The local Rovers hockey team won the grand final of the Macleay District girls’ hockey competition on Saturday.
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They defeated Kempsey High School’s A-team on corners after the match had finished in a thrilling 1-all draw.
The match was played at Services Park, Kempsey and created a lot of spectator interest.
Penny Hutchison scored Rovers’ only goal in the first half to give her side a 1-nil lead at half-time. The Kempsey team goaled to even the scores. Rovers won the match by 4 corners to 1.
Rovers put up one of their best efforts of the season in the grand final with all players excelling themselves.
This is the first time in recent years that a Hastings and Macleay team have fought out a grand final.
Before playing in the Macleay competition this season, Rovers won the Hastings District competition in 1965 and 1966.
The great win at Kempsey was a close one and the record that Rovers hold, speaks volumes also for the performance of the Kempsey girls who gave a fine display in hockey and sportsmanship.
The girls attribute all their success to the efforts of their coach, Mrs. Peg Haines. They say it was her inspiration which held the team together and gave the players their will to win.
Her experience also counted, first as a player, and later as a coach, since the Hastings District Hockey Association was formed 15 years ago.
The Rovers team comprises: Carol Avery (captain), Rhonda Hollis, Narelle Southey, Dianne Moore, Penny Hutchison, Joy Cain. Denise Davies, Judy Cooper, Elizabeth Parker, Shirley McCartney and Helen Johansson.
The late Martin Clifford
Mourners from every walk of life packed the Church of St. Thomas and joined the two-mile long cortege when last respects were paid to the late Mr. Martin Clifford on Thursday last.
More policemen than have ever before been seen in Port Macquarie at the one time were there to pay tribute to a former respected member of the Police Force; aldermen, lodge officers, representatives of service and sporting clubs and so on, and above all the Church of St. Thomas which he proudly and loyally worked for was strongly represented.
In a manner which revealed his deep personal loss, Archdeacon A. E. Warr spoke of the late Martin Clifford as “a friend, a man, and a leader, a man of principle who couldn’t bear dishonesty, a man with a heart of tremendous softness and a loving husband”.
Archdeacon Warr said that more diligent care for the community generally came from the home of the late Martin Clifford than could be found anywhere else.
Referring to his service with the Police Force, the Archdeacon said Martin Clifford joined in October, 1922 and retired as Sergeant second class in 1962. On two occasions he was commended and had won long service and good conduct medals.
At the graveside, a Masonic service followed the Church rites; members of the Police Force formed guards of honour both at the Church and graveside and all that was done was as a wonderfully methodical man would have wished it to be.