On Monday evening the 9th October Broken Hill Historical Society (BHHSoc) is hosting Tim Young, a guest speaker coming up from Victoria, at their next General Meeting.

Tim will first present to the Society a footrace or sprinter’s Cup won in 1907 by Gerald A Taylor, the third son of W W Taylor of Broken Hill.

And, Tim will tell two intriguing stories: how he came to possess the Cup to pass to the Society, as well as what he knows of the life and achievements of G A Taylor.

As a solicitor, now retired, Tim had become friends with Gerald Taylor, son of G A Taylor, and then also became the Executor of Gerald’s Will.

Some ten years ago Gerald Taylor gave Tim his father’s cup. Tim now feels it belongs to the local community as part of Broken Hill’s colonial history.

After winning the trophy at the Butchers Annual Picnic in 1907, G A Taylor began to move around the country in sprinting competitions, running all over the eastern coast, from Roma to Colac and Melbourne to Gympie. (The photo left is G A Taylor in his running spikes.)

G A Taylor became known at the time as Australia’s Champion sprinter.

There is a great deal more to G A Taylor’s story and Tim Young will be able to tell you, for example about how, after racing in Gympie one weekend, and winning, G A Taylor attended the Gympie Hotel where he met the young Isabella May Jerks (an anglisization of her parents’ real name), where she worked.

G A Taylor was eleven years older than May Jerks (she detested the name Isabella) but they were ultimately married in 1922.

Tim also has other memorabilia. As well as the trophy, he is bringing some photographs, posters and cuttings.

The Historical Society’s General Meeting on the 9^th October starts at 7pm. The meeting is held in the Ralph Wallace Meeting Room at the back of the Synagogue complex, 165 Wolfram Street.

Visitors to Broken Hill and all in our community are very very welcome to come along.