Francis Charles Pearson was born on 23rd August 1913 in Ballarat. During the course of his long life -he died just before his 96th birthday - he was a successful businessman, notably in the field of air conditioning, as well as a world renown farmer noted for his cattle breeding methods. This was in addition to a meritorious military career. Frank Pearson enlisted as a 16 year old cadet in 6 Field Company, Australian Engineers on 29 Jan 1930., CSM in 1935, he transferred to 2 Field Coy RAE on 1 July 1936. Next, he joined the cadre of 2 AA Searchlight Coy, RAE and was commissioned on 14 Oct 1939. That unit became 53rd AA Coy, providing personnel for 1/54 AA Coy late in 1939. Lt Pearson was was 2IC at this time. When the unit was mobilised on 14 Sep 1940, T/Capt Pearson was appointed OC. Seconded to the AIF on 14 May 1941 he was appointed to raise A Squadron, 2/6 Armoured Regiment, and once that was done, he raised B Squadron. Promoted temporary Major in June 1942 he served with the regiment in Stuart tanks during the difficult operations around Cape Endaiadere and Buna from October 1942 until April 1943. After return to Australia the regiment waited in vain for further operational employment. Frank Pearson was demobilised on 23 October 1945. With the raising of the Citizen Military Forces in 1948, Major Pearson was appointed 2IC 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles. On 1 January 1953 he assumed command of 4th/19th Prince of Walers's Light Horse Regiment, a post he held until the end of 1956. After service in more senior postings he retired with the rank of Colonel on 24 August 1964. From then until just a few years before his passing, Colonel Pearson remained actively involved in the life of his regiment. Following a couple of less successful attempts to do so, he was instrumental in establishing the regimental museum, these days the Unit History Room. Undaunted by a continuing sequence of changing venues it is to his credit that the history of the regiment is not only preserved but readily available to today's members of the unit and the general public. Coloured photo of Colonel Francis (Frank) Pearson OAM ED. Mounted in wooden frame.frank pearson, photographs

Town Hall, The Bendigo Choral Society. (Season 1920-First Concert) Twelfth Grand Concert. Wednesday, March 31st, 1920. Artists: Miss Dorothy Penfold, A.R.C.M., Miss Winnie Mayberry, Mr E H Collett, Mr E A Miller. Conductor: Mr W C Frazier, A.R.C.O. Pianiste: Miss Eileen Hains, A.T.C.L. Patron: His Worship the Mayor (Cr J H Curnow). President: Mr H M Leggo. Vice President: Sir john Quick, Cr W Beebe, Mr Oscar Flight, Mr E S Cahill, Mr D Berriman, Mr A L Bolton, Dr W J Long, Dr O Penfold, Mr J G Oliphant, Mr Alf E Wallis, Mr A Whitehead, Mr W Watts, Mr Magnus Cohn, Mr R H S Abbott, Mr Geo. Mackay. From the performing Members: Mr E H Collett, Mr A W McGibbony. Conductor: Mr W C Frazier, A.R.C.O. Sub Conductor: Mr E A Miller. Pianiste: Miss Eileen Hains, A.T.C.L. Asst. Sec.: Mr Fred A Wittscheibe. Treasurer: Mr D H Holden. Librarians: Mr R J Duguid. Assistants: Mr H Veale & Mr Mansell. Auditors: Mr H T Bayton, A.A.I.S. & Mr Harold Walker. Committee-Office Bearers: Mesdames T Scott & Chisolm, and Misses Colgan, Gall Field & Lethean, and Messers Sleeman, Jeffrey, McClure, Carwardine, F J Walter & Frank Wittscheibe. Subscribers may book at Flights on and after 25th March, without extra fee. Holders of 2/2 tickets may also book without fee. Holders of 1/1 tickets may book by paying difference, 1/1. J Hudspeth, Hon Secretary, 85 Wills Street, Bendigo. Programme. Soloists: Soprano-Miss Dorothy Penfold. Contralto-Miss Winnie Mayberry. Tenor-Mr E H Collett. Bass-Mr E A Miller. Conductor: Mr W C Frazier. Pianiste: Miss Eileen Hains.In the excerpts for performances there breathes the whole of the Passion of the Messiah. The opening Chorus is in itself an epitome of the sacred event, beginning, as it does, with 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain' to the triumphant 'Blessing and honor and glory and power be with Him for ever and ever' Commencing with solemn and beautiful chorus 'Behold the Lamb of God,' where the attention of the whole world is called to the supreme sacrifice, we are . . . Passion Music from the 'Messiah.' . . . . . Foreword for 1920. The Committee desire to express their thanks to all our patrons. It is very gratifying that our Conductor, Mr W C Frazier, is more and