8 February 1872 81 Wellington Road Launceston Tasmania Australia 1. Maud Louise Pillgrem; 2. Linda Alexandra Blair 2. Jean & Nan

Frank McDonald was the youngest child of John McDonald (1825-1924), a dealer, and Ann Turner (1828-1883) who married in 1848 at Sculcoates, Hull, Yorkshire. John and Ann McDonald came to Tasmania in 1852 with their two eldest children, Richard and Agnes. Nine more children were born in Launceston; the last being Frank on 8 Feb 1872. He was 11 years old when his mother died. He was first appointed to the Colonial Public Service on 1 Mar 1885 and joined the Launceston Electric Telegraph Office on 1 Apr 1891. He was the postmaster in various towns throughout Tasmania, and later was promoted to the position of postmaster in Launceston.

On 22 Apr 1905 at St John's Church, Launceston, Frank married Maud Louise Pillgrem, the postmistress at Fingal. She was the second daughter of Thomas Lambert Pillgrem. Tragically, Maud was drowned on 1 Apr 1907, when the steam boat Alice collided with the Togo on the Tamar River. That day Frank lost his wife, brother John, sister-in-law Alice, niece and two nephews.

Frank married Linda Alexandra Blair in Victoria on 9 May 1910. They had two daughters: Jean, who was born at New Norfolk in 1911 and Nan, who was born at Latrobe in 1917. Frank died aged 82 on 27 Aug 1954. He was one of the oldest Freemasons in Tasmania; he had been associated with the Grand Lodge from 1905. He was a member of the East Launceston Bowling Club. Two of his brothers, John and Arthur, are also in Family Album.

Marion Sargent Apr 2006 & Barbara Valentine Jul 2009