The Hon Mark Ryan MLA
The Hon Simone Wilson MLA
Chairman, Leah Mackenzie, District Director of Dept of Transport and Main Roads
PIB-PIR Association members
Distinguished Guests
Family and Friends
On behalf of the Wust family, it is my privilege to share a little of the life story of our brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather – Sgt Frank Wust.
Dad was born in Toowoomba in 1922. He moved to Doonan, on the Sunshine Coast, at age 12 where he helped run the family farm growing bananas, sugar cane and a small herd of dairy cattle. He enlisted in the Army when he was 17 years old and spent from 1942 until the end of WW11 proudly serving in New Guinea and the surrounding islands. He and Mum were married in 1956 and made their home in Lower King Street Caboolture. They had 9 children, most of whom still live locally. Dad joined the Caboolture railway, where he worked for the next 27 years until his retirement. It is quite appropriate that this bridge passes over the very tracks that Dad travelled on, and maintained for 27yrs!
Dad was a wonderful father and had a great sense of humor… but he would never let the truth get in the way of a good story. Each of us has their favourite ‘Frank Joke’.
When we were growing up, Dad didn’t talk much about the War but when he did, he would tell us stories that may or may not be true. He would jokingly tell us of being shot 5 times and killed twice and then point to scars that had nothing at all to do with the War! Maybe this was his way of coping ….or maybe he was protecting us.
It wasn’t until the late 1980s, when he regained contact with mates from the PIB and NGIB , that, with an incredible sense of pride, Dad began marching in front of this blue unit banner through the streets of Brisbane in ANZAC Marches. ANZAC Day became a highlight each year for Dad and he accepted invitations to speak to school and church audiences about the War. He would also use any opportunity he got to tell his story to the newspaper. A lot of his stories have been recorded and are stored in the film archives of the Australian War Memorial.
For Dad, ANZAC day was a chance to show his respect to fallen comrades. Dad proudly protected his beloved country but never glorified war. He spoke fondly of the mateship he experienced and the opportunity he had to befriend a people with a foreign tongue that, until then, had been isolated from the people of Australia. Frank made every effort, when speaking about the War, to ensure that the brave Papuan and New Guinea barefoot soldiers he fought with received the recognition they deserved.
Dad was a hard worker. He was loyal, honest and ever patient and he taught us respect.
He was a skilled bushman and handyman and in his retirement, enjoyed creating wooden toys and furniture . He got a lot of pleasure from producing and giving away fruit and vegies from his garden. He loved making people happy.
Dad had a deep moral code which he lived by, and because of this, enjoyed the love, friendship and respect of his family, fellow servicemen and the wider community.
Dad was a true gentleman!
The Wust family is most grateful to Kev Horton, whose perseverance and dedication, with the backing of the PIB – PIR Association, has resulted in the naming of the Sgt Frank Wust Bridge. We are also grateful to the various local Organizations, Clubs and parliamentarians who provided support for the application when approached.
This is a very proud day for each of us and we know Dad would be humbly proud too.
Dad was aware that the PIB – PIR Association was working on the proposal to have this bridge named in his honor. It is a shame he and Mum couldn’t be here today to share this moment.
But I can just imagine if he was here, Mum asking him “What are you going to do today, Frank?” and him responding, “I think I might just grab a cup of tea and go and check on my bridge!”
Trish Purcell
21.06.18 – Sgt Frank Wust Bridge naming ceremony.