Individual Details
Frank Douglas Gillies
(11 Jan 1915 - 26 Jul 1988)
Frank Gillies enlisted in the Australian Forces in May 1940 from his parents’ home in Upper Brookfield. The community gave him a sent him off with a function in the newly built Upper Brookfield Hall and donation. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force , then moved to the Militia and subsequently to the Second AIF in the Australian Armored Division. He spent time in the Australian Armored Division on the "Brisbane Line" but most of the war was spent in Western Australia with the Division. He was discharged at the end of the war in 1945.
Frank Gillies was born Frank Douglas Templer in 1915 in Brisbane to mother Elsie Meta Ann Hartmann and father Francis Davall Templer. Francis Templer was at that point on his way to Egypt as a member of the First AIF. As a member of the Second Light Horse Regiment Francis landed at Gallipoli in early May 1915. He died of wounds during the Gallipoli campaign in October 1915. Frank went by surname Hartmann when young and then Gillies following marriage of Elsie to Argyle Dougald Gillies in 1921 in Brisbane. Argyle Gillies had also been a member of the First AIF and served in France. He returned to Australia in 1919 and purchased a block of land at auction at the end of what was to become Gillies Road in 1921. Argyle's brother William Neil Gillies purchased an adjacent block which was subsequently purchased by Argyle on William's death in 1927. William Gillies was a member of the Queensland Parliament and Premier for eight months in 1925. Argyle worked both blocks until sale in 1949. He died in 1951 in Brisbane having been predeceased by Elsie in 1947.
Frank grew up in Upper Brookfield and attended the Upper Brookfield State School. Following this he spent two years as a border at the Church of England Grammar School in East Brisbane. He then worked with his cousin Guy Gillies growing bananas during the Depression until low prices caused them to walk off the block. Guy Gillies subsequently married an Upper Brookfield girl, Joyce Bredan. Later on Joyce and Guy ran the Upper Brookfield shop.
In the late 1930s Frank stood for the Australian Labor Party unsuccessfully as candidate for the seat of Stanley in the 1937 State Election. He also matriculated and trained as a school teacher before volunteering for the Australian Military Forces in the Second World War.
On leaving the army Frank joined Union College and completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Queensland in 1948. He was the first person from Upper Brookfield to complete a university degree.
He married Beatrice Mary Belle Copeman on 1 March 1949 with children Elsie Mary Elizabeth Gillies dob 28/02/50, Argyle Douglas Stewart Gillies dob 08/03/52 and Malcolm George William Gillies dob 23/12/54. Frank had joined the agricultural economics group within the Queensland Public Service. He transferred from the Queensland to Commonwealth Public Service in Canberra in 1956. He served in agricultural economics in Canberra and then later in external territories during the preparation of Nauru and Papua New Guinea for national independence.
He retired from the Commonwealth Public Service in 1974 and died in Canberra in 1988.
The careers of his children have led to Elizabeth currently being in the position of Dean of Information Technology at the Canberra Institute of Technology, Stewart being a Director of Gillies Wu Mining Technology in Brisbane and Malcolm being Vice Chancellor of The City University in London, England
Frank Gillies was born Frank Douglas Templer in 1915 in Brisbane to mother Elsie Meta Ann Hartmann and father Francis Davall Templer. Francis Templer was at that point on his way to Egypt as a member of the First AIF. As a member of the Second Light Horse Regiment Francis landed at Gallipoli in early May 1915. He died of wounds during the Gallipoli campaign in October 1915. Frank went by surname Hartmann when young and then Gillies following marriage of Elsie to Argyle Dougald Gillies in 1921 in Brisbane. Argyle Gillies had also been a member of the First AIF and served in France. He returned to Australia in 1919 and purchased a block of land at auction at the end of what was to become Gillies Road in 1921. Argyle's brother William Neil Gillies purchased an adjacent block which was subsequently purchased by Argyle on William's death in 1927. William Gillies was a member of the Queensland Parliament and Premier for eight months in 1925. Argyle worked both blocks until sale in 1949. He died in 1951 in Brisbane having been predeceased by Elsie in 1947.
Frank grew up in Upper Brookfield and attended the Upper Brookfield State School. Following this he spent two years as a border at the Church of England Grammar School in East Brisbane. He then worked with his cousin Guy Gillies growing bananas during the Depression until low prices caused them to walk off the block. Guy Gillies subsequently married an Upper Brookfield girl, Joyce Bredan. Later on Joyce and Guy ran the Upper Brookfield shop.
In the late 1930s Frank stood for the Australian Labor Party unsuccessfully as candidate for the seat of Stanley in the 1937 State Election. He also matriculated and trained as a school teacher before volunteering for the Australian Military Forces in the Second World War.
On leaving the army Frank joined Union College and completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Queensland in 1948. He was the first person from Upper Brookfield to complete a university degree.
He married Beatrice Mary Belle Copeman on 1 March 1949 with children Elsie Mary Elizabeth Gillies dob 28/02/50, Argyle Douglas Stewart Gillies dob 08/03/52 and Malcolm George William Gillies dob 23/12/54. Frank had joined the agricultural economics group within the Queensland Public Service. He transferred from the Queensland to Commonwealth Public Service in Canberra in 1956. He served in agricultural economics in Canberra and then later in external territories during the preparation of Nauru and Papua New Guinea for national independence.
He retired from the Commonwealth Public Service in 1974 and died in Canberra in 1988.
The careers of his children have led to Elizabeth currently being in the position of Dean of Information Technology at the Canberra Institute of Technology, Stewart being a Director of Gillies Wu Mining Technology in Brisbane and Malcolm being Vice Chancellor of The City University in London, England
Events
| Birth | 11 Jan 1915 | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | |||
| Marriage | 1 Mar 1949 | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia - Beatrice Mary Belle Copeman | |||
| Death | 26 Jul 1988 | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
Families
| Spouse | Beatrice Mary Belle Copeman (1921 - 1997) |
| Child | Elsie Mary Elizabeth Gillies |
| Child | Argyle Douglas Stewart Gillies |
| Child | Malcolm George William Gillies |
| Father | Francis Darvall Templer (1891 - 1915) |
| Mother | Elsie Meta Ann Hartman (1885 - 1948) |