BIO

Known as 'Jack', Lavington Chinnery began his league football career with Norwood in 1932 direct from the St Peter’s College team where he had a reputation as a dependable backman. He played 15 games for Norwood that year and went on to play 115 games and five for the State.  Jack’s brother Selby played alongside him for three of those years and their father Archie had also been involved with the club.

Throughout his career Jack proved to be a rock in the back pocket and he worked brilliantly with the Norwood champion full back Tom Woodroofe. According to a newspaper report he “was the man for the tight pinches when speed and clever handling of the ball were demanded.”  He also showed excellent judgment in running out to meet attacks half-way and completing clearances.

At St. Peters College Jack had been a prefect and was a member of the tennis, cricket and football teams. He then worked at his father’s firm of A G. Chinnery & Sons, vignerons at Magill. Jack was a popular figure in the sporting world, and was well known in business and social circles.

Jack met and married his wife Ruva in 1935. His brother Selby had married Ruva’s sister in 1934.

Jack enlisted and fought in the Second World War as a rear gunner on a Halifax bomber. He was killed on 13 May 1944 when his plane was shot down over Belgium. He is buried in the Schoonselhof cemetery in Belgium. There is a memorial to him in the Magill General Cemetery.

R Crompton Feb 2013