Vic, (as he was known to most people) served at the Club for 16 years in his role as Honorary Secretary from 1937 to 1952. In his first report to members in the 1937 Annual Report, Vic acknowledged the support he received from the President, the Committee, Coach, Players and Trainers. He goes on to report that Hawthorn managed to make match payments to all players, membership had increased and the erection of the new brick grand stand (later named the Tuck Stand) will be ready for the opening of the 1938 season.
During Vic’s era, the Club was virtually organised on a voluntary basis with only two administrative roles both part time appointments. The President and Committee that numbered 20 included 5 Vice-Presidents, two Hawthorn City Council members and a representative from both the Players and the Supporter’s Committee who oversaw the fortunes of the Club.
The two administrative roles, Secretary and Treasurer both received an honorarium and were employed on a part time basis, supplementing their employment elsewhere. In Vic’s case he worked as an administrator at the office of Kings Funeral Parlor in Burwood Road, in close proximity to Glenferrie Oval. Candidates for these two positions had to present a resume to the Annual General Meeting and were voted in by the members for the job at the Club’s Annual Meeting. Vic had previously applied in 1934 missing out to Arthur Wickham and nominated again for the position of Secretary when Wickham resigned in 1936.
The Secretary was in charge of the day-to-day running of the Club including the important task of recruiting players. Arguably the most important player who Vic enticed to join Hawthorn was John Kennedy Snr. Kennedy initially played for a local Young Christian Workers Team, then Teacher’s College when he was studying to become a schoolteacher. Hocking accompanied by committee member, Arthur Dunning visited Kennedy at his home in Radnor Street, Camberwell in 1949 inviting him to train with the Hawks. Kennedy elected to wait until he turned 20 before he accepted their offer in 1950. The Kennedy story is now well known being the backbone that the Club has been built on.
Born in Eaglehawk circa 1895 Vic loved sport and particularly football as a young lad at school. He gained employment as the assistant Town Clerk for Eaglehawk; a position he held for 12 years and would virtually spend his entire career working in administration. In later years Vic with his involvement with the Eaglehawk / Melbourne Society presented a Mayoral Chain to the town of Eaglehawk which is still in use today being worn by the current mayor at official functions.
Vic’s commitment to football administration is impressive. Prior to joining Hawthorn in 1937 he gained football administrative experience in his hometown of Eaglehawk. First with the junior football club, Eaglehawk Traders 1916-1918 then with the Eaglehawk Football Club in the Bendigo League, 1918-1923. He also acted as Treasurer for the Bendigo League concurrently being rewarded with Life Membership in 1923 for his outstanding service to football administration.
Seeking to widen his experience, Vic, with wife Elsie, and children, Ken, Lorys and Rex, moved to Melbourne in 1924 as Treasurer with the Oakleigh Football Club who played in the Melbourne District League. Under his expert eye for administration and recruiting skills, Oakleigh joined the VFA in 1929 with the team gaining in strength to win two Premierships, 1930 and 1931.
Vic also took on the important role of Executive Officer with the Victorian Football Association till 1936. He was considered somewhat of an innovator with VFA circles when he proposed that the VFA Grand Final be played under lights at Olympic Park. In 1934 he sent a visionary proposal to the VFL that the VFL and VFA should merge and form one competition with two zones with the two top clubs to play of for the Grand Final which if had of been adopted would have changed the face of football. He was rewarded with Life Membership with both VFA and the Oakleigh Football Club.
Vic was to become a very popular identity with the Hawthorn constantly endeavoring to lift the fortunes of the Club. His one regret was when the team missed making the finals for the first time in 1943. In the last match of the year against North Melbourne the Mayblooms went down by one point after having 13 shots for goal in the last quarter kicking 1 goal 8 behinds with three kicks going out of bounds. Even with a drawn result, the Club would have made the final four.
At the close of the 1949 season after all the turmoil had settled when the Club was split with the Kevin Curran appointment of captain replacing Alec Albiston, Dr Jona announced his retirement as Club President after 18 years and 25 years as Medical Officer. The Treasurer, Bob Fergie and Vic Hocking announced that they also would step down at the same time. However the members held a petition for Hocking to stay with a unanimous request from the committee persuaded to him serve another three-year term before handing over the reins to Bill Newton in 1953.
In line with his interest in recruiting which saw his son Ken acting as a voluntary chauffer for many prospective recruits, Vic for many years presented the award for the Best First Year Player and he received Life Membership in 1945. The award for the Third Best and Fairest Player continues to be presented in his memory by his family. Vic also served as President of the Victorian Football League’s Umpires Board and received Life Membership of the Victorian Football League
During an interview for a story for Hawk Talk in 2005 with former players from 1943 the year that the Club changed nicknames from the Mayblooms to the Hawks both Jack King and Laurie Peters were adamant that the initial idea for the Hawks name originated from Vic Hocking. He was on record as having been inspired by the name of his hometown, Eaglehawk.
Amongst the donated items in the Vic Hocking collection is a photograph album with photos from circa 1950 of players, teams, training staff, former presidents and officials. Of particular interest are the images of the framed photos that originally hung in the grandstand rooms at Glenferrie that can be seen in the background of many of the photos. They are a marvelous reference point for photos unfortunately now lost.
Other outstanding items is the memorabilia of the Australian Football Carnival held in Brisbane in 1952, Football records from the 1950s and the Argus Football Cards from 1953.
Kaye and Greg Hocking with their grandfather Vic Hocking’s photo album.
