Western Hockey Masters Gala Day to return this weekend

The wonders of modern medicine and the benefits of keeping active will be put at the forefront this weekend as Western Hockey Masters gears up for its third ChestRad WHM Gala Day.

The ChestRad WHM Gala Day will take over Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University on Saturday 2 December, featuring four matches between masters teams, whose players have overcome serious health issues or benefitted from various surgeries.

This year's Gala Day will see the eighth year of the Bionic Cup between players with artificial hips and artificial knees, which puts great great surgery and correct rehabilitation at the forefront, allowing people to continue living active lives.

The event will also host its third annual match between Cancer Survivors and Heart Conditions including triple by-passes, showcasing the benefits of modern medicine combined with the power of the body and mind to overcome serious health issues.

Ladies that have benefitted from modern medicine will also be put under the spotlight as Nice n Kneesy and Breast Friends compete for the ChestRad Challenge Cup.

For the second year, two teams of local eighty-year-olds will go head to head for the OBE Challenge Cup, emphasising the benefits of continuing to play sport and socialising.

Western Hockey Masters president Tony Jones said the Western Hockey Masters Gala Day started out as a fun challenge between mates who had a hip replacement or a knee replacement and expanded to include those that recovered from other medical ailments.

"This started with a challenge from two mates playing hockey on a Wednesday in the Western Hockey Masters competition," he said.

"One had a hip replacement and one had a knee replacement.

"The idea initially was just to field two teams with players from each of these medical recovery sections.

"A few years later when I joined the committee, I asked if we could expand this to include other medical recovered ailments so we started the Survivors Cup for those who had survived a heart related incident against those who had survived a cancer scare, then last year we added a ladies competition which included two teams who had recovered from some form of medical ailment and was able to start playing again.

"For the first time last year we added an over 80's competition and I'm not sure of other sports that have two teams where players are over 80 years old.

"It is a true celebration of a sport that can be played from a very young child to a very old age."

Jones said he hopes everyone involved enjoys the day and continues to support the sport they love.

"I think it shows how amazing medicine has moved forward," he said.

"Keeping fit and healthy is important and then being able to play an active sport, like hockey, is even more amazing.

"We even have a few players who qualify for all the teams which is truly amazing."

WESTERN HOCKEY MASTERS GALA DAY

Saturday 2 December, 10.30am-5.00pm

Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University

FULL SCHEDULE

10.45am-11.00am: Introduction & Warmup for WHM ChestRad OBE Challenge Cup

11.00am-12.10pm: WHM ChestRad OBE Challenge Cup (Golden Masters vs White Knights)

12.15pm-12.30pm: WHM ChestRad OBE Challenge Cup Presentation & Warmup for WHM Ladies ChestRad Challenge Cup

12.30pm-1.45pm: WHM Ladies ChestRad Challenge Cup (Nice n Kneesy vs Breast Friends)

1.45pm-2.00pm: WHM Ladies ChestRad Challenge Cup Presentation & Warmup for WHM Perth Urology Clinic Survivors Cup

2.00pm-3.15pm: WHM Perth Urology Clinic Survivors Cup (Cancer vs Hearts)

3.15pm-3.30pm: WHM Perth Urology Clinic Survivors Cup Presentation & Warmup for WHM AOA Bionic Cup

3.30pm-4.45pm: WHM AOA Bionic Cup (Hips vs Knees)

4.45pm-5.00pm: WHM AOA Bionic Cup Presentation

Sponsors

ChestRad

Australian Orthopaedic Association 

Perth Urology Clinic 

Panchos Mexican Villa restaurant

Thinking Hats

Medical Forum

Hockey WA

Supporters

Genesis Care 

Perth Radiological Clinic

Heart Foundation

Cancer Council