Cairns farmer Frank Marino remembered as hardworking pioneer

He was trained as a shoemaker, tin smith and hairdresser, but life in Australia would see a tough, but rewarding career in farming and development for Redlynch cane farmer Frank Marino.

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One of the Far North’s best-known and hardest-working sugar cane pioneers died in June, aged 96.

Frank Marino’s life was celebrated by friends and family on June 26, and in his eulogy son Charlie Marino said his ­father was the hardest-working man he knew.

Frank Marino migrated to Australia from Italy with his brother Sam and mother ­Antonina in 1933, about eight years after his dad purchased a farm at Fishery Falls.

Far Northern cane farmer Frank Marino died in June. Picture: Supplied

When Frank arrived in Australia, it was the first time he’d met his father, and the second day instead of going to school he was helping on the farm.

In Italy he had trained as a shoemaker, tin smith and hairdresser, but life in Australia would produce a tough but ­rewarding career in farming and development.

At 26, in 1950, he married Home Hill’s Lucy La Spina, and the following year the couple and Frank’s brother bought a farm in the Redlynch Valley with just a five pound deposit, and faith in their ability to work hard.

Frank and Lucy moved into a rundown house on the farm.

“He did not even know there was a concrete floor under the dirt,” Charlie Marino said.

“Dad recalled that Lucy cried, but through their hard work they turned it into a home, and Dad said it was the best move he ever made.”

Frank and his brother went on to purchase more farms in now urban areas of Cairns, ­including Mooroobool, which had a quarry.

Frank donated fill from the quarry that helped multiple community groups including the Cairns Show Association, Leichhardt Soccer Club and Noah’s Ark Toy Library.

In the ’70s Frank got ­involved in the development game building hotel-motels on Sheridan St. In his later years, he enjoyed working with the Reef Lions Club, where he was the treasurer.

“Rest dad … your work is done,” Charlie Marino said.

Originally published as Cairns farmer Frank Marino remembered as hardworking pioneer