A birth registration was found for Frederick J. Beales: Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar; Year of Registration: 1920; Mothers Maiden Name: Banby; District: Aylsham; Volume: 4b; Page: 191.

In 1983, when Fred retired, his story was told by Ted Wilson:

Fred's Unique Parting Gift

PERTH: How many people are "presented" with a park as a parting gift on the day they retire?

We'd not hesitate to say that the numbers would be few. But this is exactly what happened when Bayswater's parks and gardens superintendent, Fred Beales, retired after 22 years of service.

The West Australian City was so grateful for his work that they "gave him a park" by naming a Morley reserve, formerly known as McGilvray Park, F. J. Beales Park.
r n"They knew I had a particular affection for that piece of land," he says.
r n"When I designed the original work on Morley Drive, this area was the apex where traffic turned. It proved t be one of the hardest pieces of ground to get into trim."

He came to Western Australia from Britain in 1928 under the Fairbridge scheme for orphans and underprivileged children at the scheme's Pinjarra farm school.
r n"We were taught horticulture, as well as agriculture, and it was at Fairbridge that I begn to develop a love of plants," he says. "In fact, by the time I wa 15 I was winning prizes at the Pinjarra Show for the best floral displays of delphiniums, dahlias, pansies and larkspur."

This part of his life came to an abrupt end with the outbreak of World War II and Fred saw active service in both the MIddle East and Papua-New Guinea.

On his return he renewed his acquaintance with plants by obtaining work at a Perth nursery, where he stayed three years.

His next move was into local government and it was at the South Perth Roads Board that he obtained his first "apprenticeship" under the famous head gardener, Joe Hinchcliffe.

In those days there were no formal horticultural courses. You just had to do your own study and learn from the man with whom you worked. Luckily, I had the best," Fred explains.

After three years at South Perth, Fred Beales was appointed head gardener by Albany Town Council.

He was to spend 10 years in this south coastal resort planning reserves, parks and flower beds for the town before accepting a post at Bayswater.
r n"The Roads Board, as it was then called, wanted someone to grow with the job -- just like a plan -- and devleop a system of parklands," he recalls.
r n"We didn't even have a cricket ground in those days, just a dirt strip in the middle of a parched oval which was pounded into a dustbowl every weekend."

Today, thanks to Fred Beales, Bayswater City Council can boast more than 100 recreational areas of all sizes, including two full-size "turf" cricket grounds, an international cinders running rack, golf course, sports ovals, gardens and colorful median strips the envy of most other local authorities.

On Fred's retirement the Mayor of Bayswater, Cr Carl Cardaci, said the community owed a great debt to Mr. Beales for work done over the years.

Fred Beales says: "Make sure you know what you want to do well in advance of retiring, not what other people want you to do."
r n