The Member Diaries: Sharon Behl-Shanks, the ultimate Hawkhead

For most Illawarra Hawks fans, being called a ‘Hawkhead’ is a term of honour, showing a commitment and support to their favourite NBL franchise. But with Sharon Behl-Shanks, that term is taken to its most literal extreme, as she proudly embodies what it is to be a ‘hawkhead’ from the sidelines. 

You may have seen her, she is the one who dons the full Hawk mask, not unlike Hawk’s mascot TomaHawk. For Sharon, wearing the mask is just one more way to show an undying support for her team. “We were at the royal easter show, we saw it on one of the stands, and given that we’re always [at Hawks games] and wanting to support the best we can, when we saw a hawkhead mask we knew it had to be, so we brought that home,” Behl-Shanks said. 

Sharon and her family have been Hawk’s members for around a decade, and in all that time she says the excitement of seeing Hawks games in person has never dwindled.

“The thrill of being at the live games is fabulous, I look forward to it all year, the basketball season, I find it a real adrenaline rush being there, it’s fabulous community spirit,” Behl-Shanks said.  

There are a litany of reasons that Sharon enjoys the Hawks, their members and the experience, but if there is one aspect that shines brighter than the others, it's the genuine human connection that she believes is possible between the Hawks’ players and their fans.

“You feel like you know the players, we follow them on social media, they feel like family,” Behl-Shanks said. 

“We were really invested in [LaMelo] for the time that he was with us, we were worried about how it might feel not having someone of that calibre there, but to be honest it's been pretty seamless for us.

“Now that they’re back at the WEC, we’re very invested in all the various players, and the coach we were excited about,” Behl Shanks said. 

But out of all the players, there is one which she is particularly excited about.

“Emmett Naar I just love, he's going from strength to strength.”

There is doubt that Sharon Behl-Shanks will continue to root for her team, and Sharon has no doubt they will continue to make her proud.

“When I watch them, it feels like there's no way they can’t make the finals.”