By Prealene Khera
There’s a ‘fowl’ plot at play in Caroline Springs, with a dramatic “quacking” mystery rapidly gaining momentum in the suburb.
Earlier this year, the quiet waters of the Lakeside Reserve became the eerie setting for the head-scratching disappearance of its long-time residents – a flock of geese.
Among the lost gaggle was beloved goose Frank, whose alleged snatching has left many with ruffled feathers.
Soon after he disappeared, Caroline Springs locals started a petition to bring him back.
“Frank, the local goose … has become a symbol of community spirit in Caroline Springs,” the petition reads.
“The sudden disappearance of Frank is deeply felt across our community.”
With more than 300 signatories supporting the call since, the prospect of seeing Frank’s familiar waddle continues to seem bleak.
The ripples of the odd incident were also felt all the way to Spring Street.
Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch raised the issue in parliament on February 6, calling on the environment minister to investigate Frank’s unexplained absence.
“This is not a request that you may hear every day, but it is an issue that has deeply affected the local community of Kororoit,” she said.
Ms Grigorovitch said Frank has been a local fixture since 2022, over time becoming a cherished and familiar face to those who visited the lake.
“Residents would often stop during their daily walks to admire Frank and enjoy his presence,” she said.
“Frank wasn’t just any goose, he had a unique place in the community — studies show that animals like Frank contribute to the biodiversity of our public spaces, and Frank’s presence had a positive impact on the mental wellbeing of residents.
“He was not just part of the local ecosystem, he was part of the Caroline Springs broader family.”
According to Ms Grigorovitch, highlighting the matter in parliament was important to give a platform to “those that are grieving”.
“One of the main reasons I decided to raise [this]… was because some people in the community were taking this seriously,” she said.
“I don’t know exactly where Frank has gone but if someone has taken him then that’s not okay and there’s many people who have contacted me, they genuinely have concerns.”
“I want those people to know that I, as their local member, have listened.”
Caroline Springs’ Harris Hassan is among the residents to have taken the matter to heart, having already spent more than 50 hours looking for Frank.
“It is really good to see that his disappearance is being taken seriously,” he said.
“I moved to the area two-and-a-half-years ago and since then I have formed a connection with Frank.
“He had this happy personality, he was very approachable – he was like a celebrity to us.”
Given his affable star status, Mr Hassan remains determined to track Frank down.
Over the past couple of weeks, he has reached out to animal rescue organisations, local businesses and even the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
“I’ve got some leads,” Mr Hassan said.
But having a stickybeak hasn’t yielded many positive results for the amateur sleuth.
“We just want some clarity, we want to know where he is,” Mr Hassan said.
“The only reason we’re after that information is because we want closure.”
Star Weekly understands that Frank appears to be an introduced species of geese, and therefore is not protected by the Wildlife Act 1975, which prohibits the removal or disturbance of certain animals without approval.
As a result, the issue falls outside DEECA’s remit as it does not enforce compliance for introduced wildlife.
However Mr Hassan and fellow community members, although disappointed with the legal framework, aren’t losing hope for their feathered companion’s return.
“I was partially heartbroken when he was gone, and we just want to know he’s OK,” Mr Hassan said.
