Page 4 - William B. Lake

Bill’s Birthplace and Early Education

William Bernard Warwick (“Bill”) Lake was born at Kempsey located on the Macleay River on the
th
mid-North Coast of NSW, on 28 February 1915. His father Andrew Bernard Lake (“Andy”) worked
for the Kempsey Municipal Council and had a key role in municipal water supply & flood
management systems. By the time Bill was 3 years old his father had also been placed in charge
of the Kempsey Fire Brigade. Captain Andy occupied these roles until after the end of WW2. Much
of Bill’s early life was therefore as an inhabitant of the Kempsey Fire Station. He would have been
accustomed to the reactive rapid responses that ensued as fire brigade responded to each crisis.

Bill attended West Kempsey Public School for his primary education. He then transferred to
Kempsey High School where he developed a strong interest in sports activities. Notably he was a
member of the Kempsey High School’s Rugby League team in his senior years. In 1932 the
Kempsey High School team, of which Bill was a key member, won their inter-school
championship. The following photo appeared in the local newspaper.

Bill’s Transition to Student Teacher Role

At the end of 1932 Bill gained his High School Leaving Certificate and matriculated for tertiary
education. However, it was still very much a post-Depression period and while he had evidently
decided to become a teacher, following in the footsteps of several of his uncles, in 1933 he chose
to become a student-teacher at a remote subsidised school. His appointment as a student teacher
to Upper Pappinbarra School appeared in several newspapers. He evidently enjoyed this position
and continued until the end of the 1934 school term.