Page 2285 - Week 06 - Thursday, 6 June 2019
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Frank’s remarkable story started on 2 June 1969, when the current director of the parks service was but one year old and still in nappies. Back then Canberra, and indeed the world, was a very different place. Eighteen-year-old Frank lived in a city of 130,000 people. John Gorton was Prime Minister, Neil Armstrong was not yet a household name. Lake Burley Griffin was only a couple of years old. The townships at Belconnen and Woden had only just been established and Tuggeranong was only a glimmer in the eyes of the planners of the National Capital Development Commission.
Little did Frank know on that fateful day 50 years ago that his entire working life would be devoted to the protection of the natural areas of the ACT. Based out of the now defunct O’Connor depot, Frank developed expertise in operating plant and machinery, including bulldozers. This was put to good use assisting with the repair of eroded gullies and delivering other soil conservation works. Frank worked on projects as diverse as the pipeline bringing water from Bendora Dam, the establishment of the koala sanctuary at Tidbinbilla nature reserve, the establishment of the visitors facilities at Googong foreshores and Jervis Bay, and the upkeep of ACT lakes.
For the last 15 years Frank has worked out of the Mitchell depot, where he has turned his hand to creating some interesting natural artworks for the depot grounds from all matter of discarded junk. Almost as notorious as his artwork is Frank’s love of the depot trail bike, which he maintains in impeccable order and uses to access the remote parts of our nature reserves, where he has single-handedly controlled almost 3,000 outbreaks of the noxious weed scotch broom.
The list of work achievements is a long one, but his workmates told me that it is Frank’s character that leaves a lasting impression. Frank has always been a highly valued team member and he is well loved by the parks team. I am reliably advised that he is an encyclopaedia of strange and somewhat useless facts, which he has shared with many a wide-eyed ranger recruit. While Frank’s uniform has changed over time as our parks service has evolved, his outlook has not. He has always been positive and enthusiastic, setting an example for the service and its new staff.
Frank, I am well advised by your colleagues that retirement is on the horizon. When that day comes, you can be rightly proud of the high esteem in which you are held and the many friends you have made over so many years in the parks service. Thank you for your commitment to and length of service with the ACT government. I am sure your family will find plenty for you to do, as you have 10 children and two grandchildren. You may even find more time for your quirky hobbies, including gravestone rehabilitation and fossicking for discarded treasures.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation police raid
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Women) (5.45), by leave: I have just been reading through some of the stories regarding the police raid of the ABC and some of the comments of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance in response, defending its members.
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