Senior Men's & Women's Football and Netball, Junior Boys & Girls Football, Auskick and over 35's Veterans and Masters Football. Affiliated with EFNL. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the land in Boronia.
The Boronia footy community is saddened to learn that Charlie Kiff passed away over the weekend.
Charlie was involved with the junior club through the 70’s and was a passionate Hawks supporter during the 80’s. He used to help sell beer out of a wheelbarrow out the front of the club rooms.
Although Charlie didn’t pull on the Hawker jumper himself, he was very good footballer in his own right, playing over 300 games for his local club & also winning the under 19s B&F for Collingwood FC in 1952.
He loved the Hawka and he is remembered fondly as a good man and a great story teller.
Many thanks to Tim Burgess for his memories of Charlie and to Greg Mackley for sharing this photograph of Charlie and other junior dads at the old Boronia ground.
A FREE ON-LINE SESSION with TOM BOYD for MEN’S HEALTH WEEK: Wednesday 17 June from 7:30pm
Join a free online presentation with former AFL footballer Tom Boyd who will share his story of going from #1 draft pick to retirement within five years.
Boronia Hawks recommends this free on-line session to all. Given the challenging environment that we are living in today, here is a great opportunity for our members, volunteers and players to get an insight from someone who had to deal with such a high level of expectation and how he worked his way through the highs and lows.
Thanks once again to Jackson Taylor MP for his great support of our Club through the COVID-19 support package for community sport and recreation bodies.
It is a tough time for all community clubs, and our footy and netball players and supporters are naturally disappointed, but understanding of the cancellation of our senior seasons. It is good to know that you and Dan Andrews are looking out for the grassroots sporting clubs that are so important to suburban and country Victoria.
Thank you also to our Special K Team, Karen Little and Kerryn Westcott who are doing a brilliant job in seeking grants for the Club to support our programs. We are very grateful to these two ladies who put in the time and effort to work through complicated grants applications for the benefit of all club members.
As a club, and Boronia community, we’re all feeling disappointed with the decision to cancel the 2020 season for senior men and women.
The club plays such a huge part of the lives and wellbeing of so many people, and to know that we will need to go without it for the foreseeable future, in a time when perhaps we need it most, is hard to swallow. With so many sad and tragic events in Australia and around the world, we must keep our footy in perspective but we all could do with the support of our footy family that comes from sharing a laugh at training and on game day.
In saying this, we appreciate and acknowledge the leadership of the EFNL in navigating through an unprecedented situation. We recognise that this has been a difficult decision with a number of factors in play, and ultimately the decision has been based on the health and safety of all of our members, and the future viability of club’s within the league. In a tough time, we can’t do anything but respect this decision and appreciate the work that’s occurred and will continue to occur, behind the scenes for the betterment of football and netball in the east.
As a Club we are in strong position, and we have an amazing group of volunteers and supporters. We’ve created some serious momentum and our Board and Committees will keep pushing to ensure we are in an even stronger position when senior football and netball returns in 2021.
Thank you to all of our club members for their positivity and resilience over the past few months. I couldn’t be more proud of the club and know we will face the next period in the same way.
While we’re thrilled our junior footballers will be able to participate in a modified season, and look forward to supporting our little Hawka’s in 2020, we still face a number of challenges, but will meet them with thorough planning and optimism.
We will continue to build our Club off the field with renewed enthusiasm to ensure that we continue the momentum we’ve created over the past few years. We will come back stronger.
Our focuses are clear for the remainder of 2020:
The health and wellbeing of our senior players and members – the consequential impacts on the health, wellbeing and social connection of club members can not be underestimated. Continuing engagement and support will be the overwhelming priority over the coming months.
Building our momentum off-field – we will continue our work off the field to strengthen our strategic and operational efforts.
Our Juniors – what a fantastic opportunity for the Club to throw its full support behind our junior teams for the coming months and help foster the next generation of Boronia men and women.
We understand this news has been devastating for our members and encourage everyone to look at the wellbeing hub on our website, and continue to connect and support each other in a difficult time.
