Born in Medindie, Frank Coulter began his working life apprenticed to a French Polisher, then, after a stint with a forestry company, he attended Adelaide Teachers' College, eventually being appointed to Port Pirie Technical School to teach art and woodwork.

Eight years and three country schools later he was back in Adelaide teaching academic subjects at Pulteney Grammar School. During his 16 years there he graduated with majors in English and Economic History, with distinction, from Adelaide University. In the early 1970s he returned to the Education Dept. for a further 15 years, serving as a senior master in English.

During the Pulteney years, Frank was a member of the S.A. English Teachers Association Council, examiner for the Public Examinations Board and also the Australian Council for Educational Research Scholarships. These bodies brought him to contact with literary personalities who inspired him to write seriously himself. Within four years he had his work published in magazines and papers as well as featuring in the ABC's poetry series, "Unsettled Areas"; producer Herbert Davies; hostess Judith Barr. His poems have also been included in an anthology of "The Washington Poetry Hall of Fame". Readers might encounter his prose in local papers and the national weekly, 'The Bulletin'.

Among his joys these days are convening a monthly Creative Writing group for adults in Blackwood and running occasional poetry workshops for community groups such as 'Carers'.

In his youth he played lacrosse for Nth. Adelaide, ran middle distance at ATC and had a crack at baseball. He was in the Adelaide Teachers' College Rifle Team, too. After a bout of ill health in the late 1950s, Frank was advised by his physician to play golf regularly. The revered 'Stewy' Symon proposed him for membership at Mt.. Lofty soon afterwards.

Sherlock, as he is affectionately known, was on a 12 handicap in the 1980s, but he reckons he rarely played to it. He is a former president of the Club, still referees from time to time, was elected Club Historian in the mid '80s and has edited the 'Mt. Lofty News' for two decades.

He and Christine, a former Mt.. Lofty golfer and social committee convenor, are keen travelers. They have visited many islands of the Sth Pacific including Tahiti; toured Britain, and Europe; North and East Africa including Kenya and Zimbabwe. Three years ago they cruised the Mediterranean for six weeks on the P & O Line's Marco Polo, visiting countries in Southern Europe, The Levant and The Middle East. Sherlock recalls that walking the marble streets of Ephesus, in Turkey, where St. Paul, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony trod, is enough to give one a singular sense of one's insignificance.

As well as golfing, except when it rains, Frank still takes an interest in craft work, including accepting antique restoration and leadlight commissions. Apart from filling nearly every aperture in the family home, his original leadlights grace several homes in Walkerville and the Eastern suburbs. His most re-cent handiwork is a large, hand-carved, English style rocking horse, "Charlie", with dappled flanks, golden mane and harness. The job took three years to complete to his satisfaction. At home, "Charlie", named after a draught horse of Christine's father, encourages visits from young relatives.

The couple, married 50 years, have four children, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

(Footnote: The nickname, "Sherlock", he says, originated from his wearing an ancient 'deerstalker' for golf and many years ago constantly smoking what he terms a 'considerably distressed' pipe.)

Edited by Peter Walsh.

My apologies for this intrusive article. It was not my idea. For allowing it to happen, Mea Culpa! Sherlock