Frank was one of six children, and while his parents were originally from Melbourne, the family spent their early years in the Western District, living in Hamilton. His family then returned to Melbourne in 1936, where he completed Grade 6 at St Margaret Mary’s in North Brunswick, before moving to CBC North Melbourne for his secondary education.
In 1943, at only 15 years of age, Frank moved away from home and went to the Brothers’ training centre in Strathfield, NSW. There he completed his secondary education before study turned to teacher training and deepening his spiritual understanding of life as a Brother.
Frank’s first teaching assignment was at St Charles Waverley in Sydney, where he taught Grade 3. He then moved onto St Patrick’s College in Strathfield before a couple of brief assignments in Tamworth and Goulburn. At the time, class numbers were becoming larger, at times exceeding 80 students in a class. Despite these challenges, the boys were willing to learn and Frank even enjoyed coaching, refereeing and playing their strange game of rugby league.
Together, Monsignor Galligan and Br Boylan inspired unity within the parish, enabling progress on a major building program, attracting more strongly qualified teachers, and encouraging students to aspire to complete their secondary education.
Frank then joined us in Warrnambool in 1957, during a time when CBC was overcoming some huge challenges. With Br Boylan as Principal, the College had been actively moving from what was described as an ‘impoverished’ to an ‘ultra-modern’ school. During the early 1950s at CBC, enrolments had been way down, the buildings had been condemned, academic results were embarrassingly low, and the school had lost its registration status. Together, Monsignor Galligan and Br Boylan inspired unity within the parish, enabling progress on a major building program, attracting more strongly qualified teachers, and encouraging students to aspire to complete their secondary education.
Frank found that the infectious enthusiasm of successive headmasters during his time in Warrnambool – Brothers Boylan, O’Sullivan and Williams – not only improved facilities, teaching and results, but helped the school, but allowed it to realise an identity – one that the community could be proud of. Br Frank found his decade at Warrnambool both challenging and fulfilling.
In 1967 he was transferred to CBC North Melbourne - his own Alma Mater. He settled in quickly, and was soon promoted to Principal, this time at St Bernard’s in West Essendon.
Frank believes that the six years at St Bernard’s was a continuation of his own education. He experienced joys and pains, but most of all learnt much about himself and his fellow human beings. He came to a heightened appreciation of the contributions the laity, especially parents, and the impact they were making to Catholic education. He was left valuing their generosity and willingness to work together and achieve goals.
He was then appointed Principal at St Joseph’s Technical School in Abbotsford. During his time there, he came to appreciate that a technical curriculum was highly beneficial for some students, and that ‘High School’ education was not necessarily superior to that of Technical Schools.
With Br Boylan as Principal, the College had been actively moving from what was described as an ‘impoverished’ to an ‘ultra-modern’ school
In 1975 Frank was selected to pursue further education. He headed to the USA and completed study at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, covering areas such as human development, psychology, spirituality and theology. Despite being well out of his comfort zone, Frank’s main takeaway was “that all aspects of life were formative and that it is impossible to ever drain life’s cup of wisdom”.
On his return to Melbourne, Frank became a member of the Brothers’ leadership team for the Victorian-Tasmanian Province. This was a time of great transition in education, with lay teachers both increasing in number, and taking on more significant roles within schools.
In 1990 he was appointed Second-in-Charge of the Brothers’ General Council. Responsible for overseeing the work of the Brothers throughout the world, Frank found it to be an enriching experience. The role encompassed extensive travel that took him to Europe, India, Africa, North and South America plus the Caribbean. Countries and cities such as Sudan and Argentina forced him to face many uncomfortable questions about poverty and wealth, while his time in India made him reflect on the equality of all peoples. He was greatly enriched by this ministry.
Following six years on the Council, he decided to return to grassroots efforts and headed to East Africa, serving in various Christian Brothers ministries in Tanzania and Kenya.
Since returning to Melbourne in 2007, Frank has spent a number of years working in archives, as well as recording the early story of the Brothers in East Africa.
This article was written with much input from Peter McMurrick of the Class of 1967
