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Goulburn lost a “legendary” character who knew just about all of its citizens and many beyond.
Allan ‘Jockey’ Rudd died at Waminda Aged Care Facility on Friday night at about 8.30pm. He was ninety-two.
Widely regarded as the city’s favourite son for his deep interest and care for people, ‘Jockey’ touched the lives of many, good friend Chris Grant told The Post.
”Goulburn has lost a legendary figure,” he said.
“He was just a genuinely self effacing man who was generous to a fault.”
Mr Grant said after retiring from his long butchery career, Jockey devoted himself to visiting people in hospital and aged care facilities where patients and residents looked forward to his cheery smile.
“It meant a lot to people,” he said.
But he also knew people further afield. Mr Grant said he once took Jockey to the Majors Creek pub as part of his insurance work with GIO. A busload of people inside recognised him instantly and swarmed him.
“He used to call all the women ‘darling’, Mr Grant said.
He also had a ready kiss for most.
Jockey was born at Boro, between Goulburn and Braidwood, in 1925. The family, including his eight siblings, moved to Goulburn when he was young. He attended Goulburn East Public School and by the age of 14, he had started his butchery career.
Mr Grant said he worked for about four local butchers, including Emerys and Doughtys and later, with Jack Hollis.
He fell head over heels in love with Phyllis Kerley, who later ran the well known Phyllis’s Fashions. Phyllis was given the opportunity to move to Sydney for a plumb job, complete with a car, but Jockey wanted to stay put.
“I loved Goulburn,” he said some years later of his choice.
Mr Grant said Phyllis was the love of Jockey’s life and he was lost following her passing in 2008 after some 57 years of marriage.
A rose garden near his former home in northern Auburn Street is named in her honour. It was the house they refused to sell despite new businesses springing up around them and purchase offers coming their way.
Staff at neighbouring business, Lee and Thomas, formed an enduring relationship with their frequent visitor. Following Phyliss’s passing they kept a close eye on Jockey, often popping in for a ‘cuppa.’
Jockey was a familiar face at Goulburn and District Racing Club where he welcomed racegoers at the gatehouse with a ready smile and friendly chat.
“He would have to be the most recognised citizen in Goulburn,” Mr Grant said.
He volunteered with the club for many years.
In his younger years, Jockey was a keen boxer. Together with his brothers he looked after all the licensed fights held at the old Broadway Theatre.
At age 14 in 1940 he toyed with the idea of training with Sydney boxing trainer Ern McQuillan at his gymnasium in King Street, Newtown.
But the home comforts of Goulburn drew him back pretty quickly.
“I only stayed with Ern for about six months before coming back here to Goulburn,” he told The Post in 2015.
“The bright lights and appeal of the big city were just too much for me at that age.”
Mr Grant said Jockey was also interested in greyhound racing.
One of his dogs, ‘Snow Renard’, won a string of races in the early 1950s, Jockey told The Post in 2011.
“He bought my house and my first car, a new Vauxhall Velox, which was imported and more upmarket than a Holden. The house cost 2100 quid, and the car 990 quid,” he said at the time.
But most of all he thrived on people. Ill-health in recent years put a brake on his hospital and aged care visits. But on occasion he was still holding court in his usual spot at Goulburn Square, enjoying a cup of coffee and chatting with passersby.
But illness caught up. This year, Jockey spent extended time in Goulburn Base Hospital and Bourke Street Health Service, or Saint John of God, as he preferred to call it. Even there he charmed the staff.
But some six weeks ago he moved into Waminda.
Mr Grant said just two weeks ago Jockey was still “chipper.”
“He never let too much get him down; he always had a positive attitude,” he said.
But in the past week Jockey deteriorated markedly and had trouble communicating in his final days.
“...We had a father/brother relationship. He was a dear friend and I can’t believe he’s gone, but he’s at peace in the end,” Mr Grant said.
Ursula Stephens pays tribute
Former Labor Senator Ursula Stephens also enjoyed a long friendship with ‘Jockey.’
“There are few people whose lives haven’t been touched by him,” Dr Stephens said on Saturday.
She cited his early years at East Goulburn School and the loyal following during his amateur boxing career.
But it was his awareness of those suffering and in need of help that she believed was most admirable.
“Jockey gave an amazing service to our community. He regularly visited the sick in hospital and was generous to a fault,” she said.
“He paid attention to the people who were likely to be lonely and isolated and made it his life’s work.
“He was such a huge personality and he was friends with everyone. We’ve lost a really good man.”
Dr Stephens fondly remembers telling Jockey to open her campaign in 2015.
“He thought it was hilarious,” she laughed. “Although it was a joke we all played, no one was disappointed when it was Jockey.”
“He was the heart and soul of this town.”
A race-club ‘icon’
Impeccable clothes, a wry sense of humour and a smile - this is the image Goulburn and District Racing Club CEO Robyn Fife will miss seeing at the track.
About four months ago, the racing club named the gatehouse at the entrance of the track after Jockey. Ms Fife told The Post he was “tickled pink” when he heard the news.
“He was on the gates for many years, he will be an icon sorely missed. You don’t get gentlemen of that calibre anymore,” she said.