The Member Diaries - Amanda Hawker

Amanda Hawker is not only an Illawarra Hawks fan by name, she's a diehard fan by nature as well.

The five-year Hawks member admitting her families devout following of the club has become such a big part of their lives that not even family holidays are enough to keep them away from the action.

"It's got to the point now where we're supposed to be away on holidays but we are trying to plan and work out if we can get back for the games," Hawker laughed.

"The only issue is during school holidays and even then we're usually down the South Coast so we'll make the trip back up if we can manage it," she added.

Hawker grew up in Ballarat, a basketball stronghold and a part of rural Victorian that has had distinct and definitive links to the Hawks over the years.

"I grew up playing the game and followed the Ballarat Miners years ago so I've always enjoyed basketball. Xavier Cooks is from Ballarat, Brian Goorjian coached there and Mat Campbell was born just up the road in Bendigo so I always had an interest in those guys so basketball has always been close to home for me," Hawker said. 

Amanda and her family moved to Wollongong around 10 years ago, and when her eldest daughter started playing junior basketball with the Illawarra Basketball Association, Amanda thougtht it'd be nice to take her along to an NBL game or two.

"We started going consistently when Kevin Lisch and Kirk Penney were around, I think Rob Beveridge was fairly new to the club as well. We just went randomly because one of the girls was taking an interest in the game and then we got a membership and haven't really looked back," Hawker said. 

Amanda (R) enjoying a game with her husband and two girls.

Two games in particular stand out over the years for the Hawkers - four frames of overtime against Melbourne United in 2018, and some New Years Eve fun against the Kings a few years ago.

"I think that was the first game [against Melbourne] of the season at home and we were sitting in the lower bowl. The whole game was just edge of your seat stuff. Noone wanted it to finish but sadly someone had to lose. It was just an amazing feeling, it felt like the game was on the line every shot in that game," Hawker said.

"Then my parents came up two years ago and we played the Kings and we hadn't been having the best season but we managed to win in front of a huge crowd. I remember my parents being blown away by how loud it can get at the WIN Entertainment Centre even though it's a small stadium. We sold it out that night I think and the energy was just infectious," Hawker said.

And apart from the thrilling finishes over the years, what else does Amanda enjoy about being a Hawks member?

"It's great being able to go as a family, that's one thing I really love. It's family friendly and entertaining for all of us. It doesn't cost an arm and a leg to watch all the games either," Hawker said.

"And I love the atmosphere and just seeing friends there each and every game. It's great to catchup at the basketball and to ride the highs and the lows of the season together. Following the Hawks is always thrilling too, you could go in one night and think we may lose and we come out on top, or vice versa. You always get your moneys worth," she said.

"We've [The Hawks] always been the underdogs as well. But this new group of young players is exciting [Sam Froling, Emmett Naar, Dan Grida). They've been around a few years now and with the additon of some great older players, Goorj has made this team really competitive and great to watch," she added.

If you know someone we should feature in our Member Diaries - drop us an email at membership@hawks.com.au