Val Gregory

From The Orange Wiki

(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
150admin (Talk | contribs)
(Created page with 'When Val Gregory passed away in March 2018 the ''Central Western Daily'' observed: “Few people contributed as much to hockey in the colour city as Gregory did in her 64 yea…')
Newer edit →

Revision as of 04:55, 21 April 2022

When Val Gregory passed away in March 2018 the [[Central Western Daily]] observed: “Few people contributed as much to hockey in the colour city as Gregory did in her 64 years of involvement.”

Val started playing hockey as a teenager and, in time, also became a coach, volunteer and administrator of the sport. She managed club, school and representative sides at all levels. Val was founder, president and life member of Canobolas Hockey Club. She was also a life member of Orange Junior Hockey Association, Orange Women's Hockey Association and Orange Hockey Incorporated.

“Orange's lady of sport” was also a founder, president and life member of the Orange Eight Day Games, established in 1977. In November 2018, the Orange Eight Day Games initiated the Val Gregory Legacy Shield, a memorial award presented to individual golf champions in her memory.

When Orange Tenpin Bowl opened in 1983 Val took up bowling, a sport she continued to play until her death, scoring a personal best of 209 in September 2017.

In 1985 Val was nominated Orange City Council’s Australia Day Sporting Personality of the Year, and in 1993 was presented with Rotary’s Community Sporting Award. Val donated her $3000 prizemoney to fund a new grandstand at the Orange Hockey Centre.

Gregory was also a proficient golfer. Her enthusiasm and enjoyment of the game were well-known at Wentworth Golf Club. Val was often a medal-winner or close runner-up. Indeed, just the week before she died, Val was runner up in the second division of the three clubs and a putter stableford event. In November 2018 the Wentworth Golf Club introduced the Val Gregory Memorial Trophy for this event, which was Val’s favourite.

Val was born in Canberra on 3 August 1941, the second daughter of Ruby and Eric Bush. She moved to Orange with her family in 1955. In March 1964 she married journalist Denis Gregory.

Valma Joyce Gregory died in Orange on 26 March 2018, aged 76. She will be remembered for her commitment and dedication to the Orange sporting community.

Personal tools