John Le Page

LE PAGE, John Stanley Herbert, Dip Eng (PTC) FIEAust (1926-2007)

John Le Page was born in Perth on September 15, 1926 the son of cabinetmaker John James Le Page and his wife Dorothy Mary Le Page nee Lambert. His father later became a trades instructor, union organiser and apprentice examiner.

John served with the Public Works Department of Western Australia from 1943 to 1985. He was educated at North Perth State School, Perth Modern School, and Perth Technical College. In 1953 he was accepted as a Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers, Australia and in 1973 was made a Fellow of that body.

His work for the Association of Professional Engineers Australia (now Professionals Australia) resulted in the award of Distinguished Life Membership in 1974, the first Western Australian to receive it.

Most of his work for the Department between 1943-1964 was associated with the design of harbour works during a period of great activity throughout the State. From 1964 to 1985 he was in charge of the Engineering Drawing Office which was later designated the Design Branch. He was Chief Design Engineer at the time of the Department's demise in June 1985.

John was the author of "Building a State - The Story of the Public Works Department of Western Australia 1829-1985", published by the Water Authority of Western Australia in 1986.

In 1953 John married Pamela Beryl Nankivell and they had two daughters and one son. John died on September 25, 2007 aged 81.