"Special moment" for Jamie-lee

Above: Jamie-lee Surha in action for the Hockeyroos against India at the FIH Pro League in London. Picture Hockey Australia.

Jamie-lee Surha has taken advantage of a late call-up and joined Redcliffe Hockey Club’s growing list of full Australian internationals.

The 20-year-old made her Hockeyroos debut in the second of two FIH Pro League matches against Olympic champions Netherlands, in Amsterdam.

Surha followed that with another cap in the Hockeyroos’ last-minute 2-1 victory – in the second of a double header - against India in London on Sunday.

The striker, born in Mackay and nicknamed JL, is now preparing for the first of two Pro League matches against England, in London, tonight.

The Hockeyroos finish their eight-match European tour with two games in Germany next week.

“Jamie-lee is a talented young player,” Redcliffe Hockey Club President Paul Greentree said.

“Redcliffe is grateful JL found a home here and is part of our history having played (and scored) in our first Brisbane Women’s Hockey Association Premier League 1 Premiership victory.

“Everyone at the club, including coach Steve Lancaster and her team-mates, are overjoyed and so proud of JL’s recent debut for the Hockeyroos.

“We’re looking forward to watching her play many international fixtures in the future.”

Surha is just the fifth Indigenous woman to represent the Hockeyroos, and the eighth Indigenous Australian player to wear green and gold at international level.

"Pulling on the Indigenous uniform was one of the most special moments for me, being a First Nations athlete in this team," she told Hockey Australia after her debut. “I'm very proud to be here and in this uniform.”

Her first cap “was everything I expected and more”, she said. “The atmosphere the Dutch fans bring is incredible. I’ve never experienced anything like it.

“From the call-up, to getting on the plane two days later, to stepping on the field for the first time, it’s all been a surreal and special moment."

Surha was initially selected to tour Belgium and Germany with Australia’s Under 21 women’s team, the Jillaroos But injury opened up places in the Hockeyroos.

It was been another sizeable step for JL who only played her first two Premier League 1 games for Redcliffe in 2022, before making a permanent move in 2023.

Surha was top scorer in 2024 and netted in the club’s historic 3-0 Premiership win over Easts – the first top division women’s Premiership in Redcliffe’s 92 years.

Last year she also made her debut for Brisbane Blaze in the Liberty Hockey One League – Australia’s top domestic hockey competition.

Surha has played for Queensland in junior age divisions and won national titles, but her display at this year’s Australian Under 21 titles earned a Jillaroos call.

JL was also selected for the Australian Development Squad and Hockeyroos for a practice match series against India in Perth earlier this year.