FREE: Short video produced and presented by Karl Faase of Olive Tree Media.

Ned Trickett’s father, George was sent to Australia as a convict. The charge of stealing a few items of clothing carried the charge of ‘transportation to the colonies’. After serving 14 years, he was granted a pardon and became a free man. He was given land at Woolwich and started a quarry business. His four sons rowed the stone from his quarry across the harbour, helping construct the harbour wall.

His youngest son, Ned excelled at rowing and was sponsored to race on the Thames in London for the world championship of sculling. Trickett won the race and in doing so, became Australia’s first world champion in any sport. On his return to Australia, he became a national hero.

Later in life Trickett, would lose his wealth in business and returned to Sydney, with nine children, broke and so desperate that he contemplated taking his own life. Walking the streets of the city, he heard barrister and street preacher, E P Field and after talking to Field in his chambers, Trickett gave his life to Jesus. He spent the rest of his life as a committed Christian. Early in the 20th century Rev Knee wrote a gospel tract on the life of Trickett, a copy of this tract is held in the NSW State Library. It concludes…

“He drank of the world’s cup of pleasure, and yet was not content. He found, as so many have found, that none but Christ can satisfy.”