We also our encourage our members to be respectful with any commentary made on social media, as we understand that many may be feeling frustrated and disappointed with the decision.
For our Juniors, we’re excited to support you with all of the Club behind you. Coaches will begin to communicate with each group in the coming days.
If anyone has questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Scott on 0403 238 494. Thanks again to everyone in the HAWKA community. You’re all amazing, and YOU are the reason this Club is what it is today.
GO HAWKA.
Scott Nicholas
Chairman, Boronia Hawks Football Netball Club Inc.
“Please find attached a timeline that the League is working to with AFL Victoria and the other Metropolitan Leagues. We believe a united approach is critical to working through and making any decisions on Competitions. Hopefully this provides some clarity at least in terms of key dates and when you can expect to hear further updates”.
The Club’s Board of Directors has been meeting regularly via Zoom in the last few months to manage the impact of Covid-19 on the Club’s operations. Following the recent announcements from the the Victorian Government, AFL Victoria and EFNL, we had an expanded Board meeting last night with representatives from our senior and junior football, netball, veterans and Auskick sections. Thanks to Ash Johnston, Candyce Wright, Kat McMahon, Sam Dunkinson and Wayne Preston for their important contributions to our preparations.
Although the Club is subject to the release of guidelines and protocols from the governing bodies, we are able to start planning for the eventual resumption of managed training sessions in groups of ten (plus a coach or manager). We are developing our own set of training guidelines so all players and coaches will fully understand their ongoing obligations to personal hygiene and social distancing. We will be ready when the time comes.
The most pleasing aspect of the meeting was to hear of the enthusiastic engagement by our senior playing groups over the last two months. Our senior mens and women’s footballers are training in isolation, but are absolutely exceeding expectations as they build their fitness. Our players and coaches are to be congratulated for their team spirit, support for each other, and dedication to the game and the Club.
We will be in touch regularly, so please keep your eye out for updates on our website and Facebook pages and groups. “Hawka Talk” will continue every Wednesday night at 7:00pm on Facebook for the foreseeable future. Please tune in!
Please take care of yourselves, family and friends. Do the right thing and we will all be able to come together again as a Club.
GO HAWKA!!!
Scott Nicholas, Chairman, Boronia Hawks Football Netball Club Inc.
This eulogy for Bob Henry was delivered at today’s memorial service for our greatest clubman.
The Boronia Hawks Football Netball Club is mourning the passing of its greatest ever contributor. In Bob’s early years he had stints playing football at the Yarraville Social Club and then Camberwell in the 1940’s but when he moved to Boronia in 1950, the Boronia Mayblooms soon became his home away from home. Bob played on a wing and half forward until 1958 and then moved on to the committee in 1959. He quickly became President in 1960 and then for decades served as the Club’s Vice President. Bob has been honoured for 50 years dedicated service in 2000 and was recognised for 70 years service last season. Even in his 70th season he was still chopping up onions as we prepared for the hosting of First Division Finals.
Bobby was much loved by generations of players. From the Murra’s, Lace and Tunna’s in the 70’s to the Panda’s and Bomma’s in the 90’s he was adored by so many as he had an incredible capacity to make connections with the youth of the Boronia area. Bob wouldn’t care if you were the local doctor, local copper or local brickie, if you played for ‘The Hawka’, you were one of us and you were all going to be treated with respect and dignity. As Vice President, Bobby would be seen sweeping out the rooms after the games, pouring beers behind the bar or handing out apparel as the clubs property steward. He did it all! He also gave ‘free’ advice to all Club presidents, always offering support and encouragement as he had a great appreciation of their efforts at running the Club as he had once been in that role.
Bob spent hours in the company of friends like Mick and Kay Kimmitt, Nigel Spokes and later in his life, Ellen Johnson was there to always make sure he didn’t go thirsty or hungry. They would all be so disappointed they couldn’t be here today to see off their lifelong friend.
