Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On 24 August, Australia lost a truly great Australian: Frank Bartley Walker. He was a man of exceptional principle, intellect, humanity and passion. He was a man who was a great human being. On Monday night in this parliament, we discussed a private member’s motion on the subject of awarding Teddy Sheehan the Victoria Cross. Frank Walker had been a champion for that, and the last time I spoke to Frank he said, ‘Make sure you get in there and fight for Teddy Sheehan to get the Victoria Cross.’ In fact, I had seen him at a meeting of veterans only the Friday before he left us. He was 89 years old when he died, and he was as sprightly as a 60- or 70-year-old. He was born in Hay. He went to Newington College and then to the University of Sydney. He was employed by the Sydney Morning Herald and he joined the Navy at the commencement of the Second World War. He served on corvettes, and they became a passion of his.

While Frank was in the Navy he wrote two books, and at the conclusion of the war he returned to the Herald. He was sent to New York to work for Australian Associated Press, and the high point of his term in the US was in 1948 when he was the only person who predicted that Harry Truman would win the election. He also rode on the rise of McCarthyism, and his candid dispatches earned him the wrath of the United States government. Instead of deporting him, they withdrew his wife’s visa. He was a man who always championed a cause. After working with the Herald he worked for the Australian government in Immigration. Then he joined the diplomatic service, and he devoted his retirement to achieving recognition for Australian sailors who acted bravely. He was a truly great Australian. Frank had requested that a message be read at his funeral. I will read part of it:

During the war I had the honour of serving with shipmates who represented the finest breed of men our country has ever produced. I have a host of loyal friends whose companionship and support I cherished. For me it has been sunshine all the way, with very few rough patches. I would like this to be an occasion not for sadness, but for rejoicing that you knew a man who had a long, fascinating and satisfying life and lived it to the full.

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