He will turn 88 on April 14 but instead of slowing down Frank Ward plans to take up golf again.
The former real estate man and Campbelltown councilor, who lives up north in Shoal Bay these days, is a keen reader of the Voice.
An enthusiastic writer of letters to the editor back in the heyday of local print newspapers, he has found the user friendly digital letter writing much to his liking.
In his last online note to us Frank gives us an update on what’s ahead for him:
“I am well thank you and have a very busy month coming up with two granddaughters getting married, one on April 9 in Sydney and the other on April 15 in Batemans Bay and my 88th birthday on April 14.
“My back is much better and I am hoping to get back to golf in a few weeks.
“I have to get my boy Roger to give me back my golf clubs as I did not think I would ever play again.
“I note the Campbelltown Kangaroos are starting the season at Mittagong on Saturday. I hope they have a win.’’
Indeed they did, Frankie. Happy 88th.
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We wonder what Frank Ward would have made of the amateur hour at Campbelltown Council last week, when the microphone just would not work when Jacqui Kirkby of the Scenic Hills Association stood up to address council.
Ms Kirkby wasn’t fazed, saying she had been a teacher and would be OK without the aid of a microphone and that turned out to be the case.
But council’s had months to get the public speaker’s set up right since approving the change last year.
At first members of the public had to sit near the front of the chamber and speak into a microphone.
Now a lectern has been set up at the back of the chamber, between where independent Cr Paul Lake and Labor’s Margaret Chivers sit.
And that’s where Ms Kirkby stood and spoke from – minus a microphone.
Maybe they will test drive the microphone before the next meeting.
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A pat on the back for the Liberal Party leader in the council, George Greiss.
Cr Greiss very graciously moved a 10 minute recess so newly elected Labor councillor Ben Gilholme could celebrate with his family, who were present on the night.
It was a nice touch and certainly the young new member of the council looked like he appreciated it after being sworn in by the general manager, Lindy Deitz.
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On the eve of another Anzac Day, south west region military historian Gary Lucas says this Friday will be the 50th Anniversary of the death of Major Peter John Badcoe VC.
Badcoe, who was killed in action on Vietnam, was nicknamed the galloping major by his friends and often wore a red beret in action.
He was the second local, after John Edmondson, to receive the high military honour of a Victoria Cross.
Lucas says the time has come for a “fitting memorial’’ to our two VC heroes.
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Preparations are under way for a tribute to the late Fred Borg when this year’s 24 Hour Fight Against Cancer in Macarthur campaign gets under from next month.
Details of the tribute to the man who started it all will be announced at the official launch of the campaign late next month, which this year moves to Gregory Hills and the sparkling new Lexus showroom of Clintons.
As they say in the classics, watch this space.
I wonder if an hour into it he says ‘yes! now I remember why I gave up again’