Alfred Robert Gordon REID

REID, ALF(RED) ROBERT GORDON ('JOCKEY') (b. South Melbourne, Vic, 28 Oct 1892; d. Donvale, Vic, 8 June 1987). Converted jockey.

Born in poverty and soon orphaned, in early teens Alf Reid began work on a farm at Dimboola, then at Rainbow. Success on his work horse at a St Patrick's Day handicap led on to a racing career. However, by the 1920s he was a homeless drifter. Attracted to the Fitzroy Methodist Mission, he was converted through the witness of a young woman in a Christian Endeavour meeting on 17 July 1931. He grew spiritually under the influence of the Rev Walter Betts (q.v.), Christian Endeavour and the Rev C H Nash's (q.v.) City Men's Bible Class. The challenge to full-time service from one of Dr F W Boreham's (q.v.) sermons became possible when he was invited by Campaigners for Christ to participate in an Australia-wide mission. He revisited earlier haunts, spent time on Aboriginal missions and witnessed in every State. A zealous member of the Methodist Local Preachers' Society, he was president in 1966. Happy, generous, enthusiastic and a man of prayer, his constant companions were his Scofield Bible and Methodist Hymnal.

Alf Reid, Adventures around Australia (Launceston, Tas, 1947); Alf Reid, A Venture of Faith(Surrey Hills, Vic, nd); Alf Reid, From Pigskin to Pulpit, and This is my Story (undated tracts)

BASIL S BROWN