1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,720 Speaker 1: And certainly been talking about a lot of pretty serious 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: news this morning, but I've got some good news now. 3 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 1: Hockey NTA is very pleased that the Northern Territory Government's 4 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: committed two hundred thousand dollars to support the Territory Stingers 5 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: returned to the Malaysian Hockey League. If you've been listening 6 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 1: to this show for a while, you'll know that this 7 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: is something that we've spoken about previously and the concerns 8 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: around that uncertainty when it came to the funding. Now 9 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: joining us in the studio is the CEO of Hockey 10 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: and T Jason Butcher. Good morning to you, Butchhi Katie, 11 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 1: how are you? Yeah, good mate, good news last week. 12 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, amazing news and timely news as you know. As 13 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 2: you know with us, we're planning anyway. But that was 14 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 2: a significant boost to all the efforts we've put in 15 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 2: place in the last three years. And yeah, we're excited 16 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 2: to go back again. 17 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, I mean last time you and I spoke, 18 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 1: there was that uncertainty around the funding and you had 19 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: said that you would plan ahead regardless. But how important 20 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: is it to actually lock this funding in. 21 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: It's massive. We have the Oceana Cup coming up the 22 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 2: first week of September, so we've got a lot on 23 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 2: our plate with that, and then the Indonesian Series where 24 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:08,839 Speaker 2: Indonesia are coming here at the back end of September, 25 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 2: and those things are all part of the story which 26 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 2: actually feed to the Malaysian Hockey League. Obviously listeners will 27 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 2: know we got excluded from Hockey one. Not impressive as 28 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 2: Territorians to be excluded from something which is our birth rider. 29 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 2: Australians should all have the same opportunities and access with 30 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 2: everything that we do. So the Malaysian Hockey League is 31 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 2: our peace. It's the intermediate measure for us to rebuild 32 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 2: ourselves and to basically have visibility and get ready to 33 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 2: push again to get back into Hockey one. 34 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: So talk us through how the funding is going to work. 35 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 1: It's two hundred thousand dollars, but as I understand it, 36 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: some of it's also attached to strengthening Darwin's capacity to 37 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: host international games. Is that correct? 38 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, So the big piece around Oceana Cup, which we're 39 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 2: really grateful for ant mech for funding that opportunity, is 40 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 2: connected to the Northern Gateway initiative, which is around us 41 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 2: leveraging Oceania and Southeast Asia big hockey areas, so changing 42 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 2: who we are I suppose. But the other part about 43 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 2: it is to get support with our facility. We've got 44 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 2: a forty year old facility, lots of challenges with it, 45 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 2: so we've got good funding in the short term to 46 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,639 Speaker 2: make these events in the next six months viable and appropriate. 47 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 2: So we've got Malaysian Hockey League games early next year 48 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 2: as well. So all these things. So Oceanna Cup was 49 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 2: about that, But what it also allows us to do 50 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 2: is to bring government officials, Hockey Australia officials, Oceana officials, 51 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 2: Southeast Asia people into the venue while these events are 52 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 2: on and actually see for themselves where it's at. Because 53 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 2: we have a vision where Southeast Asia, because of our climate, 54 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 2: uses the territory as a training base and a place 55 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:48,679 Speaker 2: to play series before they go back and play in 56 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 2: World Cups and so forth. Most of the major events 57 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 2: in hockey are in Southeast Asia now because of funding, 58 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 2: and so we're right here on a beautiful base to 59 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 2: do that. But our facility needs massive upgrades. 60 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: I was going to say, how will you juggle it 61 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: as well, because I'm assuming that you know, if you 62 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: do have some of those elite sides coming here to 63 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory to do that training. That it means 64 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: that then the fields potentially aren't sort of available to 65 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 1: your local clubs and to your juniors and that kind 66 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: of thing. Is that, like, would that be the case? 67 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 2: No, normally those timings work pretty well. Obviously a schedule 68 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:23,239 Speaker 2: it and our community is always our priority. So yeah, 69 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 2: there's no drama with that. 70 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 1: And would it help to have an extra field or 71 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 1: something I suppose is what I'm asking to or some 72 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 1: different you know, some more question. 73 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, And hockey is turf based now as a sport, 74 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 2: and especially in the territory when you have the weather, 75 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 2: it's really difficult to play on grass, which they still 76 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 2: do with juniors around the country. So based on our 77 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 2: hockey population so playing members, we're probably half a turf short. 78 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 2: So when you talk about growth and participation, one, it's 79 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 2: localized marara, which is helpful because parents know what time 80 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 2: and what venue they're going to play out, which other 81 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 2: sports don't have. So that's helpful, but it also does 82 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 2: mean some people have to travel to play hockey. But 83 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 2: whether it's a second facility or whether it's just you know, 84 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 2: more access to turf. We're probably half a turf short 85 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 2: from our current membership base, which means I get to 86 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 2: train less. Times aren't always perfect, so there is some 87 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 2: small challenges around that. 88 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, and so in terms of I mean, this 89 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: funding is more so about the Malaysian Hockey League and 90 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 1: as you've touched on, you know, the capacity to host 91 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: those international events. But is that something that you're you know, 92 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: you're hoping that as you get that additional exposure and 93 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: as you do have these different games come to the 94 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:34,160 Speaker 1: end that maybe you'll see that expansion as well, with 95 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: the half an extra turf or you know, a bit 96 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: more funding into the facility. 97 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 2: Well, I think the first priority is just a facility overall. 