Erica Brodie awarded Life Membership by La Trobe University Hockey Club
At La Trobe University Hockey Club’s 2024 Presentation Night on 11th of October, Life Member and former President Zac Martin gave the following speech:
Tonight I have the honour of presenting our most meaningful award – Life Membership. This award is given only to those demonstrate a life time of commitment and service to the club. In our 57 year history, we have awarded only 19 of them. And I’m pleased to say that tonight we will award our 20th.
Since starting at the club in 2009, this person has fundamentally changed the club, both on and off the field, with an impact so sprawling that it’s hard to keep track of how many ways she has contributed.
On field, she started strong winning the B&F in the Women’s 2s in her first year, and would do it again in 2012. She would then move into the 1s squad where she would stay for more than a decade, including winning the B&F in 2015. She would quickly become a leader, taking on the role of Captain or Co Captain in 2018, 19, 21, 23 and 24. In 2023 she would lead the Women’s 1s to a Premiership, and was selected in Hockey Victoria’s Women’s VicLeague 2 Team of the Year.
This person contributed not only by playing, but coaching Metro in 2013 and being Team Manager of Uni Games in the same year.
But perhaps where this person has made their most significant contribution is off the field, taking on a range of positions on the Committee over the last decade and a half.
She started as Women’s Coordinator which she did in 2010 and 11. She ran Uniforms in 2012 and 13, and was also our Scribe in 2013.
She would step into the most important position we have at the club, leading us as President in 2014, where she would stay for three years.
In 2017 she was Development Coordinator, in 2019 she was Grants Coordinator and in 2023 and 24 she was the Member Protection and Information Officer.
This person is also a two-time recipient of the Clubperson of the Year, in 2010 and in 2014.
The recipient of the award tonight is a quiet over-achiever at the club. She gives much, and continues to do so, while taking nothing. She’s has had an incredible impact on the field, having been a part of the Women’s 1s squad for more than a decade – but her most significant and lasting contribution to the club is in the background, quietly working away as a volunteer to make the club better.
Even this year, she took on the enormous job of fixing and re-writing all the club’s policies. Which we know no one will read, yet is critical for the club in create a safe and inclusive environmental for all.
The great Ross Erickson, and fellow Life Member says: “She is an outstanding member in that she has contributed unselfishly, set standards that make the Gunners the envy of many other clubs and provided a home for juniors, Seniors, Masters and supporters. She has been instrumental in making the club inclusive at all levels.”
In many ways her work over the years has been in thankless roles. Tonight the club says thank you.
Please join me in celebrating the 20th life member of the La Trobe University Hockey Club, for outstanding service and commitment, Erica ‘Percy’ Brodie.
Erica Brodie presented Life Membership by Zac Martin