Frank Austin Collins (SN 831) born in Ballarat, was a 22 year old motor mechanic when he enlisted in Ballarat on July 19th 1915. He embarked aboard the Wandilla on November 9th and sailed to Egypt. He was hospitalised several times due to an abscess, but in June 1916 he arrived in France to serve with the 31st Infantry Battalion. In July 1916 he received mild shrapnel wounds but was able to rejoin his unit a month later after treatment and recovery. In September 1917 he was not so lucky when he received a severe gunshot wound to his left arm that resulted in its amputation. He was returned to Australia aboard the Runic, disembarked at Melbourne on February 13th1918 and was discharged ‘medically unfit, wounded' on March 30th.

His brother Herbert also served in the AIF and is honoured with a tree in the Avenue.