Bob Quinn (Australian footballer)

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Bob Quinn being chaired from the ground
Bob Quinn being chaired from the ground

Robert Berrima Quinn MM (b 9 April 1915) was a champion Australian rules footballer with Port Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).

Born in Birkenhead, South Australia, the son of Jack Quinn, a wharf worker who captained Port Adelaide in 1904 and 1905, younger brother of Tom Quinn, who played for Port Adelaide and Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League and elder brother of George, who played for Port Adelaide before being killed in action in Egypt in 1942[1]. Quinn made his debut for Port Adelaide in 1933 as a rover and played in his first premiership in 1936. The following year, Quinn won the club Best and Fairest and was Port's leading goalkicker in another premiership year, while in 1938 Quinn was awarded the Magarey Medal for the best player in the SANFL as well as a second Port Best and Fairest award.

Elevated to Captain/Coach in 1939, Quinn led Port to a premiership in his first year as coach before the start of World War II led many of his leading players to quit football to enlist in the Armed Forces. Quinn enlisted in the Australian Army in June 1940 as a Warrant Officer Class 2[2] (while still serving as Captain/Coach) and was shipped out to fight in the North African campaign. Showing the same fearlessness that he displayed in football, Warrant Officer Quinn was awarded the Military Medal for bravery at the Siege of Tobruk[3]. During the war, which also included action in the Pacific, Quinn severely injured his knee,arm and face and it was feared that he may never play again[4]. However, Quinn returned to Port Adelaide for the 1945 season and showed that he lost nothing of his skill and determination, winning a second Magarey Medal, a third club Best and Fairest and a second club Leading Goalkicking award.

Quinn won a fourth Port Best and Fairest in 1947, his final season. On his retirement, Quinn had played 239 games for Port Adelaide, kicking 386 goals, plus a further 15 games and 26 goals for South Australia (which he captained from 1945-47) and was named All-Australian captain in 1947.

Following his retirement from football, Quinn became a successful publican.

Quinn remains one of Port Adelaide's favourite sons, having been made a Life Member of the Port Adelaide Football Club in 1944, a member of the Port Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame in 1998, a Life Member of the SANFL in 2002, and a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996. In addition, the RB Quinn Stand at Alberton Oval is named in his honour, as is the Bob Quinn medal, awarded to the best player on ground at the annual SANFL ANZAC Day match.

Quinn's middle name "Berrima" is derived from the SS Berrima, a troop ship that visited Adelaide prior to Quinn's birth[4].

Quinn's wife May represented South Australia in netball while Quinn's son Robert Jnr, played league football for Port Adelaide and South Adelaide Football Club, and son Greg played reserves for Port Adelaide and Adelaide Grade cricket as a wicketkeeper[4].

Quinn's brother-in-law Charlie "Chilla" Walker was a leading South Australian cricketer[4]. The South Australian Cricket Association's annual trophy for the best wicketkeeper in the Adelaide grade competition is named after Walker. Greg Quinn won it seven times[4].

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Roll of Honour, George Urban Quinn", Australian War Memorial http://www.awm.gov.au/roh/person.asp?p=147-19539 Accessed 8 May 2008.
  2. ^ WWII Nominal Roll "Quinn, Robert Berrima" http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteran.asp?ServiceID=A&VeteranID=669092 Accessed 6 May 2008
  3. ^ Australian War Memorial, "Honours and awards (gazetted)" http://www.awm.gov.au/honours/honours/person.asp?p=SX5547 Accessed 6 May 2008
  4. ^ a b c d e Porter, A. (2008) "Bob Quinn - A Legend who Stuck by his Mates", The Independent Weekely, 28 April 2008