Sheard, Marcia

BORN GERALDINE MARCELLA CAMPBELL in Annandale Sydney on March 16th 1925, Marcia owned and operated two roller skating rinks in Sydney, one at Campbelltown. In 1972, she helped to form the United International Ice Hockey Club at the second Canterbury Ice Rink where she served as club secretary. "Marcia was a capable secretary who worked very hard for United International," wrote Syd Tange. "She did have a tendency to sidestep official channels and guidelines which on occasion did incur the wrath of the Federation". [1] Tange led the national association at that time, followed by Victorians Bob Blackburn and John Purcell.

Much earlier, in 1944, Sheard enlisted as an air force nurse, working at a rehab centre for returned prisoners of war, "especially those who'd suffered the unimaginable conditions at the infamous Changi camp in Singapore". For the next 50 years she volunteered her time, three days a week, to help soldiers from Korea and Vietnam to re-adjust to everyday life. She was national secretary of the Women s Auxiliary Australian Air Force, an office bearer of the Australian War Widows Guild, a Life Member of the RAAF Association, and secretary of the De La Salle Catholic College Sydney for about 10 years.

Marcia married Reg after the war and raised three children. In 1963, she turned down Billy Thorpe and one of the Aztecs when they arrived at the family home seeking permission for her 16 year-old son Gordon to join them. "How can he go on tour with you? He has to go to school!" Marcia's youngest son Peter played ice hockey, and in the early 1970s, she managed the state under-16 teams to their second victory in the new Tange Trophy tournament. The line-ups coached by Igor Sedivy included Peter, Sandi Logan, Clive Roberts, Marty Byrne and many others. Peter played the game so aggressively, Marcia changed her name to Mrs Smith on match days.

"Sheard coached when I started," says Kevin Price. "You had to be on ice on time or go home, see you next week". [2] Wayne Disbery remembers her as "firm but fair" and Sandi Logan, another of Sheard's juniors, recalls she worked tirelessly for the sport. "She started United-International because most of the NSW Tange winning team was no longer of "junior" age and there was every likelihood they'd head off to other clubs to continue to play senior hockey. Igor Sedivy continued to coach at United, and the bulk of that team formed the new team. They were indeed fun times". [2]

The attitude of the state's clubs at that time led to a growing dissatisfaction with the neglect of their junior members. Most club officials' interest in their senior teams occurred at a cost to the under-16 age bands, especially in coaching. With a single vote at the state association, Sheard successfully organised the new junior movement, along with the state Tange Trophy teams, until 1979 when the association was completely reorganised.

In 1974, after the demise of the NSW Pee Wee League, Sheard became foundation secretary of the affiliated NSW Junior Ice Hockey Association (under-16), with long-ranging aims to promote, encourage and publicise the growth and quality of junior ice hockey, and to administer the junior program under association rules. [1]

Appointed assistant secretary to Roy Philpot during Rob Dewhurst's presidency of the NSW association in 1974 and '75, Sheard continued as secretary-treasurer in 1976 and '77, and was later nominated for national secretary. "Marcia was a remarkable woman," writes her son Gordon, "a great organiser, a get-up-and-goer, always ready to help those not as fortunate, but could also be somewhat stubborn and did not suffer fools, telling you how it was and then got on with it".

Sheard and national secretary Stan Gray ensured the success of Australia's first inter-rink ice hockey championships at Sydney's Prince Alfred Park ice rink in 1976. Planned by Pat Burley to coincide with the opening of the new roof for the complex, the other participants were Sydney's Canterbury rink, along with the Four Seasons Ice Palace in Brisbane, and the Oakleigh and Ringwood rinks in Melbourne.

Ron Milne believes Sheard's pay-by-the-week plan for purchasing second hand or new equipment made it possible for a lot of junior players like him to play. [2] "Marcia will always be remembered," says Martin Byrne. "She was always there for us boys". [2]

Marcia Sheard died at 90 in Cairns on August 15th 2015, survived by her brother Russell and his wife Beverley, three sons, Graeme (Prague), Gordon (Cairns) and Peter (Sydney), and daughter-in-laws Nola and Dana. She left 7 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.