‘Once a Shark, always a Shark’ – Beaumaris shining bright for Holly & Bianca this weekend

Beaumaris Football Club will celebrate the lives of Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones this weekend, with their inaugural ‘Shining Bright for Holly & Bianca’ weekend.

Holly and Bianca tragically lost their lives to methanol poisoning while holidaying in Laos last November.

Both were much-loved members of the Beaumaris family, having risen through the Sharks’ junior program and winning a premiership together in 2022.

Holly followed up with another flag in 2023, then progressed to play 12 senior games in VAFA Premier B last season.

The Jones and Bowles families are thrilled at the creation of a weekend where family, friends and the wider community can come together to remember and celebrate Holly and Bianca.

The women’s teams (who are playing Fitzroy at 12pm & 2pm) will be wearing special commemorative jumpers celebrating their teammates, while both teams will wear pink armbands in a touching display of solidarity.

After the game, players and spectators will be invited upstairs, where the inaugural ‘Shining Bright Medallists’ will be announced.

Sunday will see the ‘Shining Bright for Holly & Bianca Luncheon’ at Sandringham Yacht Club.

Hosted by 3AW’s Jacqui Felgate, this sold-out will bring family and friends together in the spirit of Holly & Bianca – all dressed up and ready to live it up. Proceeds from this lunch will support two charities close to the hearts of both girls – Sport & Pets – via the ‘Sport 4 All’ and ‘Pets of the Homeless’ programs.

Sunday afternoon will also see the Beaumaris Under 18 girls pay tribute to Holly and Bianca with commemorative matches at Banksia Reserve at 12pm & 2pm.

“As a club we’re incredibly proud, and humbled, to be able to assist Mark, Michelle, Shaun and Sam with this initiative,” said Lee Young, Football Operations Officer of the Beaumaris Football Club and part of the Shining Bright Organising Committee.

“To be able to bring some joy and spirit into our community, despite the circumstances, and honour Holly & Bianca, in the way that reflects the essence of who they were, and are to us, is very important in terms of our own healing.

“People have been just so generous and thoughtful and we are most appreciative to everyone for their generosity.”

If you’d like to get involved in supporting the inaugural ‘Shining Bright for Holly & Bianca’ weekend, there’s an ONLINE AUCTION running at https://airauctioneer.com/shining-bright-for-holly-bianca

You can also show your support by getting along to Banksia Reserve on Saturday and Sunday, with the club hoping for a big crowd on both days to celebrate the memory of Holly & Bianca.

‘Once a Shark, always a Shark.’

And never forgotten.

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