The Hawthorn Football Club first awarded Honorary Life Membership in 1924.
The award was introduced to recognise the outstanding contribution of those players who had played more than 10 years or 150 games with the Club, and also to those officials, support staff, trainers and administrators who had given exceptional service.
It was regarded as the highest honour that the Club could bestow upon an individual. The first recipients in 1924 were eight stalwarts from our early years in the Metropolitan Junior Football Association (1902-1913) and the Victorian Football Association (1914-1924) prior to the Club joining the Victorian Football League in 1925.
Our first eight Life Members were; J W Kennon, G W A Owen, William H Hulse, R Bell, F Pritchard, J L Grant, Dr Frank Keane and Robert Henry Field.
Jack McLeod at 91 years is the Hawks oldest Life Member
Recap of the 2018 annual life members lunch
To read about Hawthorn's oldest Life Member, Jack McLeod, click here.
Criteria for Life Membership
The Constitution currently provides for Life Membership to be granted to Directors with 9 years’ or any player who has completed 10 years’ service with the Club or 150 senior games with the Club. The directors may, each year, at their discretion (in addition to Life Members elected pursuant to rule 3.4(b)) elect as Life Members such persons as they may consider to be entitled to life membership by reason of special services rendered to the Club.
Download the 2019 Life Members Committee Charter.
Download the application for Recommendation for Discretionary Life Membership
Collection of medallions awarded to Life Members.
Life members from 1924
| Number | Year | Surname | First name | Category |
| 1 | 1924 | Kennon* | John W. | President |
| 2 | 1924 | Owen* | G.W.A. | Committee |
| 3 | 1924 | Hulse* | William H. | Committee |
| 4 | 1924 | Bell* | R. | Hon Treasurer |
| 5 | 1924 | Pritchard* | F. | Committee |
| 6 | 1924 | Grant* | J.L. | Committee |
| 7 | 1924 | Keane* | Dr. Frank | Doctor |
| 8 | 1924 | Field* | Robert Henry | Committee |
| 9 | 1925 | Broadhall* | W. | Hawthorn City Council |
| 10 | 1925 | Leveson* | Vic | Committee |
| 11 | 1926 | Elder* | Jim | Masseur |
| 12 | 1926 | Marks* | F. | Committee |
| 13 | 1927 | King* | H.V. 'Tod' | Committee |
| 14 | 1927 | Hardy* | A.E.J. | Trainer |
| 15 | 1928 | Elliot* | G. | Supporters Comm. Sec. |
| 16 | 1928 | Finch* | Fred 'Snow' | Player |
| 17 | 1929 | Rigg* | E.J. | Ticket Secretary |
| 18 | 1933 | Edmonds* | John W. | Supporters Comm. Pres |
| 19 | 1933 | Utting* | Ernest 'Tich' | Player |
| 20 | 1933 | Young* | W. | Property Master |
| 21 | 1934 | Ramsay* | Sam W | Secretary |
| 22 | 1934 | Lord* | Cr R William | Hawthorn City Council |
| 23 | 1934 | Carter* | M.H. 'Barney' | Committee |
| 24 | 1935 | Jona* | Dr. Jacob | President |
| 25 | 1935 | Cathie* | George J. | Committee |
| 26 | 1935 | Hyde* | Albert ' Bert' | Player |
| 27 | 1936 | Wallace* | William'Beau' | Head Trainer |
| 28 | 1936 | Pool* | Edward | Player |
| 29 | 1936 | McGuire* | James H. | Committee |
| 30 | 1937 | Evans* | Cr. D. H. | Hawthorn City Council |
| 31 | 1937 | Lowe* | H.J. | Committee |
| 32 | 1937 | Lonsdale* | Clarrie | Player |
| 33 | 1938 | Wallace* | Frank G. | Timekeeper |
