The Atherton Tablelands Hockey Association (ATHA) has had a proud and strong connection to the local community of the Tablelands for 90 years.
Hockey was first played on the Tablelands in 1929 and the first women’s team were known as “The Gum-nuts”. Hockey continued to be played throughout the years at different venues on the Tablelands and Atherton Tableland Hockey Association became an Incorporated Association in 1992.
The first game of hockey in our region was played in Cairns in 1927, when a women’s team from Atherton journeyed to Cairns to play a high school team. Both coaches were from Brisbane Teachers Training College. The Atherton side was coached by Miss A Johns and the Cairns Team by Miss E O’Hara.
On land made available by the Atherton Shire Council, ATHA has developed 5 grass hockey fields. Family focused games are played each Saturday at Loder Park, https://goo.gl/maps/g7QbLAZjgku located on Grau Street in Atherton. The hockey season commences in March/April with the finals being played in September. You can register yourself as a full time or casual player. Age divisions commence from Under 8’s through to open ladies and Veterans (35+ only). If you are a beginner or a returning player looking for a team to join, the committee will be happy to help you.
We also offer the opportunity for players to compete in the Cairns competition and for several years have had teams travel down on a Friday evening to play in in the S1 & S2 competition as the Tableland Tomahawks.
The Club is proudly supported by a strong band of volunteers who carry out a number of roles including coaching/managing teams, ground maintenance, umpiring and canteen and bar duty. Our canteen is the major source of funding for the club and operates from around 9:30 in the morning till late: a variety of both cold and hot food and drinks are available each week. We also have a restricted liquor licence which operates each Saturday from midday till 11 pm.
Summer Sixes competition runs in the off season which commences in October/November and is played through to February. There is two mixed division where all players will have to meet the minimum age requirements of 12. Games will be played on a Tuesday afternoon at 5.30 pm. If you are interested in this competition (which is a great way to keep fit over the summer off season), please get a team together and register by the end of September.
Atherton Tablelands Hockey Association is a not for profit sporting club run solely on the time and contribution of many dedicated volunteers. Monthly meetings in the off season are held at the clubhouse on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 6.30 pm.
The Atherton Hockey Management Committee meets monthly to address matters relating to the management, administration and future development of the facility. During the playing season we have meetings at the clubhouse on game day generally on the 3rd Saturday of the month at either 9.30 am or 5.30 pm. If you would like to have a say or simply sit in to hear the latest news please feel free to attend. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for any new information.