Desmond's Story
1941 –
The men’s hockey team won its first Olympic medal, a bronze behind India and Pakistan, at Tokyo 1964. At Mexico City 1968, the team finished second to Pakistan after defeating India in the semi-final. Des Piper, from Victoria, who made his international debut in 1962, was a member of the teams to Tokyo, Mexico City and Munich 1972.
In 2010, he was inducted into the Hockey Australia Hall of Fame. Don Smart, a team-mate from each of those teams, was inducted to the hall of fame at the same time. Piper was an Australia hockey selector for two decades up to Sydney 2000.
Tokyo: Merv Crossman, Paul Dearing, Ray Evans, Brian Glencross, Robin Hodder, Don Martin, John McBryde, John McCormack, Don McWatters, Pat Nilan, Eric Pearce, Julian Pearce, Piper, Don Smart, Anthony Waters, Graham Wood
Mexico City: Arthur Busch, Paul Dearing, Ray Evans, Brian Glencross, Robert Haigh, Don Martin, James Mason, Don McWatters, Pat Nilan, Eric Pearce, Gordon Pearce, Julian Pearce, Piper, Fred Quine, Ron Riley, Don Smart.
