Newsletter of the Raptors Hockey Club – 1^st Edition June 2026

Welcome to the first edition of the Raptor’s Rag! It’s now halfway through the season and what a great start we have had.

Socially, we kicked off the year with our new members night. Was wonderful to get together new members and old.Followed up by a successful Ladies Long Brunch. Planning has begun for the end of year presentation night which will be huge.  If you’re keen to get involved please contact the social committee here.

For new members and old here is a little story on who Raptors is!

The Raptors Hockey Club has a proud history of building strong teams and an even stronger community. Rooted in the spirit of grassroots sport, our club brings together players of all ages and abilities at Sydney Olympic Park — from juniors taking their first steps on the turf to Masters veterans who have been part of the UTS Hockey / Raptors family for decades. We are more than a hockey club; we are a community. Our strength comes from every player, parent, coach, and volunteer who gives their time and passion to make this club what it is.

We are proud to celebrate our alumni who have gone on to represent their respective national teams. Check out their stories here!

Meet your executive team:

Season Fees — Action Required

Season competition fees are now being issued to all senior members (excluding juniors). Keeping fees as low as possible is one of our key priorities — and that’s only possible when the whole community pulls together. Fees reflect the actual costs of participating in our competitions and are shared fairly across each team.

Action: Please pay your invoice by the due date. Prompt payment helps us plan ahead and cover the costs of competitions that the club participates in.

Fundraising & Social Activities

A massive thank you to every member who has shown up, sold tickets, and volunteered their time this season. Our community fundraising is truly the lifeblood of this club — and the results speak for themselves. The weekly meat raffles continue to go from strength to strength, and our recent ANZAC Day BBQ at the Horse & Jockey was a brilliant afternoon that brought the whole club together.

Every raffle ticket sold, every dollar donated, and every hour volunteered goes directly toward keeping our club accessible and thriving. A special shout out to the Masters’ raffle team who have smashed the charts with $415 in ticket sales — incredible effort, Eddie and team!

We need more hands on deck! Even an hour of your time on a Friday makes a real difference. Check the roster for your team’s schedule, come down to the Horse & Jockey, help sell some tickets, and stay for a meal and a drink with your teammates. It’s one of the best nights of the week — we’d love to see you there.

If you wish to volunteer, complete the attached form nominating your volunteering preference!

Support the Club

Running Raptors Hockey Club takes more than just passion — it takes financial support. We are actively seeking donations and sponsorships to help offset rising costs across equipment, facilities, and development programs. Every contribution, big or small, makes a direct difference to what we can offer our members.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and supporters, here’s what we’ve achieved so far this year:

Horse & Jockey Sponsorship - $5,000

NSW Office of Sport - awarded 2 grants of $5,000 each to buy equipment and promotional material.

Weekly Meat Tray Raffle at the Horse & Jockey – approx. $3,000 to date

Donate / Sponsor via the Australian Sports Foundation website — tax-deductible and takes just minutes!!

Help Us Grow – Recruit for Next Season

With the season now past halfway, we’ve started planning for next year. We encourage all members to bring along friends, colleagues or family interested in playing.

If you have experience in or wish to get involved in outreach programs for local schools and communities we need you. 

If you know anyone interested in a role within the club as a committe memeber or keen to join to support the growth of the club through volunteering, fundraising, or general community cheer encourage them to reach out!! 

Key Actions

• Pay your competition fee invoice promptly once received
• 🙌 Volunteer at weekly raffles and events — even one hour makes a huge difference
• Donate or become a sponsor via the ASF link above — contributions are tax-deductible
• Spread the word and help recruit players, coaches, and committee volunteers for next year

Frequently Asked Questions

What do fees cover?
Registration fees (already paid) cover state and association levies, insurance, and club membership — all essential costs that keep the club running safely and legally. 

Competition and team fees are separate and reflect the actual cost of your team’s competition, including turf hire and match officials. These are divided fairly across team members.

Why do fees vary?
Different competitions and grades have different costs. Teams competing at higher grades or in additional competitions may have higher fees as a result.

Can sponsorship reduce fees?
Absolutely! Teams that find a local sponsor can reduce or even eliminate competition fee contribution. Speak to the executive team— we can help connect you with potential sponsors.

If I play multiple competitions?
You only pay the registration fee once but contribute to each team’s competition fees.

Do all players need to pay?
Yes, all registered senior and masters players are required to contribute to competition fees. Juniors are exempt. If you want to reduce fees, volunteer and we can discuss roles to reduce fees, please speak confidentially with the Treasurer — we want everyone to be able to play.

Raptors Hockey Club | Sydney Olympic Park
#raptorshockey