Directors and Members of Lacrosse WA, past and present, have paid tribute to Rae Reid who passed away on 20 January 2013 at age 82. Rae was a renowned and respected lacrosse figure who made a wide ranging and significant impact to lacrosse both in WA and in Australia.
In 1965 Rae was a co-founder of the Western Australian Women’s Lacrosse Association (WAWLA, then Lacrosse West and now Lacrosse WA) and so began her administrative involvement in the sport which would last a lifetime. Rae accepted this role with a commitment and devotion to lacrosse that saw her help develop the game Australia-wide.
As Patron of the Association, and a former President of WAWLA, as well as a former Secretary of the Australian Women’s Lacrosse Council (AWLC, then Women’s Lacrosse Australia, and now the Australian Lacrosse Association) Rae’s hard work andgreat generosity of sharing and working as part of a team, and her unwavering love for our sport, made Rae a very special person who always gave so much throughout her life.
Her desire to pursue state competition between member associations helped herald what was to be Australia’s emergence as a great lacrosse nation, and to shape our reputation as a formidable force in women’s international lacrosse both on and off the playing field.
Rae was an outstanding role model in our sport and a great example of what you could achieve through hard work and dedication, and for her tireless efforts was honoured with inaugural Life Membership of the WAWLA in 1972 and was the second recipient of Life Membership of the AWLC in 1989. Rae was also presented with an international IFWLA Recognition Award in 2003.
Whilst many of us who knew Rae are feeling a great sense of sorrow we take real delight and satisfaction in recalling the wonderful memories of the times shared with her at various lacrosse events and meetings over many years.Her nature was warm and generous, and she enjoyed sharing the history of lacrosse in this country with us all and recounting many a story ~ and with Rae’s quiet voice this ensured each of us really had to listen!! Despite failing health over a number of years Rae’s mind to the end remained alert and never ceased to amaze me ~ like an elephant she ‘never forgot!’
On a personal level Rae was my mentor and my inspiration who encouraged me to pursue my lacrosse ambitions in the field of administration. I shall miss her presence and her friendship.
Rae will also be remembered fondly as a family person whose love of lacrosse was passed on to her children. She was a staunch supporter of husband Peter (deceased) and Fremantle Lacrosse Club where each of her four children, Mark, Karen (Clayton) Greg and Fran (Maunton) played. The Reid family legacy to Western Australian and Australian lacrosse continues to live on with daughter Fran the current President of the unified Lacrosse WA Association and a much respected and admired lacrosse leader in her own right. One of Rae’s proudest moments was when Fran was named in the 1982 Australian Team to compete in the inaugural IFWLA World Cup in Nottingham, England, and she travelled to England with the team showing her support from the sidelines.
Rae will always be remembered as a remarkable pioneer for lacrosse in this country whose legend will continue to live on for future generations of West Australians who play this sport. Her passion and commitment to lacrosse made her a star amongst us, and now her star will shine brightly in the night sky as she rests in eternal peace with husband Peter, son Greg and Granddaughter Claire.
The thoughts of the WA lacrosse fraternity are with Rae’s family at this sad time as together we mourn her passing. The sport of Women's Lacrosse is richer because of Rae's momentous contribution. She will be warmly remembered, deeply missed.
Fiona Clark
Last Modified on 08/05/2013 17:19