‘They left us way too soon': Footy club honours Laos poisoning victims Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones
Thunderous cheers echoed throughout Banksia Reserve on Saturday as Beaumaris Football Club players ran single-file through a guard of honour on their home ground, their bright pink armbands and socks shining in the afternoon sun.
Pink was a favourite colour for both Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones – the Melbourne teens who died last year after a suspected methanol poisoning incident while holidaying in Laos.
Both girls rose through the club's junior ranks and won a premiership together in 2022, with Bowles winning another flag in 2023. However, Saturday's match against Fitzroy was not a day for mourning. It was a day of celebration of the girls' lives and legacy.
As the siren blared, the guard of honour incrementally crumbled as girls stopped to tearfully embrace each other, while spectators wearing pink hats and ribbons watched on.
Both junior and senior players gathered in a circle, with their hands around each other's shoulders, while the Birds of Tokyo song, Lanterns, played softly in the background.
As the second siren blared to mark the start of the game, the players cheered and broke away. It was time to focus on the footy.
Club president Nick Heath said he had sought special permission from the league to blend pink into the traditional yellow and blue guernsey, which also features Bowles and Jones' football numbers.
The No.32 guernsey Bowles wore in her first senior season in 2024 will be retired out of respect.
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‘They left us way too soon': Footy club honours Laos poisoning victims Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones
Thunderous cheers echoed throughout Banksia Reserve on Saturday as Beaumaris Football Club players ran single-file through a guard of honour on their home ground, their bright pink armbands and socks shining in the afternoon sun. Pink was a favourite colour for both Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones – the Melbourne teens who died last year after a suspected methanol poisoning incident while holidaying in Laos. Both girls rose through the club's junior ranks and won a premiership together in 2022, with Bowles winning another flag in 2023. However, Saturday's match against Fitzroy was not a day for mourning. It was a day of celebration of the girls' lives and legacy. As the siren blared, the guard of honour incrementally crumbled as girls stopped to tearfully embrace each other, while spectators wearing pink hats and ribbons watched on. Both junior and senior players gathered in a circle, with their hands around each other's shoulders, while the Birds of Tokyo song, Lanterns, played softly in the background. As the second siren blared to mark the start of the game, the players cheered and broke away. It was time to focus on the footy. Club president Nick Heath said he had sought special permission from the league to blend pink into the traditional yellow and blue guernsey, which also features Bowles and Jones' football numbers. The No.32 guernsey Bowles wore in her first senior season in 2024 will be retired out of respect.
