Historical information

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was later appointed Musical Director of the London County Council, where he organized many amazing concerts in parks, in and around the London district. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and conducted at the Guildhall of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in Australia. As Sarah is in her dressing gown and slippers these photos could refer to a note on an envelope left by Frank which says 'Mother taken on the first day up out of bed - at Lauls on 13th May 1928'.

Physical description

.1) black and white photograph of a man and a woman sitting on a wicker chair which is on a tessellated floor of the front porch of a brick building. The woman is wearing a dressing gown and slippers. The man is Frank Wright and the woman is Sarah Wright, his mother.
.2) black and white photograph of a woman sitting on a wicker armchair with a pillow behind her back. The chair is on a tessellated floor on the front porch of a brick building. The woman is Sarah Wright.
.3) black and white photograph of a man, two women and a child sitting on a wicker chair which is on a tessellated floor on the front porch of a brick building. The man is Frank Wright and the older woman is his mother Sarah Wright. The younger woman is his sister Laura and her son, Frank Ritchie is sitting on Frank's lap.On the left hand side of the porch are ornate columns and on the right hand side is a potted plant.