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 was awarded a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen years. He 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.

Physical description

.1) Sepia postcard of a man standing leaning against a car with his right foot up on the running board. The car is parked beside the road with fields and a stand of trees in the background. The man is Frank Wright and the car is his Vauxhall 14-40. The place is near Ballan Mineral Springs.
.2) Black and white photograph of a car parked in front of a petrol pump and some buildings. The car is a Vauxhall 14-40.
.3) Black and white photograph of a youth seated in the drivers seat of a car parked beside a road. In the background are fields and a stand of trees. The youth is Frank Corrigan. The place is near Ballan Mineral Springs.

Inscriptions & markings

.1) Printed on back - Post Card; Written in pen of back - Me & my 14-40 Vauxhall. Taken near Ballan Mineral Springs, 6th Jan 1930 by Frank Corrigan (from Canberra)
.2) Writtedn in pencil on back - My Sports Vauxhall 14-40, Taken near Ballan 6th Jan 1930
.3) Written in pencil on back - My Vauxhall 14-40 with Frank Corrigan 15 (from Canberra). Taken near Ballan Mineral Springs Jan 6th 1930