Alfred Rabbets: A true all-rounder
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Alfred Rabbets was born at Grenfell in July 1882,one of twin boys .
His father was Henry Rabbets ,a saddler and hotelier ,and his mother Jane Sharp , a sister of William Sharp ,Young’s third Mayor .
Tragedy struck early in 1884 when Alfred’s twin brother died and later in the same year his father died as a result of a horse riding accident .
Henry Rabbets was riding home from a mining claim when he had a fall from a horse .
On leaving school he was apprenticed to his brother and learnt the saddlery trade ,he worked with his brother for seven years .
On 29th April 1908 Alfred married Ada Upton at Young ,Ada being the daughter of Sarah Lafranchi and James Upton, who was a cabinet maker and undertaker for Millards .
Alfred in 1908 moved to Young and purchased the saddlery business of Mr . McKenzie in Boorowa Street .
He relocated his saddlery to Main Street , but returned to Boorowa Street to the site previously occupied by T H Cooke ,next to the Criterion Hotel .
Due to the decline in the use of horses he decided to open a motor garage in Main Street ,next to the Southern Cross Hall ,formally occupied by John Leamont ,later merging with R S Laxen and operating a garage in Cloete Street .
Alfred relinquished his motor business and became an Insurance Agent for National Mutual and AMP .
Being a very civic minded person Alfred was involved in most Business ,Cultural and Sporting organisations in the town as well as being involved in Local government .He was first elected to Council in 1912 and served continuously for over 30 years .He was elected to the position of Mayor on eleven occasions .
Mayor Alderman Rabbets was very involved in the push to have the Young Court House building ,in Campbell Street , acquired by the Education Department for an Intermediate High School .
He was a founding member of the Young Bowling Club ,as well as being a keen bowler and club champion .
He also held the position of president on a number of occasions .
He was a member of the School of Arts and a keen billiards and chess player .
Alfred was a member of the Young Town Band for thirty-five years .
He was a founding member of the Young Turf Club ,and President of the Young Branch of the Returned Soldiers League .
He was associated with the Young Pastoral and Agricultural Association as well as a member of the Burrangong Lodge St .John .
He was a regular visitor to the residents of Mount St .Joseph’s Home for the aged at Young .
In recognition of his contribution to the community of Young ,Alfred was accorded the honour of having one of the towns sporting fields named after him during the 1950’s .
The sporting field in Lachlan Street was named Alfred Oval .
This article was sourced from ‘Young 120 Years of Local Government’ by Maree Lamb and Margaret Hall.