Francis Iranaeus McCarthy. A great teacher, a mentor, something of a guru, and for me, in my adolescent years, a person who was the worldly big brother or wise father figure that I had missed in growing up. Frank McCarthy was a very clever person, no less for for an alienated kid such as me for whom he always had generous time. He brought art and music to my world, one where otherwise such things were fanciful. He, with such grace, engendered self-confidence and self-assurance in me and stimulated and affirmed my inquiring mind. He was a special person for me, but also for a vast number of others.

My most impressive memory of him - a treasured memory - was of the first Student Art Exhibition where I had entered two images. I was summoned out of class to be congratulated, praised and applauded by him for my 'fine works'. I was so apprehensive and timid about entering my paintings and so elated by his actions and words.

The image here is of him when I knew him best, he must have been nearly 40 years old then. It is from his graduation from Cambridge University as a Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, if I remember correctly. He had left the school I was at (Parade College) to take up his studies in the UK and France. I had been promoted at that time and on his direction, I do believe, to Head Prefect at the College. Apart from his time at Pembroke College at Cambridge, I know that he was also quite proud of the fact that he had, while in Europe, a teaching post in a the University of Paris where he taught French Literature - to the French! I too was very impressed and proud to know such a clever person and have him as a friend - told everyone. We corresponded in those days and he took effective action an many points that I raised about the teaching and teachers in my school. Later I met him on a number of occasions and some of these ended up with a 'competitive' slide show where he would present his fine collection of art and demand that I identify and comment on his treasured images - from the lesser me - no less!. He 'represented' my father at my wedding with a typically generous and endearing speech to the duly impressed attendees.

He was loved by many I know; I treasure his memory as my own.



Postscript:
Frank must have impressed his colleagues and students in France so much as they gave him a quantity of wine to take away with him. I met him in Melbourne later and on departing from him he gave me a bottle from that cache. Sometime later I took it to a 'Bring Your Own Wine' restaurant. The wine waiter objected to opening such a fine wine. Sadly I cannot remember what it was though but it must have been a great statement.

Further Postscript:
While I don't wish to focus on certain aspects of the College, corporeal punishment was the order of the day - it was a 'Christian Brothers College' no less - but Frank McCarthy was never a part of that regime. Apparently he did once and only once break his strict rule of non-violence as he confessed to my former contemporary at Parade, one John Puls, "You are the only boy I have ever found it necessary to punish!", Frank McCarthy is reported to have said. "Quite proud to have been so special!", retorted John Puls in a recent note.