Debra Beckett

Hockey player
Inducted 25 November 2009

Debra Beckett was born in Cessnock in 1954 and attended Cessnock High School.

Debra started playing hockey at the age of 11, and whilst at high school played in the high school’s B Grade and A Grade teams with two years as captain of the latter. She also played in the Cessnock-Kurri-Maitland weekend competition and for two years was selected for the NSW under 18 team.

In 1970, whilst still in Year 10, Debra was named in the Australian Junior Honour squad, and was also recognised as Cessnock City Council’s Sportswoman of the Year.

In 1972 Debra captained the NSW Combined High Schools team, vice-captained the NSW under 21 team and was selected for the NSW senior squad, where she was to remain for 12 years, playing in national championships in every state capital and Canberra. Debra also played for the Oxfords and Regals teams in Newcastle.

In 1979, as NSW vice-captain, Debra represented Australia in three internationals on a tour of Canada and the USA and was in the Australian team playing in the World Cup of that year which resulted in Australia qualifying for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Debra was selected in the Olympic squad, but as the team was withdrawn as part of the boycott of those Games she did not actually attend.

Debra was in the Australian squad from 1978 until 1981, retiring from representative play in 1983.

Debra was inducted into the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame in 2004.

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Plaque location
61 Vincent Street, Cessnock (garden bed)