Bellbowrie History

Bellbowrie Hockey Club was formed in 1982 and participated in the Ipswich Hockey Competition as various entities, including Bellbowrie, Rosewood and Bellrose Clubs before a stint in the Brisbane Hockey Association (BHA) and Brisbane Women’s Hockey Association for around 10 years. The decision to rejoin IHA again in 1995, was primarily based on:

• the smaller size of the Ipswich Hockey Association compared with BHA and BWHA, which provides our players and developing teams with greater opportunities for access to artificial playing surfaces (which are used at state and national representative level);
• the convenience of all grades being played at a single venue. Senior Club members and parents of junior players (who are often players, coaches and managers and mentors to junior players) are able to support other teams without having to travel to different venues; and
• proximity of our members to the Ipswich hockey complex, compared with the State Hockey Centre, Downy Park, Burringbah Park and Redcliffe fields (which are used as part of the Brisbane competition).

The majority of our members are currently drawn from a region in the west and southwest suburbs of Brisbane encompassing Springfield & Forest Lake in the south, Jindalee & Indooroopilly in the north, and Chapel Hill, Kenmore, Brookfield, Bellbowrie, Anstead, Karana Downs, Karalee and Mount Crosby in the west. 

BHC has had many Club and individual successes since rejoining the IHA:

• we generally have at least 2-3 teams competing in grand final matches or taking out grade premierships each year;
• the Club generally finishes within the top 3 clubs on the IHA championship ladder;
• we generally have a number of players being nominated as finalists in the IHA player of the year competition; and
• are well represented within IHA representative and School Representative teams.

After a long absence from the senior mens competition BHC fielded 3 mens teams in 2008, which resulted from a need to provide our first wave of junior boys with opportunities in senior competition.

2008 also saw the implementation of a women’s selection policy, aimed at providing consistency and transparency in player and team selections and to provide opportunities for the development and growth of competitive A Reserve and A Grade teams and the retention of talented junior girls.

Apart from our sporting successes, we aim to create a sense of social connectivity within the local community through our social and fundraising events, including our annual trivia night, sausage sizzles and Club supporters days. Through involving and supporting Club volunteers in a range of fulfilling activities we aim and increase the sense of enjoyment for families as well as individuals.