By Kieran Donohue
Three-time Olympian Matthew Dawson has swapped the green and gold for the classroom, but his commitment to developing young athletes remains as strong as ever. Following his retirement from a distinguished 10-year international hockey career with the Kookaburras, Dawson has spent the past month mentoring aspiring players across Catholic schools in New South Wales while beginning his teaching career in the Diocese of Broken Bay.
Having represented Australia in 215 international matches, Dawson now brings that experience to the Catholic Schools NSW Sport program, helping students develop not only their hockey skills but also the values of teamwork, resilience and sportsmanship. In May, Dawson took charge of the Polding Boys Hockey team, bringing together the best Catholic primary school players from northern New South Wales.
The representative side competed at the NSW Primary School Sports Association Championships in Bathurst, where students benefited from the insight and experience of an Olympian who once followed the same representative pathway. The following week, Dawson travelled to Newcastle for the NSW All Schools Hockey Championships, where he led a specialist skills session during the Under 15 NSW All Schools trials before serving as team manager for both the Opens Boys and Opens Girls NSW Combined Catholic Colleges (NSWCCC) teams.
His leadership proved invaluable, with the NSWCCC Opens Girls team claiming the NSW All Schools Hockey Championship title. Dawson was joined at the championships by fellow former Kookaburra Mark Paterson, now a teacher at Marcellin College Randwick.
Paterson, who represented Australia between 2018 and 2022, coached the NSWCCC Opens Boys team, highlighting the strength of the Catholic school hockey pathway and the calibre of mentors supporting student athletes. The month concluded at the NSWCCC Hockey Championships in Taree, one of the premier competitions on the Catholic school sporting calendar.
There, Dawson conducted specialist coaching clinics, mentored coaches and officiated as an umpire, continuing his commitment to nurturing the next generation of players – and perhaps future Olympians. For Dawson, the opportunity to return to the pathway that shaped his own career has been especially meaningful.
“Having come through this pathway myself, it is incredibly rewarding to now give back and watch students experience the same opportunities,” he said.
“Competing against different regions and schools from across the state creates some of the best memories, building friendships, teamwork and resilience along the way.
“There is something special about playing on the grass fields, representing your school, diocese and sector.
“Those moments and experiences are often the ones that stay with you for years to come.”
Now balancing life as a teacher and mentor, Dawson is helping ensure the next generation of Catholic school hockey players can learn from someone who has competed at the highest level of the game, while inspiring them to pursue excellence both on the field and in the classroom.
