By CHRIS CHITTICK

HOCKEY has long lauded itself as a game for all and for life.

There may be few better examples of this than that of Euroa Hockey Club this season.

Gayle Shallard has regularly lined up for Euroa’s B Women this season with daughter Kim Hamill and granddaughters Chloe and Kira.

Three generations in the one team is an accomplishment not often achieved in any sport.

Further evidence comes from some two generational teammates with Tania Durkin taking up hockey to join daughters Erin and Elise this season and Sarah Chittick returning to join aunt, Chris.

Then there are sisters Indie and Stevie Mildren-Nicel.

Making up the Euroa B Women’s on-field hockey family this season is Kim Starkey, Anne Murray, Evie Stefanos, Ada McKeachie, Jane Houston and Rylee Potter.

Add to this the fact that seven members of the team are in their first year of competition, half are under 16 and three are super masters and this really is a team for all people and ages.

Further proof came in Saturday afternoon’s B Women’s game between Euroa and Strikers in Shepparton which turned out to be even more special than the preparing teams realised.

With last week’s announcement of Regional Victorian Community Sport and the Goulburn Valley Hockey Association’s 'Return to Play' while Melbourne and the Hockey Victoria competitions remained in lockdown, a window of opportunity opened that had those in the know excited.

It allowed daughter, sister and aunt, Kate Shallard to join mum Gayle, sister Kim and nieces Chloe and Kira on the pitch for a first game all together (alongside a number of her former Euroa teammates).

Only on the day was it realised that lining up for the opposition Strikers side was another three generations representation with Debbie Black playing alongside daughter Rochelle Collins and her daughter, Deb’s granddaughter, Eloise.

It wasn’t just the female members of the families involved either.

For Euroa, Bernie Shallard was again on the sideline as mentor, tactician, supporter for all and proud grandfather, father and husband with grandsons Joel, who was official photographer and Aidan, as runner and statistician.

Strikers matched Euroa with Evan Collins umpiring the game and so his wife, daughter and mother-in-law.

Two three generational families playing against each other in the same game – how often does that happen?

What special memories it leaves for those involved.

While Strikers proved to be the stronger team on the day, all participants gave their all to the game and the memories.

Back in Euroa there are brothers and sisters playing and training together in juniors while there are some mothers and fathers contemplating taking up the game to join their family members over social summer and then possibly next year.