The MCC Hockey Section saluted co-founder, the late Ian ‘Doc’ McDonald, with two wins and two draws against Powerhouse & St Kilda Hockey Club in the Premier League and Premier League Reserve divisions last Saturday.
The Hockey Section celebrates its 60th year in 2021, and the club’s first home game of the season saw the second ‘Doc McDonald Round’ at the Melbourne High School facility.
McDonald, who passed away in 2019, helped birth Hockey as one of the Club’s sporting sections in 1961, where he served as the inaugural Chairman, represented the Club as player for 19 years and was awarded Hockey Section Life Membership in 1986.
A commanding figure in the Cricket Section, where he represented the MCC, Victoria and an Australian XI as a player, ‘Doc’ was awarded the Hans Ebeling Award in 1986 for his service to both sports.
An MCC member for 79 years, Doc served on the MCC Committee from 1958-1968 and was an MCC Guide, as well as being awarded MCC Honorary Life Membership in 2000.
MCC Hockey Section Director of Coaching – Men’s Section, Anthony Traill said the Club was delighted to be able to honor such a prominent figure, with the weekend’s ‘Doc McDonald Round’ just the second time the Club has been able to do so, following the COVID-19 lockdown last year.
“Doc McDonald is just a legend of the Club. One of the small number of MCC Life Members and an inaugural member of setting up this (Hockey) Club 60 years ago, and what we’re trying to honour is the extra effort and the clubman that he was,” Traill said.
“Today is all about what we’re trying to celebrate, those guys that do above and beyond the minimum requirement.”
MCC Women’s Premier League Team Captain, Melinda Casey said the significance of the day was well recognized among the playing group.
“I think the inaugural year (in 2019) was a big one for us, it was the loss of a really important member of our community and really important to a lot of people,” Casey said.
“So we recognized that and celebrated that. For this year, as much as it is still sad, now it’s important to celebrate what an important member of the club that he was and the family and legacy that he’s left, that’s felt by all of us.”
The MCC hosts the Greensborough Hockey Club at home in the Premier League and Premier League Reserve competitions.
To find out more information or to join the MCC Hockey section, visit mcchockey.org.au
Hockey Victoria Senior Competitions, Round 2
Premier League – Men’s: MCC Hockey Section (5) def. Powerhouse & St Kilda Hockey Club (4)Premier League – Women’s: MCC Hockey Section (1) drew with Powerhouse & St Kilda Hockey Club (1)
Premier League Reserve – Men’s: MCC Hockey Section (2) def. Powerhouse & St Kilda Hockey Club (1)
Premier League – Women’s: MCC Hockey Section (2) drew with Powerhouse & St Kilda Hockey Club (2)