The Collingwood Football Club Archives Committee has lost one of the most significant figures in its history, former chairman Peter Furniss.
Together with his long-time friend Bernie Murphy, Peter took over the Archives at a time when it was in danger of folding and guided it back to a position of strength. He started his involvement with the volunteer group back in the 1990s and remained involved until 2018. He spent most of that time in charge of the group, helping to reinvigorate it in the process.
A kind man with a cheeky sense of humour and a great attention to detail, Peter was always a calming voice within the Archives. Over the years he would have given thousands of hours to the cause of preserving and celebrating Collingwood history.
So significant was his contribution that the Club honoured him not once but twice – first with a Special Services Award in 2008 and then again with a Long Service award after his retirement in 2018. One of the rooms where the Archives meet is also named in his honour.
He was a trade teacher by profession and spent 13 years as a member of the Federated Teachers Union of Victoria, was the union representative to the TAFE council, was Secretary for 4 years, and Union President for 5. He also spent time with the Australia Day Council of Victoria, organising and promoting Australia Day events.
He had been a Collingwood member for more than 65 years, having first been to Victoria Park as a boy with his mum. He died in hospital recently at age 85, after battling illness for a number of years.
The thoughts of everyone at the Collingwood Archives, and indeed the Collingwood Football Club as a whole, are with Peter’s family at this sad time. His contribution to the cause of Magpie history will never be forgotten.
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