Editing Frank Forde (section)

==Early life==
[[File: Young Frank Forde.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Forde as a young man]]
Forde was born on 18 July 1890 in [[Mitchell, Queensland]]. He was the second of six children born to Ellen (née Quirk) and John Forde. His parents were both Irish immigrants – his father was born in [[Ballinaglera]], [[County Leitrim]], while his mother was from [[County Tipperary]]. His father was working as a grazier at the time of his birth, and later worked as a railway supervisor.<ref name=adb>{{cite news|url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/forde-francis-michael-frank-12504|title=Forde, Francis Michael (Frank) (1890–1983)|first1=Neil|last1=Lloyd|first2=Malcolm|last2=Saunderspublisher=[[Australian Dictionary of Biography]] (Vol. 17)|year=2007}}</ref>

Forde began his education at the local state school and later boarded at [[St Mary's College, Toowoomba]]. He qualified as a schoolteacher via the [[monitorial system]], but at the age of 20 joined [[Queensland Rail]]ways as a clerk in the telegraphy department. He later moved to [[Brisbane]] to work as a telegraphist for the [[Postmaster-General's Department]], at the same time studying electrical engineering. In 1914, Forde was transferred to [[Rockhampton]]. He was involved with the [[Australian Natives' Association]] (ANA), the [[Australian Workers' Union]], and the Rockhampton Workers' Political Organisation, and helped campaign for the "No" vote in the [[Conscription in Australia|conscription referendums]] of 1916 and 1917.<ref name=adb/> His role as president of the Rockhampton branch of the ANA "marked the beginning of participation in community debates and public life".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://apm-origin.moadoph.gov.au/prime-ministers/frank-forde|title=Frank Forde|work=Australian Prime Ministers|publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy|access-date=3 October 2023}}</ref>