Sir (Thomas) Chester Manifold (13 May 1897 – 6 January 1979) was prominent member of the Victorian Racing community as a successful racehorse owner and breeder. He also spent six years as a Victorian politician. He was born in Camperdown to

James Chester Manifold James Chester Manifold (10 February 1867 – 30 October 1918) was an Australian politician and philanthropist. Early life Manifold was born in Camperdown, Victoria, attended Geelong Grammar School, and went to England with his family in 18 ...

and Lilian Eva Curle. Known by his middle name (Chester). He attended

Geelong Grammar School Geelong Grammar School is a private Anglican co-educational boarding and day school. The school's main campus is located in Corio on the northern outskirts of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, overlooking Corio Bay and Limeburners Bay. Establ ...

and then studied economics at the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

. During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

he served with the

Royal Field Artillery The Royal Field Artillery (RFA) of the British Army provided close artillery support for the infantry. It was created as a distinct arm of the Royal Regiment of Artillery on 1 July 1899, serving alongside the other two arms of the regiment, the ...

, and was wounded at

Ypres Ypres ( ; ; ; ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality in the province of West Flanders. Though the Dutch name is the official one, the city's French name is most commonly used in English. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres/Ieper ...

in 1917. On his return to Australia in 1920 he worked for a stock and station agency, and on 22 May 1923 married Gwenda Grimwade, with whom he had three daughters. He managed the family property at Camperdown from 1922 and was based in Lismore from 1923 until the war. From 1926 to 1941 he served on Hampden Shire Council and was president from 1938 to 1940. He was elected to the

Victorian Legislative Assembly The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the states and territories of Australia, state lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria in Australia; the state upper house being the Victorian Legislative Council. Both houses sit at Parliament H ...

for Hampden in 1929 as a

Nationalist Nationalism is an idea or movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the State (polity), state. As a movement, it presupposes the existence and tends to promote the interests of a particular nation,Anthony D. Smith, Smith, A ...

; he was a minister without portfolio from 1932 to 1933 but retired in 1935. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

he served in New Guinea as a lieutenant-colonel.

Horse racing

He was active in the racing community, particularly through the

Victoria Racing Club The Victoria Racing Club was founded in 1864. It was formed following the disbanding of the Victoria Turf Club and the Victoria Jockey Club. A legacy passed from the Victoria Turf Club was the annual "race that stops a nation", the Melbourne Cup, ...

. Against strong opposition from bookmakers and churches, he persuaded the Victorian government to set up the Victorian

Totalisator Agency Board The Totalisator Agency Board, universally shortened to TAB or T.A.B., is the name given to monopoly Tote board, totalisator organisations in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. They operate betting shops and Online gambling, online betting ...

(TAB), replacing illegal off-course betting with a government monopoly which funded racing and other causes. He was first chairman of the Victorian TAB from 1961 to 1969. Chester was the owner of the famous jumper Crisp that came second in the English

1973 Grand National The 1973 Grand National was the 127th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at the Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 31 March 1973. The race is best remembered for being the first of Red Rum's three Grand Nati ...

Homestead

His property, "Talindert", was a successful horse stud. The homestead with 15 bedrooms and 1700 acres of prime farming land hosted Princess Alexandra when she visited in 1959. It was a mixed farm which besides the horse stud ran beef, sheep and dairy cows. Talindert Primary School No. 3644 block was donated by the Manifolds.

Honours

He was knighted in 1953 and made a

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

in 1965.

Death

Manifold died in Camperdown in 1979.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Manifold, Chester 1897 births 1979 deaths Nationalist Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Victoria United Australia Party members of the Parliament of Victoria Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly Australian Knights Bachelor Australian Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Australian Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees People educated at Geelong Grammar School British Army personnel of World War I Royal Field Artillery soldiers Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees