Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hockey Northern Territories launched the Northern Gateway Initiative. It's a
bold territory lead model that has secured multi year international
partnerships and a major event calendar aimed at delivering sustainable
sporting growth, regional diplomacy and high performance opportunities across the
Asia Pacific. Now. It's developed in direct response to the
(00:22):
Northern Territories exclusion from the National Hockey One League and
the NNGI is also focused on building a sustainable model
for Territory hockey and joining us on well. In the studio,
I should say to talk a little bit more about
this is Jason Butcher, the CEO of hockey here in
the Northern Territory. Good morning to you.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Butch, morning Katie. How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Yeah? Good, Good to have you on the show. I
mean I've described it a little bit, but I think
you can describe much better what exactly this Gateway is.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Yeah, it depends so much detail and how much airtime
are you going to give me? But essentially it's about
schedule of events. So five game series against Indonesia every year,
MHL home games. Also we have the underrated National Championships
here for the next two years and then an age
cohort I'm undetermined yet for the year after. So we've
got a three to four year schedule of events which
(01:12):
bookend or create a pathway and a high performance program.
And then inside those arrangements there's things like we'll have
four black six players playing for our MHL team, which
sits in line with the Hockey One rules around having
imports to support teams and to profile teams. We have
two Malaysian juniors that will be playing in each of
our junior state teams so that relationship. We have coaches
(01:35):
will be sending to the Southeast Asia Games to support
Indonesian hockey for that, which is pretty excited. It's in
Taiwan and December, sorry Thailand in December. Hockey WA are
supporting us with resource and IP and development and also
supplementing our player list when we need to end looking
at supporting our Hockey one future bid as a stakeholder.
(01:55):
So there's all these pieces which are not just at
event schedule, not just a way of providing resource support
and firepower to make us stronger, but also to uplift
us in a sustainable way forever. Basically. Yeah, So that's
where these braceships are about.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
It hasn't been a difficult process in terms of forging
those relationships and those partnerships. I mean even looking at
that schedule and making sure that you've got everything in
place for the next few years, has it been a
difficult process.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
I think that piece is we have great relationships and
we've rebuilt that profile and relevance over the last few years.
That's what the Fesival Hockey has been about, getting all
of our junior national teams back back into national championships
and at a higher level. So all the work we've
done the last two three years has been about leveraging
the relationships we have and how territory hockey's seen in
(02:45):
the world. And so that part hasn't been simple because
it's quite complicated. It's hard enough to even explain it. Yeah,
it's the funding and the resourcing getting our facility up
to scrape. They're the bits that are going to be challenging.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I was going to say, is that what sort of
makes it a little bit different from what you're already
doing or is it more sort of you know, you're
doing this work, you're putting in the hard yards as
it is, but it's sort of you know, like it's
identifying exactly what you're doing and making it really quite
obvious for everybody to see us.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Suppose, well, inside all of those agreements different bits of support.
So for example, Indonesia are coming here off their own
pat we're supporting us and bits and peace so that
doesn't cost us money. And we have a five game
series on the pre preparation to select teams, expose younger
kids because it's at home, showcase them to the territory.
(03:37):
So in all of these agreements there's either resource sharing
financial implications which allow us to be more sustainable and
to have all the things we need to be a
thriving sport.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
And I guess it formalizes it all a little bit
more as well, doesn't it, Particularly when you look at
you know, your scheduling and as you said, you know,
making sure like with those with the players that are
going to be part of the Northern Territory teams, it's
sort of getting it all formalized.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Well, We've spoken often about aspiration and opportunity. So as
a sport, you need to provide the hope, the the
ability to chase your hopes and dreams. And in the territory.
Oftenly you get isolated from that or differently, and so
we've tried to get rid of that barrier to re
energize our community and our kids. And then the opportunity pieces.
(04:25):
We now have tangible things that they can work towards.
We're going to Malaysia in January February, We're going to
get better, We're going to try and win the title.
There's an opportunity for more localized group to play against Indonesia.
