Frank's Legacy

In Memoriam

Frank Charles Mallard

2021 AM, Member of the Order of Australia (posthumous), 2019 West Australian Senior Australian of the Year, 2018 City of Swan Citizen of the Year, Chairman of the Voice of the Voiceless Ministry, Director for Amurri Divine Mercy Foundation.

Image Credit: National Australia Day Committee

Frank Mallard, Stolen Generation, ex-Serviceman, and Yamatji Elder for the tribal area of Geraldton, Western Australia. He served in the Australian Army from 1962-1985 with active roles in war torn Borneo and Vietnam. He later served in the Australian Army Reserves from 1986-1999 which included peace keeping in Bosnia with the UN and NATO.

Frank is the recipient of fourteen military decorations, medals, and commendations, including the Pinjat Jasa Malaysia Medal, the American Presidential Commendation, and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

Upon his return from active duty, he was rejected by the RSL because of his heritage; this spurred Frank to promote the military service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders within the Veterans' Affairs and the wider community.

Throughout his life, Frank was involved in numerous charitable activities, notably as Chairman of the Voice of the Voiceless Ministry and Director of the Amurri Divine Mercy Foundation; as an active volunteer for the RSL and various Parish Councils; and fundraising for the building of his local Ellenbrook parish, St Helena of the Holy Cross.

We will always remember, honour and respect Frank's abnegation and dedication of his time and resources to help others, the less fortunate and the neglected.

1945 - 2019
Rest In Peace
Lest We Forget

F R A N K' S BOOK

You Couldn't Stop Me

The Journey of Frank Mallard

Copyright Bernie Rutkay and Tanja Mallard. Cover by Tegan Tiu Taudigani.
Printed and bound in Australia by Success Print. ISBN. 978-0-987-6347-0-2

In Frank's words:

The reason that I decided to do this here, really, is because of my Aboriginality and who I am now in the community. All of the people I know and call friends around here were all saying, 'When are you going to write your story? When are you going to write your story?' So, one day I got around to it.

Government House, Western Australia

12th November 2019

The Governor, Honorable Kim Beazley AC, received Mrs Tanja Mallard, Dr Charles Meribole, Dr Melanie Chan and Fr Nicholas Nweke from the Amurri Divine Mercy Foundation.

The Governor recognised the late Mr Frank Charles Mallard, 2019 WA Senior Australian of the Year, who served as one of the Directors of ADMF since its initial formation.

The Governor standing alongside (From L-R) Dr Charles Meribole, Dr Melanie Chan, Mrs Tanja Mallard, The Honourable Kim Beazley AC, and Fr Nicholas Nweke

Governor's Vale, Frank Mallard

(Farewell)

In the words of The Honourable Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia, 12th August 2019

"WA 2019 Senior Australian of the Year Frank Mallard passed away on August 10. He was a great Western Australian; an Indigenous man and Yamatji elder who was an example to us all.

In public life for as long as I have been, it was impossible not to know Frank. He was devoted to service and determined to inspire. How inspirational he was he probably did not know until his later years. He was part of the Stolen Generation but he knew his family. He was proud of his Uncles who had served in both wars.

So he determined to serve himself. He joined the army in October 1962 and was posted to the school of military engineering. He re-joined, repeatedly volunteering himself into wartime situations – Borneo and Vietnam. He was additionally posted overseas, his family travelling with him. So early a volunteer for Vietnam was he that he served when IRAR was attached to the US 173rd Airborne. Along with his multiple service medals, that service saw him entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.

He was with the regular army from 1962 to 1985 and then the Army Reserve until 1999. He reached the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2. He could not keep away from service or danger, volunteering for the UN in Croatia with the NATO force.

He married his second wife in Croatia. In civilian life he worked with Prison Services. As a military exemplar and an Indigenous elder he was uniquely positioned for volunteer work and was constantly engaged with ex-service organisation and voluntary activities. Notably, Chairman of the Voice of the Voiceless Ministry, devoted to people with drug, mental and social challenges.

He loved the Army. He loved the idea of serving his country. He was deeply conscious of the honourable character of that service. Fortunately for us his biography was published just before his passing. Frank’s story will continue to inspire. He would hope that inspiration would carry us through to constitutional change to recognise the traditional owners and complete reconciliation.

Deepest sympathy to his wife Tanja and his family.