Kathleen Partridge’s induction into the Hockey Australia Hall of Fame was ratified in 2018 and was  no surprise to many in field hockey. As Australia evolved into one of the best teams in the world  in 1985, Kathleen’s top goalkeeping skills made her a key member of the Hockeyroos defence.

Born 7 December 1963 in New South Wales, Kathleen Partridge debuted for Australia field hockey team
in 1985. She remarkably went on to compete in five Olympics. Kathleen’s arguably finest hockey moment came when she won Olympic gold at the 1988 Games in Seoul. She was also a respected leader by her peers. Serving as vice-captain at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where the Hockeyroos gained fifth place. In total Kathleen made an impressive 65 appearances for the Australian national team.

Partridge, who was educated at O’Connor Catholic College and now lives in Western Australia, became an esteemed coach and wrote more than one magnum opus of Australian hockey goalkeeping, with several coaching manuals published. A popular book in her collection is The Rebound Revolution, which has become a go-to advice book for goalkeepers.

The book, Rebound Revolution, details the essential skills and attributes needed to be a successful goalkeeper. Kathleen tells of her elite sporting journey and is featured throughout when she was representing Australia.

Kathleen excelled in a coaching role; she won gold medals in a coaching capacity including Olympic Gold Medals in Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000). Then she would go on to coach again with RickCharlesworth at the men’s World Cup in Amsterdam in 2014 after being appointed as the first female coach to enter the Australian Field Hockey Men’s squad earlier, in 2013.

Partridge won gold in the Melbourne Champions Trophy, 2013 and World Cup gold in 2014 with the Oz team. She continued with the Men’s field hockey squad program until the end of 2015.

Kathleen is currently a is a College Principal in Perth Western Australia and has worked in public education colleges for more than thirty years.

On being added to the Australia hall of fame Kathleen said:

“Being inducted into Hockey Australia’s Hall of Fame is indeed an honour. To be considered in the same class as those luminaries who have gone before me is humbling.  I have gained so much from playing and coaching hockey; it has offered me extraordinary opportunities and challenges and for that I am truly grateful.

For my part, winning an Olympic Gold medal was the culmination of a team’s years of  hard work and dedication. The skills acquired on that journey helped form the blue print  of my approach to other endeavours in my life. Being appointed to coach the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras goalkeepers over a number of years challenged me in different ways and I get such satisfaction in passing on my knowledge to all goalkeepers I have had the pleasure of coaching. Thank you to the many people who have helped and supported me on my hockey  pilgrimage. Hockey is such a marvelous game, offering so much more than the final score.”