05/31/11

The Van Montfoort Story

The Van Montfoort family passed away tragically on 5 May 2002 in a light airplane accident at Bankstown Airport.   The loss shocked and saddened all the members of KLJCC.  

Colin, Kirsty and Tristan (TJ) were heavily involved in cricket in the district, and their passing, along with that of their loving wife and mother Jose, affected us all.  The very close Van Montfoort family were 'cricket nuts' to the nth degree.

Colin, despite his Dutch background, took to cricket with an unparalleled enthusiasm and vigour.  He inspired his children with his love of cricket and they became outstanding players.  Colin was Coach of U12 team in which Tristan, and earlier, Kirsty, played on Saturday mornings.  On Saturday afternoons, Colin coached and managed the Parramatta U18 Women's team to which Kirsty had graduated at just 13.  During the week Colin found time away from his busy travel business to run team practices.  He also organised an Indoor Cricket team for 8 of the boys during the winter.  His business, Monty's Travel, generously sponsored the Club.  He was a tremendously energetic, enthusiastic and positive person who was intensely loyal to all the players in TJ's and Kirsty's team.  In earlier years Colin was also Coach of Tristan's soccer team with Kings Langley Soccer Club.

Tristan, or TJ as he was universally known, at just 13 years old, was a very talented cricketer, who despite his tender years, played for KLJCC for 5 seasons.  He was a left arm bowler who won the Association Award for the Most Wickets (21) in his Grade in 2000/2001, and took a further 22 wickets in the 2001/2002 season.  Also a talented high order batsman, TJ was a very happy player who had a great future.  

Kirsty, at just 15 years old, was a real livewire, who played with KLJCC in several of her developmental years.  Graduating to the KLJCC U18 Women's Team when just 12, she was renowned for her brilliant fielding, her enthusiasm and team support.  Her cricket developed as she grew, and she was seen as a very promising cricketer when she moved to the Parramatta Women's cricket team, coached by Colin.  Kirsty won an Award for outstanding performance in the 2001/2002 season, which was to have been presented at the Parramatta Presentation Night but for her untimely passing.

Jose, also of Dutch background, lovingly supported all of her family's activities, and Colin and her children's achievements were a source of great pride to her.  A tremendous organiser and quiet achiever, Jose managed to make it look easy to keep the family's busy life on track.

The Club's deepest sympathies remain extended to Colin's other adult children, Natasha and Bradley, and the wider family, many of whom flew from their homes in the Netherlands to pay their last respects, and also to James Cole-Mortimer and mother Joanne, from the 2001/2002 Modified Red Team.

Greg Monaghan
President (2002)