Vale Hans Heystraten
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The Mayne Football Club would like to acknowledge the passing of one of their much loved Hall of Fame Members in Hans Heystraten who sadly passed away a couple of weeks ago after a brief battle with cancer. He was just 72 years old.
It was a very unexpected and late diagnosis with no prospect of treatment. Hans and his wife Jan had only recently enjoyed a trip to Fiji with some of their friends from the Mayne Golf Club, so it has been a very quick but nevertheless sad period for his family and close friends.
A giant of a man, Hans arrived at the Tigers in 1977 as a young ruckman playing in a reserve grade premiership before going on to a wonderful career with Mayne and playing 3 games for Queensland.
He was a very talented, powerful ruckman and being a builder, he decided to use his building prowess to travel Australia plying his trade both at work and footy, ending up a great career especially in Canberra and on the Sunshine Coast. He also played for St Mary’s in Darwin.
He also threw his hat into the coaching ring along his wonderful footy journey with stints at Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast and Ariah Park in the South West District Football League in New South Wales. After playing in a premiership for the Ainslie Football Club in 1983 under Kevin “Cowboy” Neale, he went on to coach Tuggeranong Valley to their first premiership in 1986. In more recent times he coached the Mt Isa Buffs.
In addition to representing Queensland, he also represented the ACT in a remarkable football career at a high level.
He is fondly remembered at the Tigers by his team mates and club members of the seventies as a high flying ruckman with a strong physique and long curly hair. He was very much respected by his team mates and opposition alike for his football ability but just as much for being a terrific person.
He has been a long term member of the Mayne Golf Club whose members will miss his warm friendly rapport around the club.
The Mayne Football Club extends its warmest sympathy to his wife Jan and their family as well as all their friends at this saddest of times.
