9 February 1874 Brisbane Street Launceston Tasmania Australia Phyllis May Potter Phyllis Marie

Alfred James (Alf) Vincent was born in Launceston on 9 Feb 1874, the youngest of six children of William Vincent, a groom, and Frances Wilks. Alf Vincent's cartoons and caricatures of the leading lights of the Tasmanian Exhibition in 1891, published under the title Skits as a memento of the event, launched the career of one of Australia's best known political cartoonists. Alf was only 17 at the time, but the cartoons showed the skill and wit of a seasoned observer of human nature.

Soon after the Exhibition Alf worked for the Melbourne Punch as a cartoonist and later at The Bulletin as the staff artist. He illustrated the first edition of On Our Selection by 'Steele Rudd'. He created humorous characters such as Dad and Dave, the inconvenient drunk, the crooked jockey and the laconic farmer. Alf was described as sensitive and mercurial, at times charming and excellent company, but subject to periods of great melancholy and despondency. Alf married Phyllis May Potter in Melbourne in 1913. He took his own life at Manly, Sydney, on 6 Dec 1915. His widow died the following year. See The Examiner 3 Sep 2005, p. 27.

Peter Richardson Sep 2005