One pleasant surprise, having been in involved with the Hawks Museum for many years now, is the deep passion that many of our long-distance fans hold for the Club. These fans live either in country Victoria, interstate or overseas and it’s rare that they are even able to attend a game. This became more evident when the Friends of the Hawks Museum was established in 1995 and the Glenferrie Gold in 2007.

Almost 50 percent of our Friends of the Hawks Museum fall into this long-distance category. These far-flung ‘Friends’ see it as a way of supporting the club and its history. If and when they are able to visit the museum, it’s heart-warming to see the joy they experience as they wander through for the first time, taking in the many stories of the Brown and Gold.

Through the years, a number of these Friends have decided that they would like to offer more meaningful support by becoming Glenferrie Gold Life Patrons of the Hawks Museum. The Glenferrie Gold was originally established as a means to raise half the cost of the new Hawks Museum, which opened during December 2008.  We now have Glenferrie Gold patrons from all states in Australia and from England and Hong Kong.

Queenslander, Ray Jenkins is a great example of one of our committed ‘Friends’ and he has now upgraded to the Glenferrie Gold. In joining, Ray has become our 200th Glenferrie Gold Life Patron. 

Ray is the classic story of the Hawk fan, supporting the Club from afar. But he has rarely seen the Hawks actually play a game. He was born in Western Australia and played Aussie Rules as a young lad. His father’s uncle was Frank Jenkins who won the Sandover Medal in 1937, the WA equivalent to the Brownlow Medal. Ray’s father encouraged his son to embrace his great uncle’s achievements as a role model. 

But Ray was only five feet two in height and was considered even too short as a rover. However, he persevered, learning how to drop kick while watching his favourite player, Barry Cable, who later played in a premiership with North Melbourne. Ray was an ardent watcher of the VFL on TV and this is where his love affair with Hawthorn started. He became a convert as he watched the Hawks win the 1971 Grand Final with the strong play of Leigh Matthews and Don Scott in the last quarter.

Ray, who worked in the mining industry with BHP, moved to Queensland where he resides today. In 2010 he decided to become an Interstate HFC member and also joined the Friends of the Hawks Museum. He tells a story of one of the few games where he has seen the Hawks play live. It was in Round 19, 2013. Sadly, Geelong won by 2 points after Lance Franklin just missed a goal that would have sealed the match. He had previously made a bet with his daughter that if the Cats won, he would pay for dinner. Front and centre in his man cave is a large club banner and his favourite piece of memorabilia, a pair of Luke Hodge’s signed boots. He can now see the Hawks play whenever they come to Brisbane.

Ray is surprised and rapt that, after 10 years of being a Club Member and A Friend of the Hawks Museum, he is the 200th Glenferrie Gold Patron. To achieve this milestone of 200 such Patrons is something that the Hawks Museum never dreamt could be possible.

For enquiries to join the Glenferrie Gold Life Patrons of the Hawks Museum please contact the Hawks Museum on (03) 9535 3075 or hawksmuseum@hawthornfc.com.au