Hockey NSW blocks vote to dismiss board despite legal advice, as news of more sackings emerges

Hockey NSW has blocked a request to remove current directors, with Olympian Jade Close revealed as another employee sacked in similar circumstances to Kookaburra Brent Livermore.

Brent Livermore being inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions in 2019. Picture: News Regional Media.

Hockey NSW has reportedly blocked a bid to remove its board of directors at an upcoming annual general meeting, as news emerged of another former hockey star and employee who claims to have been unfairly dismissed.

Members of HNSW are growing increasingly frustrated with the decline of the sport under the current board, brought to light most recently with the sacking of ex-Kookaburra captain and Olympic gold medallist Brent ­Livermore from his role as director of hockey.

Livermore last year launched a Fair Work case against HNSW in Federal Court over claims of a “sham redundancy” and is seeking financial compensation and damages upwards of $300,000 following claims he was unfairly dismissed after two misconduct complaints, including the alleged misuse of a company washing ­machine.

He claimed HNSW did not give him a chance to reply to the allegations or appeal the outcome of an investigation he was not made aware of at the time, and in doing so acted unlawfully.

The Australian has also been informed HNSW has reportedly “shown the door” to a number of coaching staff and administrators in the past three years.

Former Australian hockey captain Brent Livermore. He is suing for ­financial compensation and damages upwards of $300,000 for his claims of a ‘sham redundancy’. Picture: Warren Lynam

That includes one of Livermore’s female coaches and coach of the NSW under-16 girls, Jade Close, who two months prior to Livermore was terminated in a similar fashion.

Ms Close is said to have submitted her own unfair dismissal complaint to Fair Work NSW in April 2024, but chose not to pursue the matter due to the financial cost and emotional impact.

Jade Close submitted her own unfair dismissal application form in April of 2024 and took to Fair Work NSW, but chose not to pursue the matter due to the financial cost and emotional impact. Picture: Brett Costello

Northern Sydney and Beaches Hockey Association president Mark Berwick on February 14 submitted the motion to HNSW president Adriana Care and directors after increased frustration with board performance, including hockey being removed from the NSW Institute of Sport program for 2025, the lack of once-prestigious performance path­ways, and Livermore’s sacking.

It is alleged in a letter by HNSW replying to the NSBHA on February 24, the board considered the notice of motion invalid on the basis that the motion was not signed by Berwick, that it did not provide 60 days’ notice before the date of the AGM, and it did not individually name the directors.

However, in a legal document sent to HNSW on March 4 by lawyers acting for the NSBHA president, the advice found the lack of a signature could not be considered substantial grounds, that the Corporations Act requires only at least 21 days notice be given of a resolution to remove a director, and that the act does not specify the need of separate motions for each director.

The document stressed the notice of motion be put on the AGM agenda.

An online teams meeting took place the following day involving all HNSW directors, the majority of the member associations, plus president of Hockey Australia Ross Sudano and board member Jo Scanlon.

Ms Care was reportedly asked if HNSW had received the communication from Berwick’s lawyer outlining why the notice of motion was valid. It is understood HNSW would not specifically answer. However, in the final AGM agenda sent to member associations on 7 March, the motion was not listed.

Close was coach of the NSW under-16 girls. Picture: Cade Mooney

HNSW life member Godfrey Phillips wrote an email on March 4 addressing Ms Care and board members over the state of the organisation in which he expressed his disappointment about losing the NSW Institute of Sport program, the decline of pathways, poor financials, the AGM being an online meeting instead of in person, and treatment of Livermore.

A former player, coach, and selector, Mr Phillips asked to be granted the chance to speak on these matters at the AGM. Responding the next day, he was dismissed by Ms Care.

“The only issue I am concerned about is a lot of the items you have raised in your letter are assumptions and not actually factual or lack understanding of the backstory leading up to decisions made. To discuss these at the AGM would then mislead the members even further which we do not believe is fair to the member association,” she wrote to the OAM recipient.

HNSW did not reply to a request for comment.

The online AGM is set for March 29, without the motion of no confidence vote on its agenda.