Dick Vest’s birth name was Gregoria Richard Veserema Vest and was born in Barmedman NSW in 1897 to Austrian migrant parents.
Dick’s father, Frank Vest, was killed in a mine accident at Barmedman in 1898. The communities of Barmedman, West Wyalong and Temora rallied around the family and established a benevolent fund. This allowed Mrs. Vest to start a small business to support her family.
Life was difficult for the Vest family, and so Dick and his two brothers were placed in the Westmead Boys Home near Parramatta. Joe Lindsay, Wests #123, was a contemporary of Dick Vest at the Westmead Home.
Like many of the other residents of the Boys’ Home, sport became an important part of daily life. It was here that young Dick Vest developed his sporting talents.
Dick played his junior football with the Boys Home and first appeared in the Parramatta Third Grade team in 1914. He was quickly drafted into Wests First Grade team as a seventeen year old, the same year.
Wests Hall of Fame Medal 2010
Kangaroo Tour Medal Wests Honor Cap Australian Honor Cap Coach Enfield Diggers
