John Cole Reedman (1865 - 1924)

Born 9 Oct 1865 in Tanundra, South Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Matilda (Redman) Reedman — married 8 Dec 1891 in North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Died 29 Mar 1924 at age 58 in Gilberton, South Australia, Australia

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Biography

John Reedman is Notable.

John Reedman was born in the Colony of South Australia (1836-1900)

John Cole Reedman “Jack” or ‘Dinny’ was born on 9 October 1865 at Tanundra.[b.cert] He was of Gilbert Town when he married Mary Matilda Jane Redman (born Victor Harbour, daughter of Thomas Wright Redman of Brougham Place, died 29 July 1959) in 8 Dec 1891 [m.cert] at Kermode Street Chapel, North Adelaide.

He was a letter carrier 1905 –1921 of 45 Gilbert Street and a great sportsman. First class cricket career, 1887 –1909, 3337 runs averaging 23.3, including one century and 118 wickets at an average of 32.1.

Jack was Captain of both the South Australian football and cricket teams and played in an Australian Test XI in the 1894-95 series, but never traveled with a team to England as he would not go unless his brother Syd played. His magnetic personality inspired men to deeds of greatness.

He won the South Australian 200 yard championship and was a champion long distance swimmer. In 1905 captain of the South Australian football team, “Denny” played and captained South Adelaide from 1888 to 1898 including five premiership years.[letter from North Adelaide Football Club historian Robert Winter in 1992} He was captain, ruckman and defender, and “took out” any player doing well in the opposing team and protected the rover. He transferred to North Adelaide in 1899 under Compulsory Electorate System and captained that team 1901 to 1905 and 1909. They were premiers in 1902 and 1905. He was coach of west Adelaide in 1908, the first coach to lift a side from bottom to top in one season.

In 1901 he scored the highest aggregate in district cricket while playing for North Adelaide, 529 runs at an average of 53.77 and including 188 top score. He was also the leading bowler in the state with an average of 17.29 in 1889/90 and 25.78 in 1900/01 including state games and 10.43 in the district and 13.76 in district 1907/08. He coached the Prince Alfred College cricket and football teams. His interstate teammates recall he was a wonderful comrade, lion-hearted, keen, a magnificent loser and possessed a delightful sunny temperament. He was one of the greatest all-round athletes Australia ever produced.

Jack was a letter carrier or postman living in Gilbert Street all his life. They had four children: Sydney Edward, Arnold John, Leslie Cole and Vera Myrtle. One of the boys won the “cross Adelaide” swim one year. John died on 29 March 1924 aged 58 and Mary on 29 July 1959. [Australian Cricket, by Jack Pollard] [The Observer, December 1894] [Pictorial Australia 1894 and 1891] An ornamental drinking fountain in the gardens near the entrance to the Adelaide Oval was erected in memory of Jack Reedman by the North Adelaide Football and Cricket Clubs

Reedman began to make his mark as an Australian rules footballer in 1884, whilst playing parklands football for Medindie. He went onto join Hotham who were in the Adelaide Suburban Association (ASA) competition, and was a key member of the club’s 1885 premiership side. He went onto captain Hotham when they again won the ASA title in 1886. Hotham joined the South Australian Football Association (SAFA) in 1887, and Reedman was their Captain. Just prior to the 1888 football season Hotham changed their name to North Adelaide (no connection to the current club) and again Reedman was Captain. When North Adelaide amalgamated with the Adelaide club in 1889 Reedman moved to South Adelaide, where he was appointed captain, a position he held until 1898, leading South to six premierships before the introduction of electorate football (whereby footballers had to play for their local team) forced his move to rival club North Adelaide.[1] in 1899 when the scheme became compulsory. Reedman led North Adelaide from 1901-1905, and in that time the club won two premierships. He also captained South Australia in 1903. Following his retirement from playing, Reedman was appointed coach of lowly West Adelaide Football Club in 1908.[2] To the end of 1907, West Adelaide had won only 25 of the 146 matches they had played and had finished 1907 last. Reedman coached West Adelaide to its first ever premiership in 1908 and then defeated Victorian Football League (VFL) champions Carlton Football Club to become Champions of Australia.[2] Reedman promptly quit West Adelaide to return to North Adelaide for one last season as a player, but it was an inauspicious finale as the red and whites finished second from bottom. He played his last season at the age of 43.

Reedman made his first-class cricket debut for South Australia on 17 February 1888 against Victoria at the Adelaide Oval. An all-rounder, Reedman made a duck in his only innings of the match and did not bowl as South Australia won by an innings and 113 runs.[3] Despite this inauspicious start, Reedman went on to captain South Australia and represent Australia in one Test match against England, at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) during the 1894/95 Ashes series. Reedman made 17 and four and produced bowling figures of 1/12 and 0/12.[4] In addition to his football and cricket exploits, Reedman was also a leading long distance swimmer of the period.[1]

His father was Edward John Reedman (1832 - 1917) and his mother Mary Ann (nee Cole) Reedman (1835 - 1927)

Sources

• [notes from Peter Reedman, Peppertree Cottage, 20 Peppertreet Grove, Marion, South Australia 5043 in 1993] [ notes and documents collected by Les Reedman and left with John Reedman]

• South Australian Births, Deaths & Marriages. Birth Registration: Adelaide - 33/424 1865.

• South Australian Births, Deaths & Marriages. Marriage Registration: Adelaide - 169/804 1891.

• South Australian Births, Deaths & Marriages. Death Registration: Adelaide - 469/232 1924 (as John Redman)

• John Reedman Australia. from the ESPNCricInfo website. first accessed online on the 3rd of April, 2021 at: https://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7315.html

• Jack Reedman from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected from John Cole Reedman). first accessed online on the 3rd of April, 2021 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Reedman

• Family Notices from The Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1954) of Saturday 29 March 1924, Page 4. first accessed online on the 3rd of April, 2021 at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63857398?

• JACK REEDMAN DEAD from the News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954) of Saturday 29 March 1924, Page 7. first accessed online on the 3rd of April, 2021 at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129833134?

• PERSONAL. from the Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA : 1910 - 1924) of Monday 31 March 1924, Page 2. first accessed online on the 3rd of April, 2021 at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/106748142?searchTerm=%22John%20Cole%20Reedman%22

• NOTABLE ATHLETE DEAD. from The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929) of Monday 31 March 1924, Page 13. first accessed online on the 3rd of April, 2021 at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/64216414?

Further Reading

• Reedman Memorial Fountain Unveiled from The Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide, SA : 1929 - 1931) of Monday 9 September 1929, Page 5. first accessed online on the 3rd of April, 2021 at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/53446021

• Ryan, Madeleine, 2015, J Reedman Memorial Drinking Fountain, from The ADELAIDIA website. first accessed online on the 3rd of April, 2021 at: https://adelaidia.history.sa.gov.au/things/j-reedman-memorial-drinking-fountain

• Madeleine Ryan, History Trust of South Australia, J Reedman Memorial Drinking Fountain'’, SA History Hub, History Trust of South Australia, https://sahistoryhub.history.sa.gov.au/things/j-reedman-memorial-drinking-fountain, accessed 3 April 2021.

• John Cole "Jack" Reedman from the MONUMENT AUSTRALIA website, first accessed online on the 3rd of April, 2021 at: https://www.monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/sport/display/50082-john-cole-%22jack%22-reedman

• Hall of Fame Players from the Australian Football League's HALL OF FAME website. first accessed online on the 3rd of April, 2021 at: https://www.afl.com.au/news/364812/hall-of-fame-players

• JACK 'DINNY' REEDMAN from the AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL website. first accessed online on the 3rd of April, 2021 at: https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Jack+Reedman/377
• Wikipedia: Jack Reedman
• Wikidata: Item Q6254471