more being appreciated at its true value. It is absolutely true that 'man connote live by bread alone,' and when the finer instincts are being fostered by the appreciation of good music . . . . J Hudspeth, 85 Wills Street.Bolton Bros., Printerscottage, miners, town hall, the bendigo choral society. (season 1920-first concert) twelfth grand concert. wednesday, march 31st, 1920. artists: miss dorothy penfold, a.r.c.m., miss winnie mayberry, mr e h collett, mr e a miller. conductor: mr w c frazier, a.r.c.o. pianiste: miss eileen hains, a.t.c.l. patron: his worship the mayor (cr j h curnow). president: mr h m leggo. vice president: sir john quick, cr w beebe, mr oscar flight, mr e s cahill, mr d berriman, mr a l bolton, dr w j long, dr o penfold, mr j g oliphant, mr alf e wallis, mr a whitehead, mr w watts, mr magnus cohn, mr r h s abbott, mr geo. mackay. from the performing members: mr e h collett, mr a w mcgibbony. conductor: mr w c frazier, a.r.c.o. sub conductor: mr e a miller. pianiste: miss eileen hains, a.t.c.l. asst. sec.: mr fred a wittscheibe. treasurer: mr d h holden. librarians: mr r j duguid. assistants: mr h veale & mr mansell. auditors: mr h t bayton, a.a.i.s. & mr harold walker. committee-office bearers: mesdames t scott & chisolm, and misses colgan, gall field & lethean, and messers sleeman, jeffrey, mcclure, carwardine, f j walter & frank wittscheibe. subscribers may book at flights on and after 25th march, without extra fee. holders of 2/2 tickets may also book without fee. holders of 1/1 tickets may book by paying difference, 1/1. j hudspeth, hon secretary, 85 wills street, bendigo. programme. soloists: soprano-miss dorothy penfold. contralto-miss winnie mayberry. tenor-mr e h collett. bass-mr e a miller. conductor: mr w c frazier. pianiste: miss eileen hains. 1920. conductor, mr w c frazier, j hudspeth, 85 wills street.

Town Hall, The Bendigo Choral Society. Season 1921, Second Concert. Seventh Grand Concert. Wednesday, July 27th, 1921. Artists: Miss Ivy Taylor, L.A.B. Miss Winnie Mayberry, Mr L Hattenbach. Conductor: Mr W C Frazier, A.R.C.O. Acting Conductor: Mr H W Gregory, L.T.C.L. Pianiste: Miss Eileen Hains, A.T.C.L. Patron: His Worship the Mayor (Cr. D Andrew. President: Mr H M Leggo. Vice presidents: Sir John Quick, Hon. D Smith, M.L.A., Cr. J H Curnow, Cr. J E Holland, Mr Oscar Flight, Mr E S Cahill, Dr. W J Long, Dr. O Penfold, Mr A L Bolton, O.B.E., Mr G E Bolton, Mr D Berriman, Mr Alf E Wallis, Mr J G Oliphant, Mr Arthur Whitehead, Mr W Watts, Mr A E Sayer, Mr William Wright, Mr Magnus Cohn, Mr R H S Abbott, Mr Geo. Mackay, Mr Barkley Hyett, Mr A G Finster, Mr W E Bradshaw, Mr W J Campbell. From the performing members: Mr E H Collett, Mr A W McGibbony. Conductor: Mr W C Frazier, A.R.C.O. Acting Conductor: Mr H W Gregory, L.T.C.L. Sub Conductor: Mr E A Miller. Pianiste: Miss Eileen Hains, A.T.C.L. Treasurer: Mr D H Holden. Librarians: Mr: Mr R J Duguid, Mr H Veale, Mr W Mansell, Mr A Ditchburn. Auditors: Mr H T Bayton, A.A.I.S., L.I.C.A., and Mr Harold Walker. Committee: Office Bearers, with Mesdames T Scott, Chisholm, and Misses Colgan, Gall Field, Lethlean, and Messrs Sleeman, Jeffery, McLure, Carwardine, F J Walker and Wittscheibe. Subscribers may book at Flights on and after July 21st. Box Plan opens at 10am. Holders of 2/6 tickets may also book without extra fee. Holder of 1/6 tickets may book by paying the difference (1/-) Admission: 2/6/ Reserved, 1/6 Ordinary: including Tax. Hon Sec. J Hudspeth (85Wills St.) Z S Martin (66 McKenzie St.) Programme. Concert to commence at 8pm. Doors closed during each item. God Save the King. Part Song: Hymn to Music, Weary Wind of the West, Vagabonds, Soft, Soft Wind, A Song of the Sea, Moonlight. Song: Jeanne d Arc, Ombra ma Fui, My Ships, Broken Vase. Cello Solo: Fantasie et Variationes Brilliante, Adagio, Gavotte, Berceuse Slave, Mazurka. Other Artists: Choral Society, Ladies of the Choral Society. God Save the King. Subscribers and Patrons will, we are sure, be equally gratified, with the Committee, at the great artistic success which the Society achieved in the colloboration with the Verbrugghen orchestra in the memorable performance of ''The Messiah.'' The great praise which Mr Verbrugghen bestowed on the tone quality of the vocalists and of their exceptionally clear enunciation and fine English was indeed very pleasing to all concerned, and was ample and full justification of Mr Frazier's