Amelia Leard, Jess Luchetti, David Reid, Michael Dillon and Nic Milne were selected into the national squads based on their performance representing NSW at the Australian Country Championships held in South Australia last weekend.

Lithgow’s Wayne “Wally” Gaynor has been chosen to coach the Australian Country Women’s senior side for the third year running after coaching the under 21s for six years.

Hockey Australia’s Country program is a pathway for players from rural and regional areas to access elite training and recognition at a national and international level.

For Lithgow Panthers goal keeper Jess Luchetti, this will be the first time she plays for the Australian Country open side.

Luchetti was selected for the Country Women’s under 21 side when she was just 15, travelling to Fiji, and has been selected into the senior side at the age of 20.

“It was definitely a surprise, I am very excited,” she said.

“It was also really exciting hearing the other people from Lithgow’s names being called out.”

Luchetti will be joined by Panthers’ teammate Amelia Leard and Lithgow coach Wally Gaynor on the team.

She said the selection of so many locals was down to the quality of coaching in Lithgow.

“It would have to come down to the coaches in Lithgow, people like Wally passing on the knowledge that they then use to go on and represent NSW. Our hometown hockey says a lot for people who are now representing.”

She said the Country hockey program was a great opportunity for regional players.

“So it’s given us a really great opportunity to play a higher level of hockey and travel overseas and experience different cultures and communities, as well as meet different people from all across Australia who also enjoy training at that higher level.”

Luchetti will have to balance studying teaching at university with a self-managed training program given to Australian Country representatives.

“Because Wally is in Lithgow I’m sure we will be doing some training with him, which is really good,” she said.

Luchetti said she will continue playing representative hockey for as long as she can.

“As far as hockey will take me, I’m happy to go!”

Another Lithgow shot blocker David Reid will play for the Country Men’s senior team for the third time. Earlier this year he toured with the side to Singapore and Malaysia.

“I have been lucky enough to have been selected in the Australian Country team a few times now and I always find there is a new challenge in every game,” he said.  

“The experience gained is so good. You are exposed to different techniques and different coaching by the other teams that you play. The Asian teams are so quick and very fit.”

Reid commutes to Sydney three times a week to play for Glebe in the metropolitan competition while also working at Springvale Mine.

“Playing in the Australian Country team is really an honor. When you put green and gold on it makes you play at the highest level that you can,” he said.

“I want to continue playing at this level for as long as I can.”

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