Proud moment: Keppel Turnour (left) with Lance Woodhouse in 2017 digging the first sod on the newest development at Shepparton Villages, which they helped start in the 1960s.
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Holly Curtis
Keppel Turnour AOM is being remembered as a significant contributor to the development of Shepparton following his death in Melbourne aged 96.
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A retired builder and Shepparton Rotary club stalwart of close to 60 years, Mr Turnour was one of the founding fathers of Shepparton Villages
In 2017 Mr Turnour and fellow founder Lance Woodhouse were invited to turn the first sod for the new $34 million facility built on Chas Johnson Reserve, maintaining their connection with the enterprise.
Rotary dedication: Past Rotary Club president the late Peter Mountjoy presents the Paul Harris Fellowship award to Keppel Turnour.
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Mr Turnour said it was obvious to him there was a need for an aged-care facility that could cater for all kinds of needs, from low to high care, and through Rotary he helped establish what is now known as Shepparton Villages.
‘‘Back then if people needed nursing home care a lot went to Castlemaine, some went to Beechworth and some went to Melbourne,’’ he said.
Mr Turnour recalled a trip to see a facility in Carrum Downs started by the Church of England.
‘‘It was only quite small, but it catered for independent living and those who needed some nursing care and I thought it was absolutely fantastic and I said every town in Australia should have one of these.’’
Mr Turnour thought Rotary was an organisation that could get a similar facility going for Shepparton.
‘‘We wrote to the hospital, churches and the first public meeting held on June 13, 1968, saw about 64 people attend.”
The first sod for the first 20 units at Malculata Dve was turned on April 21, 1971, by Mr Turnour’s late wife Helen as he was overseas at the time for a Rotary conference.
Keppel Turnour looking sharp as Rotary Club president.
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Originally from Canterbury in Melbourne, Mr Turnour came to Shepparton in 1949 and operated building business Laisch and Turnour for 10 years.
He then helped to create the Building Services of Shepparton, which incorporated houses and commercial work, shop fitting and joinery.
Mr Turnour’s contribution to the community was recognised by Rotary with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, he also received Order of Australia Medal and Shepparton Citizen of the Year.
Long-serving councillor Kevin “Gunna” Ryan said Mr Turner was a dedicated “council watcher” and would often take councillors to task, but his motives were never in question.
“Keppel used to get stuck into council a great deal but strangely enough we got along and I always respected him for what he as trying to do,” Mr Ryan said.
“He had Shepparton in his heart, and he did a lot for the city, he was a great man, we used to fight like buggery, but we got on well together.”
Former Shepparton Mayor Murray Slee said Mr Turnour was a great contributor to all facets of community life.
“My association with him was very long and he never refused to put his shoulder to the wheel on any projects that we had going,” Mr Slee said.
“I was driving him around recently past all the development in Shepparton and it was amazing how many things he could point to that he was involved with.”
Another former mayor, Geoff Dobson, said Mr Turnour had left a great legacy in the region.
“Keppel was one of the instigators of Shepparton Villages through the Shepparton Rotary club and that will be an everlasting legacy few could equal,” Mr Dobson said.
Mr Turnour was the devoted husband of Helen (dec). Loving dad to Phil, Steve and Cath. Doting grandpa to Angus, Charlotte, Benjamin, Keppel, Stuart and Wilbur.
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