Don Fraser
FRASER Donald Howard (Don), BE(Hons) FIEAust (1914-2006)
Don was born in Subiaco on July 27, 1914, the eldest child of Rokeby Road draper Kenneth Fraser and his wife Alice Emily Fraser nee Treleaven. He had a sister Mollie who was four years younger.
His early education was at a primary school in Subiaco. In 1927 he was successful for the examination to enter Perth Modern School. In 1928 he began swimming with the school team and was School Swimming Champion for four years at Perth Modern School regularly breaking his age records.
In 1933, Don commenced Engineering at the University of Western Australia graduating in April 1938 with an honours degree in Engineering. He also was awarded a full Blue for rowing and a half Blue for swimming.
Don joined the Army in 1941. In August 1942 he was seconded to the Australian Design and Experimental Directorate at Gardiner, Melbourne. He was employed as an Assistant Design Engineer for patrol boats and other military equipment. He rose to the rank of Captain.
Don married draftswoman Adeline Esther Helm at St Andrews Church, Gardiner, in Victoria on July 28, 1945. A son, Peter Fraser was born in 1952. In 1971, Don and Adeline divorced. Don then married Johanne Phyllis Roberts in 1972 and they had a daughter, Karen.
Rowing was a major part of Dons life with him competing at the elite level. In 1936, he Stroked the WA University Eight to second place in the National University Championships rowed in Perth. He was Stroke of the WA crew in 1937 that rowed at Murray Bridge in South Australia. He was also Stroke of WA Eight that won the Kings Cup in Melbourne in 1938. His pinnacle was being a member of the gold medal winning Rowing Four in the 1938 Empire Games on the Nepean River in NSW.
His rowing form was sustained that he was selected as Stroke of the WA Kings Cup Crew in 1947. He commenced coaching with Guildford Grammar in 1948 and won the Head of the River in Perth that year. His longest period as coach was with Christ Church whom he coached from 1957 to 1974.
Don started his consulting business in 1947 in Perth and an early project was structural design to allow a modern escalator to be fitted into Boans. Major projects included the Perth Concert Hall and Perth Council House. He also undertook many contracts for Mount Newman Mining and Hammersley Iron. He also opened offices in Bunbury, Canberra and Melbourne and employed more than 70 people.
He joined the Institution of Engineers as a Student Member in 1936, Associate Member in 1942 and a Fellow in 1960. He was also Chairman of Panel of Consulting Engineers WA Division between 1961 and 1963 and Chairman of the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia from 1969 to 1971. Another industry role was judge of the Housing Industry Awards.
Don died on February 6, 2006 and was survived by his children Peter and Karen.
References:
Sunday Times, 11.12.1927, p. 13.
West Australian, 22.4.1938, p. 23.
West Australian, 28.2.2006, Obituary
