This is a great opportunity to acknowledge and thank the Aspire Team for a great 2021.

Julie McNeil leads the team comprising Wes Ferns, Jess Fatnowna, Sawadu Tabuai, David McNeil and Stephanie Bonel and supported by Lisa Fatnowna, Sarah and Bella Cochran and Carleah Flinders. Aspires’ success is because the team works. Thanks to everyone in the team and thank you to our partners, schools, sponsors, clubs, and volunteers, because we know and appreciate that it takes a village.

2021 Aspire to be Deadly Report

One of the key strategic pillars within the Cairns Hockey Strategic Plan identifies high level of community engagement and social responsibility through Cairns Hockey community and our marquee program in this landscape is Aspire to be Deadly and it is designed to use hockey as a vehicle to drive positive social change.

The model program links participation with Live Well Learn Well Lead Well – education, well-being and leadership programs and identifies hockey as a gender equal, inclusive, and culturally safe program.  Unlike mainstream participation programs, recruiting players into club is not the program’s primary consideration but it has been very pleasing to report in 2021 that indigenous club membership is increasing and the strengthening of communication and awareness within the clubs and Aspire to be Deadly drives this positive outcome.

Planning is underway for an exciting 2022.