You know, the National Championships is going to save our
families money because it's hosted in dah and no flights
and they get to see their kids play. And under
eighteen's is the first sort of high performance level, which
(04:45):
is why that level was really important for us to
bid and to win. So aspiration an opportunity, and then
I think we've been really strategic about making sure all
these relationships also help us become more sustainable.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
So what the steps from your perspective, I mean, obviously,
having this agreement, these agreements in place and you know,
knowing where you're going over the next few years, I
think is so incredibly important, not just for hockey here
in the Northern Territory, but as you've rightly pointed out,
for all of the juniors, for everybody playing hockey, but
also you know when you look at those goals for
(05:21):
our young people too. But what are the next steps?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Well, I think the big thing for us, we're in
ongoing conversations with the government. So they supported the first
year of our four year agreement with Malaysian Hockey Confederation
to play in the Malaysian Hockey League. So currently we
don't have support to continue that.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Yeah, right, And.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
So if you think of the fact that they basically
helped us create this and then advised us, how do
we become more sustainable, how do we help the territory
as a whole engage in Asia, look at things that
uplift the whole of the Northern territory. You know, this
is a present that's been gift wrapped, right, So we
think we've done all those things with that one year
(06:02):
support of the four years. Essentially there was a number
of objectives that we had to fulfill and I get
that and I appreciate that because it made us accountable
to make sure that we weren't just traveling to Malaysia
to play hockey games. And the two biggest ones were
the financial position, so we ran under budget, so we
ticked that, did a great job with that, and then
the other one was around pathway athletes. So we don't
(06:24):
want a team called a territory team playing in these leagues.
We want a pathway for our kids, which is the
government wording. And so we had ten under eighteen kids
go to Malaysia, sixteen under twenty one's players, three Australian
under eighteen players and three Australian ID players. So we
took very young groups to Malaysia because we're trying to
rebuild our future.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yeah, and so that's another massive box that we ticked.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
And so from your perspective at this point in time,
obviously you know you've got that four year arrangement in
place to continue to take the team across, but only
got one year's support thus far from the Northern Territory government.
Where are things actually in terms of that support from
the Northern Territory government.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
I'd so they're probably in limbo.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Okay, Well, I believe the Minister for Sport at the
moment is Jins and Charles. I think we're trying to
get him on the show for later in the week.
To talk about a youth hub, So I'm going to
put this to him as well to try and find out,
I mean, what kind of financials are required from hockey
to continue this.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Yeah. Look, I won't go through the numbers, but if
we talk about the numbers compared to other initiatives previously
in this space and other initiatives currently going on, it's
pretty low compared to some of the other things that
we're supporting. And if you think of the complexity and
the bang for buck for hosting National Journey championships, all
(07:46):
these families coming in. We hosted the fifteens in twenty
twenty three, the numbers were amazing, having Malaysian Hockey League
home games. So there's opportunities for everybody across the board
to get on board with this, and then for us
to become sustainable, which government's always talking to sport about
being able to do. Then we have a platform and
an annual schedule and an event piece which we can
(08:08):
leverage corporate from because it's standardized, consistent, and it's going
to highlight us across Asia. It makes us really visible
and relevant in Australian sport.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
But you really need that's platform. Yeah, and you really
need that certainty. I guess as well, don't you at
this point in time.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah, Look, not much we've done in the last few
years has been with certainty. We've had diffult we've been bold,
and we've backed ourselves and we've managed to get the
support at each each step and then we've managed to
deliver and so hopefully that gives the government confidence in
everything that we've been doing. You know, so far they've
been on board with all that support, which you've been amrazing.
(08:45):
But this is the next piece, and this is the
piece we've been working towards. We need support with.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Is there like a time frame in place as far
as you're concerned.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Look, we go to Malaysia in January February next year,
so that essentially it's the next year thing. But if
we get too deep into the year, it will become
vulnerable and we are fragile to that and so you know,
the rug might get pulled under all of this work
that we did in the last few years. That's the
unfortunate truth.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Yeah, well, look, we'll try and we will see if
we're able to get some kind of you know, we'll
ask we'll ask the question and see whether we're able
to get some kind of answer hopefully throughout the week.
In terms of support from Hockey Australia. Have you got
support from Hockey.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Australia, Signed letters, Bord approval, everything is signed off heso
there's some pieces which are a bit unique. They've approved
us having two Malaysian players in each of our junior
state teams, which is really unique. So the Borders signed
off on that. We're rebranding our junior state teams as
Territory Stingers, so that makes sense inside the initiative and
how we're trying to grow our identity, and so they've
(09:49):
approved that as well. They've approved or signed off on
us hosting the underrad and so we won that bidding
process with no support. So yeah, they're fully on board.
