Vale Colin Nicholas OAM

Hockey WA is saddened to hear of the passing of former Hockey WA and Hockey Australia President Colin Nicholas OAM.

Colin was President of Hockey Australia and Hockey WA in the 1990's. A life member of Hockey WA, Colin was a popular figure in Australian hockey circles and contributed decades of time and service to the sport at club, state and national level.

As an architect, Colin was involved in the planning and design of the current Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University, ensuring it was built in time for the 1979 Esanda Tournament. Due to federal funding from former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, the stadium was named the Commonwealth Hockey Stadium when it was officially opened.

Colin was also instrumental in the group that established the Australian Institute of Sport hockey programme in Perth in 1984. Heavily involved with Old Modernians Hockey Club in Perth, he was President of the WA Hockey Association and then President of the Australian Hockey Association (AHA) - the men’s hockey association.

Colin was also awarded OAM in the Queen's Birthday list in 1991 for his services to hockey.

Also a foundation member of Masters hockey in WA, Colin regularly played midweek hockey at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University. He also toured with the Hotspurs team to London in 1986 for the Kookaburras’ successful World Cup.

During his time, Colin also continued to drive and promote hockey’s reputation as a strong family orientated sport.

“We can look forward to a strong future for hockey, particularly in the ‘Year of the Family’ because hockey is a family-based sport.”

Hockey WA expresses its sincere condolences to Colin’s family at this sad time.