DON FARQUHAR, ROSEBUD, VICTORIA, UNSUNG HERO OF AUSTRALIA.
Don was discovered while I was researching my journal about Charles Coleman, which includes two terrific articles from trove about Don. Both illustrated his determination to overcome adversity, namely his blindness. These will be added to this journal shortly. Hatred engendered by war is a lot harder to overcome but Don Farquhar managed to do so.


Innocent schoolgirl stepped across the bitterness of war
By Denise Ryan
February 6, 2012 — 12.00am
YOKO Miyazaki didn't realise that some people opposed her visit to Australia — and that was probably a blessing.
As a 16-year-old in 1962, she applied to be Australia's first Japanese Rotary exchange student, at a time when many older Australians remained deeply upset about the events of World War II.

📷Yoko Miyazaki visiting Australia this summer. (Photo)

When Ms Miyazaki returned recently to visit her former host families and friends at Rosebud Rotary, she marvelled that she had felt so welcome as a teenager that she had not realised the extent of the furore surrounding her visit.

Her host brother, Alan Farquhar, was more aware of how some saw the exchange. "It was very controversial," he says.

The exchange came about through the dogged efforts of an unlikely advocate. Mr Farquhar's father, Don, was blinded during the war by a Japanese attack on the RAAF plane he was navigating.

Alan Farquhar recalls: "In 1961 he decided to go to one of the first international Rotary conferences held in Tokyo after the war. Many of his close friends in the RSL tried to talk him out of going."

At that event, Don Farquhar proposed a youth exchange program between the two countries. That this was proposed by a veteran with such a serious shrapnel injury inflicted by the Japanese confounded many.

Few could understand why Mr Farquhar wasn't bitter. His son recalls how his father's determination to forge links between the nations inspired others to support the program. "For the Rotarians to decide this needed to happen only 15 years out from such a hell of an event was extraordinary," Alan Farquhar says.

"And don't forget there was still a White Australia policy. Not everyone wanted it but from the moment Yoko arrived any negativity was swept away by her personality."

Don Farquhar died in 1984 but his generosity of spirit was remembered in the 1988 book Unsung Heroes & Heroines of Australia, edited by Suzy Baldwin.

Looking back, Ms Miyazaki is surprised her parents were not worried about her travelling to Australia. "It was unusual at that time. They were very open-minded."

Ms Miyazaki made many friends and the experience helped her gain work as a flight attendant for Qantas and other airlines. She later lived in Egypt before returning to Japan.

"My life became exciting and broader," she says. "My host families treated me like a daughter or sister, and I met so many people from different countries that I became more open. My father was taken aback when I came home and threw my arms around him and kissed him."

Staff and students at the then Rosebud High School were also ahead of the times in 1962, with The Mikado performed by the school in honour of their visiting exchange student. Ms Miyazaki was in the chorus.
Rosebud Secondary's focus on Japan has endured, with language learning from years 7 to 12, a sister school in Japan and regular exchanges.

Principal John Miller says students and parents were visibly moved when Rotarian David Jarman explained Don Farquhar's link to the school's Japanese language program at last year's awards ceremony. "They sat up and their jaws dropped."

Ms Miyazaki spoke to the students and presented a new Rotary scholarship to support year 10 students to study Japanese.

Rotarian Stuart McDonald, who is co-ordinating coming exchange programs, says Ms Miyazaki's experience demonstrates the power of — and the bonds formed — during international exchanges.

Applications close on March 31 for exchanges to Japan, France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Brazil, Taiwan and other countries this year.

ROTARY VIDEO OF YOKO'S 2011 VISIT

DETERMINATION.
Blind, but can still play golf
Knows the landmarks

LIKELY BIRTH RECORD FOR DONALD (based on him being 69 when he died as stated in previous information.)

Event:births Registration number 32368 / 1913
Family name:FARQUHAR Given name(s)Donald Norm Wm
Place of event: KEW, VIC, Australia
Mother's name Kate Annie, Mother's family name at birth WEIR
Father's Name: Wm Alex


TO BE CONFIRMED WITH RON COLEMAN.
Ronald Coleman Thu, May 14, 4:54 PM (7 hours ago)
to me
Hi ---. Yes, Don's wife was Joan. Enjoyed the article on Don Farquhar, he was also the first president of the group committee re the 1st Rosebud Sea Scouts.

DONALD'S MARRIAGE?

Event:marriages, Registration number 17827 / 1940
Family name:POBERTSON Given name(s)Joan Merton
Spouse's family name: FARQUHAR Spouse's given name(s)Donald Norman

Don's record seems to be missing. Just as well I searched for his marriage in 1940-1941 and not Joan Robertson's! I wonder why Don had been in New Zealand!

Embossed Satin Gown
The marriage of Joan Merton,youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs.W. Robertson, Subiaco, West Australia,
and Donald N. Farquhar, Kew, formerly of New Zealand, was celebrated by Canon Roscoe Wilson, at Holy
Trinity Church.
The bride, who was given away by her brother, Mr. K. Robertson, chose a lovely gown of white embossed satin, with her tulle veil falling from a wreath of gardenias. A trail of pale blue hydrangeas fell from the prayerbook she carried.
A dinner party, was held at the Oriental Hotel after the ceremony.(P. 15, The Age, 21-12-1940.)

FARQUHAR (nee Robertson). - On July 2. at St. Omer. Camberwell, to Mr. and Mrs.Donald Farquhar-a son (Alan Donald).(Both well.) (A brother for Ian.)P.16, THE ARGUS, 3-7-1946.

FARQUHAR (nee Robertson).—On July 26,at St. George's, to Mr. and Mrs. D. Farquhar—a son (Ian Robertson). (Both well.) P.2, THE ARGUS, 27-7-1944.

MARRIAGE OF DON'S PARENTS.
FARQUHAR—WEIR.—On the 20th September, at the residence of the bride's parents, Wellington-street, Kew, by the Rev. R. Betts, William Alexander, only son of William Farquhar, of Kew, to Kate Annie, eldest daughter of Alexander Weir, of Kew.(P.55, The Australasian, 28-10-1899.)

DON FARQUHAR AND CHARLES COLEMAN SEEM TO HAVE MADE THEIR MOVE TO ROSEBUD IN ABOUT THE SAME YEAR.
Was that just coincidence or had these two, both suffering the effects of wounds suffered during flying missions in W.W.2, known each other previously? They were certainly firm friends, their two families holidaying together by mid 1951.
VACANT Dec. 4 to 18, 1949 and March 12 to 16, 1950. McCrae, beach. Res. 6 rooms, accom. 7,H.W.S,, septic tank, garage. Reply D. Farquhar. McCrae P.O. Phone Rosebud 334. (P. 34, The Age, 27-8-1949.)

SPECULATION.
Had Donald been in New Zealand prior to his engagement because of the 1930's depression which had seen many young Victorian men head for Western Australia? It is possible that he was related to the Farquhars, prominent in N.Z., which may have included Mr. F. A. Farquhar, whose New Zealand-bred Nile of Koiro was adjudged champion bull at the Royal Show of 1931 in W.A., Captain Farquhar, among New Zealand's most prominent golfers in the early 1900's and Miss Marie Farquhar, a champion swimmer in N.Z.at about the time Don moved there. He may have even been related to the Farquhars of pearling fame at Thursday Island. Just speculation, mind you.