Sport
21 March, 2025
Talbot and Clunes FNC to come together in celebration of Hannah McGuire
In a showcase of community solidarity, Talbot and Clunes football netball clubs will come together this weekend to honour and remember former player Hannah McGuire.
Clunes will welcome Talbot to Bull Millgate Oval for practice matches across all grades of football and netball, with a minute silence and a presentation of the newly introduced Hannah McGuire memorial cup to be presented at the end of the A grade netball match.
With the McGuire family involved as players and sponsors at both clubs, Clunes Football Netball Club secretary Jaqui Featherston said the opportunity to pay respects to Hannah and her family has made the relationship between the clubs even stronger.
“For the last couple of seasons we have usually played a practice match at either Talbot or Clunes because we are in different leagues but are still such close neighbours,” she said.
“Because both clubs have got such strong ties to the family, it’s just perfect that we can do this together.
“Hannah played all of her juniors at Clunes and even a couple of seasons in seniors before she moved over to Talbot.
“We both really value the family’s time and Hannah’s time with us and we know that it wasn’t just our club, it was Talbot as well and they loved her just as much as we did.”
Featherston said local sporting clubs can play a pivotal role in supporting communities through difficult times.
“We have members from as young as five and six years old right up to [people] in their 70s and 80s so we are a huge part of the community,” she said.
“It’s not just football and netball, we are up at the school, we are in the community, we’re helping out with Booktown this week, we’re always joining in with other groups and giving a hand.”
Talbot Football Netball Club president Dallas Byars agreed with Featherston’s comments, saying the event is the least the club can do.
“The important thing for us to do is to support [the family], they are there every week and are so actively involved in the club at the moment,” he said.
“We like to think of community sport as something more involved, you come out and you’re interacting with your friends, meeting new people and it’s a real social outlet for a lot of people.
“When something like this happens, its only natural you want to reach out and wrap your arms around the people involved in the club and make sure you can be as supportive as possible.
“We want to make sure we are an active part of the community, Talbot’s not a big town, it’s a town of less than 500 people but the town is buzzing every home game.
“It’s important that while we get the support of our local community, that we give back to the community.
“We really enjoy being involved in things like the Talbot Farmers Market or hosting the annual swap meet.
“We try to impress on our players to give back and be involved in volunteering because you get out of community sport what you put into it.”
Games begin from 9 am on Saturday, March 22 with senior football starting at 1, A grade netball commencing at 2.30 and a minutes silence and trophy presentation at approximately 3.45 pm.
“If people can come along and be involved that would be wonderful to see a crowd there,” Byars said.
“We are really proud of being able to support the McGuire family in recognising Hannah’s legacy and that’s what it’s all about for us.”