Frank SHAUGHNESSY. Obituary by J W S Keogh 2 August 1990.
Frank was born at Coolyun Well on Byro in 1902. His father, Jack Shaughnessy, was born in South Australia, and on hearing of gold discoveries in the Cue district of W.A. decided there would be plenty of work for a wagon and his bullock team. So he set off by ship to Geraldton, where he swam his bullocks ashore. His early assignments were to cart machinery and stores to the Goldfields from Geraldton. Later he was attracted by work on Stations in the area and when bullocks were superceded by camels, he turned his attention to droving, fencing, horse breaking and mustering in the Murchison District. When asked what the first thing in his life he could remember, Frank sai “droving sheep with my Father from Boolardy to Yalgoo,” aged he estimate about 7 years. He reckoned that was about 1908.
From that point onwards in his life, the bush and all that went with it became part of him. His father brought him up and taught him all he knew and Frank became a bushman in every sense of the word. He spent a short time of his boyhood at New Norcia, where he learned to read and write, but his heart was in the bush and not in the classroom and he was soon back at his father’s side. He could break a horse and ride a buckjump — in fact, it is doubtful if he was ever thrown from a horse. He could throw a beast with the best of them and kill and dress a bullock — single handed.
He became musterer, drover, fencer, yard builder; but above all, an outstanding horseman.. He grew into a giant speciman of a manhood, exceptionally strong, with striking features and a back as straight as a ram rod. It was probably when Frank was in his 20s that his father took up some pastoral country to the north and also the west of Byro. On the northern section they ran cattle for quite a number of years. Their cattle often boxed in with the Byro herd, so the Shaughnessys attended and helped with Byro cattle musters for many years; branding their own calves and tailing the mob for the road, eventually taking delivery of the Byro bullocks and droving them to Urella near Mingenew.
On 21st August 1939 Jack Shaughnessy died, a year or so later, Frank married Myrtle Ryan, whose parents had had almost a lifetimes association with Byro. In 1942 Frank joined the army and trained at Northam. A year later, he was manpowered out to take charge of Byro sheep, which were on agistment at Billabalong. He drove the sheep back to Byro in March, 1945, at the end of a drought.
From that point on Frank and Myrtle became inseparable from the Byro they loved, except in their advanced years, when they moved to Mullewa to be near medical help for Myrtle’s illness.
It was during this stay in Mullewa, that Frank was able to contribute so much to the research being carried out by Robert Lefroy for a history of the Shire of Murchison. A book entitled “Road to the Murchison.” His memory and his recollections of events which took place in the district during his lifetime were quite remarkable and his contribution to the success of the book was enormous. The fact is recognised by the many references to him throughout the book and his photograph. Myrtle died in 1988 and Frank spent the following years with his family and Urewa and Wandina.
It was earlier this year that Nola (his niece) and Ken (her husband) moved to Byro and Frank went with them to be back at his birthplace. And it was at Byro that he died on Saturday 28 July 1990. He was a man of high principles, with a strength of character rarely seen. He neither drank nor smoked and set a fine example to all. Byro, the Murchison District and Mullewa are the poorer for his passing.
In Byro’s case, it is the end of an era. The final chapter in the history of a family who showed outstanding devotion and loyalty to the Keogh family, who were so very fortunate to have worked with them for over 60 years.
Frank, old friend, sleep well.
J.W.S.K
[Murchison Monologue Volume 12 No. 7 September 1990.]