| 34 | 1938 | Owen* | Melbourne | Hon. Auditor |
| 35 | 1938 | Stewart* | Stuart | Player |
| 36 | 1939 | Mills* | Albert 'Bert' | Player |
| 37 | 1939 | Murphy* | Leo | Player |
| 38 | 1939 | Scascighini* | J. | Supporters Committee |
| 39 | 1939 | Morgan* | Jim | Trainer |
| 40 | 1940 | Speary* | N.J. | Committee |
| 41 | 1940 | Vivash* | A. | Long Service |
| 42 | 1941 | Keary* | Pat J. 'Blue' | Player/Manager Reserves |
| 43 | 1941 | Fergie* | Robert | Treasurer |
| 44 | 1941 | Spinks* | Stan | Player |
| 45 | 1942 | Raby* | J. H. | Timekeeper |
| 46 | 1942 | Williams* | Robert | Player |
| 47 | 1943 | Dent* | William 'Bill' | Boot Studder |
| 48 | 1943 | Murdoch* | Robert 'Bob' | Trainer |
| 49 | 1944 | McCutchan* | G. | Committee |
| 50 | 1944 | Jenkinson* | William 'Bill' | Trainer |
| 51 | 1945 | Albiston* | Alec | Player |
| 52 | 1945 | Wright* | J. | Trainer |
| 53 | 1945 | Hocking* | Vic | Secretary |
| 54 | 1946 | Hollow* | R.J. | Committee |
| 55 | 1946 | Scott* | R.J. | Committee |
| 56 | 1947 | Miller* | Harry E. | Trainer |
| 57 | 1947 | Alexander* | A.J. | Trainer |
| 58 | 1948 | Reid* | H. | Committee |
| 59 | 1948 | Crozier* | Samuel Louise J. | Supporters Committee |
| 60 | 1948 | Pabst* | Les | Player |
| 61 | 1949 | Porteous* | Cr. W. C. | Hawthorn City Council |
| 62 | 1949 | Fogarty* | A. | Committee |
| 63 | 1949 | Curran* | Kevin | Player |
| 64 | 1949 | Austen* | Colin | Player |
| 65 | 1949 | Syratt* | Sid | Trainer |
| 66 | 1949 | Carmody* | Jack | Player |
| 67 | 1950 | Prior* | Albert 'Butch' | Player |
| 68 | 1950 | Wallace* | J.P. | Supporters Committee |
| 69 | 1950 | Ellis* | William | Property Master |
| 70 | 1950 | Butler* | Sid | Groundsman |
| 71 | 1951 | O'Donohue* | J. 'Peter' | Player |
| 72 | 1951 | James* | George | Trainer |
| 73 | 1951 | Warren* | Jimmy | Trainer |
| 74 | 1951 | Ryan* | Phil | Player / Committee |
| 75 | 1951 | Lowe* | George | Supporters Club Secretary |
| 76 | 1952 | Prentice* | Dave A. | President |
| 77 | 1952 | Gaylard* | Bert | Committee |
| 78 | 1952 | Downs* | P. | 2nd 18 Official |
| 79 | 1952 | Blackburn* | Robert | 2nd 18 Official |
| 80 | 1953 | Green* | J.J. | Hon. Solicitor |
| 81 | 1953 | Reddy* | Max | MC / Functions |
| 82 | 1953 | Fletcher* | Edward 'Ted' | Player |
| 83 | 1953 | Morgan* | Leo | Trainer |
| 84 | 1953 | Kiley* | Cyrill A. | Boot Studder |
| 85 | 1954 | Pearson* | Neil | Player |
| 86 | 1954 | Fenby* | George | First Aid Officer |
| 87 | 1954 | Dwyer* | Jack | Doorman |
| 88 | 1955 | Dunning* | Arthur W. | Committee |
| 89 | 1955 | Crozier* | Ian | Treasurer |
| 90 | 1956 | Campbell* | Colin | 3rd 18 Coach |
| 91 | 1956 | Sellars* | Miles R.A.'Bob' | Player / Timekeeper |
| 92 | 1957 | Ferguson* | Dr. A.S. 'Sandy' | President |
| 93 | 1957 | Gibbons* | Norm F. | Committee |
| 94 | 1958 | McLeod | Jack | Player / Committee |
| 95 | 1958 | Kitson* | jack | Committee |
| 96 | 1959 | Elmer* | Max | Treasurer |
| 97 | 1959 | Bromage* | Jack H. | Committee |
| 98 | 1959 | Hale* | Jack L. | Coach |
| 99 | 1959 | Kennedy | John J. | Player |
| 100 | 1959 | Simmonds* | Roy | Player |
| 101 | 1960 | Shaw* | Archie | Committee |
| 102 | 1960 | Cook* | Ron G. | Committee |
| 103 | 1960 | Davis* | W. Henry | Dentist |
