Cabramatta veteran Ken Frank tells tales of heroism and war journalism

FAIRFIELD ADVANCE: Students at Cabramatta High have heard tales of heroism and journalism in a war zone from veteran Ken Frank.

HISTORY lessons in high school can sometimes seem a bit musty and far removed, but not for the students of Cabramatta High.

Year 9 students were captivated by a visit from World War II and Korean War vet Ken Frank.

Mr Frank, who turns 90 on August 26, spoke at a packed lecture about war.

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Teachers say it was the first time someone had held the attention of students for so long, so intensely. Mr Frank served as a wireless mechanic in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in Bougainville and Guadalcanal, then returned to conflict as a radio ­reporter during the Korean War.

He recalled the incredible amount of technical difficulty required to get broadcasts back to the public.

“We had to use a tank battery and it was so heavy it ­required three men to handle it,” Mr Frank said.

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“This was (used) to power the tape recorders.

“The recorded messages were then sent back to New Zealand and broadcast at home for radio.”

WHAT: The Korean War began in 1950 when 70,000 soldiers from North Korea invaded South Korea and tried to impose communism

WHO: 17,000 Australians served, of which 340 were killed and over 1500 were wounded