Local Jamestown/Peterborough volunteer named as finalist in national footy club competition
Jamestown/Peterborough has a local legend to cheer on during the AFL Grand Final week, with Robert Honan from Jamestown Peterborough Football & Netball Club announced by Bunnings as one of eight finalists in its Legend of the Tongs competition, a nationwide search to recognise the local volunteers who fire up the BBQ weekly at Aussie rules footy clubs.
Selected from over 720 club volunteer nominations across the 18 weeks of the 2026 AFL season, Robert Honan has won a trip for two to the AFL Footy Festival and Toyota AFL Grand Final 2026 where he will be in the running to be named ‘Legend of the Golden Tongs’ and win $25,000 in Bunnings products and materials for his club.
For 33 years, Robert Honan – affectionately known as “Farmer” – has been a much-loved fixture behind the BBQ at JPFNC, where he has earned a reputation for serving some of the association’s best steak sandwiches. Now in his 70s, Farmer can spend an entire day at the BBQ, cooking around 80 sausages and 120 steak sandwiches before heading into the kitchen to help prepare evening meals Farmer simply swaps one club for another, volunteering at Belman Cricket Club during the off-season. Farmer is happiest working quietly in the background. He never seeks recognition for what he does, instead taking genuine pride in chatting with people around the club and seeing the generations of volunteers and families who have helped build the community he loves. His dedication is matched by his attention to detail – including hand-cutting fresh onions because, in Farmer’s words, frozen ones simply won’t do! That attitude has now earned “Farmer” a spot in the Bunnings Legend of the Tongs Top 8.
Robert Honan is set to cook up his award-winning snags alongside the seven other finalists, including two finalists chosen via community choice voting; an initiative designed to get the people involved by letting them vote for their local legend.
The overall winner will be crowned on Friday, 25 September by Legend of the Tongs Ambassadors Matthew Richardson and Libby Birch.
Bunnings Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Mel O’Neill said Bunnings is proud to recognise the community legends who are the lifeblood of footy across Australia.
“We’re excited that Robert Honan has been chosen as one of our finalists for Legend of the Tongs, recognising their unwavering dedication to Jamestown Peterborough Football & Netball Club and the positive impact he has on the Jamestown/Peterborough community. It’s a proud moment for the whole club to see one of their own recognised on the national stage,” Mel said.
“With eight amazing legends in the final, we know that our judging panel will have an incredibly hard decision to make as they choose who will win $25,000 in Bunnings products and materials for their club and be crowned our Legend of the Golden Tongs.”
As part of the 2026 campaign:
Each week, five ‘legends’ and their local club won a BBQ prize pack valued at over $585
Eight shortlisted winners will score a trip for two to attend the Toyota AFL Grand Final, with some selected via a new public “community choice” vote
One overall winner will be crowned the ‘Legend of the Golden Tongs’, winning $25,000 in Bunnings products and materials for their local club
The competition, part of Bunnings’ 12th year in partnership with the AFL, celebrates the incredible contributions of community volunteers across Australia during the 2026 AFL season. Across the 18 weeks, the initiative received more than 900 entries from Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory, West Australia, South Australia, Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania.