Maryborough’s Hannah-Cullum Sanders selected in Hockeyroos squad
Maryborough has a proud history of producing hockey stars. Now, a local player turned Hockeyroo has spoken about representing Australia in a four-game series against New Zealand.
Fraser Coast
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Hannah Cullum-Sanders discovered her love for hockey at just five-years-old
Fast-forward 13 years and the Maryborough-born hockey star has made debut in the Hockeyroos squad, representing Australia in a four-game series against New Zealand.
Maryborough has a proud history of producing hockey champs, with the goalkeeper for the New Zealand Black Sticks Grace O’Hanlon, also an ex-Maryborough player.
The Hockeyroos finished the trans-Tasman series, which was held in Auckland, with a 2-1 win over New Zealand.
Cullum-Sanders, a former Aldridge State High School student, grew up playing hockey in Maryborough and represented the Fraser Coast until she was 17.
Now 18, she has since moved to Brisbanewhere she plays for Redcliffe Leagues in the Brisbane Premier League.
She told The Fraser Coast Chronicle what it felt like to represent Australia in the overseas tournament.
“It was a dream come true, a very special moment for my younger self who thought it would not be possible until I was late 20s,” she said.
“It filled my heart to know that I wasn’t just representing Australia but representing my family, friends, club, and home.”
She flew to Auckland for the start of the series on May 10, and returned home to Queensland last week.
“New Zealand and Australia always have a very physical battle at this series, to come away with the win makes us all very proud,” she said.
Trudi Pedersen was a past player and junior coach Cullum-Sanders while she was in Maryborough, and said from a young age one could tell she was a “natural talent”.
“She grew up around hockey and soon enough it was a massive part and love of her life,” Ms Pedersen said.
“Hannah has always been driven to win, not only in a game, but in any form of training also.”
Cullum-Sanders dedicated a great deal of her junior time training with clubs or by herself on the fields.
“I had the pleasure of coaching, playing with and against Hannah and I can honestly say, she is an amazing kid both on and off the field,” she said.
She added it wouldn’t be long before Cullum-Sanders was able to sink one in the net past ex-Maryborough hockey player O’Hanlon.
“I think this is the start of Hannah’s International hockey career and I can’t wait to see what is next for her,” she said.
“I, along with the rest of Maryborough Hockey will be cheering her on from afar.”
Cullum-Sanders was named in the Hockeyroos squad for the trans-Tasman Series after she was discovered at the national selection trials earlier this year.
According to a statement from the Hockeyroos, she was invited to attend the trials as a “fill in” where she was spotted by Hockeyroos Head Coach Katrina Powell.
As a result of her performance at the trials, she was selected in the National Development Squad.
In a statement, Ms Powell said Cullum-Sanders had attributes they wanted to see in the attacking line.
“In a way Covid worked in Hannah’s favour in that we went to several locations for selection trials as opposed to holding one camp in Perth, so that opened up opportunities for those who hadn’t been seen and she was one of those,” Ms Powell said.
“Hannah then came to Perth on an Athlete Visiting Agreement to train and play among the national squad and she showed her potential.”
Bundaberg hockey player Rebecca Greiner played alongside Cullum-Sanders in the series in New Zealand, after rejoining the Hockeyroos in March.
Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour also congratulated the local player on her selection in a post on social media.
“Congratulations to Hannah Cullum-Sanders on her selection for the Australian hockey team!” he wrote
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