Frank Butler leaves a legacy
Cutting the ribbon with Shire president Fiona White-Hartig, Frank Butler’s niece Deb Piggott and Minister for Sport and Rec Terry Waldron. Photo courtesy of Margaret Bertling
Almost 11 months after the construction of the Frank Butler Community Centre began; the doors were opened for the first time last Wednesday.
Shire of Roebourne president Fiona White-Hartig said she was excited at the prospect of what this Community Centre really means for the town and those who live here.
“For the parents who will spend hours in the kiosk and canteens as their children play sport on the oval,” she said.
“The hours of training that will take place every week as athletes prepare themselves for the weekend.
“The races that will be run, and the memories that will be created.
“This is what community is really about.
“It’s about creating memories and enjoying our endless summer.
“It’s about working together and building friendships.
“It’s about living in a community that you are proud to call home.”
Cr White-Hartig said the centre is more than a new set of clubrooms; it has been designed with the whole community in mind.
But why was it called Frank Butler, who is Frank Butler?
In 1972, Frank and his family travelled from Perth to Karratha.
“From Canarvon to Karratha, it was all corrugated roads,” daughter Naomi Evans said at the opening.
“We thought ‘My God, where are we going?’”
“I remember Mum saying when we got to the LIA, ‘If that’s Karratha, we’re just turning straight around and heading back’.
But obviously the Butler family thought Karratha was special, with Frank living here for 20 years, and in that time leaving his mark in most of the sporting groups.
Frank Butler formed a number of sporting groups in his 20 years of living in Karratha, with the highlight being the formation of the Cardinals Football Club in 1979.
The Cardinals were formed after the collapse of the Under 16 football in the area.
Frank Butler was the main drive behind the formation of the club and as Frank was a fanatical West Perth supporter this was how the club got the name the Cardinals and the red and blue colours – the name was then changed to the Karratha Falcons Football and Sporting Club in 1987.
Frank was also the man behind the Karratha Bowling Club, after playing in Dampier and wondering why there was not a bowling club in Karratha.
It is obvious that without Frank Butler’s commitment to the town and sport, many sporting facilities and clubs would not be operational today if it weren’t for him.
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