Page 544 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 21 February 2012
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Keith Tournier’s dedication to sport crossed several boundaries. He was a very keen cricket lover and official. He was also very heavily tied up in soccer at Majura soccer club where I first got to know Keith. He passed away in 2006 at around 76 years of age. I would just like to read out a little bit of the biography that was incorporated into the naming of the Keith Tournier enclosed oval in 2007 when the former Majura enclosed oval was named the Keith Tournier enclosed oval:
Keith Tournier was born in Geelong, Victoria. On leaving school he trained as an A Grade Electrician.
He was a member of the Civilian Military Force for over 20 years. He joined the regular Army in 1971, remaining until his retirement in 1983 as Warrant Officer Grade 1. Keith served in Vietnam in 1971-72.
After his retirement he worked at General Electric Corporation and then HPM Industries Pty Ltd using his past electrical knowledge until 1994.
Keith was heavily involved in sport and sporting clubs, including the Majura Junior Soccer Club (from 1981), the North Canberra Gungahlin Cricket Club and the Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club. He was involved in both the junior and senior level. He gave his time tirelessly fulfilling all roles possible from President to Team Manager.
For the last decade of his life his main passion was the preparation and upkeep of the Majura Enclosed Oval turf pitch. He could be found nearly every day throughout the summer working on the pitch or oval, manning the canteen, cleaning the canteen and change rooms and making sure the magpies had their water bowl full on a hot summers day.
His passion to work without any recompense or recognition inspired many members of the North’s cricket club and the various other ACT sporting associations he was involved with to contribute more of their time to make sure the sports future was in safe hands for the children of tomorrow.
Keith’s children, Chris and Helen, are still involved with the club. North Canberra Gungahlin Cricket Club is a community-focused cricket club that can provide an environment where cricketers of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels can enjoy their cricket and develop their skills. They participate in Cricket ACT men’s, women’s and juniors’ competitions. They have approximately 150 senior members and supporters, 22 junior teams and more than 100 “in2cricket” participants aged eight years and younger, making them the largest cricket club in the ACT.
Historically, they have been based in close proximity to the centre of Canberra. Over the last decade they have developed a strong presence in the growth suburbs of Gungahlin and have recently opened their new clubroom and ovals at Harrison, while still retaining their traditional home grounds of Keith Tournier memorial oval and Reid oval.
The Keith Tournier legacy is now in the capable hands of the following club officials: Phil Coe, the senior president; Allan Hall, the senior secretary; Linus Ryrie, the junior
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