Frank Calabro
Encyclopedia
Francesco "Frank" Calabro, AM
(3 January 1925 – 13 January 2011) was an Australia
n politician. He was a Liberal
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
from 1970 to 1988. He was the first Italian-born person of Italian descent elected to any Australian parliament.
Calabro was born in Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte
near Reggio Calabria
, Italy
, to Antonio, a master bootmaker, and Maria Romeo. He arrived in Australia in 1934, having attended school in Italy; he then attended St Mary's Basilica Christian Brothers' at Sydney
. In 1948 the family purchased a bus run at Bonnyrigg
. In 1959 he was elected to Fairfield Councill
, in which year he also became President of the Cabramatta
Chamber of Commerce. He married Rosa Polimeni on 20 November 1963; they would have six children.
In 1966, Calabro was briefly Mayor of Fairfield (he served another term in 1969), and in that year was made a Commander of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity
by the Italian Government. He also became active in the Liberal Party
, having formed the Cabramatta branch in 1965. He left Fairfield Council in 1971 but returned in 1974, serving until 1977.
In 1970, Calabro was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council
as a Liberal member. He served on the Council until 1988, unsuccessfully attempting a transfer to the Legislative Assembly
via the seat of Macquarie Fields
. After leaving the Council, he continued to be active in the community; on 1 January 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal
for services to migrant welfare, and on 9 June 2003 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia
for service to the Parliament of New South Wales
and the Fairfield
community.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(3 January 1925 – 13 January 2011) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He was a Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
from 1970 to 1988. He was the first Italian-born person of Italian descent elected to any Australian parliament.
Calabro was born in Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte
Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte
Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte is a comune in the Province of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region Calabria, located about 110 km southwest of Catanzaro and about 10 km northeast of Reggio Calabria...
near Reggio Calabria
Reggio Calabria
Reggio di Calabria , commonly known as Reggio Calabria or Reggio, is the biggest city and the most populated comune of Calabria, southern Italy, and is the capital of the Province of Reggio Calabria and seat of the Council of Calabrian government.Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, to Antonio, a master bootmaker, and Maria Romeo. He arrived in Australia in 1934, having attended school in Italy; he then attended St Mary's Basilica Christian Brothers' at Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. In 1948 the family purchased a bus run at Bonnyrigg
Bonnyrigg, New South Wales
Bonnyrigg is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bonnyrigg is located 36 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Fairfield and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region....
. In 1959 he was elected to Fairfield Councill
City of Fairfield
The City of Fairfield is a Local Government Area in the south-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.- Suburbs in the local government area :Suburbs in the City of Fairfield are:* Abbotsbury* Bonnyrigg* Bonnyrigg Heights* Bossley Park...
, in which year he also became President of the Cabramatta
Cabramatta, New South Wales
Cabramatta is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Cabramatta is located 30 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Fairfield...
Chamber of Commerce. He married Rosa Polimeni on 20 November 1963; they would have six children.
In 1966, Calabro was briefly Mayor of Fairfield (he served another term in 1969), and in that year was made a Commander of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity
Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity
The Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity was founded as national order by the first President of the Italian Republic, Enrico De Nicola, in 1947, to recognise civilian and military expatriates or foreigners who made an outstanding contribution to the reconstruction of Italy after World War...
by the Italian Government. He also became active in the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
, having formed the Cabramatta branch in 1965. He left Fairfield Council in 1971 but returned in 1974, serving until 1977.
In 1970, Calabro was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
as a Liberal member. He served on the Council until 1988, unsuccessfully attempting a transfer to the Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
via the seat of Macquarie Fields
Electoral district of Macquarie Fields
Macquarie Fields is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, located in the outer south-western suburbs of Sydney. It is currently represented by Dr Andrew McDonald of the Australian Labor Party....
. After leaving the Council, he continued to be active in the community; on 1 January 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal
Centenary Medal
The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
for services to migrant welfare, and on 9 June 2003 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
for service to the Parliament of New South Wales
Parliament of New South Wales
The Parliament of New South Wales, located in Parliament House on Macquarie Street, Sydney, is the main legislative body in the Australian state of New South Wales . It is a bicameral parliament elected by the people of the state in general elections. The parliament shares law making powers with...
and the Fairfield
Fairfield, New South Wales
Fairfield is a western suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Fairfield is located 29 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Fairfield and is also partly in the local government...
community.