Born in Cobham, Surrey, Dave arrived aboard the P & O ship Otranto on May 30, 1933, in a party of more than 50 boys and girls.

Rhodes Cottage at Pinjarra's Fairbridge Farm became his home, and he remembers the cottage mothers with affection and gratitude, especially Hilda Fraser, who served the school for 20 years.
r n"Life may have been a bit rough," he admitted. He slept in a dormitory where half one wall was chicken wire and started each day with a cold shower.
r n"But we were well fed. It was the Depression, remember, and we had security. ..."

In 1934, aged only 6-1/2, David was the "baby" of Rhodes and one of its most popular residents. He was never ostracised; his popularity was always assured by the arrival of a parcel of the latest English comics sent by his mother and if you upset him you didn't get to read them.

As a meek Fairbridge youngster David is remembered for his initiative in taking on all-comers with a straw broom outside one of the Farm's toilets he was made to clean. He would march up and down with the broom as if he was guarding his castle, until his cottage mother caught him.

David Buck, who retired as Director of WA Education was a past president of the Old Fairbridgians and a director of Fairbridge (WA). He was a lecturer in maths education at Nedlands campus of WACAE, after many years as teacher and advisory teach in schools all over Western Australia. r n