ANZAC Day Presidents Lunch

Box Hill Hawks will host its first Presidents Lunch for the 2015 season on Sunday April 26.

The home game will undoubtedly take on personal meaning for all present with players, coaching staff and spectators observing one minute’s silence before the first bounce.

This year’s ANZAC Day holds a special meaning, as the two clubs will commemorate the centenary of the ANZAC landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. What followed in 1915 helped to forge our nation.

Sunday will see the Box Hill Hawks and the Coburg Lions go head-to-head for the ANZAC Cup.

The emotion and adrenaline associated with ANZAC Day football is possibly equivalent only to that experienced in September.

The fixture was first conceived as a joint venture by the Box Hill and Coburg RSL clubs. The central aim is to salute ex-serviceman and remember legends of their clubs, Ron Gibbs (Box Hill) and Eric Lines (Coburg).

The day will conclude with the presentation of the highly respected Gibbs-Lines medal for best on field and the ANZAC Cup to the winning the team.

The Box Hill Hawks are proud to represent and play for those that fought for Australia. In 1915, 11 of the Box Hill players who enlisted were called to duty. As a result Box Hill was unable to enter a team that year. By 1916, five of those men had been killed in the front line, within five months of each other.

President of the Box Hill Hawks, Tony Pinwill, believes it is a great privilege to be involved with the ANZAC match and hopes the tradition continues for years to come.

“It’s an honour to be involved in a day such as ANZAC day. Recognising our country’s history is something our club takes great pride in,” Pinwill said.

“What those soldiers had to endure was unlike anything we could imagine. To recognise, appreciate and honour these men and women is a privilege and something we hold with great regard.

“The two clubs have been recognising this special occasion for many years and is something we hope to continue for years to come.”

The Box Hill RSL has been involved with the Club for many years, with the RSL’s President Tony Bowden praising the contribution of the two clubs towards remembering the sacrifice of those who represented our country in war.

“With this year being the Centenary of Anzac, and our need to remember the sacrifice of the 8,000 plus who fell at Gallipoli, we the living have a sacred duty to all of those who fell in battles in all conflicts since 1915 – we must remember them,” Bowden said.

Regardless of the result of the game, Box Hill City Oval will see a celebration of the heroes who served our country and one fine match of football.

This year’s first Presidents Lunch will be one of the biggest and best. Don’t miss out.

Purchase your tickets by calling (03) 9890 9442 or online on our website www.boxhillhawks.com.au