BIO

Don Jorgensen's promising football career was railroaded by World War II.  He served overseas as a flying officer with 461 Squadron and on his return graduated as a doctor who earned great respect during a lifetime of 91 years.

The son of Sturt player Carl Jorgensen, Don was born at North Adelaide on 19 October 1922 and acquitted himself well at Prince Alfred College as a footballer, tennis player and prefect.  A critique of the rover/forward in the PAC Chronicle in September 1939 said: "A really brilliant footballer with wonderful ball sense.  He often spoils his play through selfishness and trying to do too much.  Probably the best individual player in the team." Despite his efforts and those of Peter Dalwood and Gordon Schwartz, also future Norwood players, PAC went down to St Peter's College by three points at Adelaide Oval and by one point to Wesley College in Melbourne.

'Jorgy' made his mark as a wingman with Norwood for seven games in 1941 before RAAF duties put paid to his chances being a member of the team which that year would win the club's 19th premiership and its first since 1929.

He and Gordon Schwartz both served in Sunderland flying boat squadrons based in the UK.  Gordon believes that after Don completed a tour of operations he was posted to the north of Scotland as an instructor and injured in a Sunderland crash.  Don was discharged from the RAAF on 30 January 1946 and embarked on a medical course.

He died on 5 April 2014, survived by his wife Margaret and daughters Anne and Ruth, but predeceased by son Donald and sister Betty.

P Robins June 2018