Weighing in at 10.5lb., I was born in 1947 at Bordertown SA, a seventh generation Australian on my fathers side and a Belgian mother who were married in Belgium a month or so after WW2 ended.
A Studentship beckoned at Geelong Teachers’ College which I attended in 1966 & 67.
I spent 40+ years as a Primary School teacher, mainly in small country/rural schools and during that time was Seconded as Education Officer to Pioneer Settlement Swan Hill where I spent 12 years and gained my Master Class 4 Certificate of Competency for Inland Waters (Captains Certificate) on the Paddle Boat Pyap.
In 1986 I moved to Albury/Wodonga to manage the new paddle steamer “Cumberoona” built there with Bicentennial grant money. We then moved to Red Cliffs and 15 years later to Mildura.
For 50 years I have been a keen amateur historian re Paddle Steamers and associated matters relating to the Murray Darling Rivers system, collecting data and photographs. I have also skippered quite a few of the still existing Murray paddle steamers.
Frank is currently working on a project with Ian MacWilliams, from the Frames of History podcast to present his collection in a new film in collaboration with the Chaffey Trail Reference Group. You can view this production and enjoy a Q&A session with Ian and Frank at the upcoming Chaffey Festival. Visit https://thechaffeytrail.com.au/chaffey-festival/ for more information and to book tickets.
