WORDS FROM THE EDITOR

It’s with heavy hearts that we mark the passing of Frank Cairns; founder of Decor Blinds Australia, industry innovator, and all-round decent human being (see page 12). 

Frank’s life and achievements are a classic embodiment of the migrant success story. Starting out in a suburban Brisbane garage in 1984, he and his wife began manufacturing vertical drapes with little more than hard work, belief, and a willingness to have a go. Within six months, they’d landed a $2 million contract, complete with a $1 million deposit, which catapulted their business from backyard operation to genuine player in the industry overnight. It’s the sort of story you hear and think, only Frank could pull that off.

But what always stood out to me wasn’t just his business nous. It was the way he talked about his team, his family, and the industry as a whole. Frank had an instinct for where the market was headed. He moved from verticals to timber Venetians (producing 250 a day at one point), and later to Thermalite shutters when he saw that the painted timber look was catching on. He was a step ahead, but never in a way that felt flashy or self-congratulatory. Just smart, focused, and confident.

In his WFA Ask the Expert feature in 2019, he told Tony Cassar that while he might have owned Decor Blinds, it was the staff who really ran it. That humility was typical of Frank. He laughed about being away from the factory for eight months only to be told everything ran better without him. It wasn’t false modesty – he meant it. He trusted his people, and they trusted him back.

Frank also gave back. He served on the BMAA (now WSAA) board for many years, working on safety regulations and helping steer the industry through complex compliance waters. Any time I had a question regarding the National Construction Code, Frank would write back to me with a detailed explanation. For all his business success, he never lost sight of the collective good. That’s in part why he was inducted into the WSAA Hall of Fame in 2016, a recognition he wore lightly but appreciated deeply. He also supported this magazine from its very first fledgling issue, and for that I was always grateful. 

Away from the tools and the boardroom, Frank was a husband, father, and grandfather. He often said his proudest achievement wasn’t a factory or a product, but marrying his wife and raising three children. He loved golf, too. A good walk spoiled, some might say, but Frank enjoyed it. Frank Cairns was one of the good ones – passionate, funny, and never short of an opinion. His legacy lives on in the people he mentored, the standards he helped set, and the family and team he so clearly adored.

He will be deeply missed.

JAMES BOSTON
Editor & Publisher