Illawarra Turf Club honoured Bede at Kembla Grange on 18 August for clocking up 50 years of training winners. Bede's first ever win was claimed at Kembla Grange on 29 August 1962 (Bede's birthday so a day he'll never forget). 'Corn Vista' was the horse who was owned by local Ulladulla businessmen, Eddie Latta, Jim Thomson, Jack Malloy and Dr Strath Myers.
Bede was a dairy farmer with a sideline of riding as an amtateur on the "number nine picnic circuit". Eddie Latta persuaded Bede to train 'Corn Vista' and the rest, they say, is history.
Bede has had a wonderful career training the likes of Elkalyn, Hussar's Command, Universal Prince, Victory Vein, Half Hennessy, Coniston Bluebird and Darci Be Good, just to name a few. And whilst he is now closer to 80 than 70 he is not even considering retirement, especially not when you love what you do like he does!