John Kitchener Furniss (11 December 1914 – 15 February 2003) was an
Australian rules footballer who played with
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
in the
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...
(VFL).
Furniss was born in
Boolarra and played his early football at Glen Iris. He was a follower in Melbourne's 1939 premiership side. The following year he appeared in Melbourne's preliminary final win but injury cost him a spot in their premiership team.
He served with the
Royal Australian Air Force
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
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during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. Although his RAAF commitments kept him out of the VFL, he did however play in
Canberra, for the Fairbairn club. He won his league's
best and fairest award, the
Mulrooney Medal, in 1941.
['']The Canberra Times
''The Canberra Times'' is a daily newspaper in Canberra, Australia, which is published by Australian Community Media. It was founded in 1926, and has changed ownership and format several times.
History
''The Canberra Times'' was launched in ...
'
"Mulrooney Medal Winner"
28 August 1941, p. 4
In 1947 he returned to the VFL after a seven-year absence and played two senior games for Melbourne.
Footnotes
References
Second World War Nominal Roll: Leading Aircraftman John Kitchener Furniss (400002), ''Commonwealth of Australia''.Second World War Service Record: Leading Aircraftman John Kitchener Furniss (400002), ''National Archives of Australia''.
External links
Jack Furniss: ''Boyles Football Photos''.Jack Furniss: ''Demonwiki''.
1914 births
Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
Melbourne Football Club players
Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II
2003 deaths
Melbourne Football Club premiership players
VFL/AFL premiership players
Military personnel from Victoria (state)
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