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Peter Frank (1960), nephew of Henry Frank (SIC 1914) and father of Linda Whiteside (Head of Career Development 2007-2017), attended St Joseph’s College, Subiaco, from 1958-1960, and recently shared some of his wonderfully evocative poetry with us.
Now 82, Frank is inspired by his late mother’s love of poetry which has renewed his passion for writing. We’re delighted to feature one of his poems here, and thank Peter for sharing his words and memories with us.
Written in April 2024, Oh Kalgoorlie is a true story featuring his father, Wilfred ‘Wilf’ Frank, and Old George, a worn-out but relentless old prospector. It’s a vivid, gritty tribute to the friendship between prospectors, set in the vivid backdrop of WA’s old goldfields, where Peter was born.
Oh Kalgoorlie
Miners’ songs of toil, drift in from afar
A dusty symphony, under our own Southern Cross
Our brightest star
Lights do dim after a scorching sun.
And after strains of effort, the day’s work done.
Where gold dust settles, in an ancient riverbed.
Dreams born, yet hearts may dread
in every challenge, every trial
Broken hearts, through dust and often fail.
Sometimes, the dream is dead.
Ole’ Kalgoorlie, I’ll hail your name!
Within the warmth and stillness of the night,
feel the heat and familiar beat, the throb of the town’s poppet head mines.
The rare but welcome Esperance Doctor soothes men’s brows.
Home comes the crew who know the game, and failed inclines.
They sit a while in quiet reflection of ‘what the hell!’
and rethink success of past endeavours,
to define their future chances, who can tell?
_______________
Of town and places away from Kal
the hopefuls push themselves to shows unknown.
Spargosville, Kanowna, Broad Arrow to name a few.
Some, long deserted dry and dusty
now, just outlines on the ground.
Their ancient rubbish dumps can still be found.
Out of Coolgardie, Tindal’s, Frank’s Find and Fly and Pig Flats
big deals found and boldly thrown on the bar.
Frank brothers braggarts who should have known better …
No! 100 men on the morrow on the Flats to pick them clean!
Heroes, the Franks who should have measured mean.
Broad Arrow and Ora Banda Inn, out past Ernie’s Smelter,
near ruined buildings, favourites with the stars.
Dilapidation was really their popular draw.
The rough head miners, Gypsy Jokers, bikies and movie stars
would revel equally to the strum of strings
on some old worn-out honkey tonk guitars.
Under the shelter of the rusty old tin roofed hotel bars
To all odd hours, then all would sing.
_______________
Oh, and yes, there was this time, out in the bush, when all alone in camp
looked up and copped this bothered old tramp.
A fine example of a worn-out prospector
down on his luck, exhausted and ready to drop.
Hardly could walk, just made it into camp.
Slice of old bread, covered with jam,
cup of billy tea and a private yarn.
Got revived, did this old critter, back on his feet.
Old George, with thanks, he left the camp.
Coupla months later, back he came.
“Gidday Wilf, I’m on the gold”, he cried,
“be at Billy Can Hill at dawn, over near the Old Divide.”
The old Model T perched, faced down the slope
rolled silently out of camp then came to life.
Now, out behind the Old Divide, back of beyond, half a mile wide.
They had the dry blower ready primed.
At dawn it was, a brand new day and the air was crisp and still.
Old George and Wilf began to pick bits of gold without no end.
No nothing, felt no tiredness, no pain, nor chill.
Time stood still.
Old George stretched and said, “Hey Wilf it’s time for lunch.”
“Did ya bring some crib?”
Two jars now half full, morning vanished, what a thrill.
Lunch now done …
Hey, back at it, dry blower at full tilt,
Still no tiredness nor no pain, just a quiet thrill.
Picking bits and more and more
No end in sight … a future built.
And time stood still!
In a flash, the day had run its course.
Old George begged, “Hey Wilf, light a match will ya?
Too dark to see the bits among the dust!”
Unaware of time, their jars now full,
Happy now, they both agree. Now it’s dusk!
So there, a story true, a vanished day when time really was stood still.
Old George and Wilf, now bonded by ole bush lore.
Trust forged in heat and dust.
Friends in understanding, no words could say.
So, for the tales of heat, dust and failure and some success,
Yes, come what may!
But in the whispers of the winds … in the old Outback
That eerie feeling of something real
that’s always behind you, does not reveal.
Is true!
Kalgoorlie, your memory I’ll always hold.
Those that strived, many stories yet untold.
Peter Frank (SJC 1960)
Peter has sent a couple of his other poems to us to enjoy, which space doesn’t allow us to reproduce here. One, A Tail of Two Kitties, was written for his great grandchildren, Bridget and James about his Burmese cat Whisky, and their new Burmese kitten, Wilfred. It was a billion to one chance that, unknowingly, the children named their new kitten Wilfred – which was Peter’s father’s name – their great, great grandfather!
A second poem, A Reflection of Covid, was written in January 2021 for his daughter Natalie, who was then living in Tring, Hertfordshire, England, during the Covid lockdowns. A poignant, reflective piece on collective loss and resilience, it somehow echoes the eerie quiet of that phase of the pandemic and, despite alluding to the sheer awfulness of Covid as it was, still bears the fragile, distant, hope of recovery.
A third, Wonder, wonder dear old Dad … Will he never come again?, took quite a while to write, as the timing is in an attempt to match the 15-syllables per line, rhythm, and sad refrain of “Was My Brother in the Battle” (1862). Peter still hopes to have this one shaped by a musician.
If you would like to read these, and others by Peter, please email us on alumni@newman.wa.edu.au.
Left: Peter Frank (SJC 1958-1960)
Middle: Peter’s Burmese cat Whisky, who features in his poem Tail of Two Kitties
Right: Whisky and Wilfred, his great grandchildren’s cat unknowingly named for their great, great grandfather
