FORMER Maryborough, Queensland and Australian hockey representative Don McWatters accomplished much during his career, but it is the one thing he did not get to complete that could be most fascinating.

McWatters was one of several stars who grew up on Maryborough's famous Treasure St, alongside the likes of fellow champions John and Bruce McBryde.

He was part of the bronze medal-winning team at the 1964 Olympics, captained by John McBryde, which doubled as Australia's first medal-winning hockey team.

After a long playing career he delved into coaching, and 16 years after he was part of the history-making Olympic team McWatters was poised to lead the Australians with the clipboard.

The team were primed for a successful Olympic campaign, the team had received its uniform and was weeks from leaving before a decision made by then-Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser rocked Australian sport.

They never left.

"I was very disappointed," McWatters said.

"Australian Hockey administrators came to team in during early stages and said each body was given opportunity to make own decision.

"They put it to the team, we voted to go - nobody against it at all. We thought we were going, as did the swimmers. Then we received word Australian Hockey decided not to go."

The 1980 Olympic Games at Moscow is remembered as the only modern Olympics at which Australia did not officially compete.

Australian athletes competed under the Olympic Flag, though McWatters' hockey team never left Australian shores.

"We were all disappointed with the way it happened," McWatters said.

"Overall there would've been but hockey I don't think there was anybody who wasn't already an Olympian. It was put to us to consider ourselves Olympians but I don't think anybody felt that."

McWatters donated his Moscow Olympic Games blazer to the Wallaroos Hockey Club earlier this month, along with other memorabilia from his playing days.