Frank Hunt

The mine explosion had a profound and lasting impact on Frank's life. By 2019, he had undergone more than 50 operations as a result of his injuries and still had more than 20 pieces of shrapnel in his body.

He spent nearly two years in Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, including 13 months completely bedridden with plaster extending from his hip to his toes.

Despite the physical and emotional challenges he faced, Frank has maintained a positive outlook on life.

He once remarked that he was very lucky and counted his blessings every day that he had been born with a positive attitude to life.

Life after the Vietnam War

Frank devoted much of his life after the war to helping others, with his work largely carried out on a voluntary basis.

From 1972 to 1992, he worked as a teacher's assistant at St Patrick's School in Bega, where he coached sport and taught public speaking and debating. He also taught TAFE classes.

From 1999, Frank worked as a motivational speaker with troubled youth, drug and alcohol groups, Aboriginal youth, adults, unemployed people and sporting clubs and associations.

Local and district courts also placed young people in his care, where they learned responsibility, respect for people and the law, and the dangers of drugs.

For more than 20 years, Frank gave driving lessons to people of all ages, particularly young people, helping improve their chances of gaining employment.

His commitment to veterans and the wider community was recognised through numerous awards and honours.

In 1986, he became a National Life Member of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia. In 1988, he received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community and served as president of the Far South Coast Vietnam Veterans Association for six years.

From 1989 to 2017, Frank worked as a crisis counsellor for war veterans, youth and the general community.

His other honours included the NSW AFL Meritorious Service Award in 1992, Life Membership of the Sapphire Coast Australian Rules Football League in 1997, and appointment as a Justice of the Peace, a role he served for 30 years.

He was also an Australia Day Ambassador between 1996 and 2000, visiting Merimbula, Finley, Wentworth, Taree and Kyogle Shire.

In 2000, Frank received a Meritorious Award from Bega Valley Family Day Care and was named Citizen of the Year by Bega Valley Shire Council.

In 2001, he became a National Life Member of the Returned and Services League of Australia and was named a Federation Peoplescape Awardee as one of the "5000 Heroes of a Nation".

He received the Centenary Medal in 2002 and also served as a guest lecturer at the National History Teachers Convention.

Frank returned to Birchip as an Australia Day speaker in 2003, the same year he was included in Birchip's Recognition Monument. He was also an Australia Day speaker at Wycheproof in 2004.

Due to health concerns, Frank retired from his voluntary work in 2017.

From his service in Vietnam to decades spent supporting veterans, young people and his wider community, Frank Hunt's life has been marked by resilience, service and a determination to help others