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FRANTOM Bill

Master Gardener

“Bill was told he could help himself to the slabs they were pulling up and each evening he and Ron White would do so and take them back to the school to form the paths and garden edge borders. Bill began to remove bushes and trees and designed the front entrance to the school.
The Brethren donated the arch as an entry feature (now featured in Betty Sumich's garden) (2008) and Shirley McWhirter donated the roses for the entry garden.
During his time as school gardener Bill built vegetable gardens for each class and renovated the green house for the students use.
Bill recalls the younger students were the best gardeners, always wanting to help. He always called the students, 'students' and not kids and thought it was important to have the students on side. It helped that he had a deal with the corner store shop owner and used plenty of Coca-Cola and chewing gum to reward those students who helped him care for the garden.

BILL FRANTOM                     #1


         GNOWANGERUP LOCAL DANCE Late 1950s
 ROD LOHOAR, ELSIE PARKER, VAL KELLY,  REX EDMUNDSON, JOAN CAMERON, BILL FRANTOM          #2
 


 

      BILL FRANTOM'S HOUSE              #3
 

 Bill was also respected for helping the young graduate teachers feel at ease in the rough and tumble of their first posting. Bill recalls student behaviour was quite bad during this time, lots of swearing, young teachers crying on the verandah.
Kate O'Keeffe (nee Hutchinson) who began teaching at Gnowangerup in 1994 received Bill's kindness as a new 'stressed out' teacher. "I was one of those. Although I didn't cry there were certainly times I would walk outside at afternoon play and see kids fighting and wonder what l was doing at Gnowangerup. I can remember Billy walking by saying, 'It'll be alright girlie!' The next morning roses would be on my desk courtesy of Billy."

 
 

In 1994 the Gnowangerup District High School council awarded Bill a 'Certificate of Appreciation'. This award means more to Bill than any other he has received including his 2008 Gnowangerup Shire Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award, because it came from the students.
At one stage during his tenure the Gnowangerup School garden was one of the stops for the tourist buses coming from Esperance. Bill had immense pride watching Japanese tourists troupe off the bus to be photographed amongst his roses.
"Big bosses from Perth would come to the school to see the Heads and speak to the kids. But really they came just to see my garden!"
 Josie Kiddle remembers Bill's garden fondly "Our school would have one (and still does) of the best gardens thanks to Bill Frantom. His display of plants often had people that were traveling through town to stop at the school and admire the garden. Every year Bill would plant a row of sweet peas along the front of the school.

 Master Gardener, Bill Frantom, surrounded by his young friends on
his final day at the Cnowangerup District High School. After thirteen years of continuous service to the Gnowangerup District High School
Mr. Bill Frantom, Chief Gardener, has retired                     #4
 
When spring arrived there would be this tall, beautiful wall of different shades of pinks, purples and red sweet peas covering the length of the fence from the library down to the bus stop. When Bill was the gardener it was the ony time there was any lawn near the cricket pitch.
He carefully looked after a small patch of lawn that surrounded the cricket pitch. Each year this patch of lawn would increase in size. The kids thought it was fantastic to play cricket on and it was an oasis of green in the middle of a barren oval. Bill would also have a following of kids behind him if they saw him in the garden, it was a bit like watching the Pied Piper in action.
The kids always wanted to help in anyway and weren't scared of Bill with his tall, broad stature and his gruff voice, they loved him."

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

 

References:                 Article:        From the book produced by the Gnowangerup District High School Centenary Committee

                                  Image:      4     Gnowangerup Star Newspaper

 

Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2024