Hardy, Frank

Hardy, Frank (Francis Joseph) (1917- ) was reared in Victoria at Southern Cross and at Bacchus Marsh, the 'Benson's Valley' of many of his stories. His father was an itinerant, working in various dairy factories, and a compulsive gambler. Frank Hardy left school at thirteen, taking jobs as newsboy, grocer's assistant, fruit picker, factory worker and seaman. Deeply moved by the suffering of the poor in the 193os depression, he joined the Communist Party of Australia and the Realist Writers' group in 1939. He drew caricatures, wrote concert lyrics about local identities and became interested in racehorses, betting and pub life, always deeming himself ideologically 'a rebel' (see 'The Hard Way', 1961). In 1942 he joined the Army, and edited the 'Troppo Tribune', writing for it 'doggerel, articles, stories, reports of camp debates and Army Education lectures'. There was already an increasing pull between his revolutionary commitment and his urge to be an entertaining writer. He was encouraged then to 'write down some of the stories you tell on beer nights', and so in 1943 he put down very quickly 'A Stranger in the Camp', published in 'The Man from Clinkapella' (1951).