OLYMPIC FUND

1954

AUSTRALIAN ICE HOCKEY followers have long cherished the hope that we would one day be able to send a team to compete at the Winter Olympics. Biggest bar to the fulfilment of those hopes has, of course, been the tremendous cost of such a venture. In recent years, individual skaters have represented Australia at the Games, but these all paid their own way. A team of skiers also carried the Australian colors at the last Olympics under the same conditions. The impossibility of getting a worthwhile hockey team together on a pay-your-own way basis is obvious, so the finance has to be raised if we are to see the Australian flag flying over the ice hockey arenas at Cortina in 1956. Committees have been in existence in both N.S.W. and Victoria for some time, charged with the sole responsibility of raising that money. It is a big job, but long range plans have been adopted and it should not be impossible. Fine co-operation from the Sydney Glaciarium management have enabled the N.S.W. boys to boost their end of this fund with a special night. Many and varied other entertainments are also planned. The local committee has not yet held any particular functions but they have received several generous donations which constitute a healthy start for their efforts.

The exact amount needed to send a team away is a little difficult to assess, but the ideal team would consist of fifteen players, a manager, and a baggage man-masseur. Travelling by boat they would be away at least three months. Fares alone for this party would be about £3,000. Incidentals such as gear and replacements could easily amount to another £500. Accommodation may not be an expensive item, so we may be able to say that £4,000 would start to get somewhere near the mark. But it could be a lot more. It is probably too early to be thinking of the possible personnel of a team, but when you remember that players like Dave Cunningham, Noel Derrick, Rus Jones, Johnny Nicholas, Vic Ekberg, Dave Campbell, Geoff Henke, Basil Hansen and a host of other players among our Victorians alone will still be comparatively young players in 1956, it is obvious we have the makings of a good side. It would only be wishful thinking to suggest our team would be a mighty success. Canadians, Americans and teams like Czechoslavakia and Sweden would naturally be far too good for them, but what a wealth of experience our fellows would gain and it is only by competing in these tournaments that we can hope to raise our standards to anything approaching overseas. Ice Hockey Guide, VIHA, Goodall Cup Issue, Sep 1954 Edited by Russ Carson, VIHA, AIHF Secretary-Treasurer