Ken Tyquin

Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

Shepparton produced one sportsman in particular that excelled in every sport he played and became Shepparton’s best all round sportsman. Ken played football, golf, tennis, badminton, cricket, table tennis and basketball.

Ken commenced his football career with Shepparton boys club and joined Lemnos as a senior player. He wanted to transfer to Shepparton and was refused a clearance, so he stood out of the game for twelve months and played golf. He then joined Shepparton Football Club, won the best player award twice, played in a premiership team and represented the GVFL He also coached Shepparton under 17s and Shepparton 2nds.

He later coached the Wunghnu Football Club to a Picola League premiership and also coached the Lemnos Ramblers junior team.

Ken was a gifted cricketer, becoming the first player to make over 10, 000 runs in the Shepparton Association. He won the Shepparton Youth Club batting and bowling averages in a single year scoring centuries in both finals to take his club to a premiership. He was awarded Life membership at Youth Club. He also represented Shepparton at Country week. He won the Association’s A Grade batting average 5 times and was selected in Cricket Shepparton’s Hall of Fame.

Ken also played both Hardcourt and Lawn Tennis, winning the Hardcourt singles championship, then the Lawn Club championship on three occasions. He represented Shepparton at Country week 3 times and was captain of the Shepparton Country week tennis team in its first championship at Kooyong.

His evenings were also filled with sport as his sporting talents included badminton. Ken won the Singles title and represented the Association at Country Week. He was President of the Badminton Association and was honoured by the Association with Life membership.

The sport of Table Tennis was the fourth sport in which Ken represented the City. He also won the A Grade mixed doubles championship.

When Basketball was introduced into Shepparton in the 1960s Ken turned up at the drill Hall to play the game. He also took a team to compete in the Victorian championships.

In highlighting Kens sporting achievements, the year of 1957 was incredible. He won:

• The Lawn Tennis Club Singles and Mixed Doubles championships.
• He played six innings in Shepparton A Grade cricket averaging 131 runs and winning the Association batting average.
• He was a premiership player with Shepparton Football Club, winning the Best Player award.
• He coached the Shepparton under 17 football team to a premiership.
• He captained the winning Shepparton Country week tennis team
• He represented the GVFL in a game against the VFL Geelong Cats which the GVFL won.

There is never likely to be a more successful multi sports person in the Goulburn Valley and Ken rightly earns his place in the Sports Hall of Fame Roll of Honour.