They think we're doing a great job. I'd like it
to be a bit more supportive about a Hockey one stuff,
but I think they're happy with how we're trying to
rebuild ourselves to get back in that position, which.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
You know from from the discussions that you and I
have had and certainly from discussions I've had, that people
are with people who are involved in hockey. It seems
like you are trying to do all that you can,
you know, to get Northern Territory hockey on the radar
right across Australia. But indeed, you know even in even
in Malaysia, across you know, around the world. Basically you know,
(10:29):
how important is it to you and how important is
it to hockey more generally in the Northern Territory that
this does go ahead and provide those pathways for territorians.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
I think I think there's an it's incredibly important, but
there's a number of reason. I think we often talk
about all sports. This is not just for hockey. For me,
I want to find ways and we want to try
and pioneer solutions that are going to help all of
our sports get healthy and make sure that our kids
don't get excluded, because that's the number one that was
the starting point of all of this, and we want
(11:01):
all sport to thrive. And we think this is a
blueprint if we get support from the government to deliver,
that could help a number of our sports. So they're
two really big pieces, and I think just in general
from a societal point of view, you know, I've said
this before. When sport's healthy, the territory is healthy. And
(11:21):
I want to see our community grow and be a
little bit more healthy than it is at the moment,
and I think sport's a massive part of that. So
I want to do things, and we've been building things
that are not just about hockey. It's how can this
help other sports and how can we provide opportunities for
the government and corporate and the community to help uplift
(11:41):
the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Well, I think everybody knows I love sport. I think
it's a great thing for our young people and I
would always advocate that. I think when kids are involved
in sport as well, it just opens them up in
so many ways to positives in their life, you know,
more generally, not just keeping out of trouble, being fit,
being health the having opportunity, teaching your life lessons right, purpose, everything. Yeah,
(12:04):
there's so many good that's exactly right. There's so many
good things. So, as I said, we're hoping to catch
up with the minister a little later in the week,
so we'll see what we can find out. But Jason Butcher,
always good to catch up with you, CEO of Hockey
and t thank you for your time. Thanks, thank you
Hockey Northern Territories launched the Northern Gateway Initiative. It's a
bold territory lead model that has secured multi year international
partnerships and a major event calendar aimed at delivering sustainable
sporting growth, regional diplomacy and high performance opportunities across the
Asia Pacific. Now. It's developed in direct response to the
(00:22):
Northern Territories exclusion from the National Hockey One League and
the NNGI is also focused on building a sustainable model
for Territory hockey and joining us on well. In the studio,
I should say to talk a little bit more about
this is Jason Butcher, the CEO of hockey here in
the Northern Territory. Good morning to you.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Butch, morning Katie. How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Yeah? Good, Good to have you on the show. I
mean I've described it a little bit, but I think
you can describe much better what exactly this Gateway is.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Yeah, it depends so much detail and how much airtime
are you going to give me? But essentially it's about
schedule of events. So five game series against Indonesia every year,
MHL home games. Also we have the underrated National Championships
here for the next two years and then an age
cohort I'm undetermined yet for the year after. So we've
got a three to four year schedule of events which
(01:12):
bookend or create a pathway and a high performance program.
And then inside those arrangements there's things like we'll have
four black six players playing for our MHL team, which
sits in line with the Hockey One rules around having
imports to support teams and to profile teams. We have
two Malaysian juniors that will be playing in each of
our junior state teams so that relationship. We have coaches
(01:35):
will be sending to the Southeast Asia Games to support
Indonesian hockey for that, which is pretty excited. It's in
Taiwan and December, sorry Thailand in December. Hockey WA are
supporting us with resource and IP and development and also
supplementing our player list when we need to end looking
at supporting our Hockey one future bid as a stakeholder.
(01:55):
So there's all these pieces which are not just at
event schedule, not just a way of providing resource support
and firepower to make us stronger, but also to uplift
us in a sustainable way forever. Basically. Yeah, So that's
where these braceships are about.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
It hasn't been a difficult process in terms of forging
those relationships and those partnerships. I mean even looking at
that schedule and making sure that you've got everything in
place for the next few years, has it been a
difficult process.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
I think that piece is we have great relationships and
we've rebuilt that profile and relevance over the last few years.
