Frank Arkell

Frank Arkell
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Wollongong
In office 24 March 1984 – 3 May 1991
Preceded by	Eric Ramsay
Succeeded by	Gerry Sullivan
Lord Mayor of Wollongong City Council
In office 1968–1991
Preceded by	Tony Bevan
Personal details
Born	Francis Neville Arkell (1935-09-13)13 September 1935 Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Died	Wollongong
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Independent
Website	NSW Legislative Assembly webpage

Francis Neville (Frank) Arkell (13 September 1935 – 26 June 1998) was an Australian politician. He was an independent member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing Wollongong between 1984 and 1991. Arkell was violently murdered in his home, aged 62 years.

Career

Arkell was born in Port Kembla, New South Wales.

Between 1968 and 1991, Arkell served as Lord Mayor of Wollongong City Council. He was elected as an independent to represent the seat of Wollongong in the New South Wales Parliament from 1984 until his defeat at the 1991 election.

In October 1996, Franca Arena asked in state parliament whether Arkell was the person known to the Wood Royal Commission as W1 in allegations involving paedophilia.

In 1998, seven years after he had left politics, Arkell was murdered at his home in Wollongong by Mark Valera. Arkell's head had been smashed in with a bedside lamp, an electric cord was wrapped tightly around his neck, and from his eyes and cheeks tie-pins protruded. According to a subsequently broadcast media report, a police investigator revealed that, at the time of his death, Arkell was "...facing charges which had not gone to court..."

At his trial, Valera said that he and Arkell had been in a sexual relationship for more than a year. Valera also testified that he had been a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of his own father, Jack Van Krevel, from the age of seven. In August 2000, less than two weeks after Valera was convicted of Arkell's murder, Jack Van Krevel was also murdered.

Notes

Parliament of New South Wales
Preceded by Eric Ramsay	Member for Wollongong 1984 – 1991	Succeeded by Gerry Sullivan