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Heritage Guide to The Geelong College






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BAIRD, Francis Harcourt (1929-2017)

BAIRD, Francis Harcourt (1929-2017)


'Frank' Baird attended Hamilton High School before his enrolment as a boarder at Geelong College from 10 February 1944 to December 1944.

Frank's ambition at College during World War II was to join the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) but he was rejected as being under age so he became a merchant seamen, went to England, and joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a pilot-in-training. He served with the RAF until about 1948/9 when he left to commence as a trainee and assistant hotel manager with the UK Trust House hotels group. After his marriage in 1950 he entered the motor industry becoming a field service engineer and later working in sales and management though he was subsequently recalled to RAF service for three years from 1953 to 1956 on non-flying duties with an RAF Glider Training School.

After returning to Australia with his family he resumed working in the automotive industry with forays into commercial radio and plastics manufacturing. His wife's illness contributed to an interest in therapeutic massage and he operated a successful clinic in Bendigo. They eventually settled at Ocean Grove where he was living at the time of his death.

Frank's father, William Harcourt Baird (1898-1990), and his brother, Eric Campbell Baird (1931-2001), were also educated at Geelong College.


Sources: Geelong Advertiser 25 October 2017; Biographical details compiled by Ken Fargher in 1999. OGC 1942.
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