Jo Burling Memorial enters 20th year

The 20th edition of the prestigious Jo Burling Memorial will highlight the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association’s annual Cancer Awareness Round this Saturday as women’s A-grade teams Spencer Park and North Albany go head-to-head.

The traditional rivals meet in the memorial game, which has been running since 2000 in honour of Albany hockey stalwart Jo Burling, who lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 42.

A second special fixture is played as part of the round, with the Kelly York Memorial contested between women’s B-grade teams Spencer Park 1 and Spencer Park 2 in memory of the late Kelly York, who was also lost to breast cancer.

The LGSHA and Spencer Park will join forces to raise funds across the day, with all proceeds going to local cancer organisations, encouraging spectators to come along dressed in pink to support the cause.

Redbacks have a slender advantage in the Jo Burling Memorial Shield ledger, after their emphatic 6-1 win in last year’s game.

Since 2000, there have been four drawn memorial games while Redbacks have won eight and Park have seven victories to their name.

Two regular players in the memorial matches of recent years are Beck Gallimore and Rachael Goetze.

Park striker Goetze said playing in the memorial had a special place in her heart.

“I’ve been playing in these games for at least 10 years,” she said.

“It’s a bit of an honour to pull on a Spencer Park shirt for these games.

“The Burling and York families are very strong hockey families and all of us at some stage have been impacted by and know someone affected by breast cancer.

“North Albany are always a great challenge and there is an extra level of respect out there between the players for this round.”

Gallimore, one of only a couple of senior players left in the Redbacks team, said the match was always significant.

“It is second only to a grand final; it’s such a big occasion,” Gallimore said. “Probably half our team wouldn’t have played in one and then someone like Kelly (Burlikowski) has probably played in all of them.”

The Kelly York Memorial will start at 3pm, followed by the Jo Burling Memorial at 4.30pm.