Memorial match in Kelly’s honour
BROADBEACH and Pacific Pines Under-15 Girls’ Division 1 teams will play for the inaugural Kelly Hardy Cup on Sunday in honour of the woman whose legacy will forever cherished by the two clubs loved so dearly.
A pioneer of women’s Aussie rules on the Gold Coast, Kelly passed away on Wednesday morning after a long battle with bowel cancer.
Survived by husband Ron and their two daughters Kyah and Jordan, who both play at Broadbeach, Kelly has been remembered by both clubs as an agent for significant growth and change in female football on the Gold Coast.
Pacific Pines AFC committee member Danielle Giardina first met Kelly when the two joined the club’s AFL 9s program in 2016.
“I originally started to play but I ended up having to admin it each week and Kel was my right-hand woman for it,” Giardina said.
“One day I said, ‘we really need a scoreboard but we don’t have anything for AFL 9s’. She said ‘leave it with me’ and a few weeks later her and Ron rocked up with this massive scoreboard.
“If Kelly saw a need she was about making sure it happened. She had everybody’s back and she had a village – has a village – that will continue to support her family.
“If you say the name Kelly Hardy in the football world, everyone in girls’ circles and beyond knows who you’re talking about.”
Broadbeach Cats JAFC president Jason Cunningham said Kelly nurtured the club’s women’s program from one team and 22 players to more than 11 teams and 150-plus during her three years involved.
“She’s made such a big impact not just on the footy side of things, she’s also made an impact on the young girls’ lives who were shy or nervous about football before meeting Kelly,” Cunningham said.
“She just gave so much to the club. Whatever she could do, she did … and the way she handled her illness was inspiring to me and so many other people at the club.
“Kelly will be sadly missed but she has left a legacy that we will never forget.”
A tangible legacy of Kelly’s will be the Kelly Hardy Memorial Cup, which the presidents of Broadbeach and Pacific Pines agreed to create in her memory.
Fittingly, the two clubs play each other on Sunday in the U15s.
“When they play once or twice a year they will play for the Cup. We will also have a medal given out to the most courageous girl from each game. The first one will be this weekend,” Cunningham said.