We were sorry to hear that Frank Donovan passed away aged 99.

Francis Leo Donovan enlisted at Kilmore in November 1943 in the Australian Army and his posting at discharge in July 1946 was Staff Sergeant 135 Aus. Gen TPT Coy.

Our condolences are extended to Frank's family.

DONOVAN
Francis Leo

1922 - 2022

Died peacefully in his family home on 6/3/22

Much loved husband of Mary for 41 years. Brother to Alma (dec.), Margaret (dec.), Joan (dec.), Patricia
and Phyllis (dec.). Cherished father of Thomas. Father-in-law to Lara. Adoring grandfather to Oliver, Samuel and Maeve.

A lifetime of fond memories. Rest In Peace.

Funeral Mass for Francis Leo Donovan will be offered at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, 37 Sutherland St, Kilmore on Tuesday March 15, 2022 at 11am.

The funeral will leave at the conclusion of Mass for burial at the Kilmore Catholic Cemetery, 165 Kilmore-Lancefield Rd, Kilmore.

Howard Squires Bamford Funerals

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A tribute received from Ken Crawford below :

FRANK DONOVAN:

When Frank finished school, he joined the Union Bank in 1937. This was his mother’s wish- that he should not follow in his father’s career as a farmer which she saw as a hard life. The depression years found him with a heavily reduced income and a very tiring existence.

Frank served with the Army during WW2 and when discharged in 1946 had the rank of Staff Sergeant.

The Union Bank was where Frank’s aunt Margaret worked in the managing director’s office and was able to introduce him the staff inspector.

He began working as the junior at the Russell Street branch, which was opposite the Temperance and General insurance building. He enjoyed working here which was opposite the Post Office where the girls from the T&G building came and went throughout the day. The coming and going of the girls was of great interest to him.

His job as the junior required him to sort out cheques lodged by customers with those drawn on other branches and other banks and prepare them by listing for delivery to the Union Bank head office twice a day. He ran down Collins Street to 351 Collins Street branch with the cheques drawn on other branches and other banks to deliver to the clearing Department.

His first move from Russell Street branch (which later moved to 109 Collins St), was to the Victorian Inspector’s office at 351 Collins Street Melbourne in the Overseas Department.

With the merger of The Bank of Australasia and the Union Bank in 1951 He worked with Max Sandow (representing the Bank of Australasia) and Frank representing the Union Bank of Australia to work together to rewrite all instructions for all tasks.

Having studied Cost Accounting, a Methods Department at Queen Street was established and with Arthur Vale introduced time management to the bank. A trial of 30 branches achieved a savings of $300,000 from reduced staff and improved work practices.

Following his time at Methods Department he worked in branches, Launceston for 2 years, when the merger with the ES&A Bank occurred and retired in 1982 as Area Manager for Moonee Ponds Area.