The Far North Queensland AFL community is in mourning after the recent death of Babinda legend Howard Kennedy Snr. A life member of AFL Cairns, Kennedy was also instrumental in the formation of the Babinda Football Club. And he has the AFL Cairns senior grand final best on ground medal named in his honour.
Daryll Richardson, a former Babinda local who now lives in Maroochy River, echoed the sentiments of many who were influenced by Kennedy, admitting he was one of many who had their lives shaped by him.
“He was like a second father to many kids growing up in Babinda through the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s including myself and my two brothers,” he said. “His influence on the youth of Babinda was immeasurable and probably saved more than one wayward soul from living a very different life. Although I haven’t lived in Babinda for many years now, Howard had an incredible influence on the philosophies that have shaped my life and made me the person I am today. I’m sure that there’re many in the town of Babinda who would join me in sharing these sentiments.”
To many, when the Babinda Magpies are brought up in conversation, Kennedy is remembered as their heart and soul and his name is synonymous with the club. Through the years he coached all levels of juniors to seniors. He also took on the roles of president, secretary and treasurer and he was on the fundraising committee.
Anyone around the club will remember him running training sessions at the showgrounds for both the seniors and juniors, then running the Goose Club at the pub on Friday night. Then by the weekend, he would be rousing kids up in time to get on the bus for the trip to play junior AFL in Cairns, stopping along the way to pick up more excited kids through Deeral, Aloomba and Gordonvale. By the time the afternoon wheeled around, it was time for coaching the seniors. Between all this he managed to run a small farm at Woopen Creek.
Along with Kevin Crathern, Kennedy will be remembered as one of the founding fathers of AFL in Cairns and the Far North.
Courtesy of The Cairns Post.
Last Modified on 10/11/2011 10:52