Our club, Bob’s club, will hold our own memorial service when all the restrictions are lifted and no doubt many a story about Bobby will be told over a beer or three. His list of achievements are too long to mention but I know for a fact our triple premiership win in 2018 made Bob beam with pride for weeks as the legacy of his decades of toil was on display for all to enjoy!
Bobby will be sadly missed on a Thursday night at the club and on game day with his binoculars following every tackle and contest. His name will live on as our senior best and fairest award is named in his honour. We thank Bob and his family for allowing him to create the backbone of a club that is currently striving to match the values he has instilled on us over the last 70 years. He will be missed but never forgotten!
Greg “Flash” Hannon
Senior President, Boronia Hawks Football Netball Club
The Henry family will lay Bob to rest tomorrow. Sadly, only ten people are allowed to attend his funeral due to current restrictions. The family has chosen not to ‘live stream’ the memorial service. They have asked for the Club to provide a eulogy for Bob and he will be carried out to our Club’s theme song. A copy of the eulogy will be posted on our website tomorrow afternoon at the conclusion of the service.
Supporters may wish to pause for a moment to remember Bobby at 2:00pm on Friday, when the service is scheduled to commence.
The Club will hold another fitting memorial with all Bob’s friends from the Club and his family when all restrictions are lifted. The Board is currently considering additional ways to memorialise Bobby’s service to the Club for current and future generations of players and supporters.
Special deals for the Boronia Hawks community are available from our major sponsor Ferntree Gully Motor Group. We have already had many vehicles purchased by club members, family or friends. Choose a great new set of wheels from:
Boronia Hawks can benefit greatly if all players, supporters, members, friends and relatives contact me, Greg Hannon, by phone or text message on 0438 616 130 prior to purchasing a vehicle. I will ensure they get the very best deal and that the Club earns a commission. This must happen prior to the purchase for the Club to be rewarded. If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact me!
This morning our club awoke to the sad news that our ‘legend’, our ‘patriarch, our ‘constant’, our much loved ‘Bobby‘ had passed away after a long battle with cancer. Bob was 95, a magnificent innings in every respect! Bob loved our club and we loved him back. I will never forget the images of every single senior player acknowledging and touching Bob as they left the change rooms before last year’s preliminary final. As Bob sat in his walking chair, each player thanked Bob for contribution to our club and supporters had few dry eyes!
Bob has had over 70 years of involvement at the “Hawka.’ From President in 1960 to decades as Vice President, trainer, property steward and later in life, passionate supporter, Bob saw it all and did it all. As ‘down to earth’ as anybody I’ve known, Bob left his ego at the door when he entered the rooms and just worked! From marking our the grounds with Micky to sweeping the change rooms after training and after games, Bobby was always there and was always ‘giving back.’ My first recollection of meeting Bob was in 1980 when he was vice president but also a trainer wearing his white overalls on match day. He would run out to the field, wipe the mud out of your eyes with his warm towel and bucket that he carried religiously and give you some friendly advice on how to get a kick. He would curse at Shoey from taking a chair into the showers and celebrate every win as though it was his first.
Later in life, his son in law, John, would kindly drive Bobby to the club on match days and on Thursday nights. We thank you, John, for doing that for us. Mick, Ellen and Kay would make sure he was warm and had a beer and something to eat and he would watch the game from his binoculars and revel in a club victory. Bob was a player’s man and he loved to speak to our senior players after a game and god help Clarky if he tried to stop him. Bob would tell the players why he loved our club so much and that legacy of ‘giving’ is now instilled into every single player at our club.
I feel fortunate I got to know Bob, I feel even more fortunate, that Luke, my son, has two Bob Henry Medals that Bob presented to him and I feel fortunate that his club, our club, is striving to improve and grow and that he leaves a club that is in such good shape due to the hard efforts of people like Bobby during our foundation years.
We will appropriately celebrate the life of Bob Henry at our club when the social distancing rules are relaxed to the stage where we can fill our rooms and joyously recall the life and times of our Bob. On behalf of the Club I have sent our condolences through to John and his family.
