POPULAR PRIEST’S LASTING LEGACY
Fitting farewell for everyone’s mate, Father Keith Turnbull
AFTER watching his single mother take on household chores at farming properties to support her family after his father shot through, 17-year-old Keith Turnbull learned a thing or two about surviving hard knocks.
And so when the aspiring clergyman was rejected by not one but five Bishops in his quest for priesthood he persevered until he was taken on by the Vincentian Fathers.
He was ordained in 1952 and by the time he was 35 the Albury-born Father Turnbull had made his way to the Gold Coast where he was named Southport parish priest – an exceptional achievement for a man so young.
Although his career took him across the country and indeed the world when he was named Provincial of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, Father Turnbull’s heart always remained on the Gold Coast.
With his passion for education and aged care, the forward thinking Father Turnbull was instrumental in acquiring land on the Coast to ensure the young and old were catered for.
He oversaw the purchase of land which would later house infrastructure including Ozcare at Labrador which is the facility where he saw out his twilight years and was renamed Keith Turnbull Place in his honour.
Father Turnbull also advocated for the purchase of 40 acres of freehold land in Ashmore and as such Keith Turnbull Drive connects Guardian Angels School and Aquineas College with the De Paul Villa and Mary Immaculate Church.
He was honoured with an OAM in 2004 for his services to the community.
The sport-loving priest was a longtime member of Southport Golf Club and also enjoyed tennis and watching the races at Gold Coast Turf Club.
He played a weekly game of poker with priests from around the region and enjoyed the odd scotch and soda.
Father Turnbull was mates with everyone from bookies to politicians, even driving an un- named State member home after the MP had too much to drink one night.
Father Turnbull passed away on May 20 at age 88 following a year of ill health.
His eulogy was read by friend of almost half a century Max Bohlscheid and the funeral mass at Mary Immaculate was read by Father Gregory Brett.
Although old friends filled the church, in a fitting tribute to his life’s work it was the children from Guardian Angels and Aquineas who formed the guard of honour for the man who helped make the schools what they are today.