Vera Margaret Hine

Awarded for service to the Community

Born: 1942

Entered on roll: 2007

Vera Hine was born in Strahan in 1942 and moved to Queenstown after her marriage in 1961. She has four children, 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Other than her family, her passions are the RSL Women’s League, the RSL Club in Queenstown and hockey. Vera has dedicated her life to these passions.

Vera is a Life Member of the Queenstown Hockey Association and is still currently playing the game. This is her 53rd year of playing hockey. During this time, she has provided great support to others. She has held all committee positions, marked the grounds, cleaned the clubhouse, worked in the canteen, umpired and coached. She is always on hand to help raise money for the hockey club. She continued to provide this support even while her children were young.

Vera also started a junior hockey club with the help of a few others, each taking an interest in one of the three primary schools in the district at the time. Vera and her helpers taught the children to play, coached, umpired and even took a few home after the games. Many of those now playing learnt the game from Vera. When the Indoor Hockey for Children program started in Queenstown, Vera was there again, coaching the very young ones, setting up the hall, dragging out the goals and umpiring.

Vera has been voluntarily involved with her local RSL Women’s League for about 45 years. She works part-time as a cleaner and has held that job for about 30 years.

Every Anzac Day, Vera is up at 3am to cook breakfast and lunch for the club members. Vera has voluntarily worked in the kitchen for the Women’s League for all of this time, and held all positions on the women’s committee. She directs a small band of women, most of whom are elderly now, in cooking meals every Friday night and catering for all the functions held at the club including weddings, parties and funerals. Most recently, Vera has become the Secretary of the Queenstown RSL.

In recognition of her great support of community life, Vera was a runner in the Commonwealth Games baton relay. All of her family went along to support her.

Vera has been awarded Life Membership of the Queenstown RSL for her support and dedication over many years.

She was named the West Coast Australia Day Citizen of the Year in 2005 for her involvement as a hockey player, coach and member of the committee for 50 years.