March 20, 2015
A funeral was held in Murgon today for former South Burnett resident Frank Close who died on Monday.
Frank, 82, and his wife Irma were extremely well-known in the Murgon community, particularly for their fund-raising efforts for CRISIS, the committee set up to support the Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service (now known as RACQ CareFlight).
The couple received a big send-off in April 2013 when they moved to the Gold Coast to be closer to family.
Before his fame as a fund-raiser, Frank was a police officer whose job took him all over the State.
Irma met Frank when he was serving at Coolangatta police station.
They married in Rockhampton in 1953.
In 1965, Irma and Frank came to the South Burnett for the first time when Frank was appointed officer-in-charge of Proston Police Station.
They left in 1972, when he was transferred to Beaudesert.
In 1977, Frank retired from the force and the couple took a change in direction, buying a pub in Cunnamulla.
In 1980, they came back to the South Burnett, purchasing the Broadway Hotel in Kingaroy. At the same time, they ran the Hospital Shop, which was located in Albert Street opposite Kingaroy Hospital.
They sold the Broadway in 1982, but Irma stayed on with the new owners working alongside them until 1987 while Frank managed the shop.
In 1990, Frank and Irma moved to Murgon “to retire”. And then along came CRISIS and their hard-work fundraising for the helicopter service.
Together they raised more than $100,000 for the service.
Frank is survived by Irma, their four children, 11 grand-children and 16 great-grandchildren.
Amongst his brood is Chris “Choppy” Close, a former Australian rugby league international and Queensland State of Origin centre.
Frank’s funeral was held at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Murgon this morning.
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