said, “I would like to extend an enormous congratulations to Lyn Hill on her induction as a Hockey Australia Life Member.

Hilly is incredibly deserving of this achievement, and the team at Hockey Queensland are thrilled that she is being recognised for the dedication, hard work, and love she brings to hockey and our community.”

Hilly began her hockey career in Rockhampton in the 1970’s progressing her playing, coaching and umpiring career, being selected for Queensland Country and Queensland Indoor while also coaching and umpiring and serving on the Rockhampton Hockey Association Committee and Secretary of Rockhampton Indoor Hockey for 15 years.

Lyn is currently Chair of the Hockey Queensland and Hockey Australia Umpiring Committees, Hockey Queensland and Hockey Australia Indoor Hockey Committees and represents Australia on the Oceania Officiating Committee.

Lyn is heavily utilised at Hockey Australia level as an Umpires Manager, Umpires Mentor and Coach at all levels from U13 to Australia Hockey League (or its equivalent).  Lyn’s unique contribution includes her long term roles as Chair of the Hockey Queensland and Hockey Australia Umpiring Committees, Hockey Queensland and Hockey Australia Indoor Hockey Committees and represents Australia on the Oceania Officiating Committee.

Lyn is a State, National and International level Indoor Umpire, Umpires Mentor & Coach a rare and outstanding achievement.  Lyn is a quiet achiever, using her many skills and expertise to promote hockey and hockey officiating in particular.

Lyn’s umpiring highlight was being awarded her Australian Umpires Badge in 1987, travelling to umpire internationally for both field and indoor hockey while continuing to umpire in club, regional, state and national competitions.

She has been an Umpires Manager or Coach at every Hockey Queensland under age and open tournament throughout her career, at least one a year, but often at numerous tournaments each year for over 20 years.

Lyn was awarded her Queensland Umpires Badge and then her Australian Umpires Badge in 1987, travelling to umpire internationally for field and indoor hockey and continuing to umpire in club, regional, state and national competitions.  While in Rockhampton, Lyn gained her State A, AA and International Umpiring badges. She umpired at club, association, and state, national and international games. In the late 1990's, Lyn relocated to Brisbane for work, she immediately became involved in activities in Brisbane, Queensland and Australian level.

She served the Rockhampton Hockey Association Committee and Secretary of Rockhampton Indoor Hockey for 15 years and was a Selector for Queensland Women’s Indoor Hockey and Manager of Queensland Women’s Indoor Hockey Teams for many years.  Lyn was awarded Rovers Hockey Club Long Service and Life Membership Awards and Rockhampton Hockey Association Long Service Award.

When Lyn moved to Brisbane in 1994 she immediately became involved in Brisbane Women’s Hockey Association, Hockey Queensland and Hockey Australia, continuing her umpiring, umpire training, mentoring and assessment.

While playing and being selected for Queensland Country and Queensland Indoor, Lyn was also coaching and umpiring.

In BWHA she not only umpired Division 1 on a weekly basic but assisted with umpire mentoring, assessment, rules paper setting and umpire talks.  During this time she also volunteered for many positions at HQ from Board positions to many sub-committees including Umpiring, Athlete Development, Officiating and Competitions and Finance.

While Lyn's primary involvement has been in the officiating area, her professional expertise in finance and governance has been utilised at club and regional level. Lyn is currently the Vice-President of a BWHA Club, mentoring and encouraging umpiring participation at the grass roots level.

Lyn continues to play Masters and Divisional hockey in BWHA, also playing State and National Masters.

Lyn also volunteered for many positions at Hockey Queensland from Board positions to many sub-committees including Umpiring, Athlete Development, Officiating, Competitions and Finance.

Lyn was awarded her Hockey Queensland Life Membership in 2018.