After almost a two-year hiatus the Hawks Museum reopened its doors for 2022 as part of the Open Day Training Celebrations on Saturday February 5.

Given the restraints of the Covid protocols with the visitors wearing masks, both young and old wandered through the Hawks Museum reacquainting themselves to the Brown ‘n Gold collection that many of the visitors consider their second home.

Two very keen visitors, Brenda Cheers and Stephen Bullock made the pilgrimage from Maryborough staying over-night in a city hotel so that they would not miss a beat first watching the team train before adjourning into the museum to soak up the stories within until it was time to depart for their train.

One of the intriguing highlights of these open days, visitors with interesting stories can speak of their association with the Club.  Two such visitors made themselves known. Firstly, Jeff Box was on a mission to see if the Foundation Donors Honour Board had survived the move from Glenferrie when the Social Club closed.  To his delight he was able to have his photo taken pointing to his name listed as number one donor on the Social Club Foundation Honour Board. In 1986 the Social Club sought assistance from its members when it undertook renovations.  Donors received a numbered medallion; Jeff still proudly sports his number one medallion on his key chain.

The second visitor to come forward was the Shane Condon, the brother of Anthony Condon who played in the 1989 and 1991 Premierships. Shane and his daughter Remi were keen to see the various team photos, the premiership cabinets that featured Anthony Condon including his guernsey worn in 1996 which is part of the Guernsey Chronology Display that hangs from the ceiling.

This led to a group of young fans talking about their personal guernsey collections as they wandered around the various cabinets that featured guernseys from various eras of the Club’s history. Another visitor recounted the story of how he had discovered a pair of Jenkin football boots in mint condition in a country store long since closed. The Jenkin boots were the first choice of many a player back in the days of, black leather boots and leather stops in the late 1950s early 1960s.  The Hawks Museum will have to follow up this lead.

For those wishing to learn more about the Hawks Museum, The Friends of the Hawks Museum, or the Glenferrie Gold Life Patrons of the Hawks Museum you can contact the museum by email hawksmuseum@hawthornfc.com.au or call 0427 455 723