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Profile: Frank Pearce 31 December 2013
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rank is Uncle to thousands of young Australians. He recently retired after an exemplary career in Catholic education. He achieved the remarkable distinction of being awarded the Br John Taylor Award for his contribution to education. His talents are now directed towards building communities and championing projects which will bring benefit to all Australians. His achievements span education (preschool to university), employment and welfare. His achievements also have been recognised through his appointment to the Board of Trustees of Books in Homes. He was a member of several Advisory committees including the NSW Board of Studies and the Dusseldorp Foundation. Through his work as lecturer at the University of Notre Dame Frank has greatly influenced the lives of young teachers empowering them to teach with greater understanding of perspectives in Indigenous education. Mantra “being Aboriginal is a reason to succeed, rather than an excuse not to.” Bishop Anthony Fisher, from the Sydney Archdiocese, describes 64-year-old Frank Pearce as “the real deal.” Former 60 Minutes reporter, Jeff McMullen calls him an “an inspiring educational leader” and “man of outstanding character,” while Graeme Mundine, Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry and respected elder, lauds him as someone “who always
Frank Pearce, Aboriginal Educator retires. Images supplied
stands up for what he believes, no matter what the cost.” Tributes and accolades for Frank have poured in to the Catholic Education Commission of NSW (CEC) throughout the week after the Commission’s straight-shooting State Co-ordinator for Aboriginal Education was named winner of the prestigious Brother John Taylor Award for excellence in Catholic Education for 2011. At a special ceremony on 18 April, Bishop Anthony, Chairman of the CEC, presented Frank with the award, saying the education veteran excelled in building confidence among aboriginal parents and communities, and that during Frank’s many years with the commission, enrolment of Aboriginal students had more than doubled at schools across NSW.
“Frank has also built capacity within the Catholic school system so that schools are welcoming and encouraging places for Aboriginal students,” the Bishop said. In being given the Brother John Taylor Award, Frank joins other legendary recipients and champions of Catholic education such as the late Dr Barry Dwyer from Parramatta’s Catholic Education Office, Josephite Sister Judith Sippel, founding Principal of Mary MacKillop College Wakely and Michael Addicoat, Principal of Freeman Catholic College, Bonny Rigg. But in the words Gabrielle Russell-Mundine, a long time friend and admirer of Frank, the man himself remains surprised he was even considered for the award and is “embarrassed by all the fuss
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and attention.” “I’m not someone who aspires to this sort of thing. I prefer just to get on with it,” he says and this morning admitted when told he’d been nominated for the award “it scared the hell out of me.” “I’m much better at giving than receiving,” he says but confesses that embarrassed or not, to be given such the award was both “unexpected and a great honour.” While Frank’s mentoring of Aboriginal students and their families, and his dedication and commitment to Aboriginal education is outstanding, his own story is equally remarkable. Although his family came from the NSW north coast, Frank grew up in Woolloomooloo where he insists many of his former playmates feature “pretty heavily” in the tv drama, “Underbelly.” As a kid he attended Plunkett Street, Primary School and for a short time, St Mary’s Cathedral School. But when fees became too much for his battler parents, he ended up at Cooks Hill High School in Newcastle. “That’s where I learned about racism real quick. I was the only Aboriginal in the school and half way through the second year decided that was enough and I left.” Frank was 14 years old, and returning to Sydney took a series of different jobs, pitching in to help his mother raise his brothers and sisters. The jobs included everything from selling newspapers, collecting manure to sell as fertiliser, a stint as a cleaner at the Sydney fish markets and work first as a bus conductor and then as a driver. Then at age 32, realising the importance of education, Frank decided to go back to school and get his School Certificate. He
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Frank Pearce and Graeme Mundine
continued working 12 hour shifts for Sydney buses, but still managed to fit in night school along with a newspaper delivery early in the morning. Then at 35 he graduated with his certificate and became a senior revenue clerk, a job he held until he was made redundant in 1991. A tough couple of years followed but when a job as an Aboriginal Employment Officer came up with the Community Employment Service (CES), Frank jumped at it. His ability with people and to go to bat for those he believed in was outstanding and he was not only able to place many older Aboriginal in long-term work but became a champion of young people exploited by unscrupulous employers or employers who stereotyped Aboriginals insisting they were “lazy” and “unreliable.” During this time, Frank decided to further his education and enrolling at UTS graduated with a Bachelor of Education at age
50. Then when the government unexpectedly decided to close CES, Frank joined the Catholic Education Commission and took over as State Coordinator for Aboriginal Education. “This is probably the most rewarding job I have ever had in my whole life. If it’s Aboriginal education, I do it and they support me.” Frank not only loves his job but continues his own education and this year will graduate with a Master’s in Education from the University of Wollongong. Now a few months off 65, Frank remains an inspiration and the living example of one of his favourite sayings. “Being Aboriginal is a reason to succeed rather than a reason not to,” he tells his students and their families, and with a smile usually adds: “While we can never go back and make a brand new start, we can start today and make a brand new end.”