Arthur Sturgess

During the 1960s and 1970s Arthur Sturgess was a player and coach at Essendon Hockey Club in Melbourne and the coach for the Australian national hockey team. Despite losing an eye while playing during the 1961/62 season, Sturgess enjoyed great success at Essendon, including playing for his home state of Victoria in 1960, 1965, and 1966. He then became the head coach for Essendon from 1969 to 1972.

At an international level Sturgess coached the Australian team in 55 matches, including matches at the Hockey World Cup and the Olympic Games. Arguably his best result came at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics when Australia won the silver medal under his leadership. Four years later at the 1972 München Olympics the Australian team finished in fifth place. Sturgess later moved to Italy where he died in a nursing home on Christmas Day in 2022.