Announced at the MFNL award ceremony on Sunday, Hawkins received the award for his ‘‘outstanding contributions to the league and the sport (football)’’.
‘‘As I said on the night, I’ve always felt like I’ve gotten more out of the game than I’ve given it,’’ said Mr Hawkins, who was humbled by the gesture.
Mr Hawkins began his storied football career in his hometown of Finley, playing with the Finley Cats.
He played in the 1971 premiership with his brother Michael, beating Deniliquin in the grand final under journeyman country football coach Wally Mumford.
Hawkins remained a Cat when he joined the AFL, becoming a member of the Geelong Football Club.
He would play nine seasons with Geelong before an untimely knee injury ended his professional sporting career.
Nicknamed ‘Jumping Jack’ Hawkins, he has been described as a cult-figure at Geelong where he played from 1973 to 1982, accumulating 182 games and kicking 20 goals. He also represented Victoria.
He was renowned for his vertical leaping to take marks on the last line of defence.
The knee injury in 1982 eventually saw his retirement from the AFL in 1983.
But the young Hawkins was unfazed by the injury.
He had harboured a lifelong passion for farming, and said it was an ‘‘easy decision’’ to return to Finley and pursue a new career in agriculture.
‘‘My hobby has always been football, and I still wanted to pursue that after I finished playing. I was keen to stay involved,’’ he said.
‘‘I thought I had a bit to offer on the admin side of things and got involved in leadership roles at the Finley club.’’
Hawkins became club president in the late 1980s, before being tapped for an executive position at the Murray Football Netball League, which he too would soon lead.
After taking a break from his MFNL roles in the late ‘90s, Hawkins returned to the executive in 2002.
He was again elevated to the chair of president in 2008, and held that position for the next nine years.
‘‘I never set out to become the president of the league. It just evolved along the way,’’ he said.
Hawkins said the opportunity to meet a diverse group of people, representing different clubs was a learning opportunity he cherished.
‘‘It’s learning from other people that keeps your club strong, successful and viable,’’ he said.
Under the guidance of Hawkins, and others, the MFNL would grow into a 13 club league, an improvement on the executive’s initial ten club goal.
‘‘There was a lot of change and growth,’’ Hawkins said on his time at the helm.
‘‘On the one hand we were gaining a lot more clubs, but on the other we were losing some too.’’
Hawkins retired from the MFNL two years ago.
‘‘I am proud of the work I have done with the Finley club and the league, and I know that if I had a second chance, I would do it all again.’’
Hawkins’ love of football spread throughout his family too, particularly to son Tom.
Tom followed his father’s path playing for the Finley Cats before joining the AFL as a Geelong Cat in 2007, and has since cemented himself as the leading key forward in the competition.
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