Wilfred Arthur - Education and Early Career

Education and Early Career

Wilfred Arthur was the son of a stock inspector from Goondiwindi, Queensland, a veteran of World War I who had served overseas for the duration of the conflict. Born in Sydney on 7 December 1919, Wilf grew up around his father's home town near the New South Wales border. The boy's initial education was by correspondence, but he later attended school at Yelarbon, Queensland, commuting on horseback. He then spent four-and-a-half years at The Scots College in Warwick, where he matriculated.

At the age of 19 and still at The Scots College, Arthur applied to join the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He enlisted on 4 September 1939, the day after Australia's entry into World War II. Training at RAAF Station Point Cook, Victoria, and RAAF Station Richmond, New South Wales, he was commissioned a pilot officer on 30 March 1940, despite being prone to airsickness early on. He served initially with No. 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron at Richmond, operating Hawker Demons and Avro Ansons.

Read more about this topic:  Wilfred Arthur

Famous quotes containing the words education and, education, early and/or career:

    He was the product of an English public school and university. He was, moreover, a modern product of those seats of athletic exercise. He had little education and highly developed muscles—that is to say, he was no scholar, but essentially a gentleman.
    H. Seton Merriman (1862–1903)

    The principle goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done; men and women who are creative, inventive and discoverers, who can be critical and verify, and not accept, everything they are offered.
    Jean Piaget (1896–1980)

    Our bad neighbor makes us early stirrers,
    Which is both healthful and good husbandry.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    Clearly, society has a tremendous stake in insisting on a woman’s natural fitness for the career of mother: the alternatives are all too expensive.
    Ann Oakley (b. 1944)