HAMILTON Kangaroos Football Netball Club has many people behind the scenes that put their heart and soul into the successful running of the club, both on and off field, and two of these club members were recognised at the recent presentation evening with life membership.

Hamish Waldron and John Manson were shocked when their names were called to come on stage to receive the accolade from club president, Lachie Patterson, and life member, Kevin Manson.

Many organisations reward hard-working volunteers after a lifetime of service, but such is the body of work already delivered by these two that the club chose to acknowledge them now and not later in life.

Waldron joined the old Hamilton Imperials FNC in 2007 after arriving from Coleraine looking to play at a higher level in the Western Border Football League, but when Imperials and Hamilton merged in 2012, he quickly signed on to be one of the inaugural Kangaroos players.

As a player he gained selection in the Hampden Football Netball League interleague team and took home numerous club best and fairest awards among a host of other awards, making him one of the Kangaroos’ most decorated players.

His leadership skills are outstanding with both Imperials and Kangaroos making him captain of their senior football teams and then handing him coaching appointments as firstly an assistant and then as senior coach in 2022.

As an ambassador for the club in the wider community, Waldron has stepped up to volunteer for such causes as the Good Friday Appeal, Western District Health Service Doorknock Appeal, McHappy Day and Hamilton Auskick.

“This is very overwhelming, and I probably didn’t think it might happen until I finished playing footy,” Waldron said.

“This is a very special honour and I look around the room at club functions and see the life member badges being worn and it just shows me that so many people have put their all into the club over many years.

“The club means a hell of a lot to me, it’s something that we started when we merged to build it up to the position, we are in now is

“I’ll be involved in the club for the rest of my life well after I finish the on-field side of things, we are headed in the right direction, and I see success not only off the field for the club but also on it.

“I’ve had some good mentors along the way with Jason Muldoon getting across from Coleraine and Justin Munroe pushed me in this direction to play some good footy.”

The nomination letter for Jon Manson said in part, “He holds the values of the club dearly and has been instrumental in instilling these to everyone who has arrived as a new ‘Kangaroo’ and being a driving force of developing the club since the merger”, which sums up his dedication to the club in a nutshell.

  Manson has been involved with firstly Imperials since 2001 as an Under-18 player, where he continued to play until the merger of 2012 where his total game tally is 286 across both Imperials and Kangaroos through all grades.

He is one of only two Kangaroos players to have won a Hampden FNL Best and Fairest, as he took out the 2014 Kelly Medal.

“The club means a fair bit to me, and I want us to get that success on the field that many people before me have been working for behind the scenes that will see us play finals,” Manson said.

“There are many people who have mentored me along the way with Andrew Brown, Jason Muldoon, Bernie Muldoon, Brent Forsythe had a big influence on me and Hamish.

“I love that I can remain involved with the club long into the future even after being awarded the life membership.

“When we came into the league 10 years ago, it was a pipe dream to think we would win a premiership in two years.

“We have now set the building blocks of the foundations for success, now that the off-field is humming along nicely, we need to ensure there are a few more ‘W’s’ on field so that we build on those foundations for the future.”

Manson and Waldron have always shown a deep desire to see the club improve on the field and their efforts as players, coaches and mentors has made both people that are looked up to at the club.

As the nomination letter states, “… influencing our growing club culture in a very positive way, expecting nothing less than the behaviour that brings admiration and respect …”.