methods and patient care in training the Choir in these particular points. Nor must Mr H W Gregory, the Acting Conductor's part be forgotten. He worked assiduously and earnestly, doing all possible to keep up the high standard of the Society's work. The programme presented to-night is also the result of his interpretation of the descriptive works of these modern composers, In bidding farewell to him at this Concert the Committee and members desire to express their thanks for the energy with which he has carried out the duties of Acting Conductor. We expect, at a very early date to the return of Mr W C Frazier to Bendigo. He is bringing, with him a choice of selection of the very latest and best of English and other part songs (both of the earlier composers and of the ultra-modern school) and patrons can look forward to a fine series of programmes. It is particularly cheering to inform you that, as a result of the visit of the Society to Castlemaine last year, a strong Choral Society has formed there with promises to . . . . . 4 pagesBolton Bros. Pty Ltd, Printcottage, miners, town hall, the bendigo choral society. season 1921, seconed concert. seventh grand concert. wednesday, july 27th, 1921. artists: miss ivy taylor, l.a.b. miss winnie mayberry, mr l hattenbach. conductor: mr w c frazier, a.r.c.o. acting conductor: mr h w gregory, l.t.c.l. pianiste: miss eileen hains, a.t.c.l. patron: his worship the mayor (cr. d andrew. president: mr h m leggo. vice presidents: sir john quick, hon. d smith, m.l.a., cr. j h curnow, cr. j e holland, mr oscar flight, mr e s cahill, dr. w j long, dr. o penfold, mr a l bolton, o.b.e., mr g e bolton, mr d berriman, mr alf e wallis, mr j g oliphant, mr arthur whithead, mr w watts, mr a e sayer, mr william wright, mr magnus cohn, mr r h s abbott, mr geo. mackay, mr barkley hyett, mr a g finister, mr w e bradshaw, mr w j campbell. from the performing members: mr e h collett, mr a w mcgibbony. conductor: mr w c frazier, a.r.c.o. acting conductor: mr h w gregory, l.t.c.l. sub conductor: mr e a miller. pianiste: miss eileen hains, a.t.c.l. treasurer: mr d h holden. librarians: mr: mr r j duguid, mr h veale, mr w mansell, mr a ditchburn. auditors: mr h t bayton, a.a.i.s., l.i.c.a., and mr harold walker. committee: office bearers, with mesdames t scott, chisholm, and misses colgan, gall field, lethlean, and messrs sleeman, jeffery, mclure, carwardine, f j walker and wittscheibe. subscribers may book at flights on and after july 21st. box plan opens at 10am. holders of 2/6 tickets may also book without extra fee. holder of 1/6 tickets may book by paying the difference (1/-) admission: 2/6/ reserved, 1/6 ordinary: including tax. hon sec. j hudspeth (85wills st.) z s martin (66 mckenzie st.) programme. concert to commence at 8pm. doors closed during each item. god save the king. part song: hymn to music, weary wind of the west, vagabonds, soft, soft wind, a song of the sea, moonlight. song: jeanned arc, ombra ma fui, my ships, broken vase. cello solo: fantasie et variationes brilliante, adagio, gavotte, berceuse slave, mazurka. other artists: choral society, ladies of the choral society. god save the king. subscribers and patrons will, we are sure, be equally gratified, with the committee, at the great artistic success which the society achieved in the collobration with the verbrugghen orchestra in the memorable performance of ''the messiah.'' the great praise which mr vergrugghen bestowed on the tone quality of the vocalists and of their exceptionally clear enunciation and fine english was indeed very pleasing to all concerned, and was ample and full justification of mr frazier's methods and patient care in training the choir in these particular points. nor must mr h w gregory, the acting conductor's part be forgotten. he worked assidously and earnestly, to keep up the high standard of the society's work. the programme presented to-night is also the result of his interpretation of the descriptive works of these modern composers. in bidding farewell to him at this concert the committee and members desire to express their thanks for the energy with which he has carried out the duties of acting conductor. we expect, at a very early date to the return of mr w c frazier to bendigo. he is bringing, with him a choice of selection of the latest and best of english songs. as a result of the visit of the society to castlemaine, a choral society was formed