The Tasmanian hockey community is mourning the loss of one of its most successful and dedicated players and administrators.
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Meg Wilson's remarkable achievements at state and national level saw her serve as player, coach, selector and association president for both Tasmania and Australia, becoming a life member of both organisations.
From her birth in Waratah on January 22, 1925, to her death on May 7, at the age of 96, in Lilydale, Mary May "Meg" Wilson (née Weaver) served as a lifelong ambassador for Tasmanian hockey.
However, Wilson's reach extended far beyond Bass Strait with her national presidency coinciding with a golden era which saw the Hockeyroos win Olympic gold in Seoul in 1988 and World Cups in Dublin in 1994 and Utrecht in 1998.
And she will forever be remembered for introducing the modified version of hockey known as Minkey, which served as the introduction to the sport for almost every junior player since the 1990s.
Tributes flooded in this week including from the Sport Australia Hall of Fame which inducted Wilson in 1990.
"Meg made a profound contribution to women's and junior hockey," chairman John Bertrand said.
"She devoted the majority of her life to the game she loved. As a player, manager, coach, umpire, selector, and president; Meg did it all - she was a real game changer.
"The hockey community will be forever grateful for Meg's passion which elevated the sport and created opportunities for hockey, not only in Australia but around the world."
Wilson's contribution to the sport in Tasmania, Australia and around the world saw her recognised with life memberships to Hockey Tasmania in 1968 (Northern Hockey Association and the Tasmanian Women's Hockey Association) and Hockey Australia in 1971 as well as the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1985 and as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1991, both for service to hockey.
Wilson played as a forward, representing Tasmania at national championships and earning selection in All-Australian teams, before making her Australian debut against New Zealand in a Test played on September 4, 1948.
Initially selected along with cricketer David Boon's mother, Lesley, she served as vice-captain of the side from 1949-50.
After her international playing career ended, Wilson had a long and distinguished career as a coach and administrator.
She served as a selector, coach and manager for the Australian team. She was vice-president of the Oceania Hockey Federation from 1965-85, and then president of the Australian Women's Hockey Association from 1985-96, and served on a number of international hockey councils, panels and committees which included World Cups, Champions Trophies and Olympic Games in the 1980s and '90s.
Also serving as the Australian delegate on hockey's international governing body, the IFWHA, Wilson was national president when Midas coach Ric Charlesworth was appointed and the first significant sponsorship deal for the Hockeyroos was negotiated.
Meg Wilson travelled the world as an ambassador, tirelessly promoting hockey and Australia
- Sport Australia Hall of Fame
Locally, she was president of the Tasmanian Women's Hockey Association from 1966-89 and an inaugural member of the Tasmanian Institute of Sport board of management in October 1985. Serving as deputy chairman from 1986-89, she remained on the board until 1993.
Extending its condolences to Wilson's family, Hockey Tasmania said: "The entire Tasmanian hockey community joins with the rest of Australia in celebrating the extraordinary life and achievements of Meg Wilson."
Riverside's Janet Hallam, who worked alongside Wilson in hockey administration at state and national level, paid tribute to her years of dedication.
"Her no-nonsense approach to her job earned great respect from her peers at national and international level," Hallam said.
"She never lost touch with hockey's grass roots and remained loyal to the friends she made from her early club-playing days. She would fly in on a Friday from an IFWHA meeting in Paris, and on Saturday she'd be out watching a pretty ordinary match at Churchill Park in the rain, cheering on many of her old friends who were still playing.
"She was a very strong and talented person but underneath always very humble about her achievements."
A wife of Bill (deceased) and mother of Judy, Wilson lived all her married life at Lilydale where she was principal of the Lilydale District School for many years.
Wilson's Sport Australia Hall of Fame entry said it was a concern for her beloved sport at all levels that saw her develop and introduce the games of Minkey and half-field hockey (both involving modified rules for juniors) which she would go on to see promoted at primary schools throughout Australia.
It also states: "Meg Wilson travelled the world as an ambassador, tirelessly promoting hockey and Australia."
- A funeral will be held at the CT Finney Centre, Kings Meadows, on Monday, May 17, at 12.30pm.