Catherine Dooley's hockey journey begun when she was seven years old in Crookwell.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Fast-forward half a century and the 67-year-old has just notched her 800th game for Canberra club Central - an achievement she wasn't even aware of less than a week out from her historic milestone match.
"I only found out about it last Tuesday and that they were going to do the celebration on Sunday," Dooley said.
"They had balloons and champagne and cake. I tried to score a goal. Everyone helped but it didn't happen for my 800th game.
"But it was good. I have been overwhelmed ... it has been very special."
Hockey is a family affair in the Dooley household. Catherine and her husband Charlie are life members of Central Hockey Club, and all three of their children have played for the club.
She is also the aunt of Hockeyroos co-captain Emily Chalker and has represented the ACT in the Australian Masters Championships, which she hopes to do again after this year's cancellation.
"I moved to Canberra to join the public service when I was 17 and that's when I joined the Central Hockey Club, and I have never stopped playing with them since," Dooley said.
"My husband was also a rep player and we married a year after I came to Canberra. He came over here and also joined Central.
"We have been a very big Hockey family with my children all playing. I have also played indoor and I am also representing the ACT at the Australian Championships in Masters.
"We were supposed to be going to Cairns this year but unfortunately that wasn't happening, so I am hoping I will get to go to at least to one more championship before I give up."
MORE CANBERRA SPORT
A love of the game is what keeps bringing the veteran back every year.
"When I first started there wasn't really any other sport available," she said.
"I have always maintained the love of it and sometimes you think about giving it up. But I just love the teamwork and that fact you get picked and the club's been good to me.
"When I am playing with younger people, I feel very conscious that I am a role model for them.
"I get lots of comments from people who say 'I see you' and I just keep going, and that's really inspiring to me to keep on going."
