The Origins of the (now) Tuggeranong Hawks Football Club
In late 1967 and early 1968 the Department of Supply moved their employees from Melbourne to Canberra, transporting a large number of young men and their families to an unknown environment.
Because the vast majority of these people had no family in Canberra, a number of the men decided that they would play Australian Rules Football as a means of staying together and make friendships for their wives and families.
Once the group had formed a football team, the Eastlake Football Club showed their support and provided a set of football jumpers and our club was born.
Our chosen name was “Eastlake Woden” and we played in red and white striped jumpers.
In that year and the next few years, with a core group of Department of Supply people, some of the following players formed part of this club:
Darryl McLindin, Warren Casey, Peter Blanche, Peter Badger, Bob Groves, Steve Hodges, Ray Holdsworth, Jim Crennan, Felix Goodyear, Robbie Knowles, Ron Cross, Greg Williams, Ian Douglas, Les Douglas, Alan McLeod, Billy O’Brien, Hedley Rowe, Geoff Lean, Roger McAleer, Dennis Hinten, Ted Kruger, Phil Hazel, Tino Pollini, Keith Crabbe, Len Wilson, Doug McIvor, Jimmy Harper, Gavin Williamson, Bobby Hughes.
Our Inaugural President was Joe Heales, who held the title for many years and among our trainers and managers were Lionel Williamson, Les Butler and Stewie Harmer. Our training ground was originally North Curtin Oval and we were later moved to the Southlands Oval (now the Southlands playing fields).
During our evolution, we changed our name and colours a number of times. From Eastlake Woden, we became South Woden, then Sutherland, then Tuggeranong Bulldogs, then Tuggeranong Cowboys then finally Tuggeranong Hawks.
Our colours were, at different times, red and white stripes, red white and blue (Bulldogs colours), red, gold, and black (Adelaide Crows), and lastly brown and gold (Hawks colours).
As we didn’t have a club of our own (like most of the other teams in the league at that time) each week one of the wives of the footballers would take it in turns to make a huge vat of soup and the players and their families and children would all go back to that person’s place after the game for eats and drinks. This was a great bonding exercise and ensured that everyone would feel welcome.
Early in the years of the South Woden Football Club, the government allocated us a block of land at Southlands for building of a club. This block stood undeveloped for many years and because we didn’t have enough backing or money to go ahead with this, the department rescinded the offer.
Later we did build a small club in Comrie St Wanniassa, but this was not a going concern either and was taken over by the Vikings.
We are now the Tuggeranong Hawks which as a club is as united as upon our birth. We are very proud to be members of this club and hope the club will still be playing football in another 40 years.
Last Modified on 16/03/2013 17:19