Young at heart

By Jarrod Potter
KEEPING young is something everyone aspires to, but keeping up with Fiona Young is what the players at Casey Cannons wish to achieve.
Young, 49, from Berwick, has been playing hockey for 39 years, having started at high school (Glenlola Collegiate Grammar in Northern Ireland) before moving to Australia nearly three decades ago.
“I got married and we decided to emigrate in 1987,” Young said. “I already had a sister who lived in Berwick. I played at Dandenong in 1988 and then they broke away and formed the Berwick Hockey Club in 1989. I’ve played over 400 games for Berwick/Casey and about 500 in Australia.”
Young has been a state and national representative in Masters hockey for the last six years, first representing Victoria in 2005 and Australia in 2009.
“My first year playing for Victoria was 2005,” Young said. “One of the teams I was playing for in the summer asked me to come down and have a trial.
“The last tournament was in the ACT. My age group (over-45) has won it the last two years. We won it on the Gold Coast this year, beating New Zealand. There were five Masters teams from Australia and New Zealand and one from England. It was really good. Very competitive, they’re all very good hockey players.”
The Masters World Cup is the big goal Young is aiming for, but she has to get into the Australian team by playing well at the Australian championships in Perth in September.
“Next year is the inaugural Masters World Cup in England, just after the Olympics. I’m hoping to play well in Perth (Australian championships) and get selected for the national side.”
Young’s love of hockey is genetic, as it has passed down to her three children.
Oldest son Stefan, 22, plays for Hawthorn in the state league competition, younger son Bryan, 19, otherwise known as ‘Ranga’, plays for the Casey Cannons in State League 3 and daughter Monika, 12, also plays for the Cannons.
When asked why she continues to play, Young said hockey keeps her fit, physically and socially. “I love the fitness side of hockey and the people,” Young said. “I like team sports because it’s not just the game.