Long was named the Community Official of the Year and the COVID Safe Administrator of the Year while Markwick won the Community Distinguished Long Serivce Award at the recent Hockey NSW awards night in Tamworth.

The sisters have followed in the footsteps of their mother Win Long OAM, who was awarded her Order of Australia for her service to hockey as a player, umpire and administrator, as well as her promotion of young women's participation.

And it's that last point that Long and Markwick have strived to continue in their own work in the Bathurst Women's Hockey Association, both as committee members and as coaches.

"It's really special. We both started in hockey because of mum. Dad is alive, doing well at his little farm, and he was exceptionally proud to hear the news and others have told us how proud of our mum would have been of these awards," Markwick said.

"It's an overall recognition for many years. It's great just to be nominated, and we're not sure who that was, but then to win it was amazing. It was really lovely.

"Mum had 50 years in hockey and gave 50 years to the Bathurst association," Long added.

"Maureen and I are sitting at 49 years and I know mum would be proud of us because we haven't given up and we've kept going. We try to do everything we can for the benefit of hockey.

"The COVID officer award was given out by Hockey NSW. I did the safety plans, so for me last year was a big year. Being acknowledged for both that, and as official of the year, was really nice.

"It wasn't something I expected, and these awards are not the reason you become involved."

Their respective awards came at a challenging time for not just hockey but all sports.

But they never had a doubt that the game in Bathurst would persevere and continue to grow through COVID-19.

"I think we'll pick right back up where we left off. The competition went ahead last year with very little loss of players, and we're hoping a full weekend of hockey coming up will bring the sport back into the sights of parents," Markwick said.

"It's a great sport which can be played by all ages. We had a team in fourth grade who won their first premiership for probably around 20 years, if not their first title, and some of them are in their 70s. It's a sport for all."

"And now we have a masters competition between Lithgow, Orange and Parkes. They love their competition. And last year's competition, while shorter, was enjoyed by everyone."

Long and Markwick are looking forward to a number of big events coming up at Bathurst this year.

Over three straight days of action starting on Friday next week the Cooke Hockey Complex will play host to a school participation day followed by the Premier League Hockey all star game and the Premier League Hockey gala day across the weekend.

Then on April 9 the Australian Under 15s Boys and Girls Hockey Championships will begin.

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