Ernest Albert TooveyMBE, OAM (16 May 1922 – 18 July 2012) was an Australian cricketer and baseball player. In cricket, Toovey was a left-handed batsman who bowled slow left-arm orthodox. He was born at Warwick, Queensland.
Toovey served in the Royal Australian Navy during World War II, enlisting for service when he was seventeen. He served during the war aboard HMAS Perth, where he was present during the Battle of the Java Sea and was also aboard the ship during its sinking at the Battle of Sunda Strait in February 1942. Half of the ship's crew were lost, while the remainder who survived, including Ordinary seaman Toovey,[1] were captured by the Japanese and spent the remainder of the war in Prisoner of War camps. While imprisoned, he reportedly resisted recommendations to have his leg amputated because of an ulcer, telling his captors "You can't take my leg off because I've got to play cricket for Queensland."[2] His time as a prisoner saw Toovey put to work as part of the forced labour constructing the Thai-Burma Railway.[3]
Following the end of the war and his release from Japanese captivity, Toovey stuck by his wartime aim of playing cricket for Queensland by making his first-class debut for the state against South Australia in the 1949–50 Sheffield Shield. He made 36 further first-class appearances for Queensland, the last of which came against New South Wales in the 1955–56 Sheffield Shield.[4] In his 37 first-class appearances for Queensland, he scored 1,346 runs at an average of 24.03, with a high score of 87.[5] One of nine half centuries he made, this score came against Victoria in the 1950–51 Sheffield Shield.[6] Following his playing career for Queensland, he served as a selector for the Queensland side, as well as serving on the Queensland panel as chairman for nearly 25 years, before retiring in 1989.[2] He was also the President of Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club.
Outside of cricket, he played baseball for Queensland and Australia, having first played baseball as a prisoner of war in a match between Australia POWs and American POWs, which was organised by the Japanese commandant.[3] He was also prominent in ex-services organisations, holding executive positions in Returned and Services League of Australia and Australian Prisoners of War Association, for which he received the MBE and OAM.[3] He died at Mitchelton, Queensland, on 18 July 2012. His funeral was held at St Brigids Catholic Church, Red Hill, Queensland, on 24 July.[3]
Referencesedit
^"82 "Perth" Survivors Released". The Argus. 7 September 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
^ ab"Ernest Toovey dies aged 90". ESPNcricinfo. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
^ abcdMcClenahan, Peter (18 July 2012). "VALE Ern Toovey MBE OAM 16 May 1922 – 18 July 2012". Baseball Queensland. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
^"First-Class Matches played by Ern Toovey". CricketArchive. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
^"First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Ern Toovey". CricketArchive. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
^"Victoria v Queensland, 1951/52 Sheffield Shield". CricketArchive. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
ernest, toovey, ernest, albert, toovey, 1922, july, 2012, australian, cricketer, baseball, player, cricket, toovey, left, handed, batsman, bowled, slow, left, orthodox, born, warwick, queensland, tooveypersonal, informationfull, nameernest, albert, tooveyborn,. Ernest Albert Toovey MBE OAM 16 May 1922 18 July 2012 was an Australian cricketer and baseball player In cricket Toovey was a left handed batsman who bowled slow left arm orthodox He was born at Warwick Queensland Ern TooveyPersonal informationFull nameErnest Albert TooveyBorn 1922 05 16 16 May 1922Warwick Queensland AustraliaDied18 July 2012 2012 07 18 aged 90 Mitchelton Queensland AustraliaBattingLeft handedBowlingSlow left arm orthodoxDomestic team informationYearsTeam1949 50 1955 56QueenslandCareer statisticsCompetition First classMatches 37Runs scored 1 346Batting average 24 03100s 50s 9Top score 87Balls bowled 49Wickets 0Bowling average 5 wickets in innings 10 wickets in match Best bowling Catches stumpings 5 Source Cricinfo 30 July 2015 Toovey served in the Royal Australian Navy during World War II enlisting for service when he was seventeen He served during the war aboard HMAS Perth where he was present during the Battle of the Java Sea and was also aboard the ship during its sinking at the Battle of Sunda Strait in February 1942 Half of the ship s crew were lost while the remainder who survived including Ordinary seaman Toovey 1 were captured by the Japanese and spent the remainder of the war in Prisoner of War camps While imprisoned he reportedly resisted recommendations to have his leg amputated because of an ulcer telling his captors You can t take my leg off because I ve got to play cricket for Queensland 2 His time as a prisoner saw Toovey put to work as part of the forced labour constructing the Thai Burma Railway 3 Following the end of the war and his release from Japanese captivity Toovey stuck by his wartime aim of playing cricket for Queensland by making his first class debut for the state against South Australia in the 1949 50 Sheffield Shield He made 36 further first class appearances for Queensland the last of which came against New South Wales in the 1955 56 Sheffield Shield 4 In his 37 first class appearances for Queensland he scored 1 346 runs at an average of 24 03 with a high score of 87 5 One of nine half centuries he made this score came against Victoria in the 1950 51 Sheffield Shield 6 Following his playing career for Queensland he served as a selector for the Queensland side as well as serving on the Queensland panel as chairman for nearly 25 years before retiring in 1989 2 He was also the President of Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club Outside of cricket he played baseball for Queensland and Australia having first played baseball as a prisoner of war in a match between Australia POWs and American POWs which was organised by the Japanese commandant 3 He was also prominent in ex services organisations holding executive positions in Returned and Services League of Australia and Australian Prisoners of War Association for which he received the MBE and OAM 3 He died at Mitchelton Queensland on 18 July 2012 His funeral was held at St Brigids Catholic Church Red Hill Queensland on 24 July 3 References edit 82 Perth Survivors Released The Argus 7 September 1945 p 3 Retrieved 29 July 2012 a b Ernest Toovey dies aged 90 ESPNcricinfo 18 July 2012 Retrieved 29 July 2012 a b c d McClenahan Peter 18 July 2012 VALE Ern Toovey MBE OAM 16 May 1922 18 July 2012 Baseball Queensland Archived from the original on 15 December 2012 Retrieved 29 July 2012 First Class Matches played by Ern Toovey CricketArchive Retrieved 29 July 2012 First class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Ern Toovey CricketArchive Retrieved 29 July 2012 Victoria v Queensland 1951 52 Sheffield Shield CricketArchive Retrieved 29 July 2012 External links editErnest Toovey at ESPNcricinfo Ernest Toovey at CricketArchive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ernest Toovey amp oldid 1194512641, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
