Rupert Jeffkins ...continued.
Victoria Park horse racing track at Zetland in Sydney – first used for car and motorcycle racing in 1908 – was to be the scene of Jeffkins next promotion. On 28th June 1919, in conjunction with wealthy businessman James Smith (later to become more widely known as Sir Joynton Smith – publisher of the successful Smiths Weekly, Referee and Daily Guardian newspapers) Jeffkins promoted the first post war race meeting in Australia. The desire to witness some sensational racing induced some 20,000 people to attend and ensure the financial success of the meeting. A V Turner driving a Lexington won the principal event in excellent style. He also won both heats leading up to the final. The Free for All, run in two heats and a final was won by C.E.McIntosh in a Buick. The Australasian motorcycle Championship was won by Bill Thomas on a Harley Davidson. In all sixteen races were concluded during the afternoon. One week after the Victoria Park races, the prizes for the event winners were presented at a grand function at the Tivoli Theatre. Jeffkins, during the presentation, stated that it was hoped to soon have a proper speedway close to Sydney. Jeffkins plans became clearer some weeks later when it was revealed that his plans centred on the use of roads within Centennial Park and that approval was being sought from the relevant authorities. Centennial Park was a 220 hectare parkland just five mile from the Sydney CBD where the citizens could relax away from the hurly burly of city life. It was known as the people’s park and had an extensive network of roads throughout the site. (30) The proposal to turn Centennial Park into a speedway was an unpopular one and attracted unfavorable reaction in the Sydney press. The influential journal The Motor in Australia was highly critical of the proposal and in the August edition it asked ..." is the man mad, or is he merely temperamentally unable to recognize danger when he sees it ?." The article went on to question the wisdom of racing on the narrow roads within the park with little or no opportunity for overtaking and expressed concern for the risk to both drivers and spectators. The Centennial Park proposal faded away. (31) In late 1922 Jeffkins was appointed as the Manager of Melbourne Speedways Limited, a company formed by a group of businessmen to complete the speedway on the site of the Friendly Societies sportsground. This project had commenced in 1914 but was halted by the outbreak of World War 1 and delayed for many years by the wartime shortage of building materials. Melbourne Speedways Limited was underfunded and failed within months. In April 1923, a new Company with no connection to Jeffkins - Melbourne Carnivals Limited secured a long term lease on the venue and with the assistance of John Wren the project known as the Melbourne Motordrome was completed in December 1924. (32)This was to be the last of Jeffkins time in the public eye and his last involvement with motoring or motor sport except for irregular displays of the Indianapolis film between 1926 and 1931. (33)
Early in 1940 there was discussion at government level regarding the possibility of commencing the production of motor vehicles in Australia and this was duly reported in the press. Jeffkins then aged almost 60 and living in Fitzroy, a Melbourne suburb, contacted the Age newspaper recalling his efforts with the Roo car some 20 years previous. (34)Nothing is known of Jeffkins circumstances during the next ten years. Some sources claim that he spent his final working days as a Postmaster on the northern beaches area of Sydney, but due to his age these claims are doubtful.
By the early 1950’s Jeffkins was living at Florence House – a hostel for destitute men run by the Salvation Army at Collaroy in Sydney. During his time at Florence House he spent five weeks in the Liverpool State Hospital and Home during September and October of 1953. This overcrowded state run institution – formerly an Asylum and dating back to 1862 catered for infirm and destitute men. Twelve months later Jeffkins was re-admitted to this place on 6th October 1954 and died twelve days later – just two days short of his 73rd birthday. He was buried in the Anglican section of Liverpool Cemetery. His death certificate lists the cause of death as “carcinoma of lungs”. The death certificate shows that he had married Winifred Lonergan at Fitzroy, Victoria and at the time of his death he had four living children – Una then aged 38, Kathleen (37), Henry (32) and Eileen (30). No marriage Certificate has been located but the ages of his children would indicate that the marriage took place around 1915 – two years after his return from the United States. (35)
