Backward Glance - Fred Fink

Fred John Fink lived most of his life in Yandina where he worked as a cane cutter – but that is only a very small part of a fascinating story.

Fred joined the militia on January 27, 1939, under the command of Lt Colonel Frank Nicklin, and was promoted to sergeant on September 19, 1939.

The militia men, members of the 9th Battalion, were tough hardened farmers and cane cutters. Many had already served in World War l.

Many of these men stayed to guard the region when the fear of invasion became real later into World War ll.

WWll was declared in May 1940 and the 2/15th Infantry Battalion was raised at Redbank army camp in Brisbane May 15, 1940 under the command of Lt Colonel R F Marlin C.O. as part of the 20th Brigade.

Fred was discharged to the regular army on June 12, 1940 and joined the 2/15th Battalion.

Intensive training continued and the 2/15 Battalion embarked from Pinkenba on SS Zealandia.

In company with the SS Manoora, they commenced their journey sailing up the Queensland coastline and on to Darwin before returning to Brisbane.

On Christmas Day 1940, the battalion caught a train at Redbank to South Brisbane station before boarding the interstate train to Sydney.

Many families and friends, including Fred’s, emotionally said goodbye to their loved ones.

The tide of war was rapidly changing and world news was grim.

When the convoy trains reached Sydney, the unit embarked on the gigantic ocean liner Queen Mary.

It had been converted to a troop carrier, joining a convoy of converted passenger liners, including the Dominion Monarch, Awatea and Aquitania.

They were escorted by an Australian battle cruiser.

After a stopover in Fremantle, the convoy proceeded into the Indian Ocean to Palestine via India, trans-shipping to the Rohna at Bombay.

The 2/15th relieved the 2/28th Infantry Battalion, holding the line to the coast throughout August.

The fighting was vicious and the battalion suffered 183 casualties – about half its fighting strength.

From October 23 to November 4, 1942 they fought during the Battle of Alamein.

Fred Fink was awarded the Military Medal for bravery during this battle.

Ready to face a new enemy after three years in the Middle East, the 2/15th left Egypt aboard the Aquitania on January 25, 1943 and disembarked in Sydney on February 27, 1943.

After leave and jungle training on the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland, the battle hardened men of the 2/15th Battalion, known as the “Rats of Tobruk”, embarked for Milne Bay in Papua on August 2, 1943.

On September 4, the battalion landed on Red Beach, 15 miles north-west of Lae.

Shortly after, it fought its way ashore at Scarlet Beach, near Finschhafen, and defended the area against Japanese counter-attack.

The battalion also took part in the Huon Peninsula campaign, advancing along the northern coast of New Guinea from Lae to Sio.

Sergeant Fred Fink received a Bar to his Military Medal in New Guinea on October 29, 1943.

He drew enemy fire to protect his men at Finschhafen despite being wounded by a hand grenade.

The 2/15th Battalion served for five years and six months with the greater part of four years on active service.

On January 21, 1946 the 2/15th Battalion disbanded at Chermside in northern Brisbane.

After serving in the 2/15th Battalion, Fred returned to cane cutting, working for Joe Apps on the Sunshine Coast.

He also took up banana farming until his crop on the southern slopes of Mount Ninderry, were wiped out during a big cyclone in 1974.

These are the hardships he faced with a wife and family to support.

He and his wife Dulcie, well liked in the region, were active members of the community and both keen supporters of organisations in Yandina, including the Yandina School of Arts, the Historical Society and the Returned Services League.

For many years, Fred Fink led the Anzac Day parade for returned soldiers in Yandina.

Dulcie marched as a member of the RSL Ladies Auxiliary.

As time went by, Fred discovered an interest in history while preparing for the 1971 Yandina Centenary.

Over the next 30 years, he chronicled much of the history and development in the Maroochy Shire and district.

He recorded everything he could research and document, tapping away with two fingers on his typewriter.

He included stories, maps, letters and photographs, gathered with the assistance of friend Audienne Blyth.

Over time, the well-researched collection continued to grow.

His accurate writings and findings are a testament to this wonderful Australian battler.

On January 17, 2002, Fred donated his collection to the Nambour Library, deciding the time was right to hand it over due to his failing health.

He even donated his old typewriter, which is on display in the Heritage Library.

Cr Trevor Thompson accepted the valuable contribution that Fred Fink made to the region.

On January 27, 2002, Fred Fink sadly passed away.

Hundreds of people attended the funeral of this Sunshine Coast man who will never be forgotten.

The collection has been catalogued as the Fred Fink Collection and is available in the Heritage Library located in Nambour Library on the corner of Currie and Bury streets.

The Fred and Dulcie Fink Collection can be found at Yandina Historic House.

Thanks to Sunshine Coast Council’s Heritage Library Officers for the words and Picture Sunshine Coast for the images.

Image Captions

Hero: Fred Fink on his banana plantation on the southern slopes of Mount Ninderry, 1967.

Image 1: Canecutting gang having a break on a property upstream from Lake Dunethin, Maroochy River District, ca 1937    .Fred Finkpictured seated second from right.

Image 2: Cane cutting gang in the fields in the Yandina-Maroochy River District, ca 1937. Pictured include Fred Finksecond from right.

Image 3: Fred Fink and family members with his first car, a 1925 Model Dodge, Yandina, 1940. Pictured L to R: Fred, Garth, Lois and Cyril Fink. Taken at in front of the family home on the north east corner of the Coulson Road and School Road intersection, Yandina.

Image 4: Fred Fink with his wife Dulcie, residents of Yandina, 1982.

Image 5: Group of descendants of Sunshine Coast pioneers gathered at Yandina, 1994. Taken in the grounds of ' Koongalba', the Low/Blyth family residence. Fink Fink pictured standing second from left in back row. Fred was born in 1918 and lived most of his life in Yandina.

Image 6: Stevens Street, Yandina, ca 1921.