| 104 | 1960 | O'Mahony | John M. | Player |
| 105 | 1961 | Curry* | Max | Hon. Ticket Seller |
| 106 | 1961 | Randall* | Viv | Player/3rd 18 Coach |
| 107 | 1961 | Simpson* | Charlie | Trainer |
| 108 | 1962 | Peck* | John L. | Player |
| 109 | 1962 | O'Brien | Phil | Player/Reserves Coach |
| 110 | 1962 | Martin* | L.G. | Committee |
| 111 | 1962 | Ramsay* | Arthur J. | Committee |
| 112 | 1962 | Taylor* | Jack | Committee |
| 113 | 1963 | Arthur | Graham F. | Player |
| 114 | 1963 | Manders* | Len | U19 Coach |
| 115 | 1963 | Taylor* | Athol | Property Steward |
| 116 | 1964 | Miller* | Keith C. | Committee |
| 117 | 1964 | Lander* | H.G. 'Chick' | Legal Officer |
| 118 | 1965 | Dunn* | Sefton 'Sef' | Recruiter |
| 119 | 1965 | Dwyer* | Danny | Player / Doorman |
| 120 | 1965 | Kinder* | Harold | Boot Studder |
| 121 | 1965 | Young | Garry | Player |
| 122 | 1965 | Youren* | Col | Player/PP&OA |
| 123 | 1967 | Fluck* | Otto | Confreres |
| 124 | 1967 | Fanning | Alan F. | Player / U19 Coach |
| 125 | 1968 | Barnard* | Arthur S. | Ticket Secretary |
| 126 | 1968 | Collis* | E. A. 'Ted' | Committee |
| 127 | 1969 | Hamilton* | J. Stuart | Player/PP&OA/Secretary |
| 128 | 1969 | Hughes* | Alf S. | Player/Recruiter/PP&OA |
| 129 | 1969 | Law | Ian K. | Player |
| 130 | 1970 | Edwards | Brendan | Player/Fitness Instructor |
| 131 | 1970 | Elward | John | Player/3rd 18 Coach |
| 132 | 1970 | Considine | Maurie | Player/Reserves Coach |
| 133 | 1970 | Parkin | David | Player |
| 134 | 1971 | Angwin* | Andrew 'Andy' | Player/PP&OA President |
| 135 | 1971 | Beck | Ken | Player |
| 136 | 1971 | Little* | Max | Trainer |
| 137 | 1971 | McKenzie | Col M. | Supporters Club |
| 138 | 1972 | Formby* | Jack T. | Committee |
| 139 | 1972 | McCurry* | Harry | Committee |
| 140 | 1973 | Crimmins* | Peter | Player |
| 141 | 1973 | Fogarty* | Kevin 'Darky' | Trainer |
| 142 | 1973 | Meagher* | Des M. | Player |
| 143 | 1973 | Wallace* | William 'Bill' | Committee |
| 144 | 1974 | Goddard* | Ken | Head Trainer |
| 145 | 1974 | Jackson* | Les | Patron / Recruiting |
| 146 | 1974 | Pitman* | Les | Patron |
| 147 | 1974 | Scott | Don | Player |
| 148 | 1974 | Yeoman* | Robert | Trainer |
| 149 | 1975 | Croft* | Alan | Trainer |
| 150 | 1975 | Laws* | Edward 'Ted' | Boot Studder |
The 2018 Life Members Committee.
Back Row: Silvana Hurst, Rayden Tallis, Peter Haby
Front Row: Peter Knights, John O’Mahony, Daniel Harford (Chair), Graham Arthur
Absent: Brian Falconer
| 151 | 1975 | Coleman | Brian | Player / U19 Coach |
| 152 | 1975 | Moore | Robert 'Bob' | 2nd 18 Manager/Club Secretary |
| 153 | 1976 | Bremner | Ian | Player |
| 154 | 1976 | Knights | Peter | Player |
| 155 | 1976 | Lord* | Norm | Runner |
| 156 | 1976 | Martello | Alan W. | Player |
| 157 | 1976 | Matthews | Leigh R. | Player |
| 158 | 1976 | Rubira* | Frank J. | Social Club Vice President |
| 159 | 1977 | Hopper* | Ken L. | Player / PP&OA President |
| 160 | 1977 | Moore | Kelvin D. | Player |
| 161 | 1977 | Vincent* | A. Paul | Confreres Secretary |
| 162 | 1978 | Farr* | Jack B. | Patron |
| 163 | 1978 | Hendrie | John C. | Player |
| 164 | 1978 | Hudson | Peter J. | Player |
| 165 | 1978 | Moncrieff | Michael D. | Player |
