Born Francis Aubrey de Vere Hart in 1912 to Aubrey de Vere and Olivia Hunt, Frank and his two sisters Hazel and Phillipa Joyce spent their early days in Bathurst before the family to Lithgow where Aubrey worked as a blacksmith.

In Lithgow Aubrey Hunt was closely associated with athletics, a sport in which he retained an avid interest almost to the time of his death.

Aubrey declared that he regarded “athletics as probably the most healthy pursuit available to the youth of the community and always urged young people to take part in them”.

Young Frank inherited his father’s keen interest in athletics and joined the Lithgow Athletic Training Club, competing successfully in running event, broad jump and hop, step and jump.

Read more

Young Frank excelled in the throwing events - javelin, shot put, hammer throw and discus, regularly finishing in the top three.

In the 1920’s Frank’s father used his blacksmith skills to fabricate a discus from timber and steel.

The discus which was used by his son in local competitions for many years.

In later years Frank Hunt became a real estate agent and eventually built the double shops adjacent to Industry House in Main Street, where he traded as Frank Hunt Real Estate and Frank Hunt’s Menswear.

The distinctive blue tiles on the shop front were chosen by Frank’s wife Reta. 

Frank’s daughter Margaret De Vere recently donated the discus and newspaper clippings to the Lithgow and District Family History Society. 

During National Family History Month in August the discus will be on display in the Lithgow Library and Learning Centre.