Frank Treasure
Encyclopedia
Francis William "Frank" Treasure, Sr. (born 10 January 1925 in Fremantle
, Western Australia
; died April 1998) was an Australian rules footballer and soldier.
in the Fremantle Ex-Scholars' competition. He participated in the Western Australian National Football League
(WANFL) in 1942 and 1943 for , which was restricted to players under the age of 18 for the duration of World War II
. He joined the Australian Army
in February 1943 as a corporal in the 47th Battalion
, serving until the end of the war, and playing in several army football teams in New Guinea
.
He rejoined South Fremantle for the 1946 season. He played mainly as a half-back flanker, gaining selection in the Western Australian state team in 1949. Treasure finished second in the 1951 Sandover Medal
to 's Fred Buttsworth
, won South Fremantle's best and fairest and was again selected in the state team.
He was elected captain of South Fremantle for the 1954 season, serving in that role until the end of the 1955 season, when he accepted a position as playing coach of the Coolamon Rovers Football Club
in the South Western District Football League (SWDFL) in New South Wales
. He returned to South Fremantle for the 1957 season, retiring at the end of the season. In total, he played 254 games for South Fremantle, at the time a club record.
Treasure accepted a position as coach of the Meckering Football Club
in the Avon Football Association (AFA) in 1958, winning a premiership in his first season. He returned to Fremantle in 1961, and held various positions at South Fremantle, including selector and property manager. His son, Frank Treasure, Jr., played 61 games for South Fremantle from 1974–77.
Treasure died at age 73 of mesothelioma
in April 1998. He was inducted into the Fremantle Football Hall of Legends
in 1998, and into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 2010.
Fremantle
Freemantle is a suburb of Southampton in England.Fremantle or Freemantle may also refer to:- Places :* Fremantle, the port city to the capital Perth, Western Australia...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
; died April 1998) was an Australian rules footballer and soldier.
Career
Treasure began his career playing for CBCCBC Fremantle
Christian Brothers College Fremantle is a private, Catholic, day school for boys situated in Fremantle, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
in the Fremantle Ex-Scholars' competition. He participated in the Western Australian National Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WANFL) in 1942 and 1943 for , which was restricted to players under the age of 18 for the duration of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He joined the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
in February 1943 as a corporal in the 47th Battalion
47th Battalion (Australia)
The 47th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in 1916 for service during the First World War and took part in the fighting in the trenches of the Western Front in France and Belgium before being disbanded in early 1918 to provide reinforcements for...
, serving until the end of the war, and playing in several army football teams in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
.
He rejoined South Fremantle for the 1946 season. He played mainly as a half-back flanker, gaining selection in the Western Australian state team in 1949. Treasure finished second in the 1951 Sandover Medal
Sandover Medal
The Sandover Medal is an Australian rules football award, given annually since 1921 to the fairest and best player in the West Australian Football League...
to 's Fred Buttsworth
Fred Buttsworth
Frederick James Buttsworth is a former Australian rules footballer who played for West Perth in the Western Australian National Football League and briefly for Essendon in the Victorian Football League...
, won South Fremantle's best and fairest and was again selected in the state team.
He was elected captain of South Fremantle for the 1954 season, serving in that role until the end of the 1955 season, when he accepted a position as playing coach of the Coolamon Rovers Football Club
Coolamon, New South Wales
Coolamon is a town in the Riverina region of south-west New South Wales, Australia. Coolamon is north-west of Wagga Wagga and south-west of Sydney via the Hume and Sturt Highways. The town is situated on the railway line between Junee and Narrandera. Coolamon had a population of 1,339 at the 2006...
in the South Western District Football League (SWDFL) in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. He returned to South Fremantle for the 1957 season, retiring at the end of the season. In total, he played 254 games for South Fremantle, at the time a club record.
Treasure accepted a position as coach of the Meckering Football Club
Meckering, Western Australia
Meckering is a town 130 km east of Perth, Western Australia along the Great Eastern Highway. Meckering is located within the Shire of Cunderdin.A railway line was completed in the area in 1895 and Meckering was selected as a station site...
in the Avon Football Association (AFA) in 1958, winning a premiership in his first season. He returned to Fremantle in 1961, and held various positions at South Fremantle, including selector and property manager. His son, Frank Treasure, Jr., played 61 games for South Fremantle from 1974–77.
Treasure died at age 73 of mesothelioma
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma, more precisely malignant mesothelioma, is a rare form of cancer that develops from the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs, the mesothelium...
in April 1998. He was inducted into the Fremantle Football Hall of Legends
Fremantle Football Hall of Legends
The Fremantle Football Hall of Legends was inaugurated by the Fremantle Football Club in 1995, in recognition of the new Australian Football League team’s links with its home city’s football heritage. The inductees are nominated by the two clubs from the Fremantle area in the West Australian...
in 1998, and into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame
West Australian Football Hall of Fame
The West Australian Football Hall of Fame was created in 2002 to recognise and enshrine those who have made a significant contribution to Australian rules football in Western Australia...
in 2010.