Arnolds Sergeis Lazdins (1922-1997) was born at Bauska, Latvia, the son of Emils Lazdins and Marianne Levens. In World War II most of the Lazdins family moved to Germany. After the war ended, they were housed in a Displaced Persons Camp in the British zone at Hamburg where Arnolds worked for the Army Stores, and commenced his architectural education at the Baltic University in Exile when it was established in March 1946. In 1949, Arnolds moved with his parents and brothers to Newcastle. His first job was with the Queensland Forestry Department at Gympie. He joined the Works Department in March 1951 as an architectural assistant. In 1953, after building a cottage for his future in-laws, he married a fellow Latvian refugee Brigita Anna Lauva at Brisbane. With credit for his earlier studies, he enrolled for the final three years of the part-time Diploma of Architecture course at the University of Queensland. He graduated in 1955, and registered as an architect early the following year. Working at weekends, he built his own house at the Gap. Within the Works Department he was progressively promoted to more senior roles including acting as Chief Architect Buildings which he designed or oversaw as project and supervising architect included many major buildings for mental health, prisons and technical education. He retired in 1982 -- excerpted from Don Watson, 'Queensland Architects of the 20th century'.