That's what the Fesival Hockey has been about, getting all
of our junior national teams back back into national championships
and at a higher level. So all the work we've
done the last two three years has been about leveraging
the relationships we have and how territory hockey's seen in
(02:45):
the world. And so that part hasn't been simple because
it's quite complicated. It's hard enough to even explain it. Yeah,
it's the funding and the resourcing getting our facility up
to scrape. They're the bits that are going to be challenging.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I was going to say, is that what sort of
makes it a little bit different from what you're already
doing or is it more sort of you know, you're
doing this work, you're putting in the hard yards as
it is, but it's sort of you know, like it's
identifying exactly what you're doing and making it really quite
obvious for everybody to see us.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Suppose, well, inside all of those agreements different bits of support.
So for example, Indonesia are coming here off their own
pat we're supporting us and bits and peace so that
doesn't cost us money. And we have a five game
series on the pre preparation to select teams, expose younger
kids because it's at home, showcase them to the territory.
(03:37):
So in all of these agreements there's either resource sharing
financial implications which allow us to be more sustainable and
to have all the things we need to be a
thriving sport.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
And I guess it formalizes it all a little bit
more as well, doesn't it, Particularly when you look at
you know, your scheduling and as you said, you know,
making sure like with those with the players that are
going to be part of the Northern Territory teams, it's
sort of getting it all formalized.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Well, We've spoken often about aspiration and opportunity. So as
a sport, you need to provide the hope, the the
ability to chase your hopes and dreams. And in the territory.
Oftenly you get isolated from that or differently, and so
we've tried to get rid of that barrier to re
energize our community and our kids. And then the opportunity pieces.
(04:25):
We now have tangible things that they can work towards.
We're going to Malaysia in January February, We're going to
get better, We're going to try and win the title.
There's an opportunity for more localized group to play against Indonesia.
You know, the National Championships is going to save our
families money because it's hosted in dah and no flights
and they get to see their kids play. And under
eighteen's is the first sort of high performance level, which
(04:45):
is why that level was really important for us to
bid and to win. So aspiration an opportunity, and then
I think we've been really strategic about making sure all
these relationships also help us become more sustainable.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
So what the steps from your perspective, I mean, obviously,
having this agreement, these agreements in place and you know,
knowing where you're going over the next few years, I
think is so incredibly important, not just for hockey here
in the Northern Territory, but as you've rightly pointed out,
for all of the juniors, for everybody playing hockey, but
also you know when you look at those goals for
(05:21):
our young people too. But what are the next steps?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Well, I think the big thing for us, we're in
ongoing conversations with the government. So they supported the first
year of our four year agreement with Malaysian Hockey Confederation
to play in the Malaysian Hockey League. So currently we
don't have support to continue that.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Yeah, right, And.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
So if you think of the fact that they basically
helped us create this and then advised us, how do
we become more sustainable, how do we help the territory
as a whole engage in Asia, look at things that
uplift the whole of the Northern territory. You know, this
is a present that's been gift wrapped, right, So we
think we've done all those things with that one year
(06:02):
support of the four years. Essentially there was a number
of objectives that we had to fulfill and I get
that and I appreciate that because it made us accountable
to make sure that we weren't just traveling to Malaysia
to play hockey games. And the two biggest ones were
the financial position, so we ran under budget, so we
ticked that, did a great job with that, and then
the other one was around pathway athletes. So we don't
(06:24):
want a team called a territory team playing in these leagues.
We want a pathway for our kids, which is the
government wording. And so we had ten under eighteen kids
go to Malaysia, sixteen under twenty one's players, three Australian
under eighteen players and three Australian ID players. So we
took very young groups to Malaysia because we're trying to
rebuild our future.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yeah, and so that's another massive box that we ticked.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
And so from your perspective at this point in time,
obviously you know you've got that four year arrangement in
place to continue to take the team across, but only
got one year's support thus far from the Northern Territory government.
Where are things actually in terms of that support from
the Northern Territory government.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
I'd so they're probably in limbo.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Okay, Well, I believe the Minister for Sport at the
moment is Jins and Charles. I think we're trying to
get him on the show for later in the week.
