‘Scarred For Life’ , an event to honour the lives of past Margaret River Hockey Club players Ken Howes and Stuart “Scar” Campbell, who both tragically took their own lives last year was held last Saturday.
The club hosted the inaugural hockey match where past Margaret River teams, Settlers and Breakers, took each other on at the Western Pavilion.
Proceeds raised will go partly to the Black Dog Institute, with the remaining funds to pay for a Mental Health First Aid coaching session delivered by a professional, to representatives from Margaret River based sporting clubs later this year.
World Cup and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, and two-time Olympian, Simon Orchard from the Australian Men’s Hockey Team, the Kookaburras, was in attendance and spoke candidly and humorously of his own battle with anxiety and depression.
He supported the Club’s move to promote mental health awareness and talked openly about it with players and members. Orchard conducted interviews and took some great drone footage of the day which will be put together and presented to the Club.
Members of both the Campbell and Howes’ families were present and it was fitting that James Campbell (Scar’s brother) and Braedon Howes (Ken’s son) captained each side.
Life members Barry Campbell, Mark Harrison, Terry Wise and Wally Zalewski (father of Aran Zalewski, also of the Australian Kookaburras) were in attendance with a number of them taking the field.
Aaron Myles shone for Margaret River as centre forward. New player Daniel Bell continually defended well for Settlers, clearing plenty of balls through left half, and looks an exciting prospect for turf hockey.
Colin Fox and Jarrad Zanich displayed their typical battle in the midfield, with both stripping the ball from one another and continuing their usual physical contest in jest.
Jarrad Howes created plenty of scoring opportunities for Settlers and had many attacking chances in the circle … if only he could have kept his feet!
The Campbell family both linked up nicely with James directing the ball well through left half and Dempsey displaying brilliant skills on the left wing, beating several opponents, several times. Solid in goals, nothing was getting past Peter Wright.
Nil-all at half time, both teams were keen to take away the “Scarred for Life” trophy and began the second half with some intensity. Brad Yates was repelling Margaret River’s attacks well, and feeding Luke Altmann.
It was Settlers who broke the deadlock, with Ross McKillop slipping a goal past Cordi Darnell. Barry Campbell turned back the clock with his control of the ball and pace down the right wing, looking the same as fifteen years earlier.
Ian Currell was providing drive to Francine Davies and the barefoot Choppa Reid which eventually resulted in a penalty corner where the scores were tied.
Alex Temby’s pinpointed passes found their mark for Settlers, and Steven Noakes showed his farmer fitness playing on the field for Margaret River.
The game score was 1-1 at the end of play so penalty strokes were needed to decide the outcome with life members called upon to shoot first.
Both Wally Zalewski and Mark Harrison scored for each team respectively.
Ross Mackillop’s shot hit the post and left the door open for Margaret River to sneak one past Peter Wright to take the game 3-2.
James Campbell took home the inaugural “Scarred for Life” trophy to his Perth based North Coast Raiders’ Club where Scar played a lot of his hockey in his early years.
Both families were extremely grateful that the Margaret River Hockey Club had honoured their family members and that the Club intends to make this an annual event, with plans to grow to include more hockey clubs, and most importantly to continue to promote mental health awareness throughout the community.
The club has already been approached by members of Polocrosse and Crossfit, expressing interest in attending the Mental Health Workshop later in the year.
Margaret River hockey members and players are advised that a pre-season camp is being held at Hamelin Bay starting on Friday afternoon on 10 March and extending through the weekend. New members and players are most welcome to attend.
If you or someone you know needs help, or would like to reach out and talk to someone, please contact one of the following: Lifeline 131 114; MensLine 1300 789 978; Beyondblue 1300 224 636
