LAMP FAMILY

Lamp Family. Lamp Family. Lamp Family. Lamp Family.

Walter Thomas Lamp and Gladys Cockerell were married on the 10th of January 1927 in Baptist Manse, Katanning, Western Australia. The couple’s son, Walter Francis (Frank) Lamp, was born on the 15^th of August 1927 in Victoria Park.

Walter Thomas Lamp enlisted in the Australian Imperial Armed Forces at Blackboy Hill in WA, and around 1916 served in the military during World War I. However, Walter suffered from lung problems and retired from the military.

Walter Lamp Senior

During the early 20th century Australia’s agricultural production had rapidly increased as a result of new and improved technology, including more productive grain varieties and advances in livestock breeding. As a retiree from the military, Walter became a farmer and a freeholder of house and land at part Lot 40, Kwobrup. The family home was situated near a general store with silos around it. The Lamp’s livelihood in Kwobrup involved rearing sheep and growing wheat.

Frank vividly recalled the walls of the house they lived in. His mother Gladys had transformed their farmhouse to have a better outlook. He fondly described it as a decent house with decorated walls handmade from bags that were dipped in whitewash, left to dry then stretched along the walls.

They lived a basic life. Ironically, Frank never fully engaged much in farming as his father and mother did. He envisioned a different world altogether which seemed unattainable due to the impact of the Second World War.

Charlie, Frank, Marion and Gladys

She was a disciplined mother who also displayed great sportsmanship. Being a stunning athlete, she competed at several state competitions in women’s hockey. Gladys loved the game of hockey so much that she transferred the passion to her daughter Marion. During that time, they played the sport with less protective sportswear and hence she later suffered from leg injuries.

Four years later Frank’s sister Marion Gladys Lamp was born. She competed at state level women’s hockey, following in her mother’s footsteps r mother’s footsteps, but later on her father banished her from playing hockey. He regarded the sport as unsafe for his daughter because his wife suffered from leg injuries received from hockey.

Frank’s mother was determined to give an educational opportunity to her son against all odds. Frank’s mother valued education and at one time received a medal of punctuality at her school. However, the environment of living on their Kwobrup farm did not provide for conventional schooling, hence a set up in the Education Department brought correspondence schooling to the community. Frank commenced his primary education in correspondence school at Katanning with his mother tutoring him in his schoolwork.

Frank Lamp at Katanning School
(Last Row)

Gladys Lamp – State Women’s Hockey Team
(Second from right – front row)

Frank Lamp served in the police service from 1951-1969. He immediately rose through the ranks to become the General Secretary of the Federation of the Western Australian Police and Citizens Youth Club, a position he held for thirteen years. During his tenure, Frank managed to grow the number of clubs affiliated with the police federation from seven clubs to 28. It was deemed the largest youth organisation in Western Australia.

One major highlight in Frank’s career was in April 1953, as the General Secretary of the W.A. Police and Citizens Youth Club, he superbly organised the first ever International Amateur Youth Boxing Tour that was held in Singapore. He assembled a team of 23 boxers, and it is believed that it was the very first time a team of amateur boxers from anywhere in Australia having to compete overseas.

Read Frank Lamp’s full life story here:

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