Bill was bom in 1925 in Melbourne, and grew up on the family farm near Benalla. After completing his secondary education at Benalla High School, Bill entered the VSF in 1942.

He graduated from Creswick and commenced his forestry career in 1945, with forest assessment in the Toolangi Forest District. He later returned to study and completed his Bachelor of Science (Forestry) at the University of Melboume. During Bill's eleven years with the FCV he worked in the Edenhope, Powelltown and Mansfield Forest Districts, and in 1951 was promoted to District Forester in Otway East (Forrest). In 1955 Bill resigned to take up a position as a forester with APPM in Tasmania. During his 28 years with that company, Bill established their woodchip export operations, and eventually managed their entire forest operation from Melboume Head Office.

Source: Oral History