20 years ago Kookaburras striker Tom Wickham packed up his life in Alice Springs as a 14-year-old hockey mad teenager and across Australia to continue his hockey dream.
Two decades on, he’s back. Returning to the NT alongside two-time Olympian and recently retired Hockeyroo Renee Taylor as an inspiration for many local young hockey players, proving they too can chase their dreams.
As well as teaching a few hockey basics while getting involved with the hockey school visit he’s brought a special item with him.
His silver medal from the Tokyo 2020 (2021) Olympics catches the beams of the hot Alice Springs sunlight and reflects the smiles of many kids who quickly wear it around their necks.
“I’m loving being back in Alice Springs, it’s been 20 years since I’ve been back here and it has actually been the highlight of my career to be able to come back here,” Tom (TJ) exclaimed.
“I’ve been fortunate to play on the world stage and travel the world but for me this has been a real nostalgic week, especially going back to my old school today.”
TJ is one of many Kookaburras and Hockeyroos who started their journeys in the Territory.
Recently the power duo of Jeremy Hayward and Brooke Peris starred for the Australian national teams at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Before them Joel Carroll and Donna-Lee Patrick represented Australia and 28 years ago, Nova Peris became the first Aboriginal to win an Olympic gold medal with the victorious Hockeyroos in Atlanta 1996.
But today at the school visit, supported by the Hockey Australia Foundation and the Australian Olympic Committee’s Olympics Unleashed program, TJ and Renee are getting down to basics and having a whole lot of fun just playing hockey. The very way it all started.
“A key benefit of hockey being in the community is that it provides a space in the community with a group of people that people can be a part of.
“For me as a youngster growing up in Alice Springs, it was a really strong community and there were some really strong figures within the hockey community that were driving programs, volunteering and providing opportunity and involvement for youngsters like me to pursue my dreams.
“I think to push more opportunity in an environment and in a town like Alice Springs, it’s only going to benefit the community.”
While Renee and TJ will head back to their homes in New South Wales and Perth, the legacy and hockey will remain, with the establishment of a six-week Hookin2Hockey program and further coaching education in future.
Before departing to head back home, TJ reflected on the inspiration he received when he was a young boy in the Northern Territory.
“It’s a privilege that I’m now able to be that person and kind of share like a beacon of light that you can chase a dream and you can be from Alice Springs and chase a dream, live your dream and pursue and aspire to be great.”
