BIO

John Tonkin was born on 19 April 1861 at Kanmantoo in South Australia. He joined Norwood from one of the junior association clubs and played for Norwood against North Adelaide in the last game of the 1884 season.

Tonkin worked hard, and was high on the list of best players. Norwood won the game 7.7 to 1.7.

He was a regular for Norwood in the 1885 season. Tonkin was selected in the first game of the year against new club Adelaide and  in the inter-colonial match against Hotham on the Kensington Oval.

In 1886, Tonkin played for West Torrens in the Adelaide and Suburban Football Association, before joining Norwood very late in the year.

He played in a controversial match against South Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on 1st September 1886.  Norwood won the game comfortably, but the final result was reversed after South Adelaide claimed Norwood had selected an ineligible player. Norwood had not paid a fine on time, incurred for "rough play" by John "Paddy" McGrath.

In his short stint with Norwood, he played alongside the likes of George Giffen, George Liston, Jack Woods, Pat McGrath and "Topsy" Waldron.

He played for Hotham in 1887.

John Tonkin died on 27 August 1957 aged 96 and is buried in Adelaide's West Terrace Cemetery.