To talk about a youth hub, So I'm going to
put this to him as well to try and find out,
I mean, what kind of financials are required from hockey
to continue this.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Yeah. Look, I won't go through the numbers, but if
we talk about the numbers compared to other initiatives previously
in this space and other initiatives currently going on, it's
pretty low compared to some of the other things that
we're supporting. And if you think of the complexity and
the bang for buck for hosting National Journey championships, all
(07:46):
these families coming in. We hosted the fifteens in twenty
twenty three, the numbers were amazing, having Malaysian Hockey League
home games. So there's opportunities for everybody across the board
to get on board with this, and then for us
to become sustainable, which government's always talking to sport about
being able to do. Then we have a platform and
an annual schedule and an event piece which we can
(08:08):
leverage corporate from because it's standardized, consistent, and it's going
to highlight us across Asia. It makes us really visible
and relevant in Australian sport.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
But you really need that's platform. Yeah, and you really
need that certainty. I guess as well, don't you at
this point in time.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah, Look, not much we've done in the last few
years has been with certainty. We've had diffult we've been bold,
and we've backed ourselves and we've managed to get the
support at each each step and then we've managed to
deliver and so hopefully that gives the government confidence in
everything that we've been doing. You know, so far they've
been on board with all that support, which you've been amrazing.
(08:45):
But this is the next piece, and this is the
piece we've been working towards. We need support with.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Is there like a time frame in place as far
as you're concerned.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Look, we go to Malaysia in January February next year,
so that essentially it's the next year thing. But if
we get too deep into the year, it will become
vulnerable and we are fragile to that and so you know,
the rug might get pulled under all of this work
that we did in the last few years. That's the
unfortunate truth.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Yeah, well, look, we'll try and we will see if
we're able to get some kind of you know, we'll
ask we'll ask the question and see whether we're able
to get some kind of answer hopefully throughout the week.
In terms of support from Hockey Australia. Have you got
support from Hockey.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Australia, Signed letters, Bord approval, everything is signed off heso
there's some pieces which are a bit unique. They've approved
us having two Malaysian players in each of our junior
state teams, which is really unique. So the Borders signed
off on that. We're rebranding our junior state teams as
Territory Stingers, so that makes sense inside the initiative and
how we're trying to grow our identity, and so they've
(09:49):
approved that as well. They've approved or signed off on
us hosting the underrad and so we won that bidding
process with no support. So yeah, they're fully on board.
They think we're doing a great job. I'd like it
to be a bit more supportive about a Hockey one stuff,
but I think they're happy with how we're trying to
rebuild ourselves to get back in that position, which.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
You know from from the discussions that you and I
have had and certainly from discussions I've had, that people
are with people who are involved in hockey. It seems
like you are trying to do all that you can,
you know, to get Northern Territory hockey on the radar
right across Australia. But indeed, you know even in even
in Malaysia, across you know, around the world. Basically you know,
(10:29):
how important is it to you and how important is
it to hockey more generally in the Northern Territory that
this does go ahead and provide those pathways for territorians.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
I think I think there's an it's incredibly important, but
there's a number of reason. I think we often talk
about all sports. This is not just for hockey. For me,
I want to find ways and we want to try
and pioneer solutions that are going to help all of
our sports get healthy and make sure that our kids
don't get excluded, because that's the number one that was
the starting point of all of this, and we want
(11:01):
all sport to thrive. And we think this is a
blueprint if we get support from the government to deliver,
that could help a number of our sports. So they're
two really big pieces, and I think just in general
from a societal point of view, you know, I've said
this before. When sport's healthy, the territory is healthy. And
(11:21):
I want to see our community grow and be a
little bit more healthy than it is at the moment,
and I think sport's a massive part of that. So
I want to do things, and we've been building things
that are not just about hockey. It's how can this
help other sports and how can we provide opportunities for
the government and corporate and the community to help uplift
(11:41):
the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Well, I think everybody knows I love sport. I think
it's a great thing for our young people and I
would always advocate that. I think when kids are involved
in sport as well, it just opens them up in
so many ways to positives in their life, you know,
more generally, not just keeping out of trouble, being fit,
being health the having opportunity, teaching your life lessons right, purpose, everything. Yeah,
(12:04):
there's so many good that's exactly right. There's so many
good things. So, as I said, we're hoping to catch
up with the minister a little later in the week,
so we'll see what we can find out. But Jason Butcher,
always good to catch up with you, CEO of Hockey
and t thank you for your time. Thanks, thank you
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