Francis Joseph (Frank) Marien
wasa well known Sydney journalist
and newspaper editor, the son of
Robert Marien, also known as Sebastian or Sabatino, and his wife, Mary.His parentage was Irish-Italian. Unusually talented he could have been a
great artist, musician or engineer, but he chose to become a remarkable
journalist and was loved and respected by all who knew him.
Frank was educated at St. Joseph’s College, Hunters
Hill, where he became captain of the school and had a distinguished athletic
record as a member of the winning ‘Eight’ and fullback of the Rugby fifteen.His Rugby performances were so good it was thought that he could have
played International Rugby but he chose to become a journalist.
Marien’s first position was with the
‘Catholic Press’, in Sydney in November 1910 immediately after leaving school
but it was on the ‘Lithgow Mercury’ that he made his start as a junior (cadets
were unknown at that time).His
training there was rigorous but made to make him or break him.It did the former making him a first class journalist and, later, a good
boss.
He returned to Sydney and went to the
‘Daily Telegraph’, then to the ‘Sunday Times’.Marienthen became publicity
manager for J.C.Williamson Ltd.He
returned to the ‘Telegraph’ and joined ‘the Sun’ in 1922 eventually becoming
news editorHe subsequently was
managing editor and director of ‘Truth’.In 1927, he joined Smith’s Newspapers, Ltd., as editor-in-chief a
position he held until his death.
Smith’s Weekly was an Australian tabloid
newspaper founded in 1919 by financier Sir James Joynton Smith, theatrical
publicist Claude McKay and journalist Clyde Packer, father of Sir Frank Packer
and grandfather of Kerry Packer. It mixes
sensationalism, satire and controversial opinions with sporting and finance
news. It also included short stories, cartoons and caricatures.At the time of Frank Marien’s death, Kenneth Slessor was on the staff and
wrote a remarkable obituary (Smith’s Weekly, 25 July, 1936).Slessor later became editor of ‘Smith’s
Weekly’, official war correspondent in WWII and one of Australia’s best
known poets particularly for ‘Five Bells”.The paper was the launching pad for many outstanding journalists and
cartoonists like George Finey, Emile Mercier and Stan Cross.It ceased publication in October 1950.
In 1915, Frank Marien married Maisie
Fitzgerald of Paddington and they had two sons, William and Brian, and a
daughter, Frances. They lived in a large house, ‘Pine Lodge’, on the corner of
Kingsway and Manchester Road, Gymea, in the Sutherland Shire.Frank’s father, Sabatino, was an orchardist and also lived with Frank’s
mother, Mary,in Manchester Road.
William and Brian, hissons, were
pupils of St. Joseph’s. They won their places in the ‘Joey’s’ rowing ‘eights’
and Rugby fifteens. Frances attended Santa Sabina, Strathfield.
Frank Marien was a highly skilled
mechanical engineer and had an elaborate workshop at his home where he made all
kinds of devices. He had a cinema set up at his home, with a full-size
picture-projector and sound equipment, where he regularly entertained his
friends.Art critics said he could
have become one of Australia’s artists had he stuck to black and white work
instead of journalism.
All who worked for him regarded him as a
good boss, expecting obedience to his directions but always willing to help
carry them out.Heard more than once
was ‘Jump to it in a taxi, and tell the
driver ten miles to an hour is no good on our jobs!’.Marien’s charm and human kindliness were well known and Slessor told one
story to illustrate it.Marien was
working on a Sunday in a deserted office, when his phone rang.On answering it , a child asked ‘Is that Santa Claus’?Marien replied ‘ Yes , dear.
How did you get my number’?An
embarrassed mother apologisedbut he
was touched and delighted.
In his last years, Frank Marien spent much
time at St.Vincent’s Hospital, but making light of his health remarking
‘Hospitals are much better than hotels.The service is better, the food’s better and you meet a better class of
people’.He had a place in the
affections of everyone there from Matron to novice.
Frank Marien died on 17 July, 1936, ‘
as most newspapermen would wish to die –
at his desk, with a sheet of copy-paper before him’.He was aged 45.
Hundreds of people from all walks of life
mourned his loss.On Saturday, a
Requiem Mass was held at Sacred Heart Church, Darlinghurst, near St. Vincent’s
Hospital, then, on Sunday, at St. Joseph’s College chapel where his remains were
lying, Father Francis Lloyd of Cronulla (an Old Boy of the College) celebrated a
Commemorative Mass.Frank’s wife,
children, and parents were among those attending with past and present pupils
and many others including journalists.In the afternoon, the funeral moved to the Catholic Cemetery at Rookwood.Every newspaper was represented in the long cortege, which was more than
a mile long.Father Lloyd was
assisted at the graveside by, among others, Father W. Hawe (Cronulla), and
Father T. Dunlea (Sutherland).
Frank Marien was survived by his wife,
Maisie, sons, William and Brian, and daughter, Frances.His father died in 1938 and was buried at Rookwood.Maisie moved back to Point Piper in the Eastern Suburbs and died in 1947.She was buried at Rookwood with Frank.William (Bill) Marien became a journalist, died in 1959 and was buried in
Macquarie Park Cemetery.Brian
Marien became a Cinesound cameraman, supported Father Dunlea and was involved in
filming the Grand March from Sutherland in 1940.He died in 1987 and was buried at Woronora Cemetery.Frances became a physiotherapist at Prince Henry Hospital and married Dr.
Alfred Wilson, younger son of Mr. And Mrs. R.L. Wilson ofHilston.
In the 1960s, The former home of the Marien
family, ‘Pine Lodge’, became the first ‘home’ of the Gymea Trade Union Club.The site, corner of Kingsway and Manchester Road, has, since then, been
extensively re-developed and is now known as ‘The Tradies’.I was once told by a family member that Mrs. Marien had an outing to the
city every week.There was a bus
stop outside the home and, if she wasn’t there when the bus pulled up, the
driver would patiently wait until she emerged, dressed impeccably complete with
hat and gloves.
View the entry in the
database for MARIEN, Francis Joseph (1891-1936)
and family. Click on his name at the
heading of this page.
