He was born in Wangaratta, Victoria, to Hector Norman Ward and Evelyn Jane Polmear.
He had interrupted his studies to serve with the Royal Australian Air Force from 1942 to 1945; he was a special wireless intelligence officer in the Northern Territory, New Guinea, Borneo and the Philippines until he was wounded in 1945.
On 31 December 1949 he married Joan Mary Etherton; they had two children.
He taught at a variety of primary and secondary schools and was also secretary of the Geelong branch of the Victorian Teachers' Union from 1950 to 1954, despite also being a member of the Liberal Party.
He was also a sports journalist and commentator on bowls, hockey, badminton and cycling.