Kookaburras fly in for hockey skills clinic

Budding young hockey enthusiasts from Dardanup Primary School were privileged to have six players from the Australian Kookaburras run a hockey skills clinic at the school on Friday.

More than 50 students from Years 2 to 6, braved the heat for the chance to have a hit with their hockey heroes.

Among the six players was former student and 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jake Harvie, who recently played in the World Cup, where Australia took home bronze.

“It’s great to be back, it’s good to see all the kids running around and having a good time,” Harvie said.

Before debuting for the Kookaburras in 2017, Harvie had been playing for Boyanup Hockey Club since the age of four.

Student Bryce Lydon, also a Boyanup Hockey Club player, was thrilled to have Harvie visit his school.

“I was really, really excited,” Bryce said, who also said his favourite Kookaburra was Harvie.

Harvie’s former teacher Bev Fortescue organised the clinic and was pleased with the result.

Mrs Fortescue said Harvie and his younger brother Tom, who is also pursuing a career in hockey, had run clinics at the school before.

Harvie is now waiting for the Australian 2020 Olympic Squad announcement, which will be released in June next year.