About Us

South West United Hockey Club is currently the largest hockey club in the western suburbs of Brisbane. We cater to all standards of hockey players aged 5 to 80 and over in both grass and turf competitions. Our club was founded in the early 1970's, by a group of Norths men from the Ashgrove area who wanted to extend the game to the western suburbs of Brisbane. They also formed a girls' team from Toowong High School which became our first women's team. The club is based in the Graceville area of Brisbane but, attracts and welcomes players from all over Brisbane and beyond.

South West United decided to separate into 2 clubs and operate independently in the early 80s. Both clubs have always been based at Graceville Memorial Park. But in 2016 the decision was made that the two clubs should merge and reform into a single club. Both clubs felt this would allow the community to identify South West as a united identity, with the sole focus on promoting hockey as a sport.

The club caters strongly for both girls and boys sport in our area, drawing from the Western suburbs from Bellbowrie to Camira, Kenmore, Toowong and the Graceville/Sherwood areas. Many South West Players have represented our area in school hockey teams, Brisbane and Queensland junior teams.

We currently have a membership of over 300 players that compete in Masters, Senior Turf, Senior Grass, Junior Turf, Junior Grass and U9 and U7 Rookey competitions. We pride ourselves on being a very welcoming and safe club and you will notice us for sure in our distinctive bright blue and orange uniforms and we're affectionately known as the Mighty Swooos.

The senior teams cover players from the enthusiastic new player, top grass players, turf and Masters players. South West has represented Queensland in the Masters' teams from the inception of this 35+ concept in 1982.

This club is truly a volunteer run organisation, with the local community gaining immensely from the hours of dedicated service by its volunteer administrators, coaches, managers and umpires.

The club now known as South West United Hockey Club was started by a group of Commercial Hockey Club men’s players led by John Roberts.

By the late 1960’s men’s hockey clubs were clustered in the north, east and central areas of Brisbane. In the south-west from Easts at Tarragindi to Norths at Dorrington there was no hockey club.  This was of great concern to many in the hockey community. John Roberts decided to do something about this. He convened a series of meetings in 1969 to form a new club. Tangerine and white colours were approved but the initial name of United Suburbs Hockey Club was rejected by BHA. Suburb names were put in a hat. The name Toowong was drawn out and the Toowong Hockey Club was born.*

1970 season - first senior men’s teams in A4 and B2 grades

1972 season – first junior boys’ team in J5 grade

1973 season – first junior boys’ premiership in U14 Division 2 grade

1973 season – first senior women’s team in D2 grade **

1974 season – first junior girls’ team in J3 grade

1974 season – first senior women’s premiership in C2 grade

1975 season – Toowong Hockey Club name changed to South West United Hockey Club***

1975 season – first junior girls’ premiership in J4 grade

1979 season – first senior men’s premiership in Division 8 grade

It would be remiss to not mention the record of the senior men’s Division 1 team. SWU were in Division 1 from 1980 to 1995. During that time they won 4 premierships and numerous other trophies. This included the famous “South West Double Slam” in 1992/93 – Premiership, Minor Premiership, Presidents Trophy and Memorial Cup (all possible trophies) in both years.

*Two attendees at all the original 1969 meetings, Russell (Rusty) Tuck and Philip Tuck, are still playing in Masters MHL 5 grade.

**In 1972 the club supplied coaches to the boys and girls senior teams at Toowong High School. At the end of that season the girls got together and formed the women’s section of the club.

***This coincided with the acquisition of the winter sub-lease of Graceville Memorial Oval.

MR TONY ALEKSIC

MR BILL SPINK SNR

MR DENIS NICOLS

MR PHIL TUCK

MR JOHN ROBERTS

MS ELIZABETH O’CONNOR

MRS ROS JULIEN

MR MICHAEL JULIEN

MR KEN HAWKINS

MRS LYN CANNELL

MS CAROLINE SCHOMBERG

MRS SALLY PUDDY

MRS KAYE PULSFORD

MRS WENDY STEPHENS

MR ROBIN RICHARDS

MS GILLIAN O’SULLIVAN

MS LINDA CADIOLI

MR JIM STEPHENS

MRS ROBIN PRICE

MR DAVID COLE

MS SUE-ELLEN LOCKWOOD

MR RUSSEL TUCK