The Hawks Museum’s 16^th annual gathering for the Glenferrie Gold Life Patrons was an event full of nostalgia and passionate memories of Hawthorn’s three back-to-back Premierships, the 1958/59 Reserves and the 1988/89 & 2013/14 Senior sides.

The evening got underway with the museum curator presenting new Glenferrie Gold Life Patron, Heather Hogan with her badge and certificate.

A second presentation followed as Ian Lim Joon received a number 85 guernsey, celebrating his birthday and recognizing his valued support.

Ian joined the Friends of the Hawks Museum when the group was established in 1995, graduating to the Glenferrie Gold in 2015 and then becoming a Knight of the Museum in 2019. 

The club’s 1950s stalwarts, Garry Young, John O’Mahony and Dave Ritchie set the tone for the highly entertaining evening.

They were followed by Gary Ayres, Andrew Collins and Russell Greene from the triumphant 1988/89 flags.

Luke Bruest, Liam Shiels and Matt Spanger then enthralled the audience with their take on the 2013/14 flags.

Led by the museum’s resident MCs, Matthew and Richard Allsop, the players’ responses on the various passages of play and what it took to achieve these significant history-making results had the audience hanging on every word.

Then, learning where their life journeys have taken them led to many questions from the floor.

Highlights from the evening included John O’Mahony and Garry Young closing their segment by singing their Club Song, We Are the Boys from Hawthorn Way to the tune of Camptown Races.

Another highlight was the lads from 1988/89 lacing their stories with impersonations and impressions of their beloved coach, Allan Jeans, complete with ‘Jeans Speak’.  

Garry Young also took part in questions from the floor, querying Liam Shiels on his experiences at North Melbourne.

Liam’s responses were positive, enlightening the audience on what it meant for him to play football at the highest level and to assist in the development of younger players.

The heartfelt closing words from Matt Spangher on just what the brown and gold meant to him was a fitting finale to a very special evening, one that will be long remembered by all in attendance.

For inquiries to join the Glenferrie Gold Life Patrons of the Hawks Museum please contact hawksmuseum@hawthornfc.com.au.