Gladys O'Brien - Icon of NZ Hockey
Life Member of New Zealand Hockey NZHF President 1974 - 1975 Manager NZ Women's World Cup Teams 1975 - 1985 General Comments The Waikato Hockey Association wishes to acknowledge Ms Gladys O'Brien for her service to Hockey. Her involvement spans 53 years and has seen her occupying important positions In a variety of roles. Gladys has always maintained that Sport is for the players and has selflessly and tirelessly worked to achieve this. It is reflected in the years that she has served at local, provincial and national levels performing both menial and major roles. Gladys is an extraordinarily accomplished organiser and manager of People, events, resources and finances. Service at District and Regional Level Gladys O’Brien's hockey involvement over 53 years stretches back to her playing origins in Piako District before becoming centred in Hamilton. In that time she has held a variety of Administrative positions firstly in Hamilton and Waikato Women’s hockey and more recently in the amalgamated men's and women's Waikato Hockey Association. Besides her playing contributions Gladys was an "A" Grade umpire from 1965 - 1980 and still managed to continue either coaching or managing the Senior Women's rep team during the same period. Service at National/and or International Level Gladys' people skills and hockey acumen were recognised by the wider hockey community when she was elected as New Zealand President 1974-75. Gladys managerial skills were further acknowledged by the Executive of NZ Hockey who appointed her to manage the NZ Women's Hockey team continuously for a period of 10 years. In that time she organised the team through World Cup and Olympic Games campaigns. On each occasion Gladys acquitted herself superbly, earning the respect and admiration of those players who toured with her.	Retiring President, Gladys O'Brien.
The Last Twenty Years With her retirement from the International stage Gladys refocused her attention in the Waikato promoting the acquisition of a synthetic surface in Hamilton. The $2,000,000 playing facility now established on Innes Common is testimony to the vision and work initiated by Gladys and subsequently developed by the members of the Charitable Trust Committee during the past decade. In recent years Gladys has been persuaded to again become fully involved in the local hockey scene. She has convened the organising of a National Tournament and more recently her talents, experience and energy have seen her effectively leading an expanding Waikato Hockey Association. During her Presidency playing numbers have increased dramatically. Waikato has strengthened its playing status and emerged as a major centre of hockey activity. Gladys life time in hockey not only bonds hockey people throughout the Waikato and New Zealand but also around the world. Her name is synonymous with NZ Hockey .
History INVOLVEMENT IN LOCAL LEVEL ADMINISTRATION Piako Delegate to Waikato 1948 - 1958 Waikato Women’s Hockey Management 1959 -1988 Committee Member Hamilton Women's Hockey Association Association 1969 - 1977 President Waikato Womcn's Hockey Association 1981 - 1988 President Waikato Hockey AssoGiation Turf 1985 - 1992 Committee Member Waikato Hockey Charitable Trust Trustee 1992 - 1993 W.H.A Convenor National Tournament Committee 1995 W,H.A Chairperson 1996 - 2002 PLAYER Piako Country Team 1948 Tech Old Girls and then Suburbs Hockey Club 1949 - 1963 Representative Play Hamilton & Waikato 1949 - 1956 1959- 1963 UMPIRE "A" Grade umpire 1965 -1980 Hamilton Women's Hockey Umpires Assoc. President 1977 Hamilton Women’s Hockey Umpires Secretary/Treasure 1979 MANAGER/COACH Hamilton Senior Women's Rep Team 1965 - 1974 Waikato Senior Women's Rep Team 1976 - 1978 INVOLVEMENT AT NATIONAL LEVEL NZ President 1974 - 1975 Manager NZ Women's World Cup Teams 1975 - 1985