98 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 2: You know, we talked about we did a safety and 99 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 2: compliance assessment, We've done a QS report around that, and 100 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 2: the money significant and our facility going to be at 101 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 2: a point shortly where that conversation needs to be had 102 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 2: at a harder level, I guess, so we're treading water 103 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 2: on that. The funding for the lighting, scoreboards, CBF, there's 104 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 2: other bits and pieces. Obviously, the turf two upgrades is 105 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 2: a massive thing that we really appreciated of. So we're 106 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 2: getting support to make things appropriate in terms of a contemporary, 107 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 2: world class facility. But the reality is long term with 108 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 2: all these things we're building, membership, growing events, are base 109 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 2: for Southeast Asia, maybe even a home base for teams 110 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 2: preparing for the Olympics. So there's all these opportunities and 111 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 2: our facility is not going to be at our level 112 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 2: required to do that. 113 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 1: Yeah. So I mean this funding though, when you talk 114 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: about the Stinger, is being able to get that opportunity 115 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: and to be able to play at a higher level, 116 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: Like it is massive and it's fantastic for Territorians to 117 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: be able to get those opportunities. Right. 118 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,280 Speaker 2: Look, first, it's historic, right, so we're the first sort 119 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 2: of franchise in Australian sport to play basically defect and 120 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 2: have to play in another countries league. But fundamentally, all 121 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,600 Speaker 2: these things that we've been pushing and working and lobbying 122 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 2: and I guess trying to be creative all lead back 123 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 2: to we have a fundamental belief that our kids deserve 124 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 2: the same opportunities as the rest of Australia. Like that's 125 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 2: what this is all about. And there's different pieces around 126 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 2: facility upgrades and getting support from different organizations to give 127 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 2: us more capacity because of our size or all these 128 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 2: things are part of the jigsaw buzzle, but fundamentally, like 129 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 2: and this is my thing, all sports, all activities, This 130 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 2: is our major city where a state territory, and our 131 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 2: kids in our community deserve to have access to and 132 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:33,719 Speaker 2: the same rights to succeed and same support as everyone 133 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 2: else in the country, not just the East Coast, not 134 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 2: just where the votes. 135 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: Are, but here in the northern terrotories. A part of 136 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: it when you look at our social issues as well. 137 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 1: And I'm a big believer, and you and I have 138 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: spoken about this before, but if you've got kids in sport, 139 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: they're behaving themselves, they've got purpose, they've got something you know, 140 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 1: to believe in, and they're part of something. 141 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 2: Organic, mentorship exactly, purpose. 142 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: Exactly all those things, you know. So when you look 143 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: at some of the issues we've got, like I firmly 144 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,080 Speaker 1: believe that, you know, if you can get more there 145 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: are more kids playing sport in these positive activities, hopefully 146 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: you know, it helps right across the board in so 147 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 1: many other ways also health. 148 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 2: And well being, people being active. Yeah, Like I grew 149 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 2: up as a sport person in my family, so it's 150 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 2: been part of my life forever. But I think it's 151 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 2: a fair argument to say if the sport's healthy in 152 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 2: the territory, then the territory is going to be healthier. 153 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 2: So the investment is they're good investments by the government. 154 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: Now. Butch, when do the Stingers start training again to 155 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: go back to Malaysia. When's it all happening. It's next year, isn't. 156 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 2: Well, we're already training and even when we had a break, 157 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 2: our players are all playing in the Premier League either 158 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 2: in Darwen. We have probably about a third of our 159 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 2: men's list anyway playing in the Perth Premier League. So 160 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 2: we have a couple in Melbourne, one in Canberra, a 161 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 2: couple in Brisbane. So we have kids at UNI and 162 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 2: also trying to play high level hockey to get selected 163 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 2: identified because of this hockey one thing, so we're quite 164 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 2: a separated group. But because of the timing in January 165 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 2: fair early this year and because we prepared for that 166 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 2: from October last year, they really haven't had a break, 167 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 2: So that'll be a thing we have to manage leading 168 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 2: into our preparation. What we'll do is we'll have the 169 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 2: Indonesian Series, which gives a chance to play more kids, 170 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 2: more locals and give them an opportunity and then we 171 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 2: will probably have a break after selecting our Malaysian Hockey 172 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 2: League teams after that and then we'll start getting ready. 173 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 1: Now, can I just confirm as well, this funding is 174 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 1: it's just for one year, isn't it correct? Where too 175 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 1: from there? Hopefully continued? 176 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:35,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look as a challenge, we have a four year 177 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:39,319 Speaker 2: agreement with the Malaysian Hockey Confederation to play in the league, 178 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 2: so the funding conversation is going to come up again. 179 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 2: What we're working hard on is to match that funding 180 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 2: with corporate support. I think it was one to one 181 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 2: last year. We're working hard on that, which the government is, 182 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 2: that's their directive and that's what they appreciate. So we 183 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 2: think we're doing a great job with that. The reality 184 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,199 Speaker 2: is in our small community is we're going to always 185 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 2: need government support to create these parts ways for our people. 186 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 2: So yeah, that'll become another stress point for me in 187 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 2: six months time. 188 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 1: Yeah. Oh well, we'll talk again and I'm sure we'll 189 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 1: talk again before then. Hockey and T CEO Jason Butcher, 190 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: good to catch up with you this morning. Thanks so 191 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 1: much for your time. 192 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, thank you