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UNTHANK, Kenneth Frank

1110003002

Identity

Gender: M

Also known as

Born: 15 March 1945, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England

Died: 20 February 2001, Bodallin, Western Australia

Surviving

Migration

Organisation: Fairbridge Homes

Institution

Ship: MALOJA

Arrival: December 1953

Destination: Australia

Placement

Family

Father

Spouse

Siblings

Service

WW1

WW2

Notes

A birth registration was found for Kenneth F Unthank: Mother's Maiden Surname: Unthank; Date of Registration: Apr May Jun 1945; Registration district: Birmingham; Registration county: Warwickshire; Volume Number: 6d; Page Number: 1058.

In 1953, Kenneth Unthank, 8, arrived at Brisbane, Australia, and was placed in Haig Cottage at Fairbridge Farm School, Pinjarra, Australia.

Kenneth Frank Unthank died on February 20, 2001. He was commemmorated by his employer, CBH Bodallin in a plaque at their grain receival point (Pick of the crop, Aug. 2003, p.14, 633.11 PIC, .b19864978):
r n"Tribute to valued employee

A commemorative plaque has been unveiled at the Bodallin receival point to honour the life of Ken Unthank, a long-term CBH employee and manager of the Bodallin site.

Ken, who came to Australia from the United Kingdom as a child-migrant, worked in grainbelt communities for more than 30 years and was recognised as the man that personified CBH Bodallin.
The plaque at the Bodallin weighbridge recognises his contribution to CBH and the community. The inscription reads: 'Ken was a good man of careful thought and deed, who managed this grain receival point for many years. He was a great colleague and good friend to all. A job well done Ken.'

Growers and CBH staff from the area attended the official unveiling to honour the life and work of Ken. Ken’s widow Faye Unthank and grand- daughter Louise Bessell travelled from Bunbury and Perth respectively to attend the unveiling ceremony. 'He worked a lot of years here and did a lot for the community, so it’s good that there is something here that people can remember him by,' Miss Bessell said.

CBH CEO, Imre Mencshelyi officiated at the unveiling and spoke about Ken who was his first boss at Dulyalbin, 30 kilometres south of Moonie Rock. 'Ken basically taught me all the fundamentals of bulk handling,' Mr Mencshelyi said. 'He was a community man who enjoyed his sport. Wherever he worked he was able to get all the people at a particular bin to combine as one, which was a great credit to him.'

Ken Unthank passed away in 2001."

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