Tile man Frank Walker takes on challenge of helping children raised in family violence

MELBOURNE businessman Frank Walker wants to improve the lives of the one million ­Australian children being raised in family violence.

Frank Walker and his wife Rhonda. Picture: Jason Edwards

FRANK Walker is familiar to many people thanks to his radio catchcry: “Helloooo, Frank Walker from National Tiles.”

But the Melbourne businessman wants to be known for something much more ­important — improving the lives of the one million ­Australian children being raised in family violence.

Along with his wife, ­Rhonda, he has founded the Family Peace Foundation to help bring about a “peaceful upbringing for every Australian child”, a goal which has ­become his driving force and life’s work.

Mr Walker, 63, has been married to Rhonda for 44 years, and they have seven children and 12 grandchildren.

At this point in his life he has every right to concentrate on his golf handicap, overseas jaunts and grandkids. However, a watershed ­moment in 2013 changed everything.

“One of my daughter’s friends came to me and said, ‘Frank, you have no idea what your daughter has been through in the last two years’,” Mr Walker said. “She had been living behind a horrible veil of family violence. I spent three hours with my daughter at the police station and listened to the physical, sexual, psychological and financial abuse she suffered.

“Rhonda and I grieved privately. We asked ourselves many times, how could this happen? My daughter told me the man had taken away her soul; she couldn’t decide anything for herself, such as whether she could or couldn’t buy a loaf of bread.

“We thought something like that couldn’t happen to us.

“We are a very close family and yet this was swept under the carpet.”

The Family Peace Foundation aims to strengthen families by offering research-based education on reducing family conflict and improving relationships, delivered via commercial radio announcements.

The approach draws heavily on the Transport Accident Commission’s actions to reduce the road toll. “We don’t have to prove this works. Look at ‘Knock Off Five’. We know this works,” Mr Walker said.

The foundation, which is a tax-deductible charity, is ­seeking to raise $12 million a year to fund nationwide radio announcements.

familypeace.org.au