Hawthorn Football Club wishes to pay tribute to and recognise the lives of two Life Members who sadly passed away at the beginning of this month.

Ron Duckmanton

Ron was a Hawthorn Football Club Life Member who sadly passed away on Sunday 12 January.

Football clubs would find it a lot harder to exist without the support of volunteers who each week lovingly served their clubs in any capacity. 

Ron Duckmanton, the beloved doorman for the Hawks, typified the volunteer who continually contributed to the heart and soul of their club.

Born in the country town of Hamilton, Ron worked as a pastry cook and moved to Melbourne to start his own business in Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn in the mid 1960s. His store, named the Rainbow Cake Shop, was situated near the Linda Crescent corner and was to become a popular calling place by many a Hawks player looking for something sweet and tasty to eat prior to training. 

Ron’s next-door neighbour Frank Lacy, who was avid Hawks supporter, suggested to Ron that Hawthorn was the team to follow. The social club was in full swing in those days and with the spectacle of the traditional Thursday night training session it was not long before Ron joined in offering his assistance to help his new-found love: the Mighty Hawks. 

He developed an immediate bond with the players as he would bring his leftover cakes to training, which the players willingly devoured after a session on the track. Imagine today’s dieticians and their skin fold tests if Ron was to appear offering cakes for today’s players!

With his new Hawthorn mates Frank Lacy, Bob Yeomans and Ken and Joyce Goddard, Ron with his wife Betty undertook a deeper involvement assisting the Club with the legendary ‘pleasant Sunday mornings’ serving breakfast for the players. Ron was also an active member of the fundraising committees during the 1970s, selling raffle tickets on game-day and offering his cakes as prizes.

In 1984 Ron sold his shop and moved to Altona to work for the local council, which he did for the next 10 years until he retired. 1984 was to see another change in Ron’s life. In the eyes of the Club Ron was considered a reliable and considerate person and with his imposing height would make an ideal doorman for game-day. For the next 29 years he managed the door to the change rooms. Just imagine the stories he could tell! 

He became a confidant and trusted person in the eyes of the players, with many seeking him out for advice. In his role as doorman he saw eleven grand finals, the highs of seven premierships and lows of four defeats.

The 2013 Premiership was to be Ron’s last day manning the door. The jubilation as the current side converged into the rooms with their families to join Club officials celebrating the Club’s eleventh cup was a joy for all, with Ron quietly observing it all.  

One of Ron’s proud achievements was receiving Life Membership in 1993, and he and his wife Betty enjoyed attending the annual dinners held for the Life Members catching up with old friends who did so much for Hawthorn in their own ways.

Hawthorn Football Club would like to offer its condolences to the Duckmanton family, to his wife Betty, son Tony, daughter Susanne and his five grandchildren. Such was Ron’s love for all things brown and gold he will be buried in his beloved Hawthorn tracksuit.

Harold Kinder

The Club also lost Life Member Harold Kinder who passed away on Friday 3 January. Harold’s funeral was held earlier this week.

Harold was granted Life Membership in 1965 in recognition of his many years as the Club's bootstudder. He will be sadly missed around the Club.  

Now at rest, he is happily reunited with his beloved Thelma and the Club offers its condolences to his children Kevin and Lynn and their families.