| 166 | 1979 | Albiston | Brian E. | Fund Raiser |
| 167 | 1979 | Shaw* | Jim | Medical Officer |
| 168 | 1979 | Rice | Leon F. | Player |
| 169 | 1979 | Tuck | Michael J. | Player |
| 170 | 1980 | Ablett | Geoff N. | Player |
| 171 | 1980 | Manton | John | Director |
| 172 | 1981 | Dooley* | Tom P. | Patron |
| 173 | 1981 | Goad | Alan | Player |
| 174 | 1981 | Kann* | Brian | Player / Director |
| 175 | 1982 | Cope* | John | Trainer |
| 176 | 1982 | Lacey* | Frank | Social Club/HFC Committee |
| 177 | 1982 | McKinnon* | Vic | Player / PP&OA President |
| 178 | 1983 | Eade | Rodney | Player |
| 179 | 1983 | O'Halloran* | David | Player |
| 180 | 1983 | Paton | Ian | Player |
| 181 | 1983 | Polkinghorne | David | Player |
| 182 | 1983 | Coote* | D. Trevor | President |
| 183 | 1983 | Hoult | George | Director |
| 184 | 1983 | Wilson | Ray | Player/Underage Coach |
| 185 | 1984 | de Wolde | Alle | Player |
| 186 | 1984 | DiPierdomenico | Robert | Player |
| 187 | 1984 | Fitzgerald* | Cashen | Player / PP&OA Secretary |
| 188 | 1984 | Keaney | A. M. 'Tony' | Team Manager |
| 189 | 1985 | Kennedy Jnr | John | Player |
| 190 | 1985 | Wallace | Terry | Player |
| 191 | 1985 | Hickey* | Noel | Dentist |
| 192 | 1985 | Lorich* | Thord | Timekeeper |
| 193 | 1986 | Greene | Russell | Player |
| 194 | 1986 | Mew | Chris | Player |
| 195 | 1986 | Russo | Peter | Player |
| 196 | 1986 | Gay | Dr Terry | Player/Medical Officer |
| 197 | 1986 | Goss | Norman J. | Player/Match Comm. |
| 198 | 1987 | Ayres | Gary | Player |
| 199 | 1987 | Craig* | Geoff | Treasurer HIC |
| 200 | 1987 | Haward | John | Trainer |
| 201 | 1988 | Schwab | Peter | Player |
| 202 | 1988 | Gallagher | Peter | Bendigo Hawks |
| 203 | 1988 | Morrison | Max | Recruiting |
| 204 | 1989 | Brereton | Dermott | Player |
| 205 | 1989 | Buckenara | Gary | Player |
| 206 | 1989 | Langford | Chris | Player |
| 207 | 1989 | Loveridge | Richard | Player |
| 208 | 1989 | Lechte | Peter | Director |
| 209 | 1989 | Holland | Robin 'Dutchy' | Trainer |
| 210 | 1989 | Kilpatrick | John | Runner |
| 211 | 1990 | Gavin* | Barry | Physio |
| 212 | 1990 | Jeans* | Allan | Coach |
| 213 | 1991 | Dunstall | Jason | Player |
| 214 | 1991 | Platten | John | Player |
| 215 | 1991 | Gilson* | Arthur | Steward |
| 216 | 1991 | Hood* | John | Timekeeper |
| 217 | 1992 | Bretag | Roland | Statistician |
| 218 | 1992 | Freiberg | Ken | PP&OA Committee |
| 219 | 1993 | Collins | Andrew 'Andy' | Player |
| 220 | 1993 | Dear | Greg | Player |
| 221 | 1993 | Jencke | Ray | Player |
| 222 | 1993 | Pritchard | Darrin | Player |
| 223 | 1993 | Duckmanton* | Ron | Doorman/Fundraiser |
| 224 | 1994 | Flanc | Dr Charles | Medical Officer |
| 225 | 1994 | Stone | George | Recruiting/Runner |
| 226 | 1995 | Maginness | Scott | Player |
| 227 | 1995 | Chappel | Brian D. | Fund Raiser/Functions |
| 228 | 1995 | Lord | Geoff F. | President |
| 229 | 1996 | Condon | Anthony | Player |
| 230 | 1996 | Dear | Paul | Player |
| 231 | 1996 | Vidor* | Raymond E. | Director |
| 232 | 1996 | Joyce | Alan M. | Player/Coach |
| 233 | 1996 | Lauritz* | John D. | CEO |
| 234 | 1997 | Lawrence | Stephen | Player |
| 235 | 1997 | Falconer | Brian | Player/Membership |
| 236 | 1997 | Smethurst | John | Recruiting |
| 237 | 1998 | Franssen | Ed | Doorkeeper |
| 238 | 1998 | Polkinghorne* | Doug | Match Assistant |
| 239 | 1999 | Brown | Ms. Jenny M. | PA CEO/Stats |
| 240 | 1999 | Hook | John D. | Football Manager |
| 241 | 2000 | Wilson | Peter | Hon. Surgeon |
| 242 | 2001 | Haby | Peter R. | Club Historian |
| 243 | 2001 | Braybon* | John | Property Steward |
| 244 | 2001 | Crawford | Shane | Player |
| 245 | 2001 | Graham | Mark | Player |
| 246 | 2002 | Crimmins | Dr. Bernie | Doctor |
| 247 | 2002 | Nicholas | Mrs. June | President Thornbirds |
| 248 | 2002 | Holland | Nick 'Dutchy' | Player |
| 249 | 2003 | Woodley | Allan | Player/PP&OA |
| 250 | 2003 | Moore* | Ivan | Secretary |
| 251 | 2003 | Harford | Daniel | Player |
| 252 | 2003 | McCabe | Luke | Player |
| 253 | 2003 | Lekkas | Angelo | Player |
| 254 | 2003 | Tallis | Rayden | Player |
| 255 | 2004 | Davidson | Geoff | WASH |
| 256 | 2004 | Morrissey | James | Player |
| 257 | 2005 | Dicker | Ian | President |
| 258 | 2005 | Dixon | Ben | Player |
| 259 | 2006 | Hurst | Mrs. Silvana | Staff Member |
| 260 | 2006 | Butcher | Michael | Legal Advisor |
| 261 | 2007 | Kanis* | Con | Functions Benefactor |
| 262 | 2007 | Vandenberg | Richie | Player |
| 263 | 2007 | Smith | Joel | Player |
| 264 | 2007 | Croad | Trent | Player |
| 265 | 2008 | Growcott | Bruce | Director |
| 266 | 2008 | Gallienne* | Adrian | Confreres |
| 267 | 2008 | Ryan | Peter | Recruiting |
| 268 | 2009 | De Haas | Bryan | Cheer Squad |
| 269 | 2009 | Ure | John | Box Hill |
| 270 | 2009 | Mitchell | Sam | Player |
| 271 | 2009 | Hodge | Luke | Player |
| 272 | 2010 | Randall | Trevor | Runner/PP&OA |
| 273 | 2010 | Stevenson | Bruce | Player/Board Advisor |
| 274 | 2010 | Bateman | Chance | Player |
| 275 | 2010 | Brown | Campbell | Player |
| 276 | 2011 | Ladson | Ric | Player |
| 277 | 2011 | Osborne | Michael | Player |
| 278 | 2012 | Barker | Steven | Runner/Recruiting |
| 279 | 2012 | Renshaw | Graeme | Trainer |
| 280 | 2012 | Birchall | Grant | Player |
| 281 | 2012 | Franklin | Lance | Player |
| 282 | 2012 | Lewis | Jordan | Player |
| 283 | 2012 | Roughead | Jarryd | Player |
| 284 | 2012 | Sewell | Brad | Player |
| 285 | 2013 | Guerra | Brent | Player |
| 286 | 2013 | Harris | Geoff | Director |
| 287 | 2013 | Judge* | Ken | Player/Coach |
| 288 | 2014 | Ralston | Martin | Director |
| 289 | 2015 | Calwell* | Robert 'Bob' | PP&OA Treasurer |
| 290 | 2015 | Paic | Mrs Jasminka | Functions |
| 291 | 2015 | Rioli | Cyril | Player |
| 292 | 2016 | Abbott | Paul | Player |
| 293 | 2016 | Newbold | Andrew | President |
| 294 | 2016 | Burgoyne | Shaun | Player |
| 295 | 2017 | Shiels | Liam | Player |
| 296 | 2017 | Breust | Luke | Player |
| 297 | 2017 | Gibson | Josh | Player |
| 298 | 2017 | Whitecross | Brendan | Player |
| 299 | 2017 | Smith | Isaac | Player |
| 300 | 2018 | Clarkson | Alastair | Coach |
| 301 | 2018 | Rath | David | Coaching Services |
| 302 | 2018 | Lambart | Andrew | Physiotherapist |
| 303 | 2018 | Russell | Andrew | Head Fitness Coach |
| 304 | 2018 | Gunston | Jack | Player |
| 305 | 2018 | Puopolo | Paul | Player |
| 306 | 2018 | Stratton | Ben | Player |
| 307 | 2018 | Schoenmakers | Ryan | Player |
| 308 | 2019 | Boxall | Greg | Recruiting |
*Deceased