BIO

Douglas Turbill attended East Adelaide and Wellington Road Primary Schools before moving on to Norwood High and finally Wattle Park Teachers College in 1959/60. While at Teacher's College, Turbill played in the Amateur League (A4). Playing as a full forward he kicked 79 goals in 1959 and 123 in 1960.
 
Turbill then joined Norwood in 1962 after a season with the Hawker Football Club (Far North Football League). He spent 1962 in the reserves, but made his League debut in the opening round of the 1963 season. Turbill was named on a half-forward flank for the clash against Port Adelaide on the Adelaide Oval.
 
While he struggled to cement a spot in the League team, he finished the season on a high. Playing at full forward, Turbill kicked 7.0 against West Torrens, and the following week scored 5.3 against West Adelaide in the last minor round game of the year. The fast-leading full-forward was good on the ground and an excellent kick for goal.
 
Turbill began the 1964 season where he had left off the previous year and had 22 goals by Round 5 before seriously injuring his left knee. This was to hamper him for the rest of his career. It was 23 years later that he became aware that he had ruptured the ACL in his knee.
 
After an intense pre-season he was able to play in the first three league rounds of the 1965 season, before the knee injury
forced him back to the reserves for the remainder of the year. Turbill  still managed to kick 67 goals that year, including an amazing 13.1 against Woodville on the Norwood Oval in the last minor round game of 1965.
 
After missing the 1966 season to strengthen his knee, Turbill eventually took a friend's advice to try umpiring. He started in the country, quickly progressed to the SANFL's junior colts and seconds, and umpired at league level in 1968. That season he also officiated in the Australian Under Age Championships, the Port Lincoln and Broken Hill grand finals as well as a match between a combined Broken Hill team and the Melbourne Football Club. Increased work commitments as a teacher/principal prevented him from continuing umpiring at senior level, however.
 
Turbill coached numerous school sides between 1963 and 1970, and in 1979 coached Laura's A team. 
   
Also a fine all-round cricketer, Turbill played A grade for East Torrens Cricket club (1958/59 - 1972/73). A big hitting left hand batsman, and right arm medium fast bowler, he once took an amazing 10/16 in a B grade match against Woodville. 

In 2007, he assisted in establishing the SA Seniors Cricket Association, and  played in the 2007 and 2012  Australian Championships. Turbill was selected as the first ever Australian captain of the Over 70 Australian side, to play against the English in 2012.

R Cialini, R Walsh July 2016