10 October 2016 | Tennis ACT

2016 Walk of Fame Inductee

Keith Carnall

Born in 1901, in Victoria, Edwin Keith Baden Powell Carnall was one of five children to Frederick Carnall and Mary Wilson.  The Carnall family moved to Canberra in 1914 to work on the Duntroon Estate.  In 1919, Keith, as he was known, married Iris Wilden.

From a young age, Keith demonstrated a prodigious sporting talent, going on to represent the ACT in Australian Rules, cricket, tennis and hockey.

Keith’s contribution to tennis from the earliest days of Canberra’s formation as the National Capital is unparalleled.  He contributed to the growth of Canberra’s tennis clubs, from five in 1923 to 20 by 1970, during a time which saw Canberra’s population grow from less than 5,000 to 150,000.

Keith took up the sport at aged 16 when the new courts were built at Duntroon Royal Military College, where Keith worked in the canteen.  He immediately made an impact winning the first tournament held on the courts.

As a member of Eastlake Tennis Club, Keith was involved in the formation of the Federal Territory Tennis Association in 1923 and participated in the first Association championships in 1924.  Keith was one of the top tennis players in the ACT from 1920-1940’s participating in interclub, intercity, regional, and interstate matches.  He also featured in exhibition matches against world ranked Australian Davis Cup players.  He was awarded a meritorious tennis service award in 1930.

With the establishment of Manuka as Canberra’s major tennis centre from the late 1920’s, Keith was appointed as the first official Association coach, a position he held until the 1950’s.  He was also the Assistant Secretary of the ACT Tennis Association from 1932-1936 and Secretary from 1937-1954.

In the 1940’s and 50’s, along with his wife Iris, Keith became a manager for junior interstate teams, accompanying the first and subsequent junior teams to Sydney and Melbourne to compete in high level tournaments.

In 1951, along with ACT Lawn Tennis Association President, Wal Walker, Keith as a delegate, raised with Government the idea of a new National Grasscourt complex in Canberra to replace the ageing Manuka complex.

Keith also became involved as a tournament referee and convenor, as well as promoting tennis through regular talks on radio.

In 1948, Keith was awarded Life Membership of the ACT Lawn Tennis Association and in 1996 he was elected to the ACT Sports Hall of Fame. To this day, the only person to ever achieve full membership for all-round achievements in sport.

Keith passed away in 1977 survived by his wife, five children, eleven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

As a top level player, coach, junior manager, administrator, referee, and tennis promoter, Keith made a unique contribution to tennis and community life in Canberra.

Congratulations Keith Carnall, 2016 Tennis ACT Walk of Fame inductee.