Since the Hawks Museum first opened at Glenferrie in 1994, and then at Waverley in 2007, thousands of fans from all points of the globe have visited to learn more about the brown and gold.

Many of these visitors, whether they were former players, staff members, rusted-on fans or supporters of opposition clubs have brought many a surprise gift. These gifts included trophies, team photos, guernseys, old boots, cups of coffee and even the odd birthday cake.

During the last weeks of the Hawks Museum at Waverley, one fan journeyed down from Mildura to visit one last time with her family members, daughter Karyn, granddaughter Pippa, Gus and Darren Heeps. Judy Bond is known by many for her poems describing the fortunes of the Mighty Hawks that are published on the Thornbirds’ social media site.

Judy is one of the keenest fans of the Hawks Museum. She brought a special gift for us, a book she had compiled with Darren Heeps. This book absolutely stunned the museum staff and stirred many emotions. Its 42 pages are full of wonderful photos of the museum. The introductory page features one of Judy’s classic poems, an ode to the Hawks Museum.

Turning the pages becomes a pictorial tour of the Hawks Museum with its cabinets crammed full of Hawk treasures. Judy includes the team photo wall, the cheer squad collection, the premiership pennants, the guernsey collections, the trainers display, the legends portraits and even the turnstile where the visitors’ book sat with all those inspiring comments from fans from far and wide.

Judy has made a limited number of her books available to raise funds for her two loves - the Thornbirds and the Hawks Museum. It’s first in, first served! The book is $20 plus $5 for postage, and is available now at the Hawks Museum. Either call 03 9535 3075 or email hawksmuseum@hawthornfc.com.au to secure your copy, a wonderful trip down memory lane of the second incarnation of the Hawks Museum.