Borkowski, Carole

BORN MARCH 27TH Carole Borkowski's service to the sport of ice hockey began as secretary of Sydney's St George Ice Hockey Club in 1971, the year St George won its second Australian Club Championship. She remained in the role for five seasons until 1975, during which time former ice hockey Olympian Rob Dewhurst was a prime mover and state president. Carole married Jon Borkowski, a Sydney ice hockey player and referee, who coached the state Pee Wees in 1972, '73 and '74.

The Borkowskis moved to Perth in 1976 where they became very active in the state association at the Premier Ice Rink. Jon joined the local Pirates club as a forward, coach and manager, and represented the state from 1977. The state referee-in-chief, he implemented a referee accreditation program, and initiated the long process that led to the state's entry to national competition. He served as secretary and treasurer of the association during the late-1970s and early 1980s, moving the motions that turned four local teams into separate clubs, and later the creation of the B and C grades.

Carole worked as a scorer and helped with fundraising activities until 1982. In 1983, she became the first female executive officer of the association when elected state secretary for five years, and remained active in fundraising for state teams. In mid-June 1983, she joined Marina Bremner, Guy Grant and others, on the committee for Western Australia's first national ice hockey tournament at the new competition-size Ice World Mirrabooka. The 1983 Brown Trophy won by WA was acknowledged at the time as perhaps the best run and most successful in the history of the Australian game.

In 1984, Carole became one of the first women to complete a referee course and meet Level 1 coaching accreditation. She went on to officiate at many national tournaments. Her first child was born in 1985, and she was still state secretary when Australia hosted its first international ice hockey tournament, the IIHF D-Pool Worlds in Perth in 1987. Jon coached the state Tange teams from 1984 to '87 and 1991, and both continued to officiate, including events such as the World Ice Hockey Challenge in Perth in 1988.

After a short break, Carole returned to ice hockey in 1991 at the special request of the State Teams Committee, which she led by mid year. Her organisational skill in large part ensured its success for many years to come. That year, when the state association elected Guy Grant a Life Member, the State Teams Committee nominated Carole for the same honour, noting she was always fair, and operated without favour. "Much of what she has done was behind the scenes," they said, "and no-one will ever know the full extent of her labours".

A bookkeeper, Carole also served on the Board of the Perth Lions Netball Club for many years, retiring in 2016.