Laurie Steuart Turnbull (Contributor)

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Born 14th June 1914

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Laurie’s lacrosse life began when he joined the Fremantle Lacrosse Club in 1928 aged 14 years.

A motor accident injury caused him to retire early, as a player, in 1938.

His Life Membership awards are Fremantle Lacrosse Club 1958, Western Australian Lacrosse Association 1961 and Australian Lacrosse Council Fellow (life member) in 1988.

 

Laurie served as President of Western Australian Lacrosse Association 1963 to 1967 and President Australian Lacrosse Council in 1965.

He also supported lacrosse as a game referee for over 25 years.

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Laurie’s enthusiasm for international lacrosse was heightened in 1959 when a USA Universities lacrosse team visited Australia and the team introduced the Australian lacrosse community to the USA style of playing lacrosse.

He then combined his overseas business trips with connecting with fellow lacrosse leaders in England, Canada and the USA.

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Laurie became the organizer and manager of Australian lacrosse international touring teams in 1962,1967 and 1972. The teams visited England, Canada and the USA.

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His efforts culminated in the first World Men's Lacrosse Championships being held in Melbourne Australia in 1974 between the USA, Canada, England and Australia.

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The International Federation of Lacrosse later renamed the round robin tournament held in Canada in 1967 between Canada, England, Australia and the USA (represented by the Mount Washington Lacrosse Club) as the first World Championship of men’s lacrosse. This event is credited with the creation of the game rules for playing international field lacrosse.

 

Laurie also can be acknowledged with making a significant contribution to the foundation of the Kuljak Lacrosse Club.

In 1962 during the Australian touring teams visit to London England he was a guest of the Centurion Lacrosse Clubs annual dinner (members being retired lacrosse players/supporters) and on his return shared the experience with Harold Horner who took Laurie’s lead and founded Kuljak in 1963 with Laurie being a founding member.

 

The pinnacle of his lacrosse career would be to be one of four persons credited with founding the International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) in 1974 and having the trophy for the World Championship for Men’s Lacrosse winners be named the L S Turnbull trophy.

Laurie was also the inaugural President of the ILF from 1974 to 1977.

In 2008 the world bodies of men and women lacrosse merged to become World Lacrosse and Laurie’s contribution to World Lacrosse is acknowledged with him being the recipient of the Lifetime Award which is presented to individuals who have made a significant impact worldwide in lacrosse over an extensive number of years and making a lifetime dedication to the sport.

Laurie’s contribution to international lacrosse is without peer.