The club wishes to express its deepest sympathy to the Hannan family.
North Melbourne's players will wear black armbands on Sunday in memory of Jim.
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Dear North Melbourne Kangaroos people,
Dad passed away peacefully in the late hours of Tuesday 9 February a short few days after his tired body signalled it could no longer sustain him on his earthly voyage.
And, what a voyage it had been. He won a number of awards and a scholarship at school and started studying accountancy before family circumstances dictated he suspend studies to help work in and run the family bottle yard that had moved to Drummond St. Carlton. This he did very successfully in partnership with his brother Eddy for the next 30 odd years.
He married our mother Essie (Ethel) Werfel on 27 September 1941 and they had 65 wonderful years together. As well as raising two sons, he played footy and cricket until his mid-40’s, and in 1977 went from honorary treasurer at North Melbourne Football Club to full-time official treasurer. He was working at what he loved and was ultimately inducted into the NMFC Hall of Fame and received the Titus Award for service to the AFL, followed by an Australian Sports Medal.
Jim also volunteered for work at Marcellin College and in his later years volunteered to transport people from Pioneers Village to Church (little realising he would someday be also a passenger), counted the church monies, and was active in the Knights of the Southern Cross, including as treasurer.
In his 70’s he went camping in the bush for the first time in his life, and in his 80’s he passengered in Brian’s Cessna with great delight, if some trepidation about leaving the ground in something so small.
His life at Pioneers Village, the home he so loved every day, was full and energetic. Two weeks before his passing he was demonising the carpet bowls, and even a week before he was singing and waving his arms to the entertainers. His mind remained sharp until the drugs to ease his pain were needed.
Had he lived two more hours he would have been on this earth for 35,000 days. Not a bad innings for someone who had dropped dead at the football on 15 April 1978 but was revived by the club doctor.
Dad valued his many friendships and his blindness was a frustration to him in recent years because he could neither write to people nor dial their telephone numbers without assistance, and was not in his room for much of the day to receive calls. One of his final wishes was that we catch up with his and mum’s many friends, and wish them his best. We also wanted to thank the Club for the funeral guard of honour.
Best regards
Brian and Bruce
