LISA BOROWICK
Australia’s delegation of the Open women’s hockey team returns for the first time since 2009, with former president and life member of Maccabi Australia Lisa Borowick playing an enormous influence in ensuring that there is a team that represents Australia in the sport. Her two daughters, Shani and Timna were plying their trade in the U16 boys’ program at Maccabi Hockey, devoid of opportunities to play within a purely women’s environment. This spurred on Lisa to try and encourage more young women to participate in hockey. In 2017, I was thrilled to see our men’s filed hockey team perform so well & that there was a thriving women’s program that sadly did not include Australia. I returned from the Maccabiah games and after a discussion with both my daughters - engaged them to recruit girls to the sport. Tali was a keen basketballer and loved school hockey,” Borowick stated. The Maccabi hockey club was very welcoming regarding our dream of having a women’s team and clear pathway for young girls to strive to play their beloved hockey.
Since 2017, the Maccabiah hockey club has grown to include a women’s program with the progression being made within the past several years made clear with an Australian team participating in the ‘Open’ section of the Women’s hockey tournament at Maccabiah. Four years on - with some challenging times - the seed planted in 2017 is growing. We have an amazing group of women playing club hockey and in 2022 - we are going to the Maccabiah games in Israel and have plans to keep growing the girls club program in 2023” For Borowick, this is just one string she’s added to her bow, having previously acted as a Chef de mission for the games, a Maccabiah Athlete and has been a team manager. The role represents both a ground-breaking moment for women’s hockey within Maccabiah but also a cathartic moment for Lisa as her daughters are also playing within the team. This will be my 10th international event as a Maccabi volunteer - my 6th Maccabiah games. It is truly a privilege to be part of this incredible organisation. Every games has been different and special in its own way. I can’t wait to see Australian women take to the pitch in July 2022 and the added bonus for me, is that I will get to share this experience with not only my daughters but all the fantastic women in our hockey squad. Thank you to all the volunteers & staff behind the scenes working tirelessly to take Team AUS 2022 to Israel - it is